Pawhuska, Oklahoma is the county seat
of Osage County and located in far north central Oklahoma. A few miles
outside Pawhuska on a lonely piece of property is a single grave. Buried there
is Johnny Clare who died at the age of 20. He was born in May of 1890 and died
in May 1910. His was not a quiet death, as he was thrown from his horse. Johnny
was buried on the spot where he was found. At the time of his death, Clare was
working as a cowboy for Dr. Hall on private ranch property. Though the decades
his grave was almost hidden by overgrown weeds. In 2015 a Boy Scout and a couple
others took on the initiative to clean it up, earning his Eagle Scout award.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/JohnnyClareGravePawhuskaOK.jpg
For more info click here.....
Find-A-Grave
Horse Shoe Curve south of Turner
Falls, Oklahoma on Highway 77.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/HorseShoeCurve.jpg
Curfew Bell at Fairfax, Oklahoma.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/CurfewBellFairfaxOK.jpg
September 1956
Ardmore's second water well near Newport is nearing completion. Drilling has
completed to 890 feet. This second water well is actually the test well for
drilling 5 more, financed by recently approved water bonds. Negotiations for
right-of-way for the 20 inch line from the well site in Newport is complete.
September 1956
Russell Brown, former county attorney
for Carter County, was reminiscing about being one of the kids who chased the
Sears Roebuck automobile when it was unloaded in Carter County in 1899, and was
the first automobile in the county.
One of several bricks I sandblasted this
week.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/BootsPaver.jpg
You can find current gas prices for a
particular Oklahoma town by entering the name or zip code in the GasBuddy search
box.
http://www.oklahomagasprices.com/
Q. How many species of
poisonous snakes in Oklahoma?
A. Copperhead, Prairie Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Western
Cottonmouth, Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Western Massasauga Rattlesnake,
Western Pygmy Rattlesnake
Q. Is all of Oklahoma in the Central Time Zone?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That
newsletter archives of October 12, 2002
Speaking of books by local people, a Reader
loaned me a book titled, "Selden Lindsey - US Deputy Marshal" by Harrell
McCullough, grandson of Selden Lindsey. Harrell McCullough (1913-1999) was born
here in Ardmore. As a child he lived at the end of South Washington, on the
south side of McCullough Street SW. Now we know who the street was named after,
his family! Badman Bill Dalton was killed near Pooleville, Oklahoma on June 8,
1894. Back then Pooleville was Elk, Oklahoma. Harrell is the grandson of Selden
Lindsey. According to Harrell's book, outlaw Bill Dalton robbed a bank in
Longview, Texas then hid out in a cabin west of Pooleville (NE Carter County).
Deputy Marshal Selden Lindsey went to Pooleville to arrest Dalton, and Dalton
ended up being shot by Lindsey. There is a historical marker paid for and
erected by Harrell McCullough on the property by the road where Dalton was
killed. Selden Lindsey lived 2 miles east of Dickson, Oklahoma and then north
next to Wolf Creek where it empties into the Washita River. I'll have to get up
to Pooleville soon and take a photo of that historical marker about U.S. Deputy
Marshal Selden Lindsey. Harrell McCullough must have been one amazing recorder
of history, wish I could have met him before he died in 1999. Here is a scan of
Harrell McCullough's self-published 300 page book.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/lindseyst.jpg
I found the book on Amazon for $14 all the way up to $140
(new).
CLICK HERE
Click here for---->
Seldon
Lindsey's gravesite in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
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Two weeks ago I had a typo in my article
about what they call the trunk of their cars in England. Across the Big Pond
they call it the boot. And now you know!
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"I am currently renting a 101 year old
house in Ada, Oklahoma consisting of 18 rooms with a ballroom on the third
floor. Needles to say, in it's day it must have been spectacular. I am
constantly hearing stories of murder and haunting and whatever else that goes
with an old house. I was wondering if you had any information regarding 905
South Broadway, Ada OK. I was also hoping if you do would you share it, and if
you do not, could you send me in the right direction. Our Local newspapers are
not current with today's technology and their archives can only go back 14 days.
I tried the Oklahoman out of OKC but their search engine is extremely limited.
Anything will be greatly appreciated."
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"Butch, There has been a lot of discussion
recently in T&T regarding Washington Elementary, its teachers and children. I
also attended Washington Elementary in the 1950s and have fond memories of Mrs.
Whitmore, Mrs. Sherman, Mrs. Carson, Miss Norris, Mrs. Ringer, Mrs. Thompson,
and Mr. Gilliam. I have attached a photo of Mrs. Ringer's 5th class, made May
26, 1954. I am standing on the left end of the third row next to Tommy Jacobs.
Mrs. Ringer is in the middle standing behind Charlene Ellis. Thanks for T&T."
-Doyle Williams
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/washsc54.jpg
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"After Sundown" By Lou Harper,
Thackerville, Oklahoma
As the air seems to develop a chill and the
mornings whisper of change, my thoughts turn to the mystery of Brown's Springs
once again.
Is there any truth to the tales that
circulate? That is a question to be answered by each individual who visits the
spring and the "Old Indian Cemetery."
It is a place that time has forgotten, a
place which has the power to draw you into its web of mystery, eager to learn
its truths. You will leave no wiser, just more curious and perhaps a bit
jittery.
I live just four miles from Brown's Springs
and I am familiar with the twisting dirt roads and trails which lead there as
well as the more common route. Long years ago I trekked through the dense woods
of that area on an autumn day. I came upon a sight I had never seen before. Two
snakes appeared to be doing battle and finally one snake devoured the other!
Perhaps that was an ordinary occurrence, but not to me when it happens near
Browns' Springs.
The area is an ideal habitat for snakes of
all kinds. Those most important to watch out for are the deadly Copperheads and
Rattlesnakes. It is their domain, not ours, and they reign supreme.
Far more disturbing than the natural
dangers of that dark and gloomy place, are the whispered rumors of a creature
which many believe to live there. The elusive Bigfoot! Despite reason and logic,
this myth persists along with other, more present and worldly dangers.
Frequently described as an eerily silent
place where no birds sing and no furry little creatures scurry about, one tends
to constantly glance behind them to see if anything's gaining!
The history of the site is truly bloody and
brutal and this is part of its mystique. Tales of murder and revenge are
intriguing. One can't help wondering if all the violence is truly "in the past"
or if, at any time, the violence might erupt again!
We love mysteries and, while we hope to
solve them, sometimes we don't really want them solved. Do we?
Are there evil spirits lurking in that dim
silent place? When the photographs we take of the area are developed and show
what was not in the scene before, do we shiver? Somehow, it is the photographs
which, more than anything else have perpetuated the mystery of Brown's Springs.
Do the revealing photographs seek to tell us of events existing in other, hidden
realms?
I once stood beside the bubbling spring
when, suddenly bursting from the underbrush were several grim and pale faced men
on horseback. Running beside them were the most ferocious looking dogs I'd ever
seen, and they wore muzzles. To my polite inquiry as to what they were hunting,
one stony-faced rider replied in a word; "Hogs," then he and his brethren just
seemed to disappear as quickly as they had appeared.
Not exactly a comfortable place to be,
Brown Springs. Not too long ago I was told that, living in the lagoon across the
road from the springs were alligators! I won't believe that until I see it for
myself, even though a trusted source gave me the information. I was also told
that a very large python eluded its owner several years ago and resides
somewhere in the area. A large python is another thing I wouldn't want to meet
in the woods down there.
We love to be scared as long as we can flee
to safety if necessary. We keep going back, certain that we'll find something
really scary that we can tell everyone about. We know there is nothing
supernatural or evil there, but just in case there IS, we keep going back.
As October advances and Halloween draws
closer, the Brown's Springs fever rises! The prospect of a walk through the
fallen leaves (and tombstones) of the "Old Indian Cemetery" sparks our
imagination and our spirit of adventure. But we won't go there.. after sundown!
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"Joe's IGA was originally on Main street
where the Chamber is now. Chuck Keeton had a store on Lake Murray Drive across
from the coliseum. Brooks Food Liner was the original store where blockbuster is
before selling to JC Luke. RL Williams had a store on Caddo where the electric
supply is across from Key feed." -Bob Bell
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"Yo Cuz, Just wanted to let you know that
I will be in OKC from 1 November through 9 November - coming in for the Bridges
mini-reunion over at Furr's Cafeteria in Midwest City. Hope to see you there -
want to bring you the bell I promised a few months back." -Ralph Leon Bridges
Ford in Korea
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Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
Hi Butch, hubby & I found great burgers at Fat Bully's.
Located outside Sulphur, Oklahoma off Hwy 7 south at 3133 Chickasaw Trail Road
about 3 miles, on the left, right before Guy Sandy boat dock. The old onion
burger place. Burgers are super tasty, fries & onion rings are crunchy &
delicious.
Click here for----
location on Google Maps
At the link below are 10 more scans of old photographs this week.
-Robert Hensley
http://oklahomahistory.net/postcards
Grandma's Gun Range (pistols only)
55 Shadow Lane
Ardmore, Oklahoma
(580) 630-3322
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16b/GrandmaIndoorGunRange.jpg
"Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit,
occidentis telum est."
Latin: "A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand."
-Seneca, Roman philosopher, dramatist, and statesman. 4 BC to AD 65
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger
See everyone next
week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
