http://www.oklahomagasprices.com/

Q.  Where in Oklahoma is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to women pilots?
A.  Ninety-Nines Women Pilots association in Oklahoma City.
http://www.ninety-nines.org/our-history.htm

Q.  Who was Oklahoma's first Territorial Governor?
A.  (answer in next week's T&T)

From This and That newsletter archives of December 7, 2002

In December 1999 I visited a Choctaw Indian lady just east of Davis, Oklahoma who has the original bell from the old Presbyterian church of Davis in her front yard. How she came upon the bell, was the church and property belonged to her and when the church closed down many years ago, she moved the bell to her house north of Camp Classen. I stopped by there last week and she still has that big bell in her yard.... pretty as ever!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/daviswest.jpg
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There are a couple of wall clocks at the Carter County courthouse with Strasmicks Jewelers printed across the face of the clocks. One clock is in the basement and the other at the Court Clerks Office on the second floor.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/strasclock.jpg
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Last week I was traveling up old Highway 77 and when I passed through Wayne, Oklahoma (between Pauls Valley and Purcell in McLain county) I saw a church with a belfry. It was the Methodist church in Wayne, so I stopped and asked the man doing some painting about the bell. He said the only person who probably would know is Mrs. Arnold who has been a member of that church over 60 years as was her mother. I gave Mrs. Arnold a call and she said the bell is over 90 years old. The bell has been in the church since the beginning. She didn't have any other info on the bell, or a photo. But she said a man is going to paint the belfry in a week or two and she'll have him take some photos, and get any wording or inscriptions on the bell written down. Oh, and while I was talking to the painter at the church, he pulled on the bell rope, boy did it sound nice! The rope went up through a hole in the ceiling in the hallway. But there was no opening to the bell itself. So maybe soon they'll get a photo taken of it inside the belfry.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/waynebell.jpg
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When I traveled through Pauls Valley, I looked around for any bells, and I think they are pretty much bell-less in PV town. I did find one big beautiful bell though, next to the Jack Grimmett Field House at Wackler Stadium in the north part of town. Boy, now those sports fans know how to celebrate touchdowns..... by ringing that bell!!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellphotos/pvbellsch.jpg
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The Pauls Valley museum also had an authentic Indian headdress that was presented to Mr. Jack L. Grimmett in 1960 at Apache, Oklahoma. The headdress is made of eagle feathers.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/pvtowna.jpg
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Speaking of windmills, just to the north of the museum on Highway 77 at what looked like an old defunct beer joint now residence was another windmill in need of repairs too. Hope somebody preserves those relics.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/pvtowna.jpg
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Back in 1991 an employee at the Carter County Detention Center would be instrumental in making what would come to be known as the Sheriffs Hall of Fame. She spent many hours researching the Carter county sheriffs since 1907 trying to find photos of each them. At that time there was an inmate Jeff Keith who had a remarkable ability to draw freehand portraits. This employee got the sheriff's permission to let Jeff Keith draw with pencil a portrait of each sheriff since statehood. It was from those freehand drawings that the Carter County Sheriffs Hall of Fame was created. After the Hall of Fame was finished, there was a nice write-up in The Daily Ardmoreite on the tireless effort put forth by this employee of the Detention Center. Her name was Jean Deck. This week Jean Deck passed away.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/sheriffhall.jpg
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"Hi Butch! Have some breaking news from Medicine Park, OK........ On Dec. 7, at 2pm there is going to be a "Two Wheel Parade" featuring Santa in his newly acquired antique sleigh and the LIGHTING of the BRIDGES at 5pm. We've never looked so good! For all of you who have visited Medicine Park sometime in your past, it would be a wonderful time to come back. There are shops to buy a unique Christmas present and entertainment happening at the same time! Also, (speaking of bricks) you can purchase your very own engraved brick (with 2 lines or 30 spaces) that will be placed in "Phase Two" sidewalks now under construction for only $25. I'm sending a picture of the brick available. This place is Happenin'! Ya'll come join us this Saturday! Joy at "The Purple Parrot Art Gallery & Such" Medicine Park, Oklahoma http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos/medbrick.jpg
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"Cabooses were phased out toward the end of the 1980's and early 1990's. The BNSF was one of the first railroads to begin using the "Rear End Detector" in place of the caboose. If you look closely at the end of a train now days you will see a small electronic device usually mounted on the coupler at the end of the last car. This device measures air pressure, train operations, and communicates with several wayside (track side) devices that look for bad axles, bearings, etc, commonly referred to as "hot box" detectors. As you can imagine, this electronic device is more precise than the original human interaction used to help monitor these activities and readings. Consequently, the need for a brakeman or other personnel at the end of the train is no longer crucial and there is no longer the need for a caboose. Eliminating a non cargo carrying rail car was an economic benefit to the railroad. I enjoy your newsletters, keep up the good work."
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Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....

One interesting photo submitted this week is of a Dr. Bogie and his son. I found on Find-A-Grave a Dr. William Thomas Bogie (1855-1915) buried in Rosehill cemetery at Ardmore. I've passed his grave maker in the past at the cemetery, a magnificent grave stone.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/postcards/DrBogieAndSonThomas.jpg

Click here for........ Dr Bogie's Grave

In my Google search for bogie in Oklahoma, I found an ophthalmologist by the name of Dr. Charles Bogie in OKC. I'd bet they're kin.

"It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, "God Bless Us, Every One!" -Charles Dickens

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443