This and That Newsletter
www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vol 24 Issue 1,218 Circulation 5,000 May 28, 2020
Ardmore, Oklahoma
My permanent email address: butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net
580-490-6823
A Glimpse Into The Past
Daubes’ Store
Daubes' Department Store, a landmark on the Main Street of Ardmore, is the oldest business establishment of its kind in southern Oklahoma.
The original Daube store was opened in Bowie, Texas, in 1883, and was owned by Sam Daube.
In about 1888, when the Ardmore area was in Pickens County, Indian Territory, and when Ardmore itself was only a crossroads village, Sam Daube came to Ardmore and entered into a business partnership with Mr. Munzesheimer, who was the grandfather of Jerome Westheimer. Their firm was known as Munzesheimer & Daube and their store was of the pioneer pattern, selling groceries, hardware and implements as well as household merchandise. At that time the store was located east of where the Santa Fe Railway tracks now run. Because of its construction the store acquired the name of the Iron Store, and to all the early settlers from far and wide it became their trading headquarters.
At a later date, Sam Daube joined his brother, Dave Daube, and Max Westheimer, in their enterprise, known as the Blue Front, where Daubes Department Store now stands. This firm was known as Westheimer & Daube.
Further expansion of the store took place in 1920 when all facilities for merchandising were completely modernized, and the area of the store was doubled. Westheimer & Daube continued in business until 1937 when Sam and Dave Daube acquired the Westheimer interest.
The business is now owned by Leon Daube and Carol Daube Sutton, and to today's customers it offers expanded parking facilities and the same cordial welcome which Daubes have extended for 70 years.
-from Carter County History book 1957
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20a/DaubeStoreArdmoreOklahoma1.jpghttp://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20a/DaubeStoreArdmoreOklahoma2.jpg
Dixon Boot Manufacturing Company, Ardmore, Oklahoma 1918
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20a/DixonBootManufacturingArdmore1918.jpg
Ardmore City Parks
Ardmore has some 14 parks, but the oldest, Whittington, is still the most widely used. The city did not acquire title to Whittington Park until 1902, but it had been used for recreation and relaxation as long as there had been an Ardmore. The town's first birthday party was held there back in 1888 and it is still the site of the yearly birthday party on July 28th.
Back around the turn of the century, these parties lasted for as long as three days. Everyone got thrills or chills as the balloon pilot mode like a monkey from a horizontal I bar suspended from the rising bag. There were rodeos, horse races and the inevitable "speakin's." The Ardmore Reds often provided baseball entertainment in their eye-opening red suits as they met the team of a neighboring town and provided material for many off-the-cuff bet by the sporty element. There were square dances and many games and contests designed to please persons of every age. And there was food, lots of good food. Sometimes there might have been lots of whisky, too, which had probably been smuggled in on the Santa Fe by local citizens, many of whom seemed hard on shoes, judging from the uncommonly large number of shoe boxes they carried in their arms on the train from Texas to the Indian Territory. It is said that there were sometimes thousands of covered wagons from all over southern Oklahoma parked at Whittington Park on these occasions.
Mrs. Lutie Walcott, who come here in 1893 to attend the wedding of the future governor, Lee Cruce, and who first met her husband at that wedding and moved to Ardmore a year later, recalled in a recent interview that the annual birthday party was the event of the year.
Tourist Park was purchased in 1911. Cars were becoming popular and every town, of any size was trying to cash in on the tourist trade by providing camping facilities. Tourists are still extended a hearty welcome, but not when they set up housekeeping in a public park, and this practice did not last but a few years. Tourist Park comprised block 344 on West Main Street just east of the present National Guard armory. lt is now leased to the Girl Scouts.
Central Park was acquired in 1910 from the heirs of Bob Lee, early day Ardmore lawyer.
Fraley Park, named for pioneer Charles Fraley, become a city park in 1924. It is located just east of Washington School and contains one of the two Reed wading pools. Mr. Reed, a wealthy Kansas City businessman, provided Ardmore with two such wading pools, the other being at Whittington Park. The city matched Reed's financial contribution and the pools have proved popular with the toddlers.
Selvidge Park, located at the end of D Street, N.W., was acquired in 1932, the gift of George P. Selvidge Sr., and other residents of that section.
Oakland Park is at the end of East Main Street in what is now known as the City Park addition.
E. A. Walker presented Ardmore with two parks in 1934 and 1935 that have been valuable and useful gifts- Walker Stadium, adjoining the city along Highway 70 on the west edge of town and Walker Park, which is located on B Street, N.W., between 9th and 10th Avenues. Popular Walker Park has ball diamonds, tennis courts, swings, other playground equipment and picnic areas.
Carter County History book 1957Photo of Mrs. Lutie Walcott
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos6a/LutieWalcott6a.jpg
Q. What town in Oklahoma was established in 1893 for women only, no men allowed?
A. The town of Bethsheba was established in 1893 by women and declared a “women-only” town.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/oklahoma/woman-only-ghost-town-ok/Q. What governor added the Oklahoma State Crime Bureau to the state agencies?
A. Answer in next week's newsletterBelow is from This and That newsletter archives of May 29, 2008
This week a visitor from Healdton brought me a book titled 'Ghost Town Tales of Oklahoma' by Jim Marion Etter. There is plenty of reading about forgotten or nearly forgotten Oklahoma towns of long ago from cover to cover in this book. Let's see, Paw Paw, Lost City, Keokuk Falls, Dempsey, Possum Hollow, Akins, Oktaha, Strong City, America, Hess, Bigheart, Salt Springs, Hamburg, Florence, Corner, Grand, Tamaha, Melvin, Ingalls, Navajoe, Whitefield, Spencerville, San Bernardo, to name a few. I can see I have lots of Oklahoma history to read in this 246 page book.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/GhostTownTales.jpg
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Ardmoreite Bob Kerr brought by an old photo this week he found in his collection. Bob did not know who was in the group, where it was taken or the time it was taken. But since most of his old photos are of Ardmore long ago, he assumed the photo was taken in Ardmore. Maybe someone can give some insight on this photo?
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/MysteryPhoto8a.jpgClose-up of the flags in the picture.........
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/MysteryPhotoFlags.jpg
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Hi Butch, Steve Norton here from Duncan, OK. I sent you a picture a couple weeks back of a watch fob I found in Ardmore.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/RotaryWatchFOB1923.jpg
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"Mr. Bridges, Otto Powell was my uncle, He ran for Carter County Sheriff for many years in the 1950's- his slogan was A Country Boy plows his way to town, and had posters made up with him in his white shirt and blue jean overalls with his horse and plow! That out fit was all I ever saw him dressed in. He wore clean pressed white shirts with them all of the time. I was reading the comments in your- This & That about him. I enjoyed reading the stories about him- he was in all 50 states- and never owned a car. He was an auctioneer that is why he talked so fast! I ask him why he never married, he told me every time he ate a bean he would throw one in the jar, and pretty soon the jar was full and he decided he could not afford a wife! when he ran for sheriff for Carter County- I remember asking him what he would do with it if he got it, and that was not his intention, just running was enough for him.! I believe he was in all 50 states and never owned a car! He hitchhiked every where he went! He loved to catch big trucks and ride with them. One time I remember he was sitting on his mother's porch in Wilson Ok. we got in the car and started home to California driving when we got home to Dos Palos Calif. he was sleeping on our front porch. He beat us there some how. I just joined your mailing list." Howellsii@aol.com
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"I'll start by telling you I was born and lived in Sulphur Okla. I was born there Sept. 1952. I am 55 yrs. old now. Best young years of my life were there. I want to know if any of your readers might help me find my fathers family? Please. They are the Woodruff's. My uncle Charlie Woodruff was mayor of Sulphur when I was growing up. My fathers name was Milie Woodruff. I also had an aunt Babe who made and sold tamales behind the rodeo gerounds for years. Please if anyone could help me. My father passed away in Shawnee in 1981. Thank you so very much for your time. I have lived in Porterville California since 1972. Please e-mail me any and all info you or someone might have on my family. They lived in Sulphur many years, originating from Texas. Thanks again." -Nellie Woodruff Tray Traypoplar@aol.com
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The Daily Ardmoreite
7-13-1944
The first map made of the city of Ardmore was made by W. S. Crockett, who celebrated his 80th birthday anniversary last Thursday. His map was made the official map of the Chickasaw Townsite company and it was the first map ever to be made of the city.The Wilson Post Democrat
7-21-1960
Hats off to Ardmore's Hardy Murphy, who is in charge of that city's birthday party every year. This time he has gone one better... he is credited with securing the appearance of June Bowdish, Miss Alaska of 1960, for the 73rd birthday.
The following advertisements appeared in The Wilson News in an effort to promote Wilson's first "Trades Day".The Wilson News
3-13-1916
*To the largest lady that comes to our store on Trades Day we will give a $4.00 time piece ~ Means & Lee
*Free to the ugliest man that visits our store on Trades Day a 100 pound sack of flour ~ M. H. Tennison
*The man buying the largest bill of merchandise on Trades Day we will give a $5.00 Stetson hat ~ H. A. Watson
*To the biggest footed man that comes to town on Trades Day, a good pair of hose ~ Corner Drug Store
*To the largest family coming to Wilson on Trades Day we will give 3 large cans of peaches ~ C. O. D. Grocery
*Shoes half soled .60 per pair ~ A. A. Edwards Shoe Shop
*10 packages of garden seeds for .25 ~ Moore's Grocery
*Free 20 pounds of sugar with each $5.00 purchase at The People's Store
*A set of dishes to the lady bringing in the largest dozen eggs ~ C. P. Hall
Wilson Historical Museum hours: Tues, Thurs. Fri. & Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00p.m.
COME SHOP IN THE WILSON MUSEUM'S NEW GIFT SHOP!!
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The Daily Ardmoreite, May 1924: For some time the lighting at the Carter County Courthouse has been in a bad way, nothing apparently ever has been done since the building was dedicated and occupied in 1911, with the result there are several wiring connections that have gone to the bad and are dead units in an otherwise perfectly good and well equipped county establishment. The Carter County Courthouse was considered the best in the state when it was built, and has cost the taxpayers very little to maintain.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
This is a picture of my grandmother's brother's shop. The calendar on the wall reads that it is August 1917. Price of a shave was 15 cents and a hair cut was 25 cents. Jesse is buried at Lone Grove, along with the many of his family members, as well as the not related Bridges, Elwood Bridges, who married my grandmother's only daughter, Oyta. My dad's mother was Annie (Bridges) who married Hugh Ernest Garrison (died 1937) and who later married Bill Rich in 1949. (I think they donated the land for the site of the Free Will Baptist Church in Ardmore.) Just thought I would share this little trivia with you. I'm not at all sure where Jesse's shop was located, but I'm guessing it was either on Caddo, near the train station or a couple of blocks west, perhaps close to the old post office. - Bill Garrison
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20a/JesseBridgesBarberShopAug1917.jpghttp://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20a/JesseBridgesBarber1918.jpg
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"I called a friend of mine that lives on the Navajo Reservation outside of Chinle, AZ on Sunday. I called because I haven't heard from him since before the coronavirus hit. I've known Teddy Draper for between 35 and 40 years. Ted is a pastel artist and jewelry maker. I think I may have mentioned him because his dad was a code talker during WWII.Ted told me that things are bad there. It all started with a religious meeting where one of the participants from Utah had coronavirus and he infected quite a number of the participants at the meeting. That's what caused the hot spot around Chinle. He said the airforce is now landing C-130s on their little air field along with Army helicopters and they have established two field hospitals there. Besides workers from the the CDC, FEMA and the WHO there is a contingent from Doctors Without Borders.
Ted mentioned that while he served in Vietnam he knew 5 people who died. In the last month he knows 22 people who have died from coronavirus on the reservation. Luckily Ted and his family live outside of Chinle and they have a garden and raise livestock so they make only infrequent trip to town.
On the reservation they have a shelter in place order and on weekends they have a curfew. The Navajo Nation has asked the National Park Service to close the Grand Canyon this year to help eliminate the further spread of the disease. Grants, NM is shut down. The New Mexico National Guard isn't allowing anyone in or out of town and that has been the practice for the past couple of weeks." -Monroe
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-----------------------------------------------"Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name.
Every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven.
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven.
You'll find your fortune falling
All over town.
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down.
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers.
If you want the things you love
You must have showers.
So when you hear it thunder
Don't run under a tree.
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uROuR3Jm6M
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
"Friends Make Life Worth Living"PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443http://www.OklahomaHistory.net
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