This and That Newsletter
www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vol 24  Issue 1,230     Circulation 5,000      August 20, 2020
Ardmore, Oklahoma
My permanent email address:  [email protected]
580-490-6823

A Glimpse Into The Past

About 9 miles east of Ardmore on Highway 199 is Dickson, Oklahoma. In 1973 the Town of Dickson voted to hire their first City Marshal. The primary factor leading to the hiring was the many speeders along the highway in front of the Dickson School. The first Dickson City Marshal was Roger Barraza from Texas.

Aerial view of Wilson, Oklahoma 1957

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/WilsonOklahomaAerial1957.jpg

June 1928
T. A. Houston, extension director of the Southeastern State Teachers College of Durant, spent the night in Thackerville in one of the 20 residences which were torn from their foundations by the wind storm. He was in Thackerville to deliver the commencement address. He was in a frame cottage which serves as the teacherage when the storm struck. Two persons were injured in Thackerville by what is now being called a cyclone. Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Gibbs, and aged couple living in a two-room home, were the first caught by the wind. There two-room cottage was a mass of broken and twisted wood, and the couple were caught out in the open after the building was taken away. They were mercilessly hammered by hail and debris. Damage in the town will probably run as high as $100,000.

June 1950
James Leeper, 37 year old drifter, who has been held in Carter County jail since April 1st, on a charge of murder in the brutal, bludgeoning of James Gaston, an old-age pensioner, was released from jail today. The charge was dismissed without prejudice by Gene Ritter, County Attorney, who said the state had been unable to establish sufficient collaboration evidence to support it's charge.

June 1926
Carter County Sheriff Ewing London says, "Homebrew is furnishing competition that is about to ruin the bootlegging trade. What is commonly called choc beer, can be made in the home at a cost of about $0.20 a gallon. The only things that are in tight supply are bottles. "There have been fewer complaints than at any time since I took over the office," said London. The bootlegging business is about to suffer extinction.

June 1926
Guy Bailey, while exploring a cave 18 miles northwest of here picked up an old pistol that is probably 50 years old. The cave is 50 ft deep said Bailey and just five miles from the Jesse James cave. The gun is a Hopkins and Allen model. There are several marks on the handles which shows it's had real service. It's a six shooter that is out of commission and beyond repair.

Travis Eden of Thackerville has recently published his book Firefighter II - In Angel Hands. The book is about his Air Force fire department crash and rescue days at Kadena Airbase at Okinawa and his time with the Irving Texas Fire Department. He is presently employed at the Ardmore Air Force base. I just received the book yesterday so I haven't got to delve into it yet. But anyone connected to the fire industry should get enjoyment for it.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/FirefighterIITravisEden.jpg

UPDATE: I'm still thinking after over 22 years of publishing this rag, I'll close it down before the end of the year. So I'm trying to decide what to do with my website and it's tons and tons of history. I am looking closely at this Lifetime hosting company. Even their $20 onetime payment would suffice for my needs.

https://eurobia.co.uk

Q.  On April 9, 1947, the worst natural disaster to ever strike within the borders of Oklahoma. Where did this disaster happen?
A.  Woodward, Oklahoma
 https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19470409

Q.  Rock Mary was a distinguished landmark along the California Road. Where is the Rock Mary?
A.  Answer in next week's newsletter

Below is from This and That newsletter archives of August 21, 2008

The reason for the reader's inquiry this week as to the location of the county attorney's office, he remembered as a young lad his dad taking him to the 2nd floor and showing him the bullet holes in the door facing at the DAs office.  I had to sadly inform him that, yes, the second floor is where the county attorney's office was located and has been in that same location since 1911.  But the door facing with bullet holes is no more.  During some remodeling a couple years ago, that door facing was replaced with a new piece of wood, and unbeknownst to the maintenance crew, the door facing held historical memories for many. But I did snap a picture back in 2001 of the bullet hole, so not all was lost during the remodeling.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/BulletHoleDAoffice.jpg

So in answer of Mike's question about the location of offices around 1910, below is that article from a 2001 T&T.

The Daily Ardmoreite, December 10, 1911

......upon approaching the building from the west, north or south, where three entrances are located, the visitor is immediately impressed with the solidity and strength of the building, with the great thickness of the walls as indicated by the deep reveals of the windows and doors, the enduring quality of the material of which they are constructed, resting upon heavy Tishomingo gray granite base and continuing to the copper covered dome, of Bedford Eolithic limestone.

The entrances are all protected by the same gray granite. No material is exposed to the weather, except granite, stone, and copper, material that will stand for ages without deterioration. Upon entering the building through massive copper doors, from any one of the three sides, you find yourself in the spacious vestibule lined to the ceiling with beautiful veined Vermont marble in three colors. The floors of the vestibules, corridors, and public spaces are all laid with beautiful white tile with black borders. passing through the vestibule you enter into wide corridors which are veneered, light and on'half feet high with beautiful polished Vermont marble, specially selected in three colors. The corridors are in the shape of a cross and standing in the center you are under the beautiful art glass dome, which is forty five feet above your head.

The corridors lead to the grand stairway, which is constructed of the same Vermont marble, with large marble newel posts, surmounted by beautiful bronze electrical fixtures.

On the first floor will be found the ladies rest and toilet rooms and a large airy room located in the southeast corner of the building which is given over exclusively to the use of the women and babies of Carter County. Across the hall will be found the rooms of the superintendent of public instruction. In the northwest corner is located an assembly room for public meetings and across the hall is the county surveyor and county coroner, with both public and private offices.

In the basement is located a large store room. A tunnel leads from the courthouse to the jail, so that the prisoners may be taken through the tunnel to an elevator, which carries them to the third floor, where held-over cells are located back of the district court room. This tunnel serves a couple purposes of permitting the passage of the prisoners and of carrying the steam pipes. The steam boiler for the heating plant of both the jail and the courthouse are located in the jail, which is an advantage for many reasons. The building is heated by a vacuum heating system, which is the best money can buy, and the installation of both the heating and plumbing are the best in the state.

The visitor will be struck by the beauty of the grand stairway and its easy ascent. Upon reaching the second floor, which is the main office floor, you find yourself in the corridor, which is finished with marble to the same height as below and of the same beautiful marble. Upon this floor is found the treasurers office, with his private office and a large two story vault fitted up with metal fixtures. All vaults of the building being lighted from the outside through wire glass windows and these windows are protected by metal shutters on the inside, making them record rooms indeed and giving perfect protection to all county records. The vaults are fitted with the latest and best metal furniture, designed with special care for books and the filing of papers. The treasurers office as are all others, are provided with private toilets. On the southeast corner is located the county clerk's office with the same vault space, private office and toilet as the county treasurers office. Between the two is located the county commissioners court room, and is so arranged that the public may pass through the corridor. In the northeast corner is located the register of deed's office, complete with vault, and private office. In the northwest corner is located the county attorneys office and the grand jury room. In the center of the west side is a large room for the bar library.

The third floor is reached by the second flight of marble stairs, with the same easy ascent. To the left on the south side is the district court room of beautiful proportions and perfect acoustic properties. Behind this court room is located the judge's chamber, and next to this chamber is the district clerk's public, private office and vault.

The jury box is so located that the jury in passing out do not come in contact with the public, but file from the jury box to private stairs, which lead to the fourth floor. The jury rooms are accessible from the corridor by private stairs, and also from the county court room. They consist of three large rooms fitted with every modern convenience, such as bath and toilet. With these jury rooms there is another large room to be used as a jury room but is not yet finished. The north side of the third floor is given up to the county court room, with the clerk's and judge's offices and large vault. On the east, beside the court room, is a ladies witness room.

The interior of the corridors and court rooms are decorated in pleasing colors. Special attention has been given to the arrangement of the offices to facilitate the work of the officers, and to have time to the public. The furniture is of beautiful plain design of extra heavy constructed quarter-sawed oak, and has been pronounced by the officials as a model of convenience and comfort.

The building is constructed of reinforced concrete and steel and is absolutely fireproof, and a visitor is impressed with the perfect lighting and ventilation of the building.

As to the second branch of its practical duty, which is to teach and record. It is intended to teach honesty and truthfulness; for in this building will be found no shams, no cheap imitations, such as painted iron to imitate stone, or plaster to imitate marble.

In the main lobby will be found a memorial to one of the deceased citizens of this county. In no other building in this state and in few building in the United States, will you find a memorial of this character. It teaches us to remember our neighbors, and draws us closer together. It is one of the most touching and beautiful lessons the commissioners had us record.
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 "Before Fort Arbuckle there was Camp Arbuckle established by Randolf Marcey 2 miles south of Picket Store Pontotoc Co. on Sandy Creek where the California Road 1849, and Black Beavers Delawares were camped. It has been excavated and documented by East Central University."
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 "Who recalls the jingle: "Pepsi-Cola hits the spot. 12 full ounces, that's a lot. Twice as much for a NICKEL, too. Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you. Nickel, nickel, nickel, nickel; trickle, trickle, trickle, trickle."
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Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....

Prime Time TV - Late 1940s
 https://youtu.be/H6sOTBtcCcA://youtu.be/H6sOTBtcCcA
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There's another reason that Dover, Oklahoma should be remembered. It was the last location that the Wild Bunch (Doulin-Dalton Gang) tried to rob a train. The train was carrying a $50,000 Army payroll. They couldn't get the safe open so they robbed all of the passengers. The date was April 3, 1895. One member of the gang, "Tulsa Jack" Blake, was killed during the robbery. -Monroe Cameron
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Your mention of the Mulkey Hotel brought back a lot of memories of when I attended Ardmore High School in the mid 50's. A lot of my classes were on the south of the school overlooking the Mulkey. Several of my friends and I had study hall last period in the home ec. room on the 1st floor, south end. We took turns sneaking out to go buy candy for all at the hotel. The teacher in charge would conveniently leave the room which made our leaving easy. She was a very sweet lady named Mrs. Bush and she probably knew what we were doing, also her niece, Noritta Ledbetter, was one of the group. -R. Helms
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“We have always held to the hope, the belief, the conviction that there is a better life, a better world, beyond the horizon.” –Franklin D. Roosevelt

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

"Friends Make Life Worth Living"
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net

 

Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/viciousdogs.html
Oklahoma Bells: http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellpage.html
Bill Hamm's Cemetery Database
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/carter/cartercm.htm
American Flyers Memorial Fund - Administration Webpage
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/crash66.html
Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Website
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/airbase/
Carter County Government Website
http://cartercountyok.us

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