This and That Newsletter
www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vol 24  Issue 1,237     Circulation 5,000      October 8, 2020
Ardmore, Oklahoma
My email address:  [email protected]
580-490-6823

A Glimpse Into The Past

Elisah S. Mason established a post office in 1883 one-half mile east of the present site of Healdton. The community, called Mason after its founder, sported a few houses, a general store and a wagon yard. Charles H. Heald became postmaster in 1897 and the settlement's name was changed to Healdton. Heald was an intermarried citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.

At the start of the oil era Hamon and Ringling decided to build a railroad from Ardmore to the town of Ringling and approached Heald for permission to cross his land. They were turned down and the road was laid 1/2 mile west of the settlement.

Ben C. Heald succeeded his father as postmaster of Healdton. There was a rumor at Wirt, a little town west of the railroad that was often referred to as Ragtown, was planning to move to the railroad and establish itself as the hub of the activity that the recent discovery of oil had assured.

Ben Heald acted fast. He loaded his post office and his spare shirts on a wagon and relocated at the present town site.

All the major oil companies and their supporting operators and services soon established offices at Healdton. The populace is still supported by directly and indirectly by the petroleum industry.

The oil that was stored in earthen tanks and transported to the railroad at Healdton in wooden barrels loaded on wagons was worth but 30 cents a barrel at the time.
-Carter County History book 1957

A photo of Charles Heald

http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/CharlesHealdOfHealdton.jpg

August 1984
The work at filling in a tank on the northwest corner of the property donated to the town of Lone Grove for a park by the Sullivan family began in earnest as Rick Muse furnished a backhoe, road grader, and brush hog to the Kiwanis Club for work on the park site. Duke construction also furnished a backhoe. Muse, Charlie Rutledge, Harvey Wilson, Gary Hicks, H. E. Crowe, Tom Hewitt, and Duane St Clair, met at the park for a work day. Kiwanis are undertaking this project of development for the site, and have been given a $15,200 matching grant by the State Tourism group to help with the cost.

August 1967
An annexation election has been called for the Hennepin school district for August 28th. Hennepin School failed to meet state standards and has been closed. The election has been called to Annex part of the district to Woodland and the rest to Katie.

August 1928
Rolla Pruitt, 75, who came to Carter County nearly half a century ago, wrested a homestead out of the wilderness and saw that same homestead develop into one of the richest oil fields in Southern Oklahoma, was buried Monday afternoon. He died Sunday morning after a long battle against disease at his home in Pruitt City, a town named in his honor. He is survived by four sons, two daughters, his wife and three brothers, Byrd, Henry and H. H. Pruitt.

This is news to me. I've known of the Bellview Artesian well at Sulphur, but I never heard of it being known as Molacek Artisian well.

http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos20b/MolacekWellBellviewlSulphur.jpg

A grave marker I made this week.

http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/BarryBlalockGraveMarker.jpg

These are four corner grave markers I made this week. It is a brick turned on its edge and inserted 8 inches into the ground at each corner of a grave plot.

http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/ForsonCornerBricks.jpg

Q. To whom did Spain sell Oklahoma to in 1800?
A.  France

Q.  Who was Bryan county named after?
A.  Answer in next week's newsletter

Below is from This and That newsletter archives of October 9, 2008

"Mr. Jameson said that B. L. Owens hit a little bit of memory for you as you bought your first furniture there.  My dad Sidney Franklin (Slim) Pennington may have been the one who sold it to you or perhaps during that time frame delivered the furniture.  Dad worked for B. L. Owens for over 25 years and I worked part time during summers and special occasions as a kid. Because I was big for my age I was able to handle an end to any piece of furniture over the years.  Dad started in the delivery and then sales and was manager of both Ardmore and Healdton stores at times.  I remember most of the employee's names and the son's Ben and Vic Owens.   A lot of great memories and would love to be able to turn the clock back.  The building is now an antique store and every time I go back there I have to drive around the area including the old store.  Thanks to you for sharing your memories and thank you Butch for allowing us to remember and stay in touch." -Mike Pennington
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"Hi Butch. I love all the talk about Bois d'Arc trees. I bough a pier and beam house in Oak Cliff in 1988 that was built in 1923 and the "pier" part was stumps of Bois d'arc trees. They are very hard. The house still stands. I sold it in 2000 and have been back to drive by and look at the tree I planted several times.  That's 75 years of a firm foundation!"  -Claire

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The Wilson News submitted by Mindy Taylor
April 6, 1916
More Trades Day Ads:
Wilson is the fastest growing town in Oklahoma. It is surrounded by some of the most fertile land that can be found. It equals the Mesapoteme of Arabia. It is only 3 1/2 miles from producing oil wells. Wells are being drilled closer. This month offers the golden opportunity for contestants, as the business men have diversified the premiums so that all the people find something to contest for.
~ FREE! FREE! To the farmer bringing in the most eggs, a good egg case. Also to the biggest family we will give a nice set of cup and saucers. - C. Bucele & Son.
~ Casey's Cash Grocery will pay 11 cents for hens on Trades Day.
~ Some Pickles to the three families coming from the fartherest point. We will give to each one, 1 gallon of pickles. - P. W. McKay successor to Ward Bros.
~ We will give to the lady bringing in the nicest pound of butter on Trades Day, a nice coffee percolator. - C. P. Hall
~ Free Overalls for the best looking horse brought to town on Trades Day. - Wilson Merc. Co.
~ To The Lady coming from the fartherest distance we will give a 10 yard dress pattern. - The Fair Store
~ For Baby - To the lady bringing in the prettiest baby we will give a cut glass sugar bowl and cream pitcher. Baby must be under 2 years old - Economy Store
~ LOOK! For the biggest and best dozen eggs of any breed brought to my store on Trades Day I will give one gallon of pure apple vinegar. - C. O. C. grocery

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"Good morning Butch.

Your mentioning the Stanley No. 45 Plane twice now in your last two newsletters really got my attention because I have one!!! However, I only have one of the cutters and wish I had more. I did NOT know that they had continued to make this plane through the years and that a British company had made a 'knockoff' that even costs more than the Stanley company's product has.

Did you see this week's Antique's Roadshow on PBS. You can still 'catch' the show for the next few days in the repeat broadcasts. They feature one there that was made (possibly in the '40s) that was in like new condition with box and all, and was estimated to be worth $400.00 (because everything was there, plus its condition). It had been in the same family (passed from father to son) all the time.

The one that I have is much older and has its original patent numbers stamped on it. I'd already refused an offer of $75 on it a few months ago but have not been aware of its actual value (and still don't know for certain) considering its condition which is actually very good. I have sold several planes in the past in my antique store.

Also you mentioned the Bengal product that kills the colonies of fire ants and I checked out the website that you mentioned and ordered three of their products. I'd not heard of the company before but from your description of the results, decided to check them out. I'll let you know if I get similar results.

Your weekly newsletter is one that I always look forward to and am thankful that you can take the time to put it all together."  -Roy
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Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....

Q. Oh, I wish I had a history book of Wilson.... I was born there in 1934..... and we moved away probably in 1940...... I attended school there in first and second grade... Mrs Wiseman was one of my teachers..... anyone have a history book or know where I can purchase one.... thanks. -jo summers

A. Wilson Museum
http://www.wilsonhistoricalmuseum.org/museum_store/wilson-history-book.html
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"The whole financial structure of Wall Street seems to rise or fall on the mere fact that the Federal Reserve Bank raises or lowers the amount of interest. Any business that can't survive a one percent change must be skating on thin ice. Why even the poor farmer took a raise of another ten percent just to get a loan from the bank, and nobody from the government paid any attention. But you let Wall Street have a nightmare and the whole country has to help to get them back into bed again."  -Will Rogers

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

"Friends Make Life Worth Living"
Lone Grove, Oklahoma
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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