This and That Newsletter
www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vol 25  Issue 1,256    Circulation 5,000      February 18, 2021
Ardmore, Oklahoma
My email address:  [email protected]
580-490-6823

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us,
What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

A Glimpse Into The Past

Baptist Institute

The Ardmore Baptist Institute opened to enrollment October 3, 1944 under the leadership of W. Lee Rector. It has grown steadily through the years graduating 55 students, most of whom are now pastors of churches in the Southwest.

Reverend J. Cullis Smith, pastor of the First Orthodox Baptist Church, is also president of the Institute, which the church supports with 20% of its income. The faculty is composed of J. C. Wilkes, Reverend Don Kitch, Reverend Raliegh Campbell and Mrs. Emerson Whitten.

The three men instructors are graduates of the Institute and are residents of Ardmore.

Reverend Campbell is also pastor of the Baptist Church in Kaufman Texas. Besides Oklahoma students enrolled in The Institute, biggest Cane from Kentucky, Colorado, Mississippi, Wyoming, Wisconsin, California, Kansas and Texas.

The Institute requires that a student enrolling in the school be a high-school graduate and naturally a good moral character. A two-year course is talked, which the student is graduated and ordained.

Women students have been graduated from The Institute. Often a husband and wife both attend school.
 -from Carter County History book 1957

January 1968
Vincent P. Kucinski, federal prisoner, overpowered a jailer and escaped from the Carter County Jail. Kucinski's escape constituted the second jail break this year. James Kenneth Johnson and Marie Welch pulled a gun on Jailer C. C. "Shorty" Claxton and fled on January 1st.

January 1951
Ned Hammitt decided he'd go back to work after the baseball and football seasons were over so he bought back the store he sold to Dub Taliaferro.

January 1927
Frank Jackson, a Milo farmer, is dead. Homer Tedder, Newport Constable is suffering from knife wounds, and Bob Short, deputy sheriff, narrowly escaped death in an encounter between officers and some county residents. The difficulty arose when Tedder, accompanied by D. C. Rose & Royce Arnold, went to a dance and arrested Joe Jackson, for drinking. The officer had Joe Jackson in his car when several dance participants rushed the car and freed Jackson. Tedder and his companions got away and drove to Shorts' house. The officers then returned to the dance and we're faced with gunfire and individuals with knives. Jackson was killed in the ensuing battle and Tedder arrested.

Turner Falls north of Ardmore is sure beautiful wearing ice from the record cold this week.

http://oklahomahistory.net/turnerfalls/TurnerFallsIce021521.jpg

As of today we have reached area people about unclaimed property totaling over $620,600.00. And the search continues....

So with the above being said, how long has it been since you checked your name or a family member's name? Its easy to do a search at the Oklahoma State Treasurer link below. I think every state in the union has a unclaimed property website through the respective state treasures website.
https://OKtreasure.com

Q. What county is the richest county in Oklahoma?
A.  Roger Mills - per capita $28,427

Q.  What governor said "Oklahoma is OK"?
A.  Answer in next week's newsletter

Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....

Hey Butch, Great read as usual. My fave statement you make each week is that you say at the bottom "see you next week." That way I know there will be at least one more. Thank you. Re Bill Mauldin, I have a book he wrote Up Front. It's a great book. -Jerry
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Butch: I see your map for Dripping Springs between Ardmore and Dickson. Further, I have driven that road for two years back and forth to Tishomingo going to MIT (Murray in Tish). Additionally we drove to Dickson to go to Sulphur as I was growing up. I have to say I have never seen any indication of that community. The Dripping Springs Ok that I know is in the far NE corner of the state, east of Tulsa, almost in Arkansas. What else I will have to admit is that google maps shows both but the one I'm talking about actually shows streets and homes. -Thal
http://oklahomahistory.net/maps/DrippingSpringsOKmap.jpg
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The Daily Ardmoreite
November 3, 1946
FIRST CARTER COUNTY AMPUTEE TO RECEIVE FREE CAR FROM UNCLE SAM
Sam P. Hale Jr., congratulated James Hattensty, war veteran, who lost a leg in the conflict, on being the first disabled Carter county soldier to receive a motor car under the terms of the federal government plan to provide automobiles for those who were left permanently crippled by the war.
Hattensty is one of a number of veterans who were gravely crippled in the war in this county. He made application for his government-provided automobile some time ago and it was recently delivered. Hale said that in Hattensty's case, no special equipment had to be installed in the car, since the latter has an artificial leg and is capable of operating the vehicle without difficulty. Where a man lost both legs, for example, the cars came equipped with special controls to serve his needs.
Hale said that a large number of applications are on hand but that a maze of formalities must be gone through before the ways can be cleared to make delivery.
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Museum Memories
Compiled by Melinda Taylor
The Wilson News
June 1, 1917
From present indications June 5 will be the date of the greatest patriotic demonstration Oklahoma has seen in its history. The registration of men eligible under the first call for military service and an immense drive for the sale of Liberty Bonds will be the occasion.

Governor Williams has declared a holiday and suggested that it be attended by such services and demonstrations as are appropriate on one of the most solemn and significant occasions in the history of the nation. Churches, school children, civic organizations, city officials, women's clubs, all will combine in the patriotic observance of the day. "Liberty Day" is the name being given to the event. In many sections churches will hold special services.
Probably in every part of the state all forces will combine for the sale of Liberty Bonds. Insurance men have agreed to give their services on June 5 to the placing of bonds.

In many sections women's clubs are taking up the work, as are chambers of commerce, lodges, Christian endeavors and Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. and the Boy Scouts. These are co-operating with the banks, through which the bonds are being placed.
The Wilson Historical Museum is still closed due to COVID-19. Please visit us online at www.wilsonhistoricalmuseum.org.
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Below is from This and That newsletter archives of February 19, 2009

"With all the interest in the caves in this area, there is one I have not seen mentioned in the T&T . It is locally know as "Mystic Cave". It is located on "Rock Prairie".. two or three miles East of the old community of Nebo and Hwy 177. This property is now owned by the Mahard Egg Company and they do not welcome visitors. As a young men, my close friend Bill McGiboney and I visited the cave several times. The McGiboney farm was on Oil Creek about 1/2 mile S.E. of the old Nebo store, so Bill knew that area very well. The entrance to the cave was at just a hole in a little knoll of rocks and brush.
At one time there was a chain ladder leading down to the floor of the one small room. A small stream flowed thru this room and into a hole in what I would call the South wall of the cave. The hole was large enough for a person to enter but Bill & I never had the necessary gear to go any further. (Nor did we want to.) Legend has it that spelunkers entered the hole and explored down stream. How far, I don't know. It is said that in one room, there was a steel pipe which came thru the top of the room and extended into the water ad ended just short of the bottom of the stream. It was to a windmill on the surface. On one of our visits, I was wearing an old US Army field jacket and the big side pockets were full of oats. (not oatmeal but oats as they grow, in the husk.") I put the oats into the stream. We later found some of the oats floating in "Blue Springs" and also in "Buck Irwin Springs." Both springs are on Chapman Ranch property near the twin silos. The water flowing from Blue Springs goes into Oil Creek on McGiboney property. Oil creek starts several miles north and is a small, weak stream until the Blue Springs and several other springs flow into it. It is an excellent fishing stream. Lots of Bass, "Goggle Eye" and Bream." -Bill Uhles
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"Butch, there seems to be some debate about the location of wild woman cave. it is located approximately 8 miles NW of Springer in the W 1/2 SW 1/4 NW 1/4 SW 1/4 of Sect 32 Range 1 East Township 2 South of Murray county. Most USGS maps show the cave. It is as described some of the passages are 2 ft tall to 25 feet tall and very wet."
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 The Daily Ardmoreite
08-27-1917
HUMAN FLY HERE: MAKES CLIMB TONIGHT
William H. Owens, the "human Fly," who climbs the face walls of the tallest buildings is in the city and will give an open-air exhibit at Main and B streets tonight at 7 o-clock.  Owens will climb the face of the Princess Theater building, making the assent with no assistance other than his hands and feet.  The Carter county commissioners have engaged Owens to climb the courthouse Wednesday evening and unfurl an American flag from the staff above the court house dome.

The Daily Ardmoreite
8-30-1917
FIRE TRUCKS WERE ACCEPTED
The new fire apparatus, which was tested some time ago, was declared to meet requirements and G. W. Croom, city clerk, was ordered to pay $19,800 out of city funds.  A two-story brick building will be constructed on East Main street and one of the new fire motors installed there to take care of east Ardmore.  A new concrete floor will be placed in the old station and repairs and improvements will be made on the city hall.
The paving on West Main street and on Broadway is to be completed within a day or two, according to the report made to the commissioners.  All paving companies are said to be rushing their contracts.  Difficulty in getting material has been the occasion of many delays.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos9a/EastMainFireStation.jpg
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 The Daily Ardmoreite. Monday, March 7, 1910. Cope, Oklahoma: Cope is a pleasant little town, one grocery store, post office and a blacksmith shop, a good school house.

Cope. Formerly Darthie. In northeastern Johnston county, 2 miles west of Wapanucka. Post office named changed to Cope February 4, 1902, and discontinued December 31, 1913. Named for Henry T. Cope, first postmaster.
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 Healdton Herald
04-06-1933
From the column Reminiscences of Early Days in Indian Territory by W. F. McKnight:

T. J. POLLOCK lived east of the post office several miles where state senator TOM REXROAT once lived. They were good friends and neighbors and they attended together debates and entertainments in the old Iron Top school house where Rexroat taught school. T. J. Pollock was prominent in the Farmers Union, farmed and raised livestock, later elected to state legislature, on the side of the working man.

Healdton Herald
May 4, 1933
From the column Reminiscences of Early Days in Indian Territory by W. F. McKnight:

The building of the Santa Fe RR across Indian Territory, establishing Ardmore, soon the JIM ORME store did not have to depend on hauling supplies from Gainesville, Texas. The Healdton  post office got mail from Ardmore instead of Spanish Fort, Texas. The first automobile to carry the mail was propelled by steam like a locomotive, creating trouble with horse and mule teams. Post offices were established at Lone Grove, Cornish, Dixie, Velma, Chagris, Loco, Graham and Fox. Postmasters at Healdton in the order of their service were: E. S. MASON, J. W. ORME, Dr. J. A. GORDON, W. F. MCKNIGHT, C. H. HEALD, B. C. HEALD, and the present one J. H. SPARKS.

The first schools were subscription schools. A teacher would visit a neighborhood where there was a schoolhouse and solicit parents to pay tuition per month. One of the first subscription schools was two miles east of Healdton on Walnut Creek, covered with corrugated iron, called the Iron Top school. The first teacher was old CAPTAIN CHAMBERS, with a peculiar trait. He was a lover of hounds and a pack followed him to school each day, where they stayed on the school grounds, then after school, they followed him home.There were two things that rendered Iron Top famous, one was that U. T. REXROAT was a teacher and Rev. BRAD HAYS preached there.
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In life, all good things come hard, but wisdom is the hardest to come by.  -Lucille Ball 1911-1989

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

"Friends Make Life Worth Living"
Ardmore, Oklahoma
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net

Oklahoma History Website #2 (backup website)
http://www.okiehistory.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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