This and That Newsletter
www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vol 25  Issue 1,265   Circulation 5,000      April 22, 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

VFW Auxiliary

26 members made up the original body of the Ardmore Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary to post 4570 for which was formed March 1, 1949.

Mrs. Rupert Martin was the first president and is still active.

Other presidents have been Mrs. W. J. Berryhill, Mrs. O. F. Cissell, Mrs. Leon Nichols, Mrs. J. H. White, Mrs. M. F. Ferris, Mrs. Harold G. Morris and Mrs. Pete Fair. Mrs. C. H. Bean is president for 1957 and the membership has grown to 67.

Charter members who are still active include Mrs. Marian B. Berryhill, Mrs. Alvin Bruce, Mrs. Cecil button, Mrs. John Cummings, Mrs. Fair, Mrs. Ferris, Mrs. Bertha Freeman, Mrs. Nellie M. Gordon, Mrs. Vic Hollister, Mrs. Sally Hughes, Mrs. Juanita Landrum, Mrs. LaRoche, Mrs. Annabelle S. Shafer, Mrs. Burt Wages, Mrs. Hallie White and Mrs. J. H. White.

The auxiliary each year does hospital work, rehabilitation, and conduct community service and youth activity projects.
-Carter County History Book, 1957

March 1927
Seven rural schools scored as model schools for Carter County. They were Glen, Roundup, Blackjack, Poolville, Milo, Stockton, and Graham. Things such as the size of the school grounds, playground equipment, and quality of water are included in the evaluation.

March 1927
The old Crinnerville school building burned down March 13th. The cause of the fire is unknown.

March 1951
Carter County taxpayers will get an opportunity to see where their money was spent when the doors of the new office and jail are thrown open to the public March 17th. The building was officially completed March 7th, but minor details had to be fixed. The construction of the new Annex Building and repair and rework of the courthouse cost more than $202,000.

March 1968
A temporary board was elected as the first step in formation of the Southern Oklahoma Water Corporation to provide water to rural eastern Carter County and northern Love County. The first directors are Herman Day, Andy Arnold, Arvel Jones, Albert Cullum, and Milo Watkins.
Note: I saw where Andy Arnold just passed away last Sunday the 18th.

March 1951
Movie star, Van Heflin, who spent part of his childhood in Lone Grove, and working in his grandfather's pharmacy, is one of the busiest and most versatile actors in Hollywood. He was enrolled at the University of Oklahoma when World War II called and he became a lieutenant in the field artillery. His grandmother, Mrs. Mary Catherine Heflin, recently sustained a broken hip and enjoyed a three and a half hour operation. Mrs. Heflin, who still resides in Carter county, is 98 years old.

A some grave markers I made.

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

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

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

As of today we have reached area people about unclaimed property totaling over $772,000. 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://apps.ok.gov/unclaimed/

Q.  Perched above the beauty of Lake Eufaula sits Oklahoma’s newest town. This charming town is unlike anything found in Oklahoma and the moment you arrive, you’ll feel like you’re in Seaside, Florida, rather than the Sooner State. What is the name of Oklahoma's newest town?
A.  Oklahoma's newest town is Carlton, Oklahoma - Carlton Landing.

https://carltonlanding.com/

Q.  What president attended the dedication of Skyline Drive in 1961?
A.  Answer in next week's newsletter

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

I do remember that my dad hand dug some graves at the McAlister cemetery back in the late 40's. That was when we didn't have anyone to oversee the care of the cemetery. I also remember that when my dad died, some men hand dug his grave. This was in the early 50's. Then Grace Gentry stepped in and began to oversee the cemetery. I don't know the date. She did this until her death and then her daughter, Doras Richards took it over. During this time Johnny Jackson joined the board and later became the president of the board. Doras had health problems and couldn't continue so Johnny Jackson continued to oversee the cemetery with other board members. He has done an amazing job and I hope this will continue for a long, long time!! Today, when someone passes, Johnny Jackson calls the County and they come out and open the grave and then closes it after the funeral. -Cleta Hipley, Sec-Treas McAlister Cemetery, Overbrook Oklahoma
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Work Day for Red River Station Cemetery
Nocona, Texas
The cemetery board has planned a workday at the Red River Station Cemetery on May 22 @ 10:00 am. We really need all the help we can get. If you want to go but aren't sure how to get there, several of us are meeting at the Old Jail in Montague, TX at 9:30 that morning. Bring hand tools, weed eaters, mowers, saws, whatever would work for yard work. Bring your lunch and join us if you can! -Max Brown
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Below is from This and That newsletter archives of April 23, 2009

Here is a marker recognizing the "Queen City of the Chickasaw Nation" located by the railroad track in downtown Ada.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos9a/AdaOklahomaMarker041909.jpg
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Sylvia Moore sent in a couple photos of the old store at Baum, Oklahoma.  The Baum store was ran at one time by her parents, Doc and Elvie West.  The store is longer there, but I remember riding my Honda to Baum in my teenage years to buy a pop there, when Pete Middleton (x-Ardmore fire chief) was running the store.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos9a/BaumStore09a.jpg

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos9a/BaumStore09b.jpg
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The Daily Ardmoreite
Monday, November 6, 1916

ROBERT R. DAVIS, who was brought from this home at Fox a week ago to the HARDY hospital suffering from severe heart trouble, passed away yesterday morning. The funeral was held at the Broadway Methodist church and interment at the Rose Hill cemetery.

Uncle BOB Davis was one of the most loveable characters in this county. He was born in 1843 and when he was 17, he joined the Bluff City Grays and fought for 4 ? years in the Confederate cavalry under General BEDFORD FORREST. He was reared in the time of the war in city of Memphis and was with the boys from that city that joined the army. Following the war he settled at Brownsville, Tennessee and resided there until 1891 when he moved to Texas. In 1910 he moved to Fox in this county. He was a member of the Methodist church, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Carter County Democratic central committee. He was an active Democrat and expressed the hope he might live until Tuesday when he would get to vote for Woodrow Wilson. The duties of the election weighed on him and he was in a delirious manner urging his sons to take the ballot box out to the Fox voting precinct. The Odd Fellows had charge of the funeral and pallbearers were selected from personal friends and neighbors while honorary pallbearers were chosen from membership in the Carter Democratic Central Committee.

The deceased is survived by his widow and ten children, eight boys and two girls, all surviving. Their mother was not able to attend the funeral. (not all names are given due to a misprint in the obit). They are (?name) of Durant, (?name) of Nocona, DOUGLAS of Fox, CHARLES of Graham, TURNER of Lawton, W. D. of Fox, EMPSON of Lawton, R. L. of Fox, Mrs. BETTIE MOORE of Lindsay and Miss FLORINE who is with home folks. A suit of Confederate grey shrouded the form of the old veteran and the casket was the same color.
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I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.
-Henry David Thoreau

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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