This and That Newsletter
www.OklahomaHistory.net
Vol 11 Issue 532 Circulation 5,000 April 5, 2007
Ardmore, Oklahoma
http://www.OklahomaHistory.netAs I mentioned in the last T&T, Jill and I set off Saturday morning to Ringling and any other places that caught our fancy. We arrived in Ringling a little after 10am, too early for a hamburger. We didn't find much in Ringling as far as places to eat, but there was this one on the Highway 70 I noticed. Its a new place called the Ranch House and from the looks at cars parked all around it, I can imagine the good food that awaits inside.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/RanchHouseRingling.jpg
In downtown Ringling we found the new Gleason Memorial Library on Main Street. It's named after Leon Gleason who operated the Ringling Eagle newspaper starting in 1957. Mr. Gleason died 2 years ago at the age of 94. All his old Ringling Eagle newspaper archives (a weekly) are now located in the new library. Here is a link to Mr. Gleason's obituary from The Daily Ardmoreite back in April 2005.
http://ardmoreite.com/stories/040505/obi_0405050017.shtml
Here's a couple pictures I took of the new Gleason Memorial Library on Main Street. We didnt get to go inside since the library was closed on Saturday.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/GleasonMemorialLibrary7a.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/GleasonMemorialLibrary7b.jpg
After spending some time looking around Ringling, and still not finding that hamburger, I suggested to Jill we travel north on Highway 89 toward Comanche, Oklahoma in Stephens county and take a look-see. After all, it was only 33 miles from Ringling to Comanche, and I had to find that burger by noon.
We made it by noon to Comanche. Comanche is located 6 miles south of Duncan at the crossroads of State Highways 81 and Highway 53. Being a town of only 1,500 souls there is not a lot of places to choose from to eat, but we did find one excellent eatery on the north edge of town called the Comanche Restaurant. Their old fashion burger at $3.09 is right up there among the top when it comes to burgers made the right way.
Comanche Restaurant outside The old Fashion Burger
While in Comanche Jill and I drove around the center of town, finally stopping and going inside the Comanche Arts and Antiques shop. It's located at the intersection of the two highways at the only traffic light in town. The shop has only been open for business for about a year, but had a lot of neat and interesting items inside. One thing that caught my eye were the 4 antique sewing machines. They were all in working condition, and this one priced at $150 sure was saying "buy me, buy me, buy me" when I was standing there. It was such a beauty, and I did come close to taking it home. The only thing this particular sewing machine needed was a belt and it would sew.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/ComancheSewingMachine2b.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/ComancheSewingMachine2a.jpg
Here's another old sewing machine in the store.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/ComancheSewingMachine1.jpg
Although the sewing machines from the past caught my attention, what really sparked my interest was the unusual floor in the store. The owner told us it was 4 days until their grand opening (a year ago) and they had bought concrete paint and already a coat on the floor. To the top of the floor they were going to use a dark brown paint and apply it with some kind of special effect applicator. She tried it first on paper and didn't like the look. Her husband said we better decide quick, its only 4 days until opening day. She decided to try a special effect using only the paint roller and holding it a couple feet above the floor and swirl it around and around, letting the dark brown paint kinda dribble onto the newly painted floor in long circular whisps. The results were a beautiful floor which everyone notices immediately after walking to the store!
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/ComancheFloor7a.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/ComancheFloor7b.jpg
After spending time in Comanche, and since we were only 6 miles south of Duncan, Oklahoma, so north we headed. The first thing I noticed coming in to Duncan is what looked like a thousands of cars at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center near the south edge of town. The Automotive Swap Meet was being held there last weekend when we came into town. We didn't stop but probably should have, we saw lots of old timey cars put-putting around Duncan.
On Main Street Duncan we found several antique stores. We visited several, and below is a couple interesting old items we found in the Duncan Antique Mall. This first picture is a couple old baby strollers.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/DuncanAntiqueMallStroller.jpg
This is pic is an old wash bucket (not the old washboard type). It must have really be a chore to wash clothes in in that contraption.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/DuncanAntiqueMallWashBoard.jpg
This is the business card for Duncan's Antique Mall.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/AntiqueMallDuncan.jpg
And just before leaving town near the east end of Main Street is a business called Gilley's Blacksmith and Welding shop. Outside in front of this business was a large bell. Its a nice looking bell, but the sad part is its got a crack in it.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/DuncanBellGilleys.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/DuncanBell7a.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/DuncanBell7b.jpg
After the torrential rains Friday evening, Turner Falls was flowing by the bucket fulls Saturday afternoon late when we came though on the old Highway 77.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/TurnerFalls033107a.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/TurnerFalls033107b.jpg
Speaking of antiques and things of years ago. We've had an oil painting in my family for around 75 years by the name of "Character Study". The artist is by a renown German painter Robert Emil Stubner. I tried to find more info on this painting by googling around the world, but didn't find much. Maybe someone can steer me the right direction to finding the value of this awesome painting.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/StubnerPainting1a.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/StubnerPainting1b.jpg
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/StubnerPainting1c.jpg
Last week's we had a link to the Google overlay for the Carter county schools and I hope many of you are taking advantage of the valuable information and photos to be found in the file. In the Annex Building of the Carter county courthouse is a room in which the school records of years ago are stored. I took some pics to share with everyone.
View 1 View 2 View 3 View 4 View 5 View 6 View 7 View 8
Close-up of census page for Newport, Oklahoma school in 1917.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/SchoolNewportCensus1917.jpg
Picture of the old metal draw pulls in which are stored the students' enrollment info.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/SchoolsPullDrawer.jpg
Ok, listen up all you lovers of history. I received a notice this week from Herman Kirkwood in Oklahoma City. Put a big X on your calendars for Saturday April 14th in OKC. The Oklahoma Outlaw and Lawman Association will hold their annual FREE conference on the 14th. It starts at 8am at the Fraternal Order of Police building at 1624 South Agnew, OKC. Herman Kirkwood, President of OKOLA, will open the conference. There will also be visits to some historical sites later in the meeting. The link below is a scan of the letter I received from Herman with more info. The conference is free and open to the public.
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/OKOHLA041407.jpg
crinoline: A coarse stiff fabric of cotton or horsehair used especially to line and stiffen hats and garments. A petticoat made of this fabric. A hoop skirt.
In last week's T&T I had a typo in David Cathey's email address. Here it is again incase you tried to send him email and it bounced back. k1200gt@earthlink.net
MAILBAG
"Butch, I was wondering if you had any information about Oklahoma Constables of the past. My grandfather was Constable of the the Lone Grove Township for over 10 years probably back in the 1930's or 40's. Is there a record or list of these Constables anywhere? Were they appointed and if so by whom? Who did they work for ? At that time townships didn't have a city government. Was it a job and were they paid? If so, who paid them? I'd like to know, what were their duties? I know my grandfather carried a gun, was that necessary for a constable? If anyone knows any information about Oklahoma Constables please e-mail me at tauj51@yahoo.com
"Butch, please tell Doug Williams thanks for sharing the gorgeous spring photos of Central Park. That park has changed so much for the better since when we were kids. I loved the pics so much I snagged some for my screensaver to calm my moments of homesickness." -Kathi G, Arkansas
"Azaleas in full bloom in Idabel, Oklahoma" -Doug http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos7a/Azaleas7a.jpg
"One of your readers commented about Lot-A-Burger, located in Tulsa. There are several Lot-A-Burger locations around town. I'm not sure if they are a Tulsa only chain, but he was right that they do serve a really good burger. He should also try Ron's Burgers sometime when he is in town. This originally started out as a very small burger joint located at 15th & Harvard. Ron allowed his children to franchise the name and recipes and now they are located all over Tulsa and surrounding cities. I think I actually have seen them in OKC too. You'll have to try Ron's Sausage cheeseburger, if you ever get up here. The Sausage Cheeseburger is a 50/50 mix of sausage and hamburger meat, formed into a patty and fried on the grill. They also make some great chili and Spanish fries. They feature a hamburger that has a hamburger patty along with a slice of ham. Ron still operates the original location, in case you would like to experience the original, if you can find an open stool. Of course, there is also Claud's Hamburgers, Weber's Restaurant, Brownie's Hamburgers and many more that serve excellent burgers around town. I've sent you information, in the past, about Weber's claim of inventing the hamburger and they still have a legitimate claim. They're still selling great little cheeseburgers cooked on the original grill that cooked the "claimed" first hamburger along with a big mug of their family recipe root beer. If you're a hamburger hound, you won't go hungry in Tulsa." -Gerald Whitworth, Glenpool, Oklahoma gerald.whitworth@cox.net
"Dear Mr. Wayne, Mr. Butch Bridges from Ardmore sent me an email and he said you play for Ardmore Indians in 1957 and you were League champions, well let me introduce myself, my name is Ernesto Wallerstein and I played for Ardmore in 1950- 51 -52 , five years before you did and we also were League champions in 51 and we lost the play off against McAlester 4 games to 2. My manager was Benny Warren , and I have pictures of the whole team, I played with the name of Ernie Klein and I played 3rd base. Now I live with my wife in Lakewood NJ and I love Ardmore very much, as you know the people of this small town are very special and I am sure they still are. I am very glad that I get in touch with somebody that played for Ardmore and I would like to keep in touch with you if it is not inconvenient for you (I am Cuban as you see how I write,. so excuse me my English mistakes)." -Ernie
"I looked all over the ancestry.com website and could not locate a S.N. Earp who had died in Oklahoma (buried at Gene Autry, OK) . He (assuming it is a man) definitely was not Wyatt Earp's brother as his brother's names were Virgil, Morgan, James & Warren. Wyatt died in Californina where he's buried. He was married 3 times and never had any children. There were actually a lot of different Earp families in the U.S. who migrated from Europe. So, it's probably that this S.N. Earp just had the same last name and probably had no connection to Wyatt Earp."
"May you all have a Blessed Easter. From an OLD Soldier."
Charles Wesley (1788) gave us various Easter songs; here are the first and last stanzas of his best-known hymn:
Christ the Lord is risen today,
Sons of men, and angels say;
Raise your joys and triumphs high!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply!
Soar we now where Christ has led,
Following our exalted Head;
Made like Him, like Him we rise;
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies!See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
Save on long distance calls, just a couple cents a
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http://www.CheapLongDistance.org
Oklahoma Bells:
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellpage.html
American Flyers Memorial Fund - Administration Webpage
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/crash66.html
Official American Flyers Memorial Website
http://www.brightok.net/~wwwafm
Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base Website
http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons
Mirror Site of the Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Website
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/airbase/
Carter county schools, past and present
http://community.webshots.com/user/oklahomahistory
Carter County Government Website
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/
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