This and That Newsletter
Vol 12 Issue 592 Circulation 5,000 May 29, 2008
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
email address: [email protected]
Toll Free Number in Oklahoma: 580-215-4333
Oklahoma had plenty of scary storms the first part of this week. We were lucky in south central Oklahoma, the weather didn't get too bad. We did get nearly 3 and 1/2 inches of rain the first thing Wednesday morning. I heard from a lady about 2 or 3 miles on west of us on Cheek Road, they had 5 and 1/2 inches of rain in their rain gauge by noon Wednesday. Boy, that rain was much needed all in this area. But we did have an electricity outage Wednesday morning from 7am to 2pm. I thought we'd left the frequent electrical outages behind when we left "E" Street SW 4 months ago, but now I'm wondering. I know a couple whose property adjoined ours on the east, he was retired from OG&E, one day I was over at his house, just before they were moving out. He told me he's lived in a lot of places in his lifetime, but he's never lived in a place where the electricity went out so often as it did on "E" Street SW. I hated to tell him it was just a way of life in our part of town for as long as I can remember. Two outages in 14 days here south of Lone Grove. Maybe it was better on "E" Street SW. lol
I had a request this week for any info on a Dr. Bynum who lived in Ardmore around 1910. I've looked in "my books" and find nothing. Maybe someone knows of this Dr. Bynum??
Besides Pete and Repeat coming over to visit us nearly daily since moving to Lone Grove, we now have a big lovable dog we just call Big Boy visiting on a daily basis. He lives just down the road on the south side. We love him just like he was our own, and give him a dog biscuit when he comes over. He keeps Jill or I company when we are outside working.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/BigBoy052808.jpg
Here is a pic I snapped of Big Boy, helping Jill in his usual way while she de-weeds a row of newly planted hedge seedlings.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/HedgeRow052808.jpg
This week a visitor from Healdton brought me a book titled 'Ghost Town Tales of Oklahoma' by Jim Marion Etter. There is plenty of reading about forgotten or nearly forgotten Oklahoma towns of long ago from cover to cover in this book. Let's see, Paw Paw, Lost City, Keokuk Falls, Dempsey, Possum Hollow, Akins, Oktaha, Strong City, America, Hess, Bigheart, Salt Springs, Hamburg, Florence, Corner, Grand, Tamaha, Melvin, Ingalls, Navajoe, Whitefield, Spencerville, San Bernardo, to name a few. I can see I have lots of Oklahoma history to read in this 246 page book.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/GhostTownTales.jpg
Sunday June 15th will be the Woodford-Milo Reunion, to be held at the fire department building there at Woodford. Jill and I plan on attending, we sure had a great time the last time, meeting so many people we knew and sharing old time history from that area.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/WoodfordMiloReunion2008.jpg
Ardmoreite Bob Kerr brought by an old photo this week he found in his collection. Bob did not know who was in the group, where it was taken or the time it was taken. But since most of his old photos are of Ardmore long ago, he assumed the photo was taken in Ardmore. Maybe someone can give some insight on this photo?
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/MysteryPhoto8a.jpg
Close-up of the flags in the picture.........
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/MysteryPhotoFlags.jpg
The Daily Ardmoreite, May 1924: For some time the lighting at the county courthouse has been in a bad way, nothing apparently ever has been done since the building was dedicated and occupied in 1911, with the result there are several wiring connections that have gone to the bad and are dead units in an otherwise perfectly good and well equipped county establishment. The Carter County Courthouse was considered the best in the state when it was built, and has cost the taxpayers very little to maintain.A T&T Reader from out at Wilson brought Jill and I an unusual delicacy this week, something I had never heard of in my life. A jar of Rose Petal Jelly, made from wild roses from their acreage. Jill has plenty of rose bushes planted around our property, we may have to try our hand a Rose Petal Jelly making soon. I must say, its a delicious tasting jelly, one with a unique flavor all its own!
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/RosePetalJelly.jpg
http://www.hidden-knowledge.com/garden/may97/jelly.htm
Speaking of delicacies, Jill has been making me vanilla pudding that is out of this world. She heats the milk to where it just bubbles a little, not boiling, then adds a mixture of flour, sugar, and little salt with a whisk, and when its the right consistency where the pudding sticks to the back of the spoon, removes it from the heat, and she adds butter and vanilla extract. And of course before I dig in with my spoon, I make sure it has a helping of Braum's Light Whipped Cream. I guarantee you, this creamy homemade vanilla pudding can be served in any world class restaurant! yummy good.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/JillsVanillaPudding.jpg
By the way, Jill's recipe calls for cornstarch, but she substitutes flour and doubles the amount of flour. So it would be 6 tablespoons of flour, vs the 3 listed for cornstarch in the recipe.
Visit the Oklahoma History Boards, start a topic if you want too!
http://oklahomaroots.proboards83.com/
Q. Who was "the best athlete for the first half of the 20th century"?
A. Jim ThorpeQ. What governor added the State Crime Bureau to the state agencies?
A. (answer in next weeks T&T)Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"Hi Butch, Steve Norton here from Duncan, OK. I sent you a picture a couple weeks back of a watch fob I found in Ardmore. I was reading your newer edition of "This and That" and noticed people were talking about Oklahoma tax tokens. We find a lot of these metal detecting and most have been folded in half which must have been a common practice before throwing them away. There was also a 5 mil in addition to the 1 mil. It was made out of a brass-like material. I have included a picture of some of these I have found along with some old tokens that used to come in soap." -Steve [email protected]
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/SteveNortonFinds.jpg
"Mr. Bridges, Otto Powell was my uncle, He ran for Carter County Sheriff for many years in the 1950's- his slogan was A Country Boy plows his way to town, and had posters made up with him in his white shirt and blue jean overalls with his horse and plow! That out fit was all I ever saw him dressed in. He wore clean pressed white shirts with them all of the time. I was reading the comments in your- This & That about him. I enjoyed reading the stories about him- he was in all 50 states- and never owned a car. He was an auctioneer that is why he talked so fast! I ask him why he never married, he told me every time he ate a bean he would throw one in the jar, and pretty soon the jar was full and he decided he could not afford a wife! when he ran for sheriff for Carter County- I remember asking him what he would do with it if he got it, and that was not his intention, just running was enough for him.! I believe he was in all 50 states and never owned a car! He hitchhiked every where he went! He loved to catch big trucks and ride with them. One time I remember he was sitting on his mother's porch in Wilson Ok. we got in the car and started home to California driving when we got home to Dos Palos Calif. he was sleeping on our front porch. He beat us there some how. I just joined your mailing list." [email protected]http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/ttphotos3b/ottopowell1966.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/Elections1966.jpg
"My husband played for Ada Herefords and Cementers in 1954, as catcher. We are here in Baton Rouge, and one of our close neighbors Bob Trumenella played for McAlester in the early 50's. Ada at that time was a farm club of the Baltimore Orioles. Dusty Rhodes, a pitcher, lived close by Ada." -Joanna and Fern Smathers, Baron Rouge, LA
"I'll start by telling you I was born and lived in Sulphur Okla. I was born there Sept. 1952. I am 55 yrs. old now. Best young years of my life were there. I want to know if any of your readers might help me find my fathers family? Please. They are the Woodruff's. My uncle Charlie Woodruff was mayor of Sulphur when I was growing up. My fathers name was Milie Woodruff. I also had an aunt Babe who made and sold tamales behind the rodeo gerounds for years. Please if anyone could help me. My father passed away in Shawnee in 1981. Thank you so very much for your time. I have lived in Porterville California since 1972. Please e-mail me any and all info you or someone might have on my family. They lived in Sulphur many years, originating from Texas. Thanks again." -Nellie Woodruff Tray [email protected]
"Butch: I had a computer problem last week! I found a good shop here in Healdton. It is called Paul's Resale. It is located at 608 Highway 76 South on the north side of 'Movies and More'. I know there is some good shops in Ardmore but it sure is nice to have one here in Healdton! I just took the Computer Tower down to his shop and he had it ready to go that evening, at a reasonable price! Very best to all." -Hoot Gilbert
"Hello Butch, I think you done a small article on the Rock Cafe at Stroud, Oklahoma with some photo's taken a couple years ago. I was on my way to Sapulpa on May 21, 2008 and The Rock Cafe in Stroud Oklahoma had burned early that morning. Also read in the Tulsa World that it could be restored providing the walls are not too damaged, because they want to keep it as original as possible." -Russ Martinhttp://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/RockCafe052108a.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/RockCafe052108b.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/RockCafe052108c.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/RockCafe052108d.jpg
"Does anyone have the recipe for the "Deer Meat Casserole" that pictured of in last week's "This and That"? I would like to have a copy of it. This was at the Healdton Chuck Wagon Cookoff." [email protected]
"Mr. Bridges, My name is Jimmy Aycox and my father was David Aycox who ran Healdton/TransCare Ambulance back in the 80's and I remember growing up and hearing your name mentioned as being one of the founding heroes of EMS. I've been in EMS now for 23 years and I work for MedStar EMS in Fort Worth Texas. I was just wandering if any of your Readers might have any pictures or information of Healdton/TransCare Ambulance. Thanks." -Jimmy Aycox [email protected]
"Butch, I wanted you to know there are plans to tear down the old gas station at the Airpark. I had inquired about it when the last tenants moved out. I was thinking about making it kind of a general store with gas pumps and lots of retro aviation themes. As usual I have the ideas but that's all so I probably could not rent it at this time anyway. It's in really bad shape as it is and would take a lot of work inside to get it up and going again. If anyone wanted to tackle something like this now would be the time to look into it as it may soon be gone."
The Daily Ardmoreite7-13-1944The first map made of the city of Ardmore was made by W. S. Crockett, who celebrated his 80th birthday anniversary last Thursday. His map was made the official map of the Chickasaw Townsite company and it was the first map ever to be made of the city.The Wilson Post Democrat7-21-1960Hats off to Ardmore's Hardy Murphy, who is in charge of that city's birthday party every year. This time he has gone one better... he is credited with securing the appearance of June Bowdish, Miss Alaska of 1960, for the 73rd birthday.
The following advertisements appeared in The Wilson News in an effort to promote Wilson's first "Trades Day".
The Wilson News
3-13-1916
*To the largest lady that comes to our store on Trades Day we will give a $4.00 time piece ~ Means & Lee
*Free to the ugliest man that visits our store on Trades Day a 100 pound sack of flour ~ M. H. Tennison
*The man buying the largest bill of merchandise on Trades Day we will give a $5.00 Stetson hat ~ H. A. Watson
*To the biggest footed man that comes to town on Trades Day, a good pair of hose ~ Corner Drug Store
*To the largest family coming to Wilson on Trades Day we will give 3 large cans of peaches ~ C. O. D. Grocery
*Shoes half soled .60 per pair ~ A. A. Edwards Shoe Shop
*10 packages of garden seeds for .25 ~ Moore's Grocery
*Free 20 pounds of sugar with each $5.00 purchase at The People's Store
*A set of dishes to the lady bringing in the largest dozen eggs ~ C. P. HallWilson Historical Museum hours: Tues, Thurs. Fri. & Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00p.m.
COME SHOP IN THE WILSON MUSEUM'S NEW GIFT SHOP!!
"Pennies from Heaven" is a 1936 American popular song with music by Arthur Johnston and words by Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name.
Every time it rains it rains
Pennies from heaven.
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven.
You'll find your fortune falling
All over town.
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down.
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers.
If you want the things you love
You must have showers.
So when you hear it thunder
Don't run under a tree.
There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uROuR3Jm6M
See everyone next week!Butch and Jill Bridges
http://www.OklahomaHistory.net
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402Save on long distance calls, just a couple cents a minute!
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Oklahoma Bells: http://www.OklahomaHistory.net/bellpage.html
American Flyers Memorial Fund - Administration Webpage
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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
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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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