This and That Newsletter

Last week we talked about Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association special investigator Joe Ramer and his help to the sheriffs office in finding cattle rustlers. Joe covered Carter, Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Pontotoc, Stephens and Tillman counties. Joe retired in November 2006 after more than 30 years with the Association. Austin Green is the present investigator for the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association for this area.

http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos9a/AustinGreen.jpg

A T&T Reader dropped by to see me this week who grew up in the 800 block of 5th NE just 2 blocks north of me, only about a dozen years earlier. He had a story to tell I hadn't heard. We have had lots of mention in past newsletters about Buck Garrett, the most famous sheriff of Carter county.

Buck and his wife lived at North Washington and 3rd Street where the present day Washington Theater (old Ardmore school auditorium) is located. Back in Garrett's day there was a 2 story residence Buck and his family lived in located on that corner. After Buck's death, his widow and family continued living there, Mrs. Garrett turning it into a boarding house to generate some cash to make ends meet.

In about 1942 or 1943 a black man was in the house talking to Buck's son and an argument began between them. The black man ran out the front door, turning north across the lawn, and into the street. Buck's son was following right behind him and pointed a gun at the fleeing man, shooting him to death on the red bricked street between the house and the old Ringling station depot (ONM&P railway line).

Mr. Brown could not remember what the argument was about, but sure remembers watching it all take place, and his grandmother (they lived across the street to the east beside Harris Gas Station) grabbing the boys up and rushing them into the house for safety.

A Reader wrote in to the Mailbag last week asking about more info on an old homeplace on Douglas Boulevard. She noticed the other day some remodeling is taking place. The place was the home of Ardmore pioneer Stephen A. Douglas and his family, building the house in 1886.

A couple of our Barred Rock chickens has had some diarrhea off and on for several weeks. Last week Jill mixed a couple big heaping tablespoons of yogurt with some oats and chicken scratch, and the chickens loved it. Within 24 hours the diarrhea seems to have cleared up and we've not seen hardly any since.

Speaking of the chickens, these Barred Rocks are the most adorable, sweet, gentle chickens. They are lovable pets for sure. I just love Milo the rooster. Here is Milo up close and personal. He's sure a pretty bird.

This is Milo (on the right) with his 4 good looking pullets. He keeps a close eye on them.

Jill is always coming up with something different when it comes to arts and crafts, and this week she took our old auto tag and used it as the roof for a bird house. We mailed the bird house to her mother in California for her birthday. Probably the only birdhouse in CA with a Oklahoma tag as a roof!

We stopped by the Corner Cafe at 12th and E Street NW about a week ago and picked up one of their old fashion burgers. All I can say is its got room for improvement. But Jill loved their breakfast burrito! I'll get one of those next time we stop in there (bacon, chunks of baked potato, onions, real cheddar cheese).

I'm running out of hamburger places to go, so send me some locations nearby. By the way, this week Mom and Pops at the south edge of Lake Murray burned to the ground. Hope they rebuild, they sure put out a good hamburger.

Doug Williams picked 10 pounds of grapes this week at a friend's house. They are not sure what kind of grapes these are, and hopes someone will know?

Q. What river was tamed to make Oklahoma's Port of Catoosa?
A. Arkansas River (07/31/09 still be debated ???)

Q. Where was Oklahoma's most profitable gold mine located?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)

The Wilson News
May 11, 1916
Last Tuesday night while Ples St. John was returning to Hewitt, he was held up by three men and robbed of $9.25. He had been to the picture show at Wilson and says that three boys were in the lobby when he was given the change, and the police are trying to locate these boys.
May 18, 1916
What is known as the city Tennison has just opened up 6 miles northwest of here, between Wilson and Ragtown. The principal builder, Mr. W. H. Tennison, who the town was named after, said that while the town was very small (one general store and one hotel) it was a sure comer, and the name of Tennison, Okla., will be on the map some day.
What might have been a serious fire was averted last night at the Royal Cafe by the timely actoin of some of the men, who were close by when a rag that had been used to clean off the stove caught fire. Mr. Harper stated that outside of the loss of a good stove rag no damage was done.
Black eyed peas .07 a bushel.

-Wilson Historical Museum hours: Tues. Thurs. Fri., Sat., 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We have a great boy scout display!!

We've had some greatly needed rains the past few days, several times. The ponds are full, and animals happy, and the grass growing green again.

Oklahoma Morning
Writer Jerry Chestnut

Oh!
On an early autumn day
Freshness of the breeze brought the mornin'
And the sun came risin' up
Shinin' down on leaves that
fell like golden snow
And the mystery of it all
Made the problems of the day seem unimportant
That Oklahoma mornin'
Puts Oklahoma sunshine in my soul

There ain't nothin' like an Oklahoma mornin'
Nothin' like it when you're feelin' low
It warms up your mind and your body
It puts Oklahoma sunshine in your soul

Our campfire came to life
The crackling of the fire and smell of coffee
Turned back the time
To a day when a man could listen for a while
To the sound of mother nature
Without the sound of industry in the background
That Oklahoma mornin'
Puts Oklahoma sunshine in my smi-i-ile

There ain't nothin' like an Oklahoma mornin'
Nothin' like it when you're feelin' low
It'll warm up your mind and your body
It puts Oklahoma sunshine in your soul

One more time
There ain't nothin' like an Oklahoma mornin'
Nothin' like it when you're feelin' low
It'll warm up your mind and your body
It puts Oklahoma sunshine in your soul
It puts Oklahoma sunshine in your soul