This and That Newsletter
Vol 14 Issue 682 Circulation 5,000 February 18, 2010
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
email address: [email protected]
580-657-8616
I received an email this week asking about info on a lone grave marker north of Mannsville, just east of the Norton Bridge. Caitlin Higginbotham said her mother showed her the location of the grave years ago, and she had always wondered who was buried there all alone. I am sure there is a story here, and maybe a T&T Reader will know more. Here is Caitlin's email in her own words:
"I was wondering if you could tell me about a grave that can be found in the woods just off the dirt road that travels between the Norton Bridge just outside of Mannsville, to the outskirts of Russet, almost to Ravia. There is one solitary headstone and it reads "John Brown, Born Aug. 8, 1850 Died Aug. 8, 1903". My mother showed me this a few years back, and I've always been curious about who he was." -Caitlin Higginbotham
Here is a map showing the location, pretty close, that's located just off a dirt road.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/JohnBrownMap.jpg
Below are a couple pictures sent in by Caitlin of the grave marker, one a close up.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/JohnBrownGrave3.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/JohnBrownGrave4.jpg
If anyone knows more about this isolated grave NE of Mannsville, please let us know.
By the way, this Norton Bridge is the same bridge that's been closed since May 2008 when a heavy piece of equipment tried to cross it, almost crashing through to the Washita River below.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/NortonBridge050208.jpg
Since Jill and I moved out here on these 3 acres south of Lone Grove, there has been several times I needed to get my small chainsaw out and cut some trees down. Several of those I've cut down were almost too big for my little chainsaw, but somehow we managed to get them down. What I needed was a tree cutter like my neighbor has, a Kansas Klipper tree shear. That machine will cut up to an 11" tree down at the bat of an eye. It will cut larger trees, just has to take several bites. And it cuts the tree right down at ground level. The man in Kansas makes only a few every year by hand. I wish we had about a dozen of these Kansas Klippers working from one end of this county to the other until every cedar tree is cut down. They are the scourge of this state. Just think, 130 years ago when Ardmore was only a few tents, not a tree could be seen west of Caddo Street. And today what trees we have are being overtaken by the cedars. Shame.
Beeson Mfg Inc. in Sedan, Kansas
http://www.KansasKlipper.com/album
Now 24 Ardmore, Oklahoma Criterions online and ready to view thanks to
Ardmoreite Steve Hamm's labor of love. More are to be added and more are needed
(if you have one not on the website). Probably not another website in the entire
U.S. like this one......
http://www.ardmorecriterion.com/
Since last summer I been hand feeding every evening 3 or 4 deer behind our home. Last week I bought a $50 automatic photocell deer feeder that is working great. It holds nearly a 50 lb sack of deer corn and the timer goes off in the morning and evening at feeding time. Now I don't have to go out there in the cold and rain and mud to feed them. Nice.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/DeerFeeder021510.jpg
I just found out this week that our good friend in Sulphur, Bill Uhles, passed away last December. Many knew him as Seaweed. Bill has made many contributions to the T&T over the years, including the caves in the Arbuckle Mountains. Jill and I stopped by his home in Sulphur on several occasions and he gave us seeds to plant and other plants. In fact just last Fall he mailed us several packets of seeds he'd bought on Ebay and we were saving them for Spring planting. Sometimes I don't realize just how many friends we have out there through my weekly ezine, until someone passes away, and they are no longer be here to share the history they know.
http://www.sulphurhighalumni.com/Memories.html
http://www.interment.net/data/us/ok/murray/wm_taylor.htm
http://adaeveningnews.com/deathnotices/x546078327/BILL-UHLES
And I just learned today another faithful T&T Reader and friend passed away in Tulsa. Tom Arnold has shared many stories in the newsletters the past few years. His grandfather started the Arnold Monument Company on C Street SE back around 1940. Here is a photograph of the monument business in 1965. The business is gone now, pretty much a vacant lot, except new homes are being built on the properties.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/ArnoldMonuments1965.jpg
Tom Arnold sent in a pic of his Dr. J. J. Boyd pill bottles about month ago to share with everyone. I remember those bottles so well, when we'd go to his office on F Street NE to buy his 'sugar pills' for 1 dollar for poison ivy back in the 60s. Nothing worked better.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/DrBoydBottle10a.jpg
http://www.ardmoreite.com/obituaries/x856605583/Thomas-Eugene-Arnold
The past few weeks I have really been humbled by the over 850 friends that's been added to our Facebook site. We appreciate every one of you.
http://www.facebook.com/butchbridges
Gas prices today in the Ardmore area......
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/gasprices.html
Q. What famous west bound
trail went through far NW Oklahoma panhandle?
A. Santa Fe Trail
Q. What turnpike between
OKC and Tulsa was named for what governor?
A.
(answer in next week's issue)
Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"I vaguely remember a couple of fellows who played for the Ardmore Indians in the old Sooner State League along about 1950 or so. One was J. C. Dunn and the other was an Indian named Overton James. Overton and I both played for the Durant GIs during the 1954 season. We nicknamed him "Ugh." Along in the late 40's I lived in Grandfield and pretty well kept up with the standings in the Sooner State League. Since they were in my part of the state, I was a lot more familiar with the Lawton and Duncan teams than any of the others. I also attended many of Wichita Falls, Texas games during that time. Wichita Falls was in the Big State League which was Class B. The Sooner State League was Class D." -Royse Samples, Cache, OklahomaJuly 28, 1887. The first train (Santa Fe Railroad) arrives in Ardmore. The town consists of a few tents, but the train brings lumber and other building supplies. Among the tents were two containing stores. One run by Sam Zuckerman and another by Frank & Bob Frensley. Not a single tree exists within the townsite west of the railroad tracks. Caddo Street becomes the first named street in town. So named because it was originally an old wagon road from the 700 Ranch house north to Caddo Creek.
The Frensley brothers used the lumber and building supplies off the first train to construct a frame building for their store. Facing south on Main Street, it was the first structure on Main and was 80 feet wide and 100 feet long. The first clerk in the store was Robert Scivally, and the first customer was Mrs. W. J. Jennings, who bought a bolt of calico cloth and some groceries.
"Loved the story of Henry and Hollie Berry. I remember him fondly. My grandfather worked at the courthouse. So I grew up there until I was around 13 years old. Henry Berry always had a piece of candy for me. He was a wonderful person." -Debbi Price
"Butch, I was out taking photos of the snow on Feb 11, 2010. It was getting dark and I decided to head home when I passed the Black Gold Casino and Travel Center on Hwy 70 at Wilson. Turned around and went back to attempt a night exposure of the colorful neon lights in the snow. Looks like they do a good business, snow or no snow." -Dwane Stevens
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/BlackGoldCasino021110.jpg
"Wow, that ‘air show’ would have been a good one to see. Someone took the time to scroll through the pictures and even has sound clips. You can turn on multiple clips and it sounds like a dog fight."
http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1a/Edwards09/Edwards09.html
"Butch, I noticed a C. P. Hall furniture store picture on your website from the 1920's or there about. I think this C.P. Hall was my grandfathers brother. C. P. is short for Cyrus Perry. My grandfather was George Nute Hall. Their father was named Perry Hall and is buried in Carroll County, Tennessee. Two of my grandfathers brothers left Carroll County, Tennessee for Oklahoma by way of Russellville, Ark. around the turn of the century from what I can gather. I'm just wondering if I might have any relatives still left in Ardmore."
Thanks,
David Hall [email protected]
Jackson, Tennessee
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/CPHallBook1983a.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/CPHallBook1983b.jpg
Additional note: Bill and Dolly Hall Pound of Ardmore
"This is a message to our friends in Kansas and Oklahoma. On Monday night, February 22, 2010, I will be presenting a gospel music concert at the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon in Benton, Kansas, near Wichita. There is no admission charge and a free covered dish supper will be served. Supper will start around 6:30 and the concert around 7:30pm. But we do ask you to bring a covered dish (with food in it!!!) For more information and directions, please call 316-778-2121." www.LesGilliam.com
HEAVEN'S RAIN Feature Film
EXTRAS NEEDED IN OKC and MCALESTER, OK
The movie HEAVEN'S RAIN has made some scheduling changes and has needs for extras from Thursday through Tuesday. To see the exact needs, see below. And make sure to follow the submission guidelines precisely. Many emails have been lost due to mistakes made in submissions. And please read the notes at the end of the casting calls.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 - Oklahoma City
40 RESTAURANT AND BAR PATRONS are needed. These will be adults, 18 and over, of all ethnicities. These scenes are in a nice restaurant and an upscale bar, not a seedy hole-in-the wall. Those with clean, professional looks should apply. Call time will be approximately 8:00 am and should be full day commitment. Lunch will be provided. To submit, email a recent photo, name and ALL contact information including phone number to RESTAURANT PATRONS at [email protected] . Submissions MUST be received by 2 pm Thursday.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22 - McAlester, OK
60 PRISON PROTESTORS/REPORTERS are needed. These will be adults, 18 and over, of all ethnicities. These scenes take place outside of the prison and we have people of all walks of life: from professionals to more blue collar looks. We are not sure about call time, so if you submit, you must be willing to appear in McAlester at any time. To submit, email a recent photo and all contact information, including phone number, to PRISON at [email protected]
IMPORTANT NOTES:
--To be considered for any combination of the above dates and locations, YOU MUST SUBMIT INDIVIDUALLY. So if you are available for both days, you must submit for each casting call.
--ONLY SUBMIT ONCE TO EACH DAY'S NEEDS. We are getting our emails jammed by people submitting multiple times, especially by cell phone, for the same day of needs. Multiple submissions from the same person for the same day will be deleted immediately.
--Other than the Native American children on Thursday, we do not need children again until later in the filming.
--NO PHONE CALLS UNLESS WE CALL YOU FIRST!
ABOUT THE FILM
HEAVEN'S RAIN is a powerful family drama telling a true story of love, loss, anger, redemption and ultimately forgiveness. It is written by Brooks Douglass and Paul Brown. It stars Mike Vogel ("Colverfield", "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"), Erin Chambers ("Days of Our Lives", "Medium", "CSI:NY") and Silas Weir Mitchell ("Prison Break", "My Name Is Earl"). It is directed by Paul Brown ("Quantum Leap", "The X Files"). The film takes place in Oklahoma and Brazil from the 1960s to the late 1990s.
Chris Freihofer ("The Killer Inside Me", "Pearl", "Elizabethtown") is casting the project.
Because of the low budget, extras cannot be paid for their work in this film.
"Thanks Butch, I uninstalled my Web Root anti virus and installed the Free Microsoft Security Essentials. It was easy and my computer does react faster. Again Thanks, Stay warm." -Ken Kemp
http://www.microsoft.com/securityessentials/
"Hi Butch, I spent my teen years near Enid and Dover - at that time (1960's - 70's) you could still see part of the wrecked locomotive sticking out of the quicksand during drought times. It’s on the south end of the RR bridge over the Cimarron River, adjacent to Highway 81, both following the route of the Chisholm Trail. I don't know if the engine is still visible today. In the 1960's the Cummins Construction Co. of Enid wanted to raise the old loco but permission was denied as the boiler rests against part of the bridge and stabilizes it. The sad truth seems to be that greed caused the accident – the original bridge was built as a temporary bridge but the funds to upgrade it were diverted to buying up smaller railroads to increase the size and power of the railroad’s monopoly – hence the temporary bridge became permanent – until it collapsed in 1906." -Don Loving
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/dover.html
Q. Do you know where the Bud Ballew old home place is in Lone Grove?
A. Its just a couple doors west of the Lone Grove Liquor Store on the north side of the highway
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/BallewHomePlace.jpg
"I am writing you this evening in hopes that I can get connected to family that are connected to Walter G. Lamb who owned the grocery store in Ardmore, Oklahoma! I had seen a Linda Lamb had posted a few messages about her family! Are there others in the area that are related? Walter's mother was my grandmother's sister! Would love to get in contact with any family members! Thanks!" -Barb Lamb [email protected]
10th Medal of Honor Weekend set for April 7-10, 2010 at Gainesville, Texas. A must see event!
http://www.gainesvilleregister.
I'll Never Find Another You by The Seekers 1968
There's a new world somewhere
They call The Promised Land
And I'll be there some day
If you will hold my hand
I still need you there beside me
No matter what I do
For I know I'll never find another you
There is always someone
For each of us they say
And you'll be my someone
For ever and a day
I could search the whole world over
Until my life is through
But I know I'll never find another you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ga9Bs4fzSY
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
Save on long distance calls, just a couple cents a
minute!
http://www.CheapLongDistance.org
Ardmore High School Criterions Online
http://www.ardmorecriterion.com/
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/
Ardmore School Criterions
http://www.ArdmoreCriterion.com
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