As most know I am always on the search for a good hamburger, whether it is in Ardmore area, or the highway travels we make around Oklahoma. Every now and then someone will ask me how I ever got started taking photos of hamburgers, and I really don't know. I remember taking a picture of my hamburger one time, posting it on my website, and then all these emails coming in commenting on the photo. I remember one teacher in NYC (born in Healdton) and his class had just returned from lunch break, and he showed them a picture of a hamburger I had taken. In NYC they don't have burgers like we do. He and his class spent the entire hour discussing hamburgers!
Steve Hamm and I stopped in at noon this week at the Corner Cafe in Ardmore. It's located at12th and E Street NW across from T&M Pharmacy and I enjoyed one of the best burgers I've eaten in a long time. I ordered the Old Fashioned burger and it reminded me of how my mother cooked them in the 1960s. And at only $3.60 the Corner Cafe burger is worth every dime. When I posted a picture of that Corner Cafe burger on my Facebook, 98 people clicked the LIKE button. Amazing.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CornerCafeBurger011314.jpg
The above photo does not really do justice for the burger, the meat patty was THICK.
Link to my Hamburger webpage.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/hamburgers.html
On my Facebook several comments were made about hamburgers I wanted to pass along in my newsletter not only about the Corner Cafe burger, but also the Hamburger Inn. Even though there is some controversy as to whether the term Educated Burger originated in Ardmore, it sure makes for good conversation.
Q. "Butch, what exactly is on the Educated hamburger? I tried Google, but I get different answers on different sites! I always thought Mustard, onion, lettuce, tomato and pickle. At least that's the way I got them when I would go to the Bowling Alley in LG, but I did tell them to leave the tomato off of mine! All I did was ask for a burger no tomato." -Deb in Texas
A. "Educated burger back in the 60s was Bun, Mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, and meat! leave off the onions, pickles, and mustard!" -Rick in Ardmore
"Mr. Brown at the Hamburger Inn would say, "send it to school (educated burger)and put it on wheels (order to go)! Another thing they would always say as you were leaving was "tell em where you got it" -Stan in Ardmore
Very soon we need to visit the Chickasaw Cultural Center at Sulphur and try a buffalo burger!
Speaking of my Facebook, as many of you know I reached my 5,000 friend limitation by Facebook way back in the summer. I try to remove anyone on my Facebook who has passed away, to make an opening for the ones waiting in line to be added to my friend's group. If you know of anyone on my Facebook who has passed away, let me know. I am still in awe, and humbled at the same time, to reach 5,000 on my Facebook. Thanks everyone.
Below is a sign used in the old Ray's Roller Rink at the old Armory Building on Sunset Blvd. The photo was posted on Facebook by the Greater Southwest Historical Museum. You will notice Admission is spelled wrong.
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/RaysRollerRinkSign.jpg
Speaking of the Greater Southwest Historical Museum in Ardmore, several times a week on their Facebook they post a photo of bygone days. Some really interesting history being shared by the museum crew. Thanks you guys for the great photos! Check it out on Facebook.
The photos in the news article below reminded me of the 1930s Dust Bowl years. This dust storm was just last Sunday in the panhandle of Oklahoma.
http://newsok.com/photos-from-sundays-dust-storm-in-cimarron-county/article/3923682
Here are some bricks I sandblasted the other day.
http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/JonNelsonBrick.jpg
http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/PamNelsonBrick2.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/ShellyBrick1.jpg
Q. Two years before Oklahoma
became a state in 1907 the Civilized Tribes met and drafted a constitution and
propose a name for the new state to the Federal government? What new state name
was proposed to President Theodore Roosevelt?
A.
State of Sequoyah.
Hum.... Ardmore, Sequoyah 73401. Just doesn't sound right.
Q. My father was a full-blooded
Cherokee and my mother, although Caucasian was culturally a Cherokee. In a
government seizure of land my family was forced to relocate from our native
Oklahoma to San Francisco. I married young and had two daughters but I managed a
degree from San Francisco State University. There I became interested in Indian
affairs and became in 1985 the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. What is
my name?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That newsletter archives of January 15, 2000:
"This past week The Daily Ardmoreite ran a
feature story on the new "flight suits" the Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service
is sporting around now as their official uniform. The medics sure look better in
those "flight suits" then we did back in the early 70s when I worked there. We
wore solid white shirts and pants. Back in those days there was a Burger and
Fries at the SW corner of Grand and "K" Street here in Ardmore. I was wearing my
ambulance uniform, standing in line, and the person behind me made a derogatory
statement about our uniforms. Maybe he saw something we failed to see? Times,
they are a changing." -Butch Bridges
----------------------------------------------------
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST
The Daily Ardmoreite
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Monday, May 28, 1906
HISTORICAL MURDER CASE
Final Chapter Being Enacted
Murder Committed in 1902
Guthrie, Okla., May 27. - Sheriff Elliott, who recently went to British Columbia, has wired here that the prisoner under arrest there is Sam Green, one of the men under indictment for murdering Sheriff Bullard and Deputy Sheriff Cogburn, in 1902. Extradition papers are being prepared at Washington, asking for the return of Green to Oklahoma. When arrested the prisoner gave his name as G. McGiven. He arrived at Vancouver in April from Portland, Oregon. Sheriff Elliott went to Portland, in September, 1905, and to North Dakota in August, 1904, when he was informed of the supposed arrest of Green and his co-partner, Pete Whitehead. Both trips, however, were wild goose chases, but the Vancouver prisoner is positively identified as Green.
The killing of Jack Bullard, sheriff of Roger Mills county and his deputy Cogburn, occurred in June, 1902, near Cheyenne. Pete Whitehead and the Green boys, Sam and Richard, with Mrs. Sam Green and a confederate named Otis Stuhl, were in hiding near Cheyenne, having in their possession a bunch of alleged stolen horses. Bullard learned of their whereabouts and with Cogburn went to arrest them. As they approached the underbrush, where Green and his partners were hiding, the latter opened fire on the officers, instantly killing Bullard and fatally injuring Cogburn.
All members of the Green-Whitehead gang
made their escape, excepting Stuhl and Mrs. Sam Green. Following their arrest,
the defense was made that Bullard and Cogburn had called the women of the gang
thieves and outlaws, and that the members of the gang fired on the officers to
protect the honor of their women. But little evidence was ever given this story,
however.
----------------------------------------------------
"I have received permission from Markie
to tell you about a book, "Living On Holson Creek, A Choctaw Journal", written
by Neal White. This book is a collection of short stories written about Neal's
growing up years in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma as well as current goings on
here on Holson Creek. It has stories that will make you laugh, stories that will
make you cry, and some that will make your blood boil. This is Neal's first
book, and as he is continuing to write short stories, there's a chance of a
second book somewhere in the future. But for now, if you would like a copy of
the current book, just send a check or money order for $19.95 (which includes
shipping and handling) to:
Neal White..... Rt.1, Box 2685..... Wister, Oklahoma 74966"
NOTE: This book is now selling used for over $100 if you
can find one.
----------------------------------------------------
"I have a question for you....it's an
Ardmore mystery that no one has been able to help me solve yet. Apparently about
1905, my great grandfather, Sylvester Clarence Ballard, was shot and killed in
the Ardmore area. I have been unable to locate his grave or any information
about it. I gather he was a bad person and got into some trouble around Lone
Grove. My grandfather located his grave allegedly in Love County in the 60s but
made my entire family promise to never ask around about Sylvester Ballard in the
Ardmore or Lone Grove area. He was allegedly followed and warned to never return
to the area or he'd be killed." pj@unforgettable.com
----------------------------------------------------
"Hello, It was great seeing the old
Confederate Home. My Great Great grand father (Samuel Snellgrove) might be in
the photo. He lived there when my Great Grandfather died in 1907( Norman
Snellgroves). Is there any information on the residents of this home? My family
went down to visit the home 3 years ago but came back with nothing. We did find
Normans grave i a cow field in Hastings,Ok. Well thanks again for the chance to
see the old home as it was back then." bulldog@busprod.com
----------------------------------------------------
Gas prices today in the Ardmore area......
http://www.oklahomagasprices.com/index.aspx?mss=152754
Check gas prices by town or zip code anywhere in U.S.
http://www.kmov.com/traffic/gas-buddy
Non-ethanol gas (pure gas) stations in the Ardmore area (updated).
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/puregas.html
Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"Does anyone remember what year Turner Falls froze over? I bought one of those cedar keepsake boxes with the photo on top, but there is not a date on it!" -Debhttp://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/TurnerFallsFrozen.jpg
"Butch: I need some help from you & T&T readers. It concerns the two story yellow brick building I own at 130 B SW, one block south of the Ardmore post office. I need some historical facts about the building. It was built before statehood by Ed Galt (I know a Galt built it, not sure if it was Ed or not). It was originally a residence, then converted to a small apartment building designed for salesmen who needed only one room with a bath at the end of the hall. Woodrow George bought it in the mid-sixties and hired his brother, S.A. George, a contractor, to convert it to an office downstairs and residence upstairs. The upper floor has a wood burning fireplace, which I'm advised is the only one in Ardmore. Any T&T reader who can help with this structure is urged to contact me via email james@jcloardmore.com
Thanks." -james clark
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/130_B_SW_Ardmore.jpg
"Butch, Thought this might be a marker tree. It is on Sam Noble Parkway about the 4th house on the north side. Do not know the address. I have a painting of this tree that Sylvia Harper did for me years ago. Love this tree and the painting. Thanks for the wonderful newsletter." -Peggy
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/ArdmoreMarkerTree.jpg
"Ok, right after I saw your last newsletter I went coyote hunting and saw this. I snapped a pic and dropped a pin on a map then compared my pin to this map http://www.bourlandcivilwar.com/Marker3.jpg and its in line. Looks too young to me but thought I would submit it to others to take a look. Anyone think this might be a marker tree?" -Regan
http://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/MarkerTree2014b.jpg
"It might be worth reiterating the fact that most of the caves discussed on this website are on private land and the people visiting them are doing so illegally and without the adequate equipment to do so safely. Although most of the information is inaccurate, posting maps and location descriptions only invites inexperienced groups and individuals to trespass; many of whom are damaging the caves in the process. If any of the landowners who own property overlying these caves wish to have these cave securely gated to prevent trespassing and reduce liability, the AKCRI will do so for free, charging only for the price of materials. The AKCRI can be contacted at arbuckle_karst@yahoo.com More information about Cave Gating can be found here http://batcon.org/pdfs/sws/AgencyGuideCaveMineGating2009.pdf -Kevin Blackwood
3rd Saturday Sidewalk Sale
Date: Saturday January 18, 2014
Time: 6:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: 1100 Woodall-Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX
http://www.sidewalksale.com
James A. Little wrote (1905) - "We can never realize what a great blessing the pawpaw was to the first settlers while they were clearing the great natural forest and preparing to build cabins. Planting fruit trees was rather an experiment for a number of years. The pawpaw and a few other wild fruits of less value, were all their dependence so far as fruit was concerned. Well do I remember sixty or more years ago my father would take his gun and basket and go to the woods and return in the evening loaded with pawpaws, young squirrel, and sometimes mushrooms of which he was very fond. But there will never be a recurrence of those days which were the happiest of my life."
Pickin? up paw paws,
Put ?em in your pocket
Pickin? up paw paws,
Put ?em in your pocket
Pickin? up paw paws,
Put ?em in your pocket
Way down yonder in the paw paw patch
http://www.livescience.com/34669-what-is-a-paw-paw.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P-xESpk7Q0
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
Bells of Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
Carter County Courthouse Paver Project
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/pavers
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/
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