We have mentioned several times the past few years about the Great Hanging of 1862 in Gainesville, Texas. Local townspeople took the law into their own hands, turning into a lynch mob, and hanging 40 suspected Unionist, and shooting two more who tried to escape. This all took place just a few feet south of California Street on the east side of Pecan Creek in Gainesville. 100 years later in an attempt to right a wrong, a granite marker was erected on the very spot along the creek as a memorial to those who died. This week Jim Hubbell sent in a photo of the marker after it was moved back to the creek after a year absence waiting on the completion of dirt work along the banks.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/GainesvilleMonument032014a.jpg
A overall view of the area along Pecan Creek on the east side of Gainesville, Texas.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/GainesvilleMonument032014b.jpg
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-great-hanging-at-gainesville-texas-1862.10285/
From my March 2001 newsletter:
"Good morning Butch, Thought you a/o your neat subscribers might be interested in some random wanderings from the good ol' days. As a kid, about 1938/39, a huge circus type tent was erected in Sulphur, on the west side of Rock Creek near the old cotton gin. For the first few days they held a real old-time Hallelujah Revival , then they put down a hardwood roller skating rink for several days, and guys and gals came from all around . It was great. But it wasn't over yet. Then Willard the Wizard put on an amazing magic show for several days. Our next door neighbor, a widow with two children, ran away with Willard, and hopefully lived happily ever after. But the absolutely best part came next. Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys came to town, I believe for only one Saturday night, and it was maybe the greatest party Sulphur ever had. I was only about twelve years old, but I became a lifelong fan of Bob Wills, and wore out several pair of shoes dancing to his music later as an adult. (Actually, I never did really grow up)! But they really made good use of that tent for awhile, and then Sulphur went back to just a quiet, but great place to grow up. The older I get, the better it used to be!!!!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWkO6WAWzr8
First annual Clarita, Oklahoma Spring school auction is March 29th.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/ClaritaSpringAuction2014.jpg
We have several roadrunners running through our yard quite often, but this week we had a more unusual visitor, a Cooper's hawk. He never turned around so all I got was a picture of his backside, and not a very good pic at that.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/Hawk031614.jpg
A Reader sent in a link to how long bows are made by a craftsman in Idaho. Its a 30 minute video, but after watching it, I sure wanted to try my luck a making one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhy2UbFOwHk
Q. What town in Oklahoma does not spell anything?
A. IXL, Oklahoma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IXL,_Oklahoma
Q. In what year did the Oklahoma Territory legislature first meet?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That newsletter archives of March 17, 2000:
I received an email this week asking about
the old Ardmore Akron Tire and Rubber Company. This is not the first time I've
received an inquiry about this old Ardmore business. I did some digging and
found it started about 1918 and was located "3 miles north of town". The
President was John C. Harmony who roomed at the Hotel Ardmore. Elmer and Arthur
Wood was V-Presidents, Fox Wood was Treasurer, and Roy Wood was Secretary of the
corporation. The business's downtown office was at 209-212 West Main in the Von
Weise building. From what I found, the company ceased to be about 1925.
----------------------------------------------------
I found this old box of inner tube
patches in my garage. I used to work with these same kind of patches when I
fixed flats at Kenneth Chandler's Service Station at East Main and D Street when
I was about 16 years old. This particular tire patch kit was made in Muskogee,
Oklahoma by the H.B. Egan Manufacturing Company back in the 1940s.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/HBEganMfgOK.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
A reader asked if I've had any info on
the extinct town of Coatsworth, Oklahoma. Coatsworth was located in Johnston
county about 5 miles west of Bromide, Oklahoma. Maybe someone out there knows
something about Coatsworth.
----------------------------------------------------
The past week around Ardmore it seems
like Spring had sprung. This Bradford Pear tree is at the Ardmore Garden Center,
and its in full bloom.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/BradfordPear2001.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
"We also burned drip gas in the cars we
drove or rode in back in the late 50's and early 60's. Can remember when Pick's
Hot Tamale's was located three miles south of Davis on old Highway 77 and they
sold one dozen for a buck."
----------------------------------------------------
"Butch, In February 1966 I was teaching
school and received my draft notice. I was to report to Los Angeles on April 21,
1966. I was quite a confusing day but at last a group of us were told we were
going to Fort Bliss, Texas. I was glad to find two friends that I had graduated
in 1961 from high school. In the early afternoon we were bussed around LAX to
what seemed to be on the south side of the airport. We were to get in a white
and red prop plane. They said we would be leaving in a few minutes. Several
times during that long afternoon we kept getting announcements that the flight
had been delayed. We were finally told that they were going to load the plane. I
had never flown and the long wait made me very more apprehensive. I remember how
one engine was the last to start and fire came out of the back. It plane shook
more than I expected and it seemed like the wings went up and down as we headed
down the runway. I thought, "Well I'm sure the crew wouldn't fly a plane that
wasn't safe." We landed in Texas and had a good flight. I was separated from my
two friends and the rest of the group in Texas. They wanted me to take
additional test for OCS. A few weeks later I saw one of my friends and he told
me that the plane had crashed the next day killing all aboard. I remember
thinking that I hoped that our crew was not on the plane because they had been
so nice to us. I was glad to find the American Flyers Memorial website. It is
great to see that people remember what we did in those years. I would have been
there the next day." -Sp5 Robert Gollihugh
http://www.gollihugh.com/
----------------------------------------------------
"Mystery of Three Oklahoma Tombstones
Solved: Three tombstones were found along side an Oklahoma highway north of
Davis, Oklahoma and no one knew where they came from. Dennis Muncrief decided to
investigate and return the stones to their original location. Read the story of
how this happy-ending came about."
http://www.interment.net/column/feature/stolen/index.htm
----------------------------------------------------
"Butch, This is in response to the reader asking
about a leather holster. I know there is a saddle shop out toward Dickson, but I
don't know if they do that kind of work. It might be worth a try. If nothing can
be found in this area, there is a shop in OKC called Looper Leather Goods. They
do a lot of custom work for law enforcement personnel. My husband has had some
work done there, and it is top quality. The phone number is 405-677-1655. Also,
I tried out that new BBQ place in Davis called Buffalo Gap. It is VERY
different. The ribs are smoked and seasoned with a tasty rub. The sauce is a
mustard BBQ that is unique. It's not your typical Okie-style BBQ, but if you're
looking to try something different, this is the place. Prices are reasonable,
atmosphere is fun. Thanks for another entertaining Saturday morning!"
----------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Good Morning, I intended to
write you last week about your grandfather building the Methodist church in
Hobart, but you know how time gets away from you, but now after this week's news
letter, I am glad I did not write you until now. My grandfather, James A.
Anderson, hauled the first load of lumber into Hobart to start their town. He is
also the great uncle of your good friend, Leroy McDaniel of Mannsville,
Oklahoma. He hauled this load of lumber with his big wagon and several of his
large mules. James Anderson later moved to Frederick, about 60 miles south of
Hobart and was a farmer there until his death in 1932."
----------------------------------------------------
"You know, looking at this picture (Fedler
Drug) ... well, it is hard to believe that there was so many people in Ardmore
at this time frame... and down town.. wish that they had not invented strip
malls."
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/FedlerDrugCaddo.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
"Butch, Pruittville, east of Madill has
a new Sign. The old one was knocked down about 2 months ago in an accident.
You've been to Pruittville before back about 8 years ago. Wonder if any of your
readers might have any information on the old community of Kinlock before it was
known as Pruittville? Or any pictures? My family used to have a Dairy down there
back in the mid 1900's."
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/PruittvilleSign2001.jpg
----------------------------------------------------
"Good morning Butch, Thought you a/o
your neat subscribers might be interested in some random wanderings from the
good ol' days. As a kid, about 1938/39, a huge circus type tent was erected in
Sulphur, on the west side of Rock Creek near the old cotton gin. For the first
few days they held a real old-time Hallelujah Revival , then they put down a
hardwood roller skating rink for several days, and guys and gals came from all
around . It was great. But it wasn't over yet. Then Willard the Wizard put on an
amazing magic show for several days. Our next door neighbor, a widow with two
children, ran away with Willard, and hopefully lived happily ever after. But the
absolutely best part came next. Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys came to town, I
believe for only one Saturday night, and it was maybe the greatest party Sulphur
ever had. I was only about twelve years old, but I became a lifelong fan of Bob
Wills, and wore out several pair of shoes dancing to his music later as an
adult. (Actually, I never did really grow up)! But they really made good use of
that tent for awhile, and then Sulphur went back to just a quite , but great
place to grow up. The older I get, the better it used to be!!!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWkO6WAWzr8
----------------------------------------------------
"Last Saturday afternoon I decided to
travel back over into the NE part of Ardmore where my stomping grounds are
located. I went by the old Carmon Lumber yard and continued on north up "H"
street NE. When I got to the stop sign at "H" and 5th, I stopped, and because
5th is on curve there back east, I had to nudge out a little. Something told me
to stop, and in the corner of my eye I saw something yellow. A powerful
motorcycle was going west at a fast clip, and because he thought I was not going
to see him and pull on out, he laid his motorcycle down and slide 80 or 90 feet,
passing right in front of me. So much can happen in two seconds. I got out to go
see how the guy was, and he was up and walking toward me to see if I was hurt.
Of course I wasn't touched. And by a miracle he was not hurt, only shook up.
People started coming out from everywhere, and a lot of them knew me, since I
was grew up just two blocks south of that intersection. The cops came, asked me
a few questions, and said I could leave since I was not part of the accident. I
think the guy on the motorcycle got a ticket for speeding among other
violations. At an estimated 70 mph, it was a miracle he wasn't killed.
And a strange twist about this whole
incident last Saturday, was my cousin, Jerry Carmon, back around 1960 as a
teenager, was on his motorcycle and was hit by a car at the very same
intersection. I remember neighbors calling my grandfather, Stanley Carmon, at the
lumber yard, and he and I jumped in the pickup and went to the scene. We took
Jerry to the hospital. He broke his leg and had to wear a full leg cast for
months." -Butch Bridges
----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
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.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/puregas.html
Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
"Butch, I well remember Walden’s Hospital. My cousin was born there in 1938. We lived in Marietta but my aunt went to Dr. Walden because she knew him and there was no hospital in Marietta. I went to the hospital with her several times. Dr. Walden’s brother Judge Asa Walden and his family lived across the street from us in Marietta. Just recently I was telling a facebook friend about the hospital. She had asked if anyone remembered the apartments that were there. There were either two or three buildings there and all were built alike.
Also the Field’s Restaurant that we all visited in the 40s and later was located next door West of that service station. You just couldn’t go through Pauls Valley without stopping at Field’s Tavern. Dearly loved that place and still go down to PV for pies." -Frances Dunlap
Museum Memories
Compiled by Melinda Taylor
The Wilson News
January 12, 1917
Bond Issues Carried by Big Majority
We certainly are justified in the pride and satisfaction which we feel in the demonstration of the spirit of tireless endeavor shown by the election results on Friday. Every bond issue carried by a majority of 4 to 1. A $30,000 sewerage system for the protection and convenience of our citizens will be at once installed by experienced and reliable engineers; $10,000 will be spent on extensions and improvement of our water works and electric light plants, thus enabling our entire town to secure as excellent and complete service from these institutions as can be obtained in any city, and $7,500.00 will be used to build a town hall, wherein our city council meetings may be conducted with all dignity; and wisdom and wherein our city and county courts may dispense justice properly tempered with mercy.
At present the building will be sufficient for the accommodations of the fire department, having a completely equipped fire hall, with watchful fireman on guard day and night, and will contain modern quarters for our municipal officers, that each and everyone one may conduct his business within comfortable and suitable surroundings.
The arrangement of the building will be such that enlargement can be easily and harmoniously made as required.
Hours: Tues., Thurs., Fri., Sat.: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
http://www.wilsonhistoricalmuseum.org/
"Time enjoyed wasting, is not time wasted."
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/viciousdogs.html
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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