Kenna and Lonnie Moon sent in a photo of James "Jim" Hutchison's grave marker in the Mount Olive cemetery (block 4 row 1) at Healdton, Oklahoma. We mentioned a few issues back that Jim was shot at Healdton while serving as a police officer, and died from that wound a few weeks later. With the passage of time, Jim was forgotten about for 85 years and no one thought through the years to get his name listed on the Oklahoma Law Officers Memorial in OKC and the Washington DC memorial as killed in the line of duty. It is being worked on now.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/JamesHutchisonMarker.jpg
This is about a 1950 photo of Ardmore's old Globe Theater on Main Street. The Globe Theater was just to the east of North Washington and Main Street on the north side of Main.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/GlobeTheater1950.jpg
This photo of the Park Theater was taken in 1957 or shortly thereafter since The Trapp Family movie was playing. It was a 1957 West German movie.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/ParkTheaterTrappMovie.jpg
I took this picture Wednesday morning (the day after bush removal) with no vehicles in front of the building. The old Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home is one of the most beautiful older buildings in downtown Ardmore. And now that those humongous bushes have been removed that was blocking the view of the building's architecture, it's more beautiful.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/Annex3after.jpg
I took this picture Tuesday morning before the bushes were removed. The bushes had grown so high over the years it was to the point one would need a bucket truck to trim them.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CarterCountyAnnex3Before.jpg
Fatbelly Diner, in Lone Grove, their first day open. Their burger was one of the best I've eaten in a long time, just like homemade. Meat was the best, and thick. The burger basket was $5.59 and wait time about normal. But they were a little disorganized on the first day, so you might want to wait a few days, if you're thinking about trying them. But I do recommend their burger!
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/FatbellyDiner062014.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/FatbellyBurger062014.jpg
We have 7 of these Crepe Myrtle trees in our driveway. Only one has come out in full bloom the past week or so. Beautiful.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CrepeMyrtle062414.jpg
Some of the pavers I've sandblasted this week.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/LannieHudsonPaver.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/TheronPricePaver.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/CodyHefleyPaver.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/RhondaCothranPaver.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/TomKellyPaver.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/BogleFamilyPaver1.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/WoodFarmPaver.jpg
The near perfect condition tan pavers are all gone. But I do have about 12 in not so perfect condition, chips or blemishes in them, some worse than others. I do still have about 15 nice red pavers that are perfect for engraving. Hopefully in about a 3 weeks I will have a fresh supply of the tan clay pavers by Whitaker-Greer Bricks back in stock.
http://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/RedEngraversBrick.jpg
Q. What is the oldest incorporated town in Oklahoma?
A.
Vinita is the oldest incorporated town on Oklahoma Route 66 being established in
1871. Vinita was the first town in Oklahoma to enjoy electricity. Originally
named Downingville. The town's name was later changed to Vinita, in honor of
Vinnie Ream, the sculptress who created the life-size statue of Lincoln at the
United States Capitol.
Q. Who is the oldest living person in Oklaoma?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That newsletter archives of June 24, 2000:
Back in the 1960s my great grandmother made
lye soap every Fall. She had a fire under this big iron pot and put Red Devil
Lye in the mixture to make the soap. She used the store bought lye. But many old
timers had to make their own lye using wood ash. Basically its the solution that
is left after letting water seep slowly through a big container of wood ash. Fay
Douthit here in Ardmore loaned me a 1942 photo of an ash hopper they had in
Arkansas. It was made of wood. I did a search using several Internet search
engines looking for ash hopper or potash hopper and found none. So, this is
truly a one-in-a-million photo!
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/AshHopper.jpg
Mrs. Douthit also had a photo taken in
February 1946 when a tornado came through Ardmore. It's the same tornado that
damaged the cupola on top of our courthouse. This particular photo was taken at
1126 Douglas Street Southeast in 1946.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/Tornado1946.jpg
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"I belong to a group of railfans with a
bulletin board called RailSpot. Recently there has been much discussion about a
one lane bridge over Red River near Carpenters Bluff (on the Texas side). Many
years ago this bridge carried rail traffic as well as automobiles as you can
read about from one railfan's description in the letter below. When I saw the
photos on your web page about a one lane bridge crossing the Red south of Durant
I thought that this might be the bridge in question and I forwarded the
information about your web page to the RailSpot group for them to check out.
Well it appears that it is the bridge in question as I have received several
replies to that effect from Rail fans that remember it from when it still
carried rail traffic. They were pleased to see some actual photos of the bridge
on you web page. So once again your web page and all your hard work has paid off
for others. On behalf of the RailSpot group I say "thank you". -
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CarpentersBluffBridge2000a.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CarpentersBluffBridge2000b.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CarpentersBluffBridge2000c.jpg
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"I just read your letter in T&T about
the ice plants in Ardmore. The one that I remember was on D Street Northwest
just north of Broadway. This is now the entrance to the First National Bank
Drive-in. The building set real close to the street, there was enough room to
parallel park a car in front of the dock. I can remember the men working there
bringing out blocks of ice and putting them in a crusher. A large paper bag was
used to catch the crushed ice as it came out of the crusher. This is the only
other ice plant that I can remember."
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"My friend, Lovina gave me this
newspaper (Daily Oklahoman, Sunday, 12 June 1949) that was in an old wooden
crate she had bought at a garage sale. On page 15-A of the 1949 paper dated 12th
June was an article titled...
Ardmore Woman's Son To Lecture at Harvard
Ardmore, June 11 (1949) -- (Special) -- H.
A. Gibbons, son of Mr. & Mrs. L. C. Gibbons, Ardmore, has been selected to
lecture on world trade and economics during a 14-week course this summer at
Harvard University. Gibbons has charge of the Netherlands East Indies area for
Standard Vacuum of New York, with headquarters in Palembang, Sumatra. He will
visit his mother here before taking up this work at Harvard. He will remain in
this country until December."
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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.....
"A friend's family found a cornerstone from Warren's Chapel at their grandfather's old place in Davis. It says "Warren's Chapel M E, Erected 1922, Rev. Brown, Pastor, Corner Stone laid 1929, Rev. Simms, Pastor" I stopped at Warren Memorial Methodist Church today in Ardmore and asked if it might be from a church earlier in their history. They are looking into it and will get back to me. I found a mention of a Warren's Chapel in a 1929 article in the Ardmoreite where a meeting had taken place. The mention of Ardmore is why I emailed you thinking you might be able to help us solve the mystery. I hope it is what you think and we can return it if they want it. My friend would like to get it back to where it belongs if anyone wants it. I enjoy your newsletter and will appreciate any help you can give us with this mystery. Thanks." -Kathy Tidwell
The city of Healdton, which lies along State Highway 76 in western Carter County, twenty-four miles west of Ardmore, was originally called Mason for its founder, Elisha Mason. The local post office was established in 1883 one-half mile east of the current town site. Mason was renamed Healdton in honor of Charles H. Heald, who settled in the community in 1888 and became its postmaster in 1897. Prior to 1907 statehood Healdton was situated within Pickens County in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.
Healdton Population History :
1920 - 2,157
1930 - 2,017
1950 - 2,578
1960- 2,898
Number of residents peaked at 3,769 in 1980
Fell to 2,872 in 1990
And was 2,786 in year 2000.
The town had eighty-six businesses in the year 2000,
thirteen related to the petroleum and natural gas industries.
Healdton flourished as a cotton center until the Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific Railway was constructed in 1913-14. The track extended west from Ardmore to Ringling and south of Healdton. Thus bypassed, many residents moved closer to the railroad, causing the local economy to fail. Fortunately, the Healdton Oil Field was discovered in 1913. As a result, in 1916-17 the Ringling and Oil Fields Railway was built north from near Ringling to just west of Healdton. Ben Heald, Charles Heald's son, had succeeded his father as postmaster. Seeing an opportunity for town growth, he moved the post office to the railroad and established "new" Healdton at its present location.
The petroleum industry transformed Healdton into a thriving community. Many of Oklahoma's oil pioneers, including Wirt Franklin, Robert A. Hefner, Sr., Erle Halliburton, and Lloyd Noble, established operations in the Healdton Field. By 1918 the oil produced there accounted for 15 percent of the state's output. During the 1920s and 1930s the Healdton Field began to deplete. Oil is still produced in the area, although on a smaller scale.
The late Actress Eddi Rue McClanahan was a Healdton native. The Healdton National Guard Armory (NR 94000280) and the nearby Zaneis School Teachers' Dormitory (NR 85001800) are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Local attractions include the Healdton Oil Museum, an Oklahoma Historical Society affiliate.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: The History of Carter County (Fort Worth, Tex.: University Supply and Equipment Co., 1957). Kenny A. Franks, Ragtown: A History of the Greater Healdton-Hewitt Oil Field (Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Heritage Association, 1986). "Healdton," Vertical File, Research Division, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City.
Greater Southwest Historical Museum and Carter County Genealogy Society
"Dear Butch, we saw this at the Grand Hotel and Spa at Point Clear, Alabama, in the chef's herb garden. I think it is just written on the brick. I did not touch to see if it was engraved. Thought of you, another idea for your craft."
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/SweetBasilPaver.jpg
Oklahoma City tries to rein in dog pack at the state Capitol
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-tries-to-rein-in-dog-pack-at-capitol/article/4949534#!
Some of the information provided by Larry was incorrect. First, the Dunbar Elementary School was for first grade through the 5th grade not the 8th grade. The sixth grade through the 12th grade was housed in the Douglas High School building on the South east corner of 8th Street and M. Douglas High School was never housed at the HFV Wilson Community Center. Even before the Douglas High School building that exists today as the Ardmore Administration building was built, the Old Douglas High School was located on the same property. If Larry did not start school until the High schools were integrated, I would recommend he at least talk to older people who were a part of the History, instead of guessing.
"My father found this class ring on the beach somewhere here in the Florida panhandle. He passed away in 2002 so I'm not sure of the year or exact location. I know the way the currents work it could have been lost anywhere. It's a women's class ring from Choctaw, OK 1976. The initials inside are AMC. Thanks to some searching, I'm pretty sure it belonged to Ada Chapman, but that's where I hit a brick wall. I have tried searching marriage records and Facebook as well as calling the school but I've gotten nowhere in the past year. If all my friends can share this, maybe I can track her or a family member down. Thank you for helping. Christie Maestri in Port St Jo, Florida" - submitted by Rose Rox Wear, FL
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/ChoctawOKClassRing.jpg
"The bakery just sout of the Mulky was the Dixie. THe one on the East side of the street south of Hamburer Inn was Park's. Donuts were 50cents a doz (got a baker's doz 13). Irene Beard worked there and so did my mom." -Frances Long Anthony Dunlap
"As the Southwestern part of Oklahoma was being settled in the 1800's, structures akin to the one pictured here were common-place. This is the remains of a cobblestone house fashioned from natural stone which is abundant in this part of the State. The stones were held in place by a sand mixture akin to mortar, but a bit more flexible. This house stands along side Hwy 62 about half way between Lawton and Altus. More pristine examples of this type of architecture can be seen in Medicine Park, OK. a few miles North of Lawton." -Bob Gates
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CobblestoneHouseLawtonOK.jpg
"Butch, your items on Mountain Lake brought back memories to me. In 1936 by friend and classmate Hale Dunn Cissel asked me to the lake for a couple of weeks to help him with boat rentals. His Grandfather , Ardmore ex Police Chief was the Caretaker. The Boat rentals were then on the west side of the Dam. The side with the 81 steps. Hale Dunn and I would carry Tackle up to the boats While I was there Andy Anderson Sporting Good out of Oklahoma City brought Guest down for over night. They were big tippers. An old time retired law man had residence under the Dam. I wish I could remember his name." -Bud Patterson
"Butch, maybe you could add this to your newsletter. I found this in an antique store in Arlington about 10 years ago. The date on the check is 2-28-1939 and is written from Ardmore Coca-Cola Company to Williams- Eubank. It is endorsed on the back to Williams- Eubank Grocer Company. The signature on the check is Sam McDaniel I think. Maybe this would mean something to one of your readers. If someone knows a relative to the names here, I would be glad to send it to them. it's made out to the name of the grocery which was Williams-Eubank . I just wonder if those were the names of the two partners or whom?" -Timothy Hallet
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CocaColaBusinessCheck.jpg
The Criner Hills Volunteer Fire Department's garage sale is this Saturday, June 28th.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos14a/CrinerhillsVFD062814.jpg
"Some people weave burlap into the fabric of our lives, and some weave gold thread. Both contribute to make the whole picture beautiful and unique." -Anonymous
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
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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