A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST
On September 13, 1933 at Pauls
Valley, Oklahoma police were investigating the poison death of that city's
resident, Jim Taylor, age 55. The investigation would reveal a sickening set of
events that led up to the death of Taylor. Taylor and Taylor's neighbor, T.J.
Halsell, age 67, by mutual agreement, traded their daughters, 11 and 15, to
become the child brides of each man. Social workers of that time were shocked,
hardly believing such a happening had taken place in this small Oklahoma town.
Here is a pic of Halsell with his 11 year old girl bride.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/PaulsValleyBride1933a.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/PaulsValleyBride1933b.jpg
With the warmer weather I've been
sandblasting a few pavers.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/MichaelCoulterPaverBSA.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/CurtisBerryPaverBSA.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/KylanSpencerPaverBSA.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/bricks/TheFlowersPaver.jpg
I am asking for help from those of
you who are aspiring artists. We need some kind of decor to go at the top of the
James Hutchison memorial
that is to be placed at Healdton. Jim Hutchison died in the line of duty while
serving as a police officer in the city of Healdton in 1930. If you have any
ideas of what to sandblast at the top or in each top corner, let me know.
Below is a picture I took of the granite memorial at Wilson Monuments that will
be set in the City of Healdton when the monument is finished.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/HutchisonMemorialBefore031515.jpg
Sunday Morning. Almost daily the
turkeys come waddling through our backyard. Over 45 today. There were 4 Turkey
Toms coming up the rear. The Toms always follow the females. I noticed 4 females
wanting to join the main group of females but were kept at a distance by the 4
Toms.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/TurkeyTom031015a.jpg
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/TurkeyTom031015b.jpg
Here is a neat website I ran across
this week that offers a free service needed more as time goes by. You can take
an old unused smartphone or tablet and turn it into a security camera to keep an
eye on your home or business while you're away. You can even record up to 30
days of video free on their servers. I am going to check this out further.
https://www.camio.com/
Ever need to make a telephone
conference call with a few relatives, friends or business associates, and not
pay an arm and leg for the call? Free Conference Call lets you do just that.
After you create your account all they need to do is use their cellphone to call
a phone number (not toll free), enter the access code you give them, and
everyone is now on a free conference call that you created through the website.
I've used it several times and it works great. Check it out at the link below.
https://www.freeconferencecall.com/
TruVision is still working great for
me and dozens of others who have reported back to me after taking TruVision's
capsules. I lost 10 lbs. in about 30 days and feel better than I've felt in
years. If anyone wants to try it
give me a holler. Check
it all out at the link below.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/truvision.html
http://butch.truvisionhealth.com/
Q. Living the first 21 years of
my life at 3rd and H NE in Ardmore that area was my stomping ground. I knew it
like the back of my hand. Just one block east was I Street NE and another block
on east was K Street and 3rd NE. Anyone know why there was no J Street?
A. I think the primary reason is
like someone mentioned, the I is so similar to the J especially when hand
written like was done so much in the beginning of this country.
Q. What is the official state
amphibian of Oklahoma?
A. (answer in next week's T&T)
From This and That
newsletter archives of March 13, 1999:
Last Saturday a friend and I went to the
Hardy Murphy Coliseum to attend the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet.
Everyone had a pretty good time.... even if we didn't win that rifle! But I did
find out one thing.... I don't like wild turkey.... no matter how you cook
it....even with BBQ sauce. Yuk. But really, it was a good evening and everyone
had fun!
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Here's a 1914 pic of the Radium Well and
four bathhouses at Claremore, Oklahoma.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/photos/clarbath.jpg
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Remember that Big Chief soda pop?
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/BigChiefSoda.jpg
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"I hope you saw the Friday, March 12, 1999
issue of the Wall Street Journal. On the front page is a story of the largest
bell in the world. 12 feet tall 12 feet wide, 73,000 pounds, the clapper adds
another 5,000. Will be shipped to Newport, KY in July...."
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Gas prices today in the Ardmore
area......
http://www.oklahomagasprices.com/index.aspx?mss=152754
Non-ethanol gas (pure gas) stations
in the Ardmore area.
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/puregas.html
Some mail from this week's MAILBAG.....
Springer Volunteer Fire Department BBQ ? Saturday - May 16, 2015
? 6:00 PM - Springer, Oklahoma
Join us at the Springer Community Storm Shelter for the annual Springer
Volunteer Fire Department BBQ along with a dance and an auction. Bring your lawn
chairs, sit back and enjoy the music!
"Butch, I think I remember hearing that is no "J" street NE because the letter J
looks so much like "I" that the two could easily be confused by many which is
certainly true with some of the mail carriers, and others."
Q. "Does this mean T&T continues when you
retire June 30th? Do we get to know what
high gear means? What is the next chapter?
Inquiring minds want to know..."
A. I guess the wording I used last week was not the
best. In July I'll have a lot more time to work on my newsletter, so yes,
I will kick it into high gear and might even go to a daily, we'll on second
thought, no daily, but I will continue it for as long as I can. I love
doing it, and thanks to so many of you over the years, I have learned so much
from your contributions.
"We lived at 3rd & "S" NE for several years, moving in 1978. My
dad's friends owned property on Hill Place and as kids we would trek down to
King's Lake a lot to go fishing. Daddy's friends knew the owners and their kids
were always welcomed there. However, I don't ever remember anyone drowning
there. Only thing that ever happened to us kids were getting chiggers and ticks
and a few small fish from time to time and maybe killing a snake. Lots of fun
memories. I know I have pictures somewhere. Will have to try to find them to
share."
Kathi Pritchard George
Fayetteville, Arkansas
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/maps/KingLakeMap.jpg
"Butch -- In your March 12th issue of T&T you mentioned the
Oklahoma Confederate Veterans Home that was located in Ardmore from 1911 to1942.
Within the last year a Dallas native, Rusty Williams, has written a superbly
researched and extremely well written book entitled "My Old Confederate Home". I
finished reading it about a month ago, and I would recommend it to your readers
that are interested in Confederate history. It's about the history of the
Kentucky Confederate Veterans Home. The book is available on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/My-Old-Confederate-Home-Respectable/dp/0813125820
-Dick Lindsly, Dallas, Texas (a faithful reader of T&T and a big
Butch Bridges fan)
Hi Butch, Since "spring has sprung" it brought thoughts of
fishing to mind, and I was wondering if you had heard anything recently on how
good the fishing was on Mountain Lake? This wonderful weather certainly brings
the desire to grab a pole, a bucket of minnows and head to this beautiful lake.
It remains one of my favorite places and going there began more than 75 years
ago." -Elisabeth
"My grandmother, Susie or Susan Brown lived on her allotment near
what was Old Woodville, Rt. 1. Some of her allotment was submerged. Does anyone
know of a Willis Moody McWilliams who has specific knowledge of Old Woodville?
He apparently lives in Kingston, Oklahoma now. Maybe someone else who has that
kind of knowledge and available to talk per chance? I would like to get a
copy of Mr. McWilliams' publication, Dark Corner, U.S.A? It is about his
accounts of Old Woodville. Do you have a copy or know where I could buy one?"
-Helen Nowlin
Fort Washita Fur Trade Living History Event
April 2, 2014 - April 6, 2014
http://www.okhistory.org/about/calendar/event/fort-washita-fur-trade-living-history-event/
By The Old Mill Stream by
Frank Logan
Carlton 1908
Down by the old (not the new but the
old)
Mill stream (not the river but the stream),
Where I first (not the last but the first)
Met you. (Not me but you.)
With your eyes (not your ears, but your eyes)
Of blue (not green, but blue).
Dressed in ging- (not silk but ging-) -ham too. (Not one but two.)
And it was there (not here, but
there),
I knew (not old, but new)
That you loved (not hate, but loved)
Me too. (Not one but two.)
You were sixteen (not seventeen, but
sixteen)
My village queen! (Not the king, but the queen).
Down by the old (not the new, but the old),
Mill stream (not the river, but the stream).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJOy4YstAyU
See everyone next
week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443
