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Below is January 6, 2004 to November 27, 2004.

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Saturday November 27, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 397

I think everyone has had some kind of an experience with a motor scooter as a kid. Whether that meant owning one or riding along with a friend on their motor scooter. Back in the early 1960s my grandparents bought me a used Sears and Roebuck Moped for $100 from Clyde Stewig (not sure about the spelling) who lived in about the 1900 block of 3rd NE. Here is a pic I found on the internet of that Sears Moped I owned in the 1960s. You had to turn the pedals to get it started, mix the oil in with the gas, got over 100 miles per gallon, and a top speed of 35 MPH. Several of us kids in my part of town had a moped. Let's see, there was Bobby and Wayne Harris, they lived at 2nd and "G" NE. They used their mopeds everyday after school to throw their Ardmoreite route. Then friends Larry Parham and his brother both had mopeds. And my good friend Duane Carson had a moped. Duane and I were the same age. In 1962 Duane died on his moped from an accident involving a Joe Brown concrete truck in front of the old dairy queen at West Broadway and "E" Street. I miss you Duane..... we had lots of fun in those days riding our mopeds around town. <----- Click Here

I talked with Ardmoreite Robert Whitaker this week about his 1950 Cushman Eagle Scooter he owned in the early 1950s. Robert even dug out a photograph of him on that Cushman Eagle Scooter which he let me scan! <----- Click Here

It seems that Robert's Cushman Eagle was the first Eagle bought from Coxey Sporting Goods at West Main and "B". Maybe some of you will share your experience your experience in next week's T&T with a motorcycle or scooter. For Robert Whitaker's interview, just follow the link below. <----- Click Here

I am slowing inching toward getting at least one picture of a bell from every county in Oklahoma. This week someone in Stilwell, Oklahoma (Adair county) sent me pics of the Elementary School bell #10 S. 6th Street) and the First United Methodist Church bell (#4 N. 3rd Street) of Stilwell. The only counties in Oklahoma I still lack getting a bell photo from are: Craig, Delaware, Cherokee, Sequoyah, Pawnee and McIntosh counties. Maybe someone reading this lives in one of these counties and knows of a bell??? Here are those bells in Stilwell, Oklahoma. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

If you've ever had the program Kazaa (a file sharing program) on your computer, you probably know about the tons of spyware that comes along with that program. Pop-ups galore to mention a few. And trying to get Kazaa off your computer, getting ALL of it off your computer is a nightmare sometimes. Here is a little free program that will remove the pesky spyware laden program Kazaa from you computer the easy way. <----- Click Here

With all the rains the past couple of weeks, Turner Falls was really flowing on Thanksgiving Day. This pic was taken look down at the Falls from Highway 77. N 34� 21.327 by W 097� 03.810' <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

If you've ever had the program Kazaa (a file sharing program) on your computer, you probably know about the tons of spyware that comes along with that program. Pop-ups galore to mention a few. And trying to get Kazaa off your computer, getting ALL of it off your computer is a nightmare sometimes. Here is a little free program that will remove the pesky spyware laden program Kazaa from you computer the easy way. <----- Click Here

SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG

"I live in Moore, Oklahoma and I'm looking for any of my family on my Father's side. His name is Darrell Lane (I think he lives in PA). He has a sister named Glenda (I think she lives in Arkansas) and two brothers named Tom (Texas) and Jack (Oklahoma City). I have cousins with the last name of Hawkins, (Terry, Neil, & Guy) All still live in Duncan I think. My grandparents were Ulice and Unice Lane. I also would like to find relatives of my Mother. Her name is Janyce (Bush). I know the immediate family but we are not that close, and I know nothing of my family history and don't know any of my extended family. She has two siblings Judy (LA) and Jerry Tulsa). Her parents were I.A. Bush (Irwin) and Juanita Bush. A cousin named Angela (Springer) Custer of LA. My parents grew up in Duncan, Oklahoma. And graduated from Duncan High School. I have three sisters Stacye, Lori and Kim. If you know any of the Bush's or Lane's please contact me. Thank You and have a wonderful holiday season." -Lisa Olendorff (Lane) [email protected]
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"Butch, I was originally from Marietta but now live in Texas. My grandparents had a farm in Loves Valley when I was growing up. It was across the fields from the DonMcMeans near what is now called the "Hog Pen", which is the area where the old Love Mansion & cemetary were located. I was at the old Tuck's ferry site on occasion when I was very young and spent many, many hours fishing there before I moved in 2000. I noticed a few minor discrepancies. I assumed someone with a better memory than mine would send a correction but only noted a person saying he would use your map to get there. He will find that the road, after entering the hunting area, does not continue straight south as depicted on your map. It has 4 curves that take you southwesterly from the first curve, so you come out approximately due west of the "PUBLIC HUNTING" notation. The river runs NW to SE at that point. Also the present road was not the original access road which was the road to the west of the "13" on your map and is now closed to the public. Also the site of the ferry was northwest of the old dugout you pictured. I wasn't aware that the dugout had anything to do with the ferry. The cut to the river that you pictured was done in the late 1990s by an agency doing research on why the alligator gars were decreasing. If you go up river from there to the end of the road you will be approximately where the ferry was located. The ferry cable ran from up the hill across the river to the Texas side. It stayed for some time after the ferry closed and the pulley and rope that were left provided a thrilling ride across the river if you had the energy to climb the hill with it. The Tuck's also ran a restaurant in Marietta. I don't know when the ferry ceased operation but probably after Mr. Tuck was shot and killed, in his restaurant, by an aquaintance. If you are really interested you might try to contact Bill Thompson in Marietta. As I recall the the surrounding area was part of the Thompson ranch when the ferry was operating." -David Roberson
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"Do you know anything about the history of the waterwheel at Reagan?"
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"I am trying to trace down a man by the name of Wesely Warren Kirby who was a member of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Police Force in 1921. The legends are that he became the Chief of Police there. My investigation has led me to believe that Wesley married a second time to M. M. Baker on June 18, 1921. He joined the Ardmore,Ok Police Force at this time. See articles in Frontier Times on Wesley and Mae (Thompson) Kirby. Also John and Stella (Stewart) Kirby. Is there any way to verify this information at your end? Thank you for your time." Allen L. Kirby, Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired), [email protected]
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"Butch--my wife and I eat at Babe's Chicken House in Sanger at least once per month. It is note worthy that they bring all the veggies you can eat and the meat dish is more than you can eat as well. Talk about nostalgia-the decor dates back to when I was a boy and that's longer than we'll discuss, but it is fun to eat there as well as having a great meal." -Dale Gant <----- > Click Here
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"Butch, I found this awesome web site and wanted to share it with everyone. It is a Christian business but it is quite a ministry. There are so many schemes out there that when I found this place I was skeptical but have come to appreciate what "Spread The Word" is doing. There is a very low one time fee that buys you access for life. No recurring fees of any kind. This is a wonderful option for small churches and individuals without the finances to have onsite bookstores as well as web presence with credit card processing capability and a place to distribute sermons or any other proprietary products they might have. My bookstore is located at fist link below and the business opportunity is at the second link. The 3rd link below is a web building business I have (which is just opening and that business site is very much under construction) but I will be glad to help get anyone interested in a bookstore set up and familiar with the easy to use tools at Spread The Word. God Bless." -Connie <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"I got out and did a little oil field equipment "recon" today even though the weather wasn't very good. At least it wasn't raining! I ran across an old Waukesha 6 cylinder engine that operated a large pump. It was a pumping station of some sort and looks to have been shut down many years. Don't know how old this engine is but I remember that my Dad operated some Waukesha engines when he worked for Tenneco in the 1960's but those engines were much smaller than this one. Interesting in that the large 6 cylinder engine has a small 4 cylinder starting motor mounted on the side which is made by Waukesha also. Looks like it came from the factory that way. The small motor is a rope pull start type like the old lawn mowers that has a pulley around which you would wind the starting rope and give a big pull. The compact 4 cylinder motor was then used to crank the large 6 cylinder engine. I found this one out west of Loco. Don't ask me how I wound up out there, I just did! I've attached a photo of the entire pump house, a close up of the Waukesha engine logo and a close up of the small starting motor. I think I remember Dad pronuncing it "Wok-Shaw" but it could be Wa-Key-Sha? Maybe someone can tell us." -Dwane <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"A BIG Hello Butch, From Lone Grove. Just wan't to tell you that i liked the "Phone interviews" You did With Madge Hunter, And Herman Kirkwood. They sounded great on windows media player, and Winamp! No problems. Squeeze a little more detail out of them, on the good stuff......LOL.. I enjoyed it"
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The Daily Ardmoreite. September 08, 1905 Davis, I.T.--Frank Gettle, a resident of Davis, brought into the Merchants and Planters National Bank an apple that is believed to be the largest ever grown in the Southwest. It is known as the Golden Beauty variety, and weighs thirty-five ounces, and measures eighteen inches in circumference. Mr. Gettle says he can show several trees in his orchard with equally as large fruit. It is necessary to place props under the limbs to keep them from breaking down. This apple is now on exhibition at the bank window and is attracting much attention.
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Sept 10, 1905
City Officers of Duncan and Pertinent Paragraphs about Prosperous People J.N. Duncan, Mayor; Dr. D. Long, A.R. Biggs, R.W. Blevins, R.J. Allen and J.B. Mason, Aldermen. Chas. Murphy, Recorder, H.M. Wolverton, City Attorney. The Chickasaw Telephone company will in the near future have a double line connection from Chickasha to Ringgold, completing the circuit between Texas and Kansas. The Gilkey Jarboe Hardware company with a paid up capital stock of $60,000 announces that the company's business for this year will double that of the preceding twelve months. Allen & Fuqua occupying the O'Neill-Allen corner, are doing a satisfactory grocery business this year with farmers and ranchmen both in Indian Territory and the Comanche country in Oklahoma. J.N. Duncan, the mayor of the city, is also a progressive hardware and grocery merchant, carrying a fine stock of goods and occupying one of the best corners in the city. One of the strongest and oldest lumber firms in Indian Territory is that of J.L. Markham, under the present management of F.H. Etheridge. W.B. Spencer and Co., a line yard company of Texas, has acquired the Farmer's Lumber Yard, which has been re-arranged and restocked. H.L. Overton, the furniture dealer and undertaker, gives to Duncan the distinction of having the only licensed undertaker and embalmer between Chickasha and Bowie, Texas. Robertson, Smith, and Sanders, dentists with branch offices at Marlow, Comanche, Ryan, Waurika, and Hastings, direct from this place the most successful and extensive dental practice of any firm in the two territories. The First National Bank in its last official statement showed a cash deposit of more than double the amount of capital stock and a surplus and profit of more than half that amount. The Texas Mercantile company, J.F. Butts manager, is among Duncan's recent business accessions. In its fifth official statement made May 29, the Duncan National Bank organized with a capital stock of $30,000, showed cash and sight exchange on hand to the amount of $31,774.09 and $82,252.55 on deposit. E.C. Dewey, retail saddler, gives to Duncan the distinction of distributing more hand made saddles than any town in the two territories. Among the professions that of law is well represented in Duncan. Prominent among the representatives are W.I. Gilbert, E.H. Bond, J.L.C. Guest, R.L. March, H.M. Wolverton. Marr Brothers, the border country liverymen, have recently installed a first class city transfer equipment. The medical profession of Indian Territory is dependent for its strength upon such representatives as the practitioners of Duncan. Among these maybe mentioned: A.J. Conger, W.T. Howell, Long & Shraeder, Plunkett & Rawles, C.E. Frost, and J.T. Wharton & Sons. Biggs and Horn carry a stock of ladies and gents furnishing goods which would do credit to a town of much greater size. Whisenant & Fowler carry, in addition to a full line of groceries, farm implements and wagons. D.A. Fowler also has a stock of furniture in the same building. The Palace Drug company and the Duncan Drug company are two of the most handsomely equipped and correctly conducted pharmacies within the Chickasaw Nation. The Fair, a general merchandise establishment with a capital stock of $15,000, R.W. Blevins chief stockholder and manager, is one of Duncan's progressive enterprises of which its people are proud. Hardin, Ridge, & Robberson is the style name for one of Duncan's leading hardware firms. The Hub, a dry goods and clothing store owned by Mrs. H.F. Duncan and J.W. Jackson, is to undergo a change in the near future. Mrs. Duncan will retire and Mr. Jackson will continue the business under a new partnership. The Traders Wagon Yard corresponds with the old time Inn of the East. Here the country people lodge for the night and market their products on the morrow. Miller and Newland (J.G. Miller and J.H. Newland) are among the leading grocers of the city. The Rock Island Land company, H.W. Farrant proprietor, reaped a rich harvest this season in Elberta peaches planted on a one-hundred acre tract of land near the city. Harris & Hall (M. Harris and W.G. Hall) are enjoying an excellent retail grocery trade this year. The Globe, Ben Robinowitz, proprietor, is one of Duncan's first class clothing, dry goods and gents' furnishing houses. The O'Neill-Long Dry Goods company is one of the best established and most extensively stocked houses of its kind in the Chickasaw Nation. Duncan is on the proposed line of railway from Sulphur, I.T., to Lawton, O.T. Has an athletic club with complete gymnasium equipment and bath rooms. Large membership. Designated as a county seat by the recent constitutional convention. Ice factory to be put in in time for next season's business. Has U.S. Commissioner's Court. Four blacksmith shops and one machine shop, all doing a good business.
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September 10, 1905
The property of the Indian Territory Cotton Products company has been sold at Atoka, I.T., by the receivers of the concern for $70,000 to an agent of a re-organized company composed of the creditors of the defunct company. The sale is subject to the approval of United States Judge Humphrey. The company owned a series of round bale gins in the territory and sought to control the cotton business. It is alleged that in the organization of this company a vast number of farmers and merchants were induced to purchase stock in the concern. The property of the old company is estimated to be worth from $150,000 to $200,000.
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A.A. Bailey is so well pleased with the manner in which his grocery patronage has increased in the past few months that he has established a first class meat market in connection with his business, so that his patrons can get every table need, even to the fresh meat line, with one order and have it come right along with the groceries. He wishes to thank his customers for the liberal trade which has made this necessary and to solicit a continuance of the same.
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John Porter, Cury Hill, Joe Bryant and Tobe Clodfeller were tried in the charge of disturbing religious worship at Orr several days ago. They were all fined $27.77 each, which all paid except Joe Bryant, who was committed to jail.
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You can make the terms when you buy a buggy from us. NOBLE BROS.
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6 room modern home S.W. part of city......$5000 7 room house, C street N.W......................$2250 Choice residence lot in S.W. part of city.....$1250 NEWLAND & KEMP office 3rd door South of Post Office Phone 470
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September 11, 1905
Jesse Moore ages 17 years, was lodged in the federal jail yesterday by Chief of Police Garrett on the charge of burglary. Moore was apprehended at Henryetta, I.T., where Garrett had traced him. It seems that Moore has been doing some smooth work in Ardmore and the officers have been puzzled for some time. Several robberies have been committed in the city for the past few months but the fact that Moore had disappeared, led the officers to believe that he was not implicated in the "deals." All efforts to locate the guilty party or parties were without avail. Recently Ritter's store and several grocery stores were entered. It is remembered that Mr. Ritter suffered the loss of several fine guns, seventeen being appropriated. About the same time Vester Mullen's house was also robbed of a quantity of silverware. Mr. and Mrs. Mullen were absent at the time. The screens of several places were cut and small articles taken. This led the officers to think that the work was being done by a gang or a number of persons. Several young men were recently detained in connection with the Ritter robbery, but later were released as there was no evidence to warrant holding them. Officers worked on the case laboriously. The first intimation that Moore was connected with the theft of the goods was the statement made by a farmer who lived near this city. It was stated that a young man had stolen some cotton sacks one evening and that he had been seen lurking around the place for two days. The description fitted Moore and the trace was taken up. Officer Garrett was informed that Moore was seen by a mail clerk at Randolph. The officers wired to several points and Garrett, who was working on the matter, got a tip that the young man was up the country. He went to Henryetta and found Moore, who, it seems, had some of the stolen goods in his possession. He was brought here and he made a confession to the crime. No one was implicated by the young man. Several guns were located by the officers. Moore stated that he had hidden two of the guns under Randol's store on Main street and three of them under the First Baptist church. The officers found the guns as described. The silverware and a number of knives and razors were located under the Choctaw bridge where Moore had hid them. One of the guns found under the Baptist church was the property of Abe Wolverton, who had not even missed the weapon. He was greatly surprised when the officer returned the property to him. He did not know that his house had been entered. Mr. Ritter states that most of his goods have been returned. A number of small articles however are still missing. It will be remembered that a number of the guns were located in the Oddfellow's building. It was stated at the time that the person or persons who committed the deed were familiar with the Ardmoreite office. A number of boxes of shells were also found in the basement of the building. These also belonged to Mr. Ritter. Moore, who is charged with the crime was a former attache of the Ardmoreite office. He came here looking for employement from Kankakee, Ill., and was given work. He was industrious and was something of an ingenious boy. He served the Ardmoreite faithfully for many months but one night disappeared. The night he left here the Sprangin's hardware store was entered and a number of boxes of shells were found in the basement of the Ardmoreite office. An attempt was also made to break into the safe in the office. A sledge hammer was used and the safe was so battered that if required an expert to open it the next day. Moore was fond of reading novels and his favorite song he used to sing was "When the harvest days are over, Jesse Deer." He is an orphan boy but it is said, has an uncle living in Ardmore. Chief Garrett said that the boy will plead guilty to the charge.
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"Hi Butch. I read in the T&T that you got a GPS. At my recent retirement party I received a Garmin eTrex Legend. I would love for you to start a site of the longs and lats of historic places. I am still learning how to use mine. I bought the MetroGuide for it and have been playing. I am going driving to Georgia next week end and will be using it as I travel."
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"Butch I whole heartly concur on your slection of AVG I was running Norton and it allowed a trojan on my computer and it could not be stopped by norton, I could not get on the internet to get AVG I had to wipe my hard drive to get rid of it. I tried to restore but it kept coming back, I even did a full restore with HP restore disk no luck. I found a program called wipe disk by white canyon software and wiped my drive and had to restore everything from scratch now I have AVG Professional. I cannot afford the down time as a Real Estate Broker, I was told that AVG is the best by a local computer expert." -Paskell <----- Click Here
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"Butch, that "mystery house" number 4 looks just like one on G St, NW, owned by Ab Jolly. He was a mail carrier for years in Ardmore and was a Captain in the 45th Division National Guard, called to duty for WWII. The last time I saw him was in 1948 in Japan when he was a Major and a document courier for the Army. He had a daughter named Atha June and in the late 1930s she used to invite the more daring kids (me included) over to pay spin the bottle on the front porch. I believe that the house is still there, so drive by G Street (can't recall the number, but around the 800 block) and take a peek." <----- Click Here
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"Hi Kirk Smith, I read your e-mail to Butch Bridges T&T, it is grate isn't it?! any way I thought I would send you a picture of a Smoker I build out where I work, fairly easy to make I don't have the exact dimensions off hand, but I can draw some up if you are interested? free of charge! I'll have to get the dimensions when I go back to work next week if you Like, It can be smaller or bigger? what ever you like it to be, this one sure cooks perfect!! we have cooked on it a lot, Brisket, pork ribs, and burgers too." <----- Click Here
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"Butch and Kenneth, you both have had references to Jesse Chisholm in your newsletters and newspaper columns in the past so I finally made it over to the Chisholm Trail Lookout Point today (near Comanche, Oklhaoma). I know that Kenneth Eck has already been there because he was the one that told me about it some years back. As can be seen from the photos, there are four sides on the base with large marble plaques on each, while the top spire has 12 separate surfaces. I'm not sure what this design is called but it is quite impressive when standing close to it. It's located about three miles East of Addington Oklahoma on top of a tall hill. Nice view as you can see for miles in all directions. Part of the inscription reads, "This hill was a landmark for drovers who rode northward from Red River to a Campsite nearby." and "The wagon tracks of Jesse Chisholm across Indian Territory became know as Chisholm's Trail and Texas cowmen using this route gave his name to the entire cattle trail from South Texas to Kansas. Millions of Longhorns were driven northward across the plains to railheads in Kansas during the period of 1867-1889." The monument is very tall. You can see how my truck compares in one of the photos. Very nice historical site if you get a chance to go over there someday. I suspect that lots of folks don't know it exists since it is in a fairly remote place but well worth the trip." -Dwane Stevens <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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Bless this house, Oh Lord we pray
Make it safe by night and day
Bless these walls so firm and stout
Keeping want and trouble out

Bless the roof and chimneys tall
Let thy peace lie over all
Bless this door that it may prove
Ever open to joy and love

(Bless these windows shining bright)
(Letting in God's heavenly light)
Bless the hearth, a-blazing there
With smoke ascending like a prayer

Bless the people here within
Keep them pure and free from sin
Bless us all that we may be
Fit Oh Lord to dwell with thee
Bless us all that we, one day, may dwell
Oh Lord, we pray.

See everyone next Saturday!

Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402

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Saturday November 20, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 396

Legend has it, an American traveler named George Hansburg was making his way through Burma when he made the acquaintance of a poor farmer. The farmer's daughter was named Pogo, and Pogo-devout little girl that she was-wanted to go to temple every day to pray, but couldn't because she had no shoes to wear for the long walk through the mud and rocks. So the poor farmer built a jumping stick for her, and Pogo's daily temple bounce-trips through the mud and over the rocks ensued. When the impressed traveler returned home, he made a jumping stick of his own, attaching a spring to the wooden stick contraption that the farmer had introduced him to. Sure it's far-fetched, but it's nice, isn't it? Wherever the idea for the jumping stick really came from, Hansburg patented his "Pogo Stick" in 1919. The Gimble Brothers Department Store in the U.S. imported a boatload of them, but unfortunately, the sticks rotted on the wet ship ride over. The folks at Gimble asked Hansburg to produce something more resilient, and Hansburg eventually did just that-from his own factory called SBI Enterprises. And those sticks, called "Master Pogos," were the bouncing wonders that we know today.

The Pogos were incredibly popular in the 1920's-because if you had two left feet and couldn't jitterbug, at least you could jump. Hansburg taught the Ziegfeld Follies how to bounce, and from there on out, showmanship and the Pogo just sort of went hand in hand. The New York Hippodrome chorus girls performed entire shows on them, marriage vows were exchanged on them, jumping contests were held, and world records for most consecutive jumps were set, and then re-set again. In the early 1970's, Hansburg sold his company to a local Ellenville, New York businessman named Irwin Arginisky. Though sales have never been as brisk as they were in those roaring 20's, Pogos never stopped being made.

So with pogos in mind, this week I went down on Main Street here in Ardmore to see my friend Damian Hoffield who recently opened Tribal Bikes and Boards. Sure, he's got all the great stuff a person needs when it comes to bikes and skateboarding, but just this week he got in pogo sticks! Now these are not any flimsy contraptions, these are the real McCoy.... heavy duty, solid steel and aluminum, built to last years, pogo sticks by Flybar out of Ellenville, NY. These pogo sticks can really send you back on a nostalgia trip of bygone years and youth. And these things can bounce as high as an elephant's eye, depending on the strength settings you customize for your own use. Boy, what a Christmas present one of these would make for a child. Damian has already sold two this week, so if you're really interested in one of these pogo sticks, you better get hold of Damian, because what he has in stock right now won't last long. You can call Damian at 580-226-2888 or send him an email at [email protected] Tribal Bikes and Boards is located at #2 West Main (just west of Main and South Washington) here in Ardmore. Yes, he will ship a pogo stick anywhere!

Here's a pic I took of Damian holding one of these fantastic Flybar Pogo Sticks in his shop this week. <----- Click Here

And Tribal Bikes and Boards of Ardmore business card. <----- Click Here

I received my Garmin Etrex from walmart.com the other day. I ordered it from walmart's website on Thursday November the 11th, and received the package on Tuesday November 16th. So, I been busy the past few days trying out all the features of this $88 unit. In Normal Mode its accuracy stays around 15 feet, sometimes dropping to 25 feet. But thats still plenty close enough for what I bought it for. I mainly just want to get the longitude and latitude from it when I'm at a piece of history somewhere. I thought about one southern Oklahoma attraction that I'll GPS the next time I'm down there. Its Buzzard's Roost at Lake Murray. So many people really do not know where on Buzzard Roost Road it is located. There is no sign, just a small turn-out where about three cars can park. Then you still have to know to hike up that rock trail to the top where you can look out over that beautiful blue water. <----- Click Here

The person in Arkansas who sent in the old photos from Ardmore last week, sent in another one this week. It sure looks familiar?? But then there are houses all across the country kinda like this one. Maybe someone will recognize it? <----- Click Here

I talked with Rev Quaid's wife this week, inquiring about the bell at Mill Creek Baptist Church. She said they finished their new church building, but have not completed the front entrance way where the bell will be located. She said the bell is fine, and is still wrung every Sunday for church services there in Mill Creek. Some of you will remember a couple of years ago I was emailed pictures of the bell after they took it down from the old church building, in preparations to build a new church. Here are those photos from 2002. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

Sometimes I am absolutely awed at some of the stories that are passed along to me. This week I was told about a house on 9th NW and the unbelievable mystery hidden on the property, marked only by a rock. I will try to work up a story on it someday...... if I dare.

I have another great interview online this week. Back in 1927 Madge Hunter of Billings, Oklahoma was just out of high school and working for the local bank there in Billings as a clerk. Two armed men came in and robbed the bank, and Madge has retold the story in perfect detail. Madge Hunter may be older than the state of Oklahoma, but she's sharp as a tack! <----- Click Here

Some of us use the free version of AVG AntiVirus by grisoft.com to keep our computers virus free. AVG version 6 will be replaced by the new version 7 on January the 1st, so after that day those who still run version 6 will not longer be able to get support or updated DAT files. I suggest if you use the AVG AntiVirus program to go to their website and download the FREE version 7 at your earliest convenience. <----- Click Here

SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG

"Butch, when I was about 15 years old I pulled cotton for a week to make $7.00 and bought my then boyfriend (now husband of 53 years) a camera just like this one. We still have it." -Minnie Lou Whittington <----- Click Here
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"Your trip to Tucks Ferry sounded really neat. I've printed off a map so I can go there some time soon." <----- Click Here
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"Butch, for the person inquiring about old funeral home records of Healdton, Ringling, Wilson & Lone Grove. They might try the oldest funeral home existing in these towns now. Usually the records are kept when the Funeral Home changes hands. Collier Bro. became Reser's and is now Spivey's. They usually did the funerals from the Ringling, sometimes the Wilson and Lone Grove areas too. Also the Western part of the County was serviced by Garvin County (Pauls Valley) and Stephens County (Duncan). I don't remember who had the funeral home at Wilson Funeral before it became Leslie's and now Alexander Funeral Home. They also serviced the Lone Grove, Cheek, Graham, and surrounding communities. Harvey Douglas Funeral Home (was Harvey Funeral Home) and Craddocks Funeral Home (was Bettes) serviced all of Carter County and the outlying area. If they have death certificates or records showing what Funeral Home was in charge of the service, they could call the Funeral Homes in that area and could probably find out where the records are now."
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"Butch, I had to put my two cents in on the poison ivy remedies. Avon sells a product Poison Ivy Block and when you know you are going anywhere near the poison ivy vines, you rub a thin layer of this lotion on the areas you think will be exposed. I have been using it for about 4 years now and haven't caught the dreaded disease since I began to use it. IF you do get poison ivy; at the very first sign gently rub a thin layer of Aqua Fresh (plain) toothpaste on the area, careful not to open the wounds, and let it dry. It will stop the itching and dry the areas up. When you remove the paste, start by wetting the area with a wet paper towel, don't rub, just saturate the area and rinse under running cool water until the paste is gone. Re-apply as before. I have been told by one person, they were allergic to the tooth paste but only that one person. Everyone else has had very good luck with it. It certainly stops the itching. You can apply the paste several times a day if you want to, if it cracks and starts to itch, then remove it and reapply."
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"Good afternoon Butch: My antique mall here in Perry has sold several "Big Chief" (bottled by Coca Cola) bottles, but most of the ones I've seen were from Guthrie (the first state capital of Oklahoma). I have never seen one from Ardmore. These bottles were used for the imitation fruit flavors that the bottling companies also sold (more profit because they didn't have to pay royalties to the home office for the cola concentrate). Most of the early Oklahoma bottles are worth over $50 each if they are in good condition. Thanks for sharing the photos." [email protected]
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"Butch, great work on your newsletter! I was back down there a few years ago visitin from Montana, and my cuz Jerry gave up his secret to smokin a brisket to me..Gotta love the guy! Anyway, I been tryin to perfect it for a couple of years now but all I have is my propane grill. I put the meat on one side and slowly burn up some Dickson pecan wood on the other...... not to bad so far. What I really need is to build a smoker and need to find some plans or suggestions from anyone... all I find on the net are places in texas that sell big ol things and want a fortune for a set of cad plans, if your a fabricator thats ok I guess. Everyone around here uses a refrigerator mostly for jerky and whitefish and never heard of a Brisket. I would like to build one out of about 8" river rock in my yard so nobody steals it..... Any help ?? Keep up the good work. Hey, to any Holley's!!" [email protected]
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"Hi Butch, I've been reading about of the reviews your getting about Tucks Ferry. I was born and raised in the Loves Valley community and crossed Tucks ferry many times with my Dad hauling cotton to Whitesboro, Tx for ginning. Buck Pennington was the operator during this time period. I would like to share with you and your readers a short story about an event that happened at Tucks ferry some fifty years ago. You may have heard about fishing with an old telephone that had a hand ringer. In the early fifties my cousin by marriage Jack Thurman and who was avid fisherman call and let's go fishing for I have found a new way in catching catfish. I called two more of our friends who like to fish, Joe Westfall and Herman Riley and to Red River with two flat bottom boats we headed. Jack said he had a friend in Tennessee that told him how to hook-up the old phone and place the lead wires around old drifts in the river and give it a ring. After many attempts while floating down the river with no results we came upon Tucks Ferry. Richard Fultz, a local fisherman was fishing from the bank and was ask if he minded if we tried a new fishing method. Richard approved the idea saying he had been there fishing for sometime and had not had a bite. Jack made another adjustment and as Joe started ringing the phone he got the right number for the fish started boiling the water and we caught three fish that hit the scales at 99 pounds with the largest weighing in at 57 lbs. I caught another one that would weigh about 10 lbs. and gave it to Richard for his supper. Richard said that was the most exciting thing he had seen in many years. Of course we headed to Marietta to show everyone our catch. We were not of certain that it was legal so we told the lookers that we had been grabbling which Jack was noted for. As soon as the word got out everyone ere searching their attics for their old phones. soon afterwards the commercial fisherman got involved and the State declared fishing with a electrical devise were illegal. We had many fun days following in catching and giving the fish we caught to our friends and neighbors. Needless to say that once the word got out, Tucks ferry became a popular place for fisherman. The small electric shock would momentarily stun the fish but would not harm them unless they were caught. I have a lot of fond memories of Loves Valley and the wonderful people that lives in that community. My family farmed the old Love farm for many years. Dad and my mother owned and operated the local convenient stores in Loves Valley in the late thirties & early forties. This was the only grocery store in the valley and the place the local farmers would gather on rainy days to play dominos and tell their favorite stories. Butch I now live in Tennessee and look forward every week to receiving your e-mail. I can relate to many of the events and places mention in the T & T. Thanks to Carl Foster for telling me about your T & T. I also made contact with Gerald Cobb who has been a long time friend through your news column. Again thanks Butch." -Don McMeans
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"We have a bell in front of Eufaula City Hall and a bell at the Eufaula Methodist church on Main Street."
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"I have some very, very old 78 records, and was wondering if you know of a site that I might be able to look up there value. Example: ROMEO (label) "The Church in the Wildwood" sung by -Holy Trinity Male Quartette- The back side is "Tell Mother I'll Be There". Copyright is 1928 and made in USA. This is one of the "younger" records, I have one that the date is 1875, I do have a mess of these 78's and love to listen to them on my old "record" player. But I'm afraid that I am going to have to let some of them go. Just not my Bob Wills or Hank Williams, lol. Please let me know if you know of a site. Thank you." -Kamie L. Jones [email protected]
------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Just as an update, the 1927 bank robber's name Madge Hunter was trying to think of was Clint Blasdell. Not sure of the spelling. He was known as an old horse thief from Garber, Oklahoma area. There never was a conviction and I dont know if there are any relatives left or not."
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Healdton Herald--October 31, 2002
65 years ago, Thursday October 7, 1937
Collier Brothers has been in business in Healdton for 20 years, making them one of the oldest business concerns in town. Herman H. Hitchcock, manager, has been here for 15 years, most of that time as manager. Lewis H. Johnson, assistant manager, has a record of nearly 14 years with the same concern.
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The Daily Ardmoreite September 3, 1905
Advertisement THE TRUE HOT BLAST PRINCIPLE
Buck's Hot Blast Heater that you are hearing so much about these days. It shows how the cold air is drawn from the floor into the stove. This means that there is contrant (sic) circulation in your room--a most important feature from a health giving standpoint. There is no "dead air" in your home. Value $25.00 NOBLE BROTHERS
***
Chickasaw Telephone Company Supplement to Directory Installed
422 Alexander, Mrs. J.P. res.
582 Ardmore Labor Agency, Gilcrease & Moore, mgrs.
589 Ardmore Grain Co. W.F. Warren, Prop.
599 Bankrupt Store, J. Weiss, Prop
504 Bumpass, W.H. res.
590 Douglas & Humphrey, real estate
472 Felker, M.T. res.
588 Gardner, W.C. res.
591 Hoffman, Geo., meat market
154 Kearney, T.K. res
585 Lee, R.E. law office
596 Legrand, J.B. res
592 Lokey, J.W. res
414 Palmer Gin, John McCann, mgr.
597 Quinn, Sam, res.
594 Tippit, Jewell, res
407 Weiss, Joseph, res
599 Weiss, Joseph, Bankrupt Store
475-3R Whittington, W.F. res
Discontinued
566 Bledsoe, W.T. res
422 Butt, F.A. res
277 Croslin, W.T. res
419 Dobyns, Mrs. M. res
571 Flipping, Bell, res
430 Frensley, Cecil, res
410 Frasher, Wm., res
524 Hill, C.P. res
407 Jordan, Mrs. S.P., res.
324 Pollard, J.M. grocery
524 Hall, C.P. res
551 Sass Morris, store
561 Union Review
551 Wonder Store, Morris Sass, Prop.
Please make necessary changes in your directory. Wm.H. Berry, General Manager
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Sept. 4, 1905
Davis, I.T.--The first spade of dirt was thrown this morning on sixth street, near Main, in this city, which marks the beginning of the Oklahoma City, Lexington and Sulphur Electric Railway. Fifty teams and scrapers started promptly at seven o'clock and work will be kept up until the first ten miles have been completed between the government reservation and Davis. Miss Fannie Davis, daughter of S.H. Davis, in whose honor the city was named, broke a bottle of crude oil taken from the first oil well drilled in Davis. The spade was held by Mr. James Draughon, who presented the spade, and Miss Davis made the second attempt before the bottle was broken over the spade. The building of this line is only the beginning of the east and west standard gauge steam road from the great coal fields in the Choctaw nation; crossing the Santa Fe at this point and connecting a great railway in Oklahoma and Northwestern Texas with their orient outlet. This line will be under construction at Davis not later than the 15th and will connect at Sulphur in time to handle the bulk of cotton shipments this winter. The Coalgate Southwestern is only a part of the original plan of construction that has been under consideration for the past two years and even as far back as twelve years ago. Col. Yoakum made the remark some twelve years ago that this very line of road would cross at this point. Many of the old residents of Davis have been looking forward to this new road, and have never felt the least uneasy about its ultimate construction.
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September 7, 1905
Davis, I.T.--A battle royal was fought yesterday between six men, three on a side, near the little town of Palmer, about four miles northeast of Sulphur. There were about twenty shots fired in all, one man was shot through the left hand. Several bullet holes were found through the clothing on three of the men. Deputy Marshal Ed House and posseman Jim Looney, brought all of the parties through here today and lodged them in the Ardmore jail. Norman brothers and the Blankenship boys had been on unfriendly terms for several months past, but not until yesterday did the opportunity come for a general battle. It appears that the Blankenship boys went to town and on their return home the Norman boys locked a gate through which people pass. The Blankenship attempted to open this gate and the battle commenced. Shot guns, winchesters, and revolvers were used. The officers say the posts and timber nearby look as if Dewey had been there with his long range guns. The small timber was riddled with shot. Marion Blankenship made a cash bond for a younger brother, and went to jail himself. He preferred to rest in jail rather than see his brother stay there. It took all the money he had to get his brother's liberty on bail.
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Cordell, OK--Although the government has on several occasions unsuccessfully attempted to allot these lands to Indians, there is a little plot of ground containing a number of acres of the finest land in Oklahoma, bordering on the Washita, just west of the Washita Junction, that will perhaps remain untilled unless the white man takes it up. The Indians regard it with superstition and refuse to live upon it. At this point the river makes a great circle, exposing a valley of several thousand acres, which was once the camp of several hundred hostile Indians. There is a belt of sturdy timber fringing the stream at this place. On the inside of this circle bordering the stream the Indians had pitched their camp and partially fortified it. This was in the day of General Custer, when he and his little army of brave men were making expeditions against the Indians in Oklahoma. General Custer with three companies of his army came upon the Indians after they had made their camp here. As usual with Custer, there was no parleying, or questions asked. They immediately charged down upon the camp, cutting their way through and quickly formed and charged again. Their work was so deadly that it is said that not a warrior escaped alive. The Indians remembered this place and avoided it with superstition and a few years ago when the government endeavored to allot them land here, they would not go near it. And today they cannot be induced to go near it.
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November 18, 1910
"I know that there is considerable dissatisfaction over the condition of our cross-walks in the city and especially in wet weather is the fact painfully noticeable," said Commissioner Burnitt this morning when it was suggested that some of the citizens were kicking, "but on account of the decision of the supreme court- regarding the $35,000 street improvement which was voted for the purpose of paving street intersections and putting in street and alley crossings being declared unconstitutional on account of the streets not being public utilities, according to the sense of the constitution, we are now left no alternative except to put the machinery of law in operation and assess street and alley crossings to the quarter block as the law provides, in this manner, we can get cross walks. This we have been reluctant to do, on account of the astringency of the times and on account of the burden- that the people already are bearing with sidewalk and other taxes. It has come to the point when we feel that we are compelled to proceed along the line set forth in this law, as the board of commissioners recognize the fact that street and alley crossings are as necessary as sidewalks, while the amount on each property owner will be small, to place the walks according to law, we do not believe it will be legal for the city to place them and pay for them out of the general fund, thereby causing the citizens at large to bear the burden when many of them in outlying districts would receive no benefit from it. We are now working on plans to give the desired relief and we hope in the near future to begin a general street crossing construction in the city taking in the principal streets and avenues first. On account of the large amount of constructive work which we have done in the last year and a half, it has been impossible to get to many things at the very instant they were needed. We must ask the people to be patient, give us credit for what we have done, if it is good, be optimistic for we are going to have just as good crossings as we now have streets and sidewalks."
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November 20, 1910
San Antonio, TX--An announcement is made that the largest buffalo herd remaining in America is to be taken from Goodnight, TX by the famous Charles Goodnight, owner of the buffalo, to Mexico. Representatives of the department of agriculture of Coahuila, Mexico, are now on their way to the big Goodnight ranch, it is said, is to be moved, with its thousands of head of stock. Mr. Goodnight has been experimenting to perpetuate the now almost extinct American bison. He has been breeding to the pure buffalo cattle, and these called "cattalo" very closely resemble the buffalo. The Goodnight ranch is one of many that are now being moved to Mexico. The cutting up of the large cattle ranges into small farms has been the cause, to a great degree, of the exodus. Gradual encroachmenia of the homesteader and the farmer are driving the cattlemen out of business in the United States.
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November 21, 1910
The Ardmoreite is in receipt of an invitation from the board of county commissioners of Love county to have a representative present Thanksgiving day when the citizens of that hustling little city and county will dedicate the court house, and by the way, this will be the first county court house to be dedicated in the state of Oklahoma. The Ardmoreite wishes to hereby acknowledge the receipt of the invitation and begs to assure the commissioners that it accepts and will have a representative there at that time. Love county can justly be proud of the beautiful edifice that the progressive up-to-date citizenship have erected, it is an ornament to the city and county, and stands as a monument to the progressive spirit of the board of county commissioners.
Following is a list of the county commissioners and their able assistants who will serve as a reception committee:
Commissioners: W.M. Bollen, J.L. Jordon, and A.S. Burney Reception Committee: Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Draughon, Mr. and Mrs. S. Westheimer, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Rose, Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Culwell, Mr. and Mrs. W.V. Deering, Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Thompson, and Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Culwell.
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"Butch, I'm in need of some help. A few months ago you wrote about the stone house in the east side of lake murray that burned several years ago and I am totally unable to retrieve that info." <----- Click Here
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"Here is a sample of the trees turning here in Ardmore 2004. They don't look nearly as pretty as in a real life. But enjoy." -Doug Williams <----- Click Here
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"Butch, Just wanted to take a minute to let you and your readers know about a neat place to get a good home style meal at a good price. Babe's Chicken Dinner House, aka BUBBA'S Cooks Country in Sanger, Texas is just that place. Babe's has a style like mommy. When you order you get 2 choices. One being the type of main dish meat you want and what you will wet your whistle with, and that is it. You are then bring out the a green salad with a dressing that taste tart at first but finishes up sweet on your taste buds. Before your done with that you are served your large serving of what ever type meat your ordered and then your waitress loads your table up with bowls of green beans, Homemade cream corn, mash potatoes, hot homemade biscuits and a white gravy that was to die for. It was just like being at mommy's table were everyone takes turns passing the bowls, and the last one is hoping there's some left for them. I can't tell you how good the pies are because I ate to much white gravy and had no room for it. But it looked good to me. We got all this for two at a price of $22.83 not bad I thought. They had live music and the place was hopping with people. But if you are going you will want to go early, we got there at 6 p.m and the place was full and as we left the people were lined up out side to get a taste of this wonderful food." <----- Click Here
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Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. Let us not forget the reason for the occasion.

I walked out of the post office this week, and there laying on the sidewalk was a penny. So, I stopped, reached down, and picked it up. This was just natural for me because in my upbringing I was taught to do just that. I hardly ever fail to pick up a penny laying on the ground. It's suppose to bring good luck.

I found a penny today
Just laying on the ground.
But it's not just a penny,
this little coin I've found.

Found pennies come from heaven,
That's what my Grandpa told me.
He said Angels toss them down.
Oh, how I loved that story.

He said when an Angel misses you,
They toss a penny down.
Sometimes just to cheer you up,
To make a smile out of your frown.

So, don't pass by that penny,
When you're feeling blue.
It may be a penny from heaven,
that an Angel's tossed to you.

See everyone next Saturday!

Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402

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Saturday November 13, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 395

There was a problem last Saturday with the AOL Servers and T&T would not go through to those of you using AOL. I've talked with the AOL techs and they say there should not be a problem this time..... we will see.

This week long time Ardmoreites Herb and Pat Upchurch took me down to look over what is left of Tucks Ferry on the Red River southeast of Marietta. Boy, Herb really knows his stuff when it comes to that area of the country. We'd be doing down a county road and Herb would ask, "Did you see that bucket?" to which I'd reply, "What bucket?". "That white bucket.".... What white bucket?" "That white bucket over there." "Over there where?" Herb was referring to a bucket in the trees the locals were using to attract wild hogs. Boy, that is one animal I ain't hunting, those things are meaner than a junk yard dog. Anyway, the three of us had a lot of fun traveling around Love's Valley SE of Marietta along the river. Herb has a GPS he uses to record the exact location of those secret fishing holes he knows about. It was my first time to use a personal GPS and I did record the locations of several things in Love's Valley including Tucks Ferry.

Here is a pic of the road sign the county put up that points the way to Tucks Ferry. Actually you go east a few feet past the sign in the picture, then turn south toward the river and Tucks Ferry. The sign is located at N33� 52.063' by W 097� 02.363' <----- Click Here

The actual Tucks Ferry place is just a few hundred feet back from the Red River. The inside are dirt walls and floor. The long and lats are: N33� 51.148' by W 097� 03.015' <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

This is a pic of the Red River just a few feet on south of the Tucks Ferry building site. She is red red, true to her name. <----- Click Here

After leaving the Tucks Ferry area, Herb took me on down the county road where a grapevine is growing along on a fence. There were still a few grapes still on the vine. Herb said they made delicious grape jelly and not to give out the location because everyone would be going down there and getting 'his' grapes. So I won't tell where they are. :-) N33� 51.887' by W097� 01.314' <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

Another interesting tidbit, a huge field planted in rosemary is just on down the road from Tucks Ferry. Herb said the owner told him the big fast food hamburger chain bought all he could grow, used it somehow in the cooking oil so it would stay fresher longer. N 33� 52.258 by W097� 00.559 <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

So, how do you get to Tucks Ferry in layman's terms? We went about 2 miles south of Marietta on Highway 77 to the McGehee's Catfish sign. But instead of turning west to go to McGehee's Catfish, we turned east toward William Ranch Horses spread. After going east about 7 or 8 miles we came to the Tucks Ferry sign. Just a few feet past the sign we turned south toward the river. The road dead ends at the river, but Tuck Ferry building is about 300 feet back from the river's edge.

Here is a map to Tucks Ferry start at Marietta. I have marked the roads in red we travelled. <----- Click Here

After Herb Upchurch let me try his GPS, I had to order one for myself. I ordered a Garmin GPS eTrex unit from walmart.com for $88 and hopefully it will be all I need in a GPS. All I want to do is be able to determine the latitude and longitude of a certain location. If anyone has a GPS and wants to help me with getting the longs and lats of old cemeteries, old schools, historical buildings, etc., let me know. I'll start a webpage with the info on it. <----- Click Here

About 15 miles east of Marietta, Oklahoma on Highway 32 is the Chickasaw Nation's old Burney Institute. <----- Click Here

Here is a very interesting story as told by a man who in 1981 visited the old Burney Indian school and his experience with the land owner. I can just picture this old man mending that fence. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

I received several emails about the statues on top of that office building in Antlers, Oklahoma..... saying they were gargoyles. If you look in the background of the picture of the Antlers depot you can see part of that office building and the gargoyles mounted on top. <----- Click Here

I finally got that telephone recorder working on my computer so I can record telephone interviews directly to my hard drive and then upload it to my website for listening. Last Monday evening I gave Herman Kirkwood a call in Oklahoma City. He is president of the Oklahoma Outlaw Lawmen History Association. Herman gave me a 35 minute interview, telling about the murder of a 13 year old son of Dr. Zeno Beemblossom before statehood. After outlaws killed Dr. Zeno's son, he gave up his medical practice and devoted the rest of this life to the pursuit of the killers and other law breakers. Also at the first of the interview Herman tells a little history about Jessie Chisholm (Jessie is who the Chisholm Trail is named after). Anyway, I hope you can get the mp3 file to play on your computer. Windows Media Player should work and so should Winamp. <----- Click Here

I received an interesting phone call this week from a lady in Arkansas. She was at a garage sale and there were some old photographs with connections to Ardmore. The following is a followup email she sent me:

"From information put together from other photos (out of the many that I have), Paul Pierman may be the father of David Paul, who was 8 days old in May 1941. Other children may have included Judy (born August 9, 1948) and perhaps David Ralph Pierman who was age 2 in 1949 -- and I'm wondering if David Paul died before the birth of David Ralph (simply because of the repetition of names). I also thought "Jack" (named in the fifth photo) could also be Paul's son, but I find no other reference to him. Paul's wife may have been named Maude... again, a guess. Other family names --MAY-- include Dorothy, Linnie, Bill, and an Aunt Winnie. Other photos include a Hugh Vitterman Marker (born 1898); and in another photo, MAYBE his father, a William F. (possibly Franklin) Marker -- maybe the "Bill" mentioned above. William Marker is pictured in another photo with an Edward W. (probably Warren) Stocker -- as two "dapper" young men, in January 1894 at the University of Illinois, School of Architecture. Another photo leads me to believe that Edward W. Stocker died on September 16, 1894, just eight months later." <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

If anyone recognizes the names or photos, let me know. We'd like to see them get back to family members. It looks like the photos may have been taken at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum???

Here is an old coke bottle that was bottled here in Ardmore, Oklahoma. What's so interesting is the Indian Chief that is on the side. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here

A T&T Reader posed a question this week, asking if anyone knows where any old funeral home records from Healdton, Wilson and Ringing my have ended up. Here is the email: "Butch, I thought you might ask if anyone has or knows of old funeral home records for the Healdton, Wilson, Ringling & Lone Grove area. I know there was a Collier's Brothers Funeral Home in Healdton, years ago. Also one in Wilson that was discontinued years ago." Maybe a Reader has some input here???

From Gary Simmons: "A brisk north wind with a chill-factor in the upper 30s persisted during the Veteran's Day program at the Oklahoma Veteran's Center, Ardmore. An estimated crowd of 350-400 veterans, students and patriotic citizens, most wishing for more clothing, took time from their normal routine to honor those who made this unique American assembly possible. Seven bus loads of attentive Plainview HS students made up a large percentage of the audience. The Ardmore HS Band provided the music prior to the program. Veterans of WWII, Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Desert Storm and men and women who recently participated in Iraqi Freedom were there. Two Gold Star mothers were present, one had recently lost a son in Iraq. Thank you veterans and active duty servicemen and women for your contribution to preserve our Freedom!" <----- Click Here

This is a pic of the Sanders School Bell at the Nowata, Oklahoma History museum. <----- Click Here

Some of you may be using Excel for you long distance and heard they filed for bankruptcy. If you are looking for some low cost long distance, check this out. 1.9 cents a minute! <----- Click Here

SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG

"I just wanted to let you know that our son, Cpl. Thomas D. Hankins Jr. had been deployed with the 22nd. MEU (SOC) in Afghanistan from February to September 15th, 04 when they returned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He (Tommy) was injured though not as severe as another Marine was (lost 1/2 of his foot, then the rest was amputated). But not from (1 IED but from 2 IED's, Improvised incendiary devices) The first one took out the driver and his foot, tossing the 3 other Marines in the back around and trapping some under their gear. Tommy freed one and informed them to go out the left side to prevent an ambush, he then grabbed his gear and leaped out of the right side with incoming fire. As his feet hit the dirt the second blast went off in front of him, blowing him back into the rock wall and into the truck. Covered with diesel fuel from the exploding gas tank, and shrapnel wounds to his head, both arms and a leg and very disorientated and deaf from the blast laid down a line of fire and pursued the Taliban/Al Quita up the hill where they left their guns in flight. The rest of the convoy arrived and further secured the area. Tommy collapsed at the Afghan check station and was Medi-vaced to Kandahar to the Army hospital where he was treated for his minor shrapnel wounds but a very severe concussion and was halt there for a few days until ready to re-join the fight for freedom. He arrived home and on Sept. 17th, 2004 was awarded the Purple Heart for his actions as well as a Good Conduct Medal and several others to come. Of coarse we are proud of him, but so many people do not realize really how close to HOME both of these wars are. If the stop-loss is re-enacted he will have to go to Iraq in January. We pray not. The first pic is Tommy in Afghan. The 2nd pic is the truck he was in and the 3rd pic is after he got his medal." -Tom & Connie Hankins, Proud Marine Parents of Cpl. Thomas D. Hankins Jr. <----- Click Here <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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Q. Were these two cars the same ones once used by the Hugo Heritage Railroad excursions?

A. Yes they were- both of them were built in 1949 (can't remember the builder, sorry) for Norfolk & Western for their passenger service. They finished up on the commuter train service out of Chicago, and later went to the Gold Coast RR Museum in Miami. They arrived in Hugo in rather rough shape, but as you can see they were really worked over inside & out. Besides seeing service on HHRR trains, they were used for football specials east to Valliant, and IIRC also on a rare-mileage train in late 1998 on the east end of the Kiamichi. The car used for HEP (a converted 50-foot boxcar) is still in Hugo yard, as is the third coach HHRR got later on for service. Shame to see these cars in storage in such an out-of-the-way place...even though they DO add a nice touch to the Antlers depot. <----- Click Here
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"Butch, The statues (at Antlers, Oklahoma) are gargoyles. The notion of using them in architectural is European in origin, French I think. In the truest sense of the word they are down-spouts that direct rain water from the roof away from the foundation. The word comes from the Latin for throat. In some areas, the legend developed that they keep evil spirits away. Some people (my wife and I included) put a gargoyle by the front door for that same purpose." <----- Click Here
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"Attached are three gargoyle such as were used in Europe long ago, many of the old buildings, church's palaces, ect had them on the roof to ward off evil spirits. The gargoyles are not evil, just the opposite." <----- Click Here <----- Click Here
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"The word "Gargoyle" shares a root with the word "Gargle"; they come from "gargouille", an old French word for "Throat". A true gargoyle is a waterspout. An unusual carved creature that does not serve that purpose is properly called a "Grotesque". This may help identify the purpose of the creatures look out over Antlers." -Ted Edwards http://www.stonecarver.com/gargoyle.html
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I know by now you have had several e-mails telling you about Gargoyles, so I won't go into it. Three couples caravaned to Bevers Bend last week-end, in our campers. We saw the mentioned sites in Antlers. Stayed several days at the River in Beavers Bend and took the drive, on Hwy 1 to Mena. You are right, We had been trying to talk to family by Cell Phones, and thought as soon as we got to the top of the mountains, that we could get out. But, not so. We spent a lot of time saying to each other... "can you hear me now?" <----- Click Here
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"Hi Butch, All the stories about people's poison oak problems brings to mind one of my own. When I was a kid living in Sulphur, about three blocks from the Platte Nat'l Park, we boys often played hide and seek in or near the park, and I would hide in a thick cluster of poison oak. Of course the other kids never found me and I was apparently immune to the poison oak. Much later, shortly after I had begun to work at Point Lobos State Park, near Carmel, Calif., I was given the task of "pruning" poison oak along the several miles of trails within the park. Point Lobos is a State Preserve (The Most Beautiful Meeting of Land and Sea In the World), so we were instructed to make "invisible cuts", so there would be no evidence of actual pruning. I told my new boss that I was immune to poison oak, and gladly took on the task. By the next morning I was blistered all over (yes, there too), and obviously I was no longer immune. It took awhile, but eventually I learned how NOT to prune poison oak. That was one of the most satisfying jobs I ever had. If you ever get to visit the Carmel area, be sure to spend an early morning at Point Lobos. It's breathtakingly beautiful."
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"The article about the railroad trestles really hit home with me. I have fond or not so fond memories of the trestles from when I was very young. We used to visit our Grandparents (James and Birdie Prater) who lived just off Caddo there in Ardmore and one of the things we were always told not to do was climb on the trestle just north of his old two room house. One day the four of us decided it was time to do what we were not supposed to do - we went to climb up the trestle. When we were about 10 feet from the top we heard or Grandpa say, "what did I tell you kids about climbing on the trestle?", "now get off of there". We continued our climb up but he stopped us and made us climb back down. By the time we got down he was waiting for us. After the four of us had completed our task at hand he pulled out his old yellow-handle case knife and told us to go over to the nearest bush and cut us one switch each. We all cut the biggest we could so we could get it over with - to our surprise, he did not use them, in stead, he walked over and cut four of the smallest and most limber of switches there were. We got a good old whoppin that day and never had to get another one from him - one was enough and for the trestles, well, to this day when we cross, we do it as quickly as possible as the smart from the whoppin we got - is still with us today. Thanks for another walk down memory lane." -Cuz Poss in Korea
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The Daily Ardmoreite November 24, 1893
Get your Thanksgiving turkeys from J.N.Worley. D.J. Kendall, the popular court crier, went to Davis today. Deputy Marshal John E. Stephens came down from Daugherty last night. Big Iron Store...25% off clothing. W.J. Horton, a prominent young attorney of the South McAlester bar, is in our city watching the proceedings of our court.
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December 11, 1894
The reporter in his rounds today dropped into the white front drug store of F.H. Snider in the Masonic building, and was perfectly bewildered by the glittering beauty and extensive array of fine things which met his eyes. The room is spacious in proportions and its furnishings are elegant. Captain Snider and his affable assistant, J.J. Chandler were each busy in packing and arranging in place a cargo of Christmas goods, the like of which has never before been seen in this city. His stock is entirely too extensive to admit of particularizing in the ordinary newspaper article, hence, no such an attempt is made. It must be seen to be appreciated. His show cases are literally full of every description of holiday goods suitable for presents from the simplest to the most costly and elegant. Mr. Snider says, and he didn't smile or wink when he said it, that he not only proposes to have the most ornamental and best stocked store of the kind in Ardmore, but to be found in the Indian Territory. His store is well worth a visit, and until you have done so, you have overlooked an important opportunity.
***
Doctors I.W. Folsom, Walter Hardy and C.B. Martin, of the Chickasaw medical examining board were in Marlow Saturday. They appear to be, all of them, clever gentlemen. They showed us an agreement signed by many doctors agreeing to sustain and co-operate with the board and pledging themselves not to consult with those doctors who refuse to take out the required license. -Marlow Magnet
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Attention is called to the present location of Dr. Bogle as indicated by change in his professional card. The reporter visited his new apartments today and without stammering, can truthfully say they are elegant both in point of comfort and convenience. His furnishings are of the finest order and were made without regard to cost. Our sanctum is not a circumstance, being knocked entirely out by an attempted comparison.
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For a nice clean shave, go to the Central barber shop.
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Nickle alarm clocks at Brown Bros., 85 cents
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The management of the South Cemetery have necessarily entailed a great expense in which every person who have relatives buried there--outside of the posse's (?) field--are directly interested. The expense has accrued in the surveying and platting off of every lot in the cemetery, and must be paid at once. The laborer is worthy of his hire. The original price for the lots 28x30 feet was put at $5.00, a price insufficient to bear expenses. But that everyone may have an equal showing, it has been deemed advisable to continue the present price for 30 days from this date, after $10 each. Every resident in Ardmore and vicinity is directly interested in this matter, and your appreciation of the management and concurrence to the foregoing is earnestly hoped for. A plat of the cemetery, drawn by Mr. Ressler, who surveyed every lot, can be found at my office on Caddo street, where lots can be selected and receipts for same obtained. -J.S.B. Appollos, Undertaker
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Last Monday morning about 4 o'clock the peaceful slumbers of our people were disturbed by pistol shots and wild shouts and at first it was thought that Bill Cook and his gang had come to town but further investigation showed them that they were mistaken, for it was only an alarm of fire! The livery barn of M.A. White and Son had caught from some unknown cause and the angry flames were just consuming the light stuff which was rich food for this great element. Willing hands went to work to save what they could from the burning building. Their attention was first turned to the horses, and great efforts were made to rescue them from a cruel death, but the mad animals could not realize the situation of things and as fast as one was led from the barn, he would dash madly back into the burning building. Only a few head of the finest stock were saved and eleven head being entirely consumed and two others badly burned. All of the harness, saddles, etc., were destroyed and the buggies and backs were more or less damaged. The loss is something over $1,500 with no insurance. -Wynnewood Republic
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The Star Grocery....is the recognized headquarters for Fresh Groceries...at Low Tariff Prices
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Emblem Pins...of every description...at T.H. Parker's....Mammoth Jewelry Emporium
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Ladies and gent's "James Boss" gold filled watches from $10 up at Brown Bros. Call and see them, it will pay you.
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Satin Spar, imported from Derbyshire, England, all the rage, at T.H. Parker's. <----- Click Here
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The ladies must have Satin Spar stick pins. These pins created a sensation at the World's Fair. T.H. Parker's
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Robert E. Lee, Lawyer and Collecting Agent, Ardmore, Ind. Ter.
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Ledbetter & Bledsoe, Attorneys at Law, Office in Frensley building near depot
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Call at T.H. Parker's and buy a Brownie, if you wish to be in style. <----- Click Here
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Look out for G.M. Yarbrough & Co. musical display and entertainment, it will be a rear (sic) treat
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Memoriams of the dead, not being considered news, but purely pay matter, The Ardmoreite cannot undertake to publish them unless accompanied by the cash rate of 5 cents per line (five words constituting a line)
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December 24, 1931
W.E. Guess and Cecil Crosby, former deputy sheriffs, who have been the storm center of an international sensation for nearly two months, have gone into business together. They have purchased the filling station and garage at A street and First avenue, southwest, and are busy at a new "game". Guess and Crosby, who resigned as deputy sheriffs, following the fatal slaying on June 7 of Emilio Rubio, nephew of the president of Mexico, and Rubio's college chum, Manuel Garcia Gomez, have been idle since that date until Monday afternoon. "When the court decided not to dismiss our cases last Monday," the two former officers explained, "we decided to find something to do. We had to earn a living. We've bought this station and so far business has been pretty good, thank you."
------------------------------------------------------------------------- "In the later part of May 1908 disastrous storms struck Oklahoma, Texas, and other states. Many bridges were washed out. There was much loss of life and property. Because of the high water, there was no travel by train or other means south of Pauls Valley."
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"Sometime when you are wondering where to go to find interesting places you might try Okmulgee. There is an old Court House there from the 18th Century (I think) that is quite picturesque. I think your readers might enjoy knowing more about it and the city." <----- Click Here
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"I am trying to track down information on Woodford, Oklahoma. My Grandmother, Gladys (Tannahill) Pierce grew up in those beautiful hills. I seem to remember her speaking of a great flood that eventually swept a lot of the area, and families had to relocate? Does anybody have any information? (Her mother and dad were James L. and Hattie (Leflett) Tannahill.) Gladys married George Pierce. Any shared information, memories would be greatly appreciated." -- Roberta Palmer - Email: [email protected]
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"I am looking for any pictures of Katherine White (Hicks) or Willie Hicks, school days 1928-1929 or any that you can find."
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The Daily Ardmoreite July 22, 1896
Territory Statistics
The Indian Territory is larger in area than Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont combined. It is larger than South Carolina or West Virginia and nearly as large as Indiana, Maine or Kentucky. The population of the Indian Territory is greater than that of Arizona, Dakota, Delaware, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, or Wyoming.
>From the above it can be seen that the Indian Territory is ahead of many other states both as regards to area and population. In some respects, however, the Indian Territory is far behind any other spot, with approximately the same area and population in the United States. Four-fifths of the population of the I.T. is made up of white "non-citizens," persons having no right of ownership in the soil, but lawful residents, and loyal citizens. For the benefit and welfare of this vast army there is not within all this fair land a single public school, orphan asylum, insane asylum, poor house, or hospital. The Indian nations have these institutions in less or greater abundance, but their doors are open to the Indians alone. The whites composing in a large measure the population, are practically without any of these institutions that abound everywhere else in every civilized land. Their children have no schools to attend, their orphans have no home to go to for protection, their afflicted and helpless no spot to which they can appeal as a last resort. The appalling results which must surely follow such a system of existence by such a large body of people will manifest themselves in due time and the harvest will be marked with ignorance and crime go hand in hand. Without homes for the afflicted and demented and helpless, these types of the unfortunate populace stalk through the land breeding misery and disease and crime. Their number naturally increases with the increase of populations.
The towns of the Indian Territory, composed largely of white citizens, legal residents, have for the most part no municipal government, no system of public school, or public institutions, no taxes, no laws, no police protection, no parks, no fire protection, no health department, no organized system of government of any kind. As they grow in size the direful results of this lack of government become positively burdensome to the better class of citizens. Nothing can be done toward preventing the obnoxious citizen from making his premises obnoxious. The streets and alleys and public highways have no care because there is lack of both taxes for such purposes and organized government to look after such affairs. All improvements having a tendency to beautify, and purify a town are woefully neglected. As a consequence local pride and loyalty and interest are lacking and people just "don't care if everything does go to the dogs."
Now the Indian Territory has grown just about as big as she can grow under such circumstances. The important towns have reached the point where haphazard building and haphazard business in municipal matters must stop or the town must stop. But for the sake of good government, good society, good morals and good health, some system and order and law must be infused into the chaotic combinations of matters. Its not party legislation nor sectional legislation that is needed; its plain simple Christian legislation. It's not with a view to rob the Indian or rob the white. We want schools for the poor children whether they be red, black or white. It is neither against treaty rights nor the laws of God or man that we should demand for the poor afflicted the right to make them homes and offer them protection and the people protection from them.
Antagonism to a change for the betterment of the whole people is worthy of no consideration. The man who doesn't want his neighbor's children educated is worthy supreme contempt rather than consideration and any obstacles put in the way of legislation that has for its primary object the establishment of public schools, or any other institution for the public good, should be brushed aside. -Muskogee Phoenix
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"Hi Butch, I found your picture of the Byars, OK Baptist Church bell very interesting. Byars is in McClain County, but you were accurate in your estimation of how many miles it is from Pauls Valley. Thank you for your attention. Byars Baptist Church will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on December 5." <----- Click Here
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Starting January I may change the times my T&T goes out. I may hit the Send button on another week night instead of Friday night. And some weeks my T&T is so jamb packed, I may need to send it out a couple of times a week. I"m still trying to decide. More later.

While the cat's away, the mice will play. -James Ray (1670)

See everyone next Saturday!

Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402

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Saturday November 6, 2004 T&T Weekly - Circulation over 4,000 Vol 8 Issue 394

We've mentioned a couple of times the past few years about the only traffic light in Pushmataha county is located in the town of Antlers, Oklahoma. Here is a pic of that traffic light, and its still has the honor of being the only red light in the county. <----- Click Here

This is a pic of the beautiful and well preserved Antlers, Oklahoma train depot. <----- Click Here

Sitting along side the east side of the Antlers depot is a couple of railroad pullman cars. <----- Click Here

And something very strange and interesting can be found across from the depot to the east, it is a two story building, looks like some kind of French architecture, and on top of this building are four statues. These are statues of some kind of winged creatures, one in each corner of the building. Boy, these things are really scary looking, like they are guarding some secret, or maybe even guarding the town of Antlers itself as the creatures look out over Antlers. <----- Click Here

This is a beautiful photo of one of several lookout points along Talimena Drive east of Talihina, Oklahoma on Highway 1. On a clear day you can see for miles. The "can you hear me now" guy needs to visit this spot. I bet no one would hear him either. Remember, this is in the middle of nowhere in SE Oklahoma. This area of Oklahoma is so beautiful, and only a couple 100 miles east of Ardmore! <----- Click Here

This old locomotive is on display at the Queen Wilhelmena resort near the east end of Highway 1 of the Talimena Drive. <----- Click Here

Of course no place is complete with a bell. So here is the bell mounted in front of the Board of Education building in Talihina, Oklahoma <----- Click Here

Here is a close up of the info on the bell. Its a Number 32 made by American Bell Foundry. <----- Click Here

Confluence: A confluence is defined as a flowing together; a meeting place (often of rivers).

There are 16 Degree Confluences in Oklahoma. The closest Degree Confluence to Ardmore is east of Marietta, Oklahoma in Love county (Latitude 34 degrees North, Longitude 97 degrees). In case your wondering just where that location is, it's a little ways north of Enville, Oklahoma. What's interesting about this for those of you who own a GPS, is that a GPS will "zero out" at a Degree Confluence. Guess I'm going to have to buy a GPS. Anybody have one for sale, recommendations, or suggestions? <----- Click Here

To learn more about Degree Confluences visit the link below. <----- Click Here

Now this is where a personal GPS would come in handy..... determining the waypoint of Tucks Ferry in Love county. Once we have the Long and Lat information, it could be posted on a webpage. Here is a photo taken by a T&T Reader about 4 years ago of what remains of Tucks Ferry on the Red River east of Thackerville, Oklahoma. Its hard to find this piece of the past today (hence the need to GPS it), and it wont be long and all remnants of this piece of history will be gone. There was dozen of privately operated ferrys on the Red River back 100 years ago. They were used to ferry people, belongings, supplies, animals, automobiles, and wagons back and forth between that red river between Texas and Oklahoma because bridges were few and far between. <----- Click Here

I was watching the old movie channel the other evening and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) was showing. It had been a long long time since I saw that movie, and couldnt resist watching the whole thing that evening. Its a great movie, like so many of the older ones, and I remember the looks of their faces when the boat were tossed about like a match stick by the violent storms. Its hard to imagine the experiences our forefathers endured sometimes when they boarded those wooden sailing ships and headed to America in hope of freedom from religious persecution. My Carman clan left England in 1633 settling in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, because they were persecuted for their Puritan beliefs by the Church of England. Three of my Carmans were burned at the stake by the Bloody Queen Mary in 1558. Anyway, the Mutiny on the Bounty movie made me think more about the trails and test my ancestors endured on the open sea on their trips to America. Some of you will remember ship the British HMS Bounty sunk off in the South Pacific by Pitcarin Island in 1789.

Here is an informative summary on the move Mutiny on the Bounty and Picarin Island. Click here

To learn more about, "What is a Puritan?"........ Click here

Talking about movies, I finally watched The Passion of the Christ on DVD the other day. What a disappointment. Unrealistic and overly emphasized pain and agony made the movie so unreal. As for the timeline of events and occurences, those might be in harmony with the Bible. But the actual bloody, gory almost endless footage used to portray the beating of Christ, that is not even close to the real world. But then Mel Gibson and his vivid imagination did just that, played on the vivid imaginations of the viewers. About all I can say if anyone believes that this beating of a human body can be experienced and endured as portrayed in the movie, might "buy a pig in a poke" too (that's a piglet in a poke sack). But then I guess I can't say much there either, I fell for the got-to-see-it hysteria and bought the movie on CD. I'll sell my full screen DVD cheap if anyone wants it, let me know. But then I might trade it for a bell too. lol

Ardmoreite Sylvia Moore is using her artistic talent to create custom calendar planner covers. I've seen a couple of them and they are beautiful. Her specialty is taking your grandkids pics, and arranging them on the front and back cover of the calendar. But she can take any photos you want to place on the cover. Or she has many to draw from to make you just the right planner. I wonder if that cover will work as a check book cover? If it does, that is a real plus have her to make one! Sylvia is making a webpage, and it may not be complete finished, but I think you will get the idea. You can email her with questions at [email protected] <----- Click Here

SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK'S MAILBAG

"Am I the only that remembers the ice house in Ardmore? When I was a young boy, we would go to the ice house to get a block of ice to carry out to the ranch for the ice box. They kept it in sawdust until we got out there to retard the melting."
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"Speaking of Poison Ivy.... brings back memories of Good Ole Dr. Boyd and the little pills. Family must have taken a million of 'em for poison ivy. I also remember putting a cotton ball in bleach, and carefully putting it on the poison ivy too. painful, itching,stuff." -omalee
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"Your talking about poison ivy reminded me of when I was a kid and highly allergic to poison ivy and poison oak. Every spring I would get it and you are right about how it drives you crazy. I would have to sleep with socks on my hands to prevent scratching. My parents took me to Dr. Boyd who prescribed his famous sugar pills. He would pour a clear liquid over the pills and you would take them every day for two weeks. After finishing the two weeks, he would give you another prescription that you took once a week for a year. Once I had taken the "magic" pills for a year, I never got poison ivy or poison oak again. That has been over 40 years, and I have been around it since then. Thanks as always for the T&T." -Jerry Price
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I never was bothered by poison ivy until 1970, was showing my kids how I used to harvest pecans. After that I would break out if someone mentioned it LOL. We bought the 20 acres and two houses we live on now in 1990 and it was so overgrown with weeds we kept 2 mowers and a weedeater going from daylight till dark, we did not even know there was a large pond between the house and county road, I took the weedeater around the pond on a real hot humid day with only my shorts on and did not even think about ivy till the next day, I had weedeated poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumak whill going around the water entrance to the pond. I was miserable because I had to wear long pants to work. I found that washing it good with bleach, let it dry some and liberally apply preparation H to it helped the itching and swelling. Preparation H works good on chigger bites and mosquiote bites."
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"Hi Butch, Your mention of your poison ivy/oak experiences in your last T & T brings back many not-so-funny and VERY painful memories which I'd really rather forget, since I've had it several times....each one more painful and uncomfortable than the last. Guess the one I remember the most was when I decided to explore those same woods you mentioned, and got a terrible case of it around and behind my knees so bad that they swelled up nearly twice their usual size. I decided to go to my Senior Prom anyway and managed, rather painfully, to at least dance a little while (before leaving earlier than I'd have otherwise, due to the terrible itching and oozing)! I remember, even now, how HOT my skin was to the touch near the rash sight! Your Clorox remedy reminds me of my Young cousins who always used that for chiggers! As you know, they lived out in the country and had to use it more often than they would've liked! Even the Prom experience wasn't the worst.... I got it on my face one year and the same itching, swelling, redness, and scabbed-over blisters made me look like I could've easily gone out on Halloween without a mask and I don't reckon anyone would've recognized me! "Thank Heaven" for Dr. Boyd and his little "sugar pills" or I don't think I would've survived! :-) By-the-way, if you didn't know, they still sell those pills at Wal-Mart pharmacy here in Ardmore! They're in a little white box with green lettering and cost around $5 and the name is Rhus-Tox, I believe. Some folks would argue that a root canal causes more pain and suffering than poison ivy or oak, but I'm here to tell you that I've experienced both (more than once), and the poison ivy/oak is the winner by a L-O-n-n-N-G SHOT!"
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"I believe that is a pic of Elmer Leroy Baker. He was county supt of schools in the 40s and then replaced by Omer Rowe. I believe that he worked for the sheriff later, maybe in a job called Under Sheriff??? I was gone from Ardmore by then. He wrote several novels about indians in Mont/Wyo area. Unfortunately, they did not sell at all. He had one or two brothers in the area, I think, so it could be one of his brothers. They had a strong family resemblance as I recall. I have one of his books. "The law of the primitive" was illustrated by Mitchell McCallis. �25Aug38;A120165. "Gunman's Territory" Is also by Elmer LeRoy Baker and is purported to be a true story about the youngest Deputy U.S. Marshal ever to serve in the Southwest. I have not seen it in years." <----- Click Here

Maude Mitchell5 McCallie (John Henry4, William T.3, Andrew2, ALEXANDER1) was born March 02, 1876 in Carrolton, AR (Carrol Co), and died November 15, 1940 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co). She married Thomas K. Baker. He was born June 11, 1871 in Echols, KY (Ohio Co), and died May 12, 1954 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co).

Children of Maude McCallie and Thomas Baker are:

240 i. Nellie6 Baker. 241 ii. John Thaddeus Baker, born April 26, 1895 in Hewitt (IT), OK (Carter Co).
242 iii. Bertie Alice Baker, born October 31, 1896 in Hewitt (IT), OK (Carter Co).
243 iv. Walter Edward Baker, born February 1898 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co).
244 v. Minnie Mitchell Baker, born July 1901 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co); died February 09, 1983.
245 vi. Joseph Kelly Baker, born January 29, 1903 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co); died Jan 1984 in OK.
246 vii. Elmer Leroy Baker, b. March 04, 1906 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co); died October 1973 in OK.
247 viii. James Charles Baker, born 1907 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co).
248 ix. Finis Cortez Baker, born May 25, 1911 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co).
249 x. Herbert Franklin Baker, born November 15, 1913 in Ardmore, OK (Carter Co).
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"Fran and Ernie Miller sold out long ago but we still have the same little building (It has been moved to the corner of G NW and Main. The malts are still as good and they have the chocolate dipped cones, frito chili pies, chili burgers, bbq sandwiches and foot long cheese coneys just as in the old days. We have a new A&W inside Ardmore's Long John Silvers where you can still get root beer in a frozen mug too."
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"Butch, here is my experience with poison oak. In 1953, having moved from Los Angeles to a 120 acre parcel in the country, I got poison oak. Our water came from a spring that formed a pool in rocks and I carried it in 5-gallon buckets to our house quite a ways off. I didn't know what that pretty plant growing close to the pool was until my arm swelled up twice it's normal size and started itching so bad that it made me want to scratch clear to the bone. I had to drive our daughter several miles to meet the school bus, and had to hold the arm up away from my body and wince with every bounce from bumps in the road. My mother-in-law had me soak in a bath tub with Permanganate of Potash, which turned my skin purple. Nothing that I tried would help until my husband drove me back to L.A. to the family doctor. I can't remember ever being so miserable as I was at that time."
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"Freeman Loughridge of Ardmore has a really neat Website that includes his works plus more interesting things." <----- Click Here
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"I have been to this place many times. If you go there when grapes are getting ripe about a few hundred yards southwest of the spring is there are grapevines all over the trees. I picked several quarts as far as I could get without a ladder several years ago. Also during the depression (1930) we camped around there. That old half slab road was the old highway when there was a toll bridge over the river. Bill Murray built the new free bridge. I am 81 years old I remember some of this other parts I was told by my folks.You folks do good history. Keep up the good work." -Ed Miller
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"Sounds like you needed some of Dr. Boyd's little pills. They were the best for poison oak and poison ivy. And you could have put oatmeal in your bath water to ease the itching. Tell your Cuz Poss, that it was the Methodist Youth Fellowship. I think it was still under that name at his age. When I first attended the Methodist church it was Methodist Episcopal then just plain Methodist and then United Methodist. Our youth organization was Methodist League then it became Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF). I have lots of poison ivy stories. When my brother returned from service in WW!!, he got poison oak or ivy on his face. Someone told him to put blueing on it so he did. My uncle passed away and Carl couldn't get the blueing off his face. It was between the blisters and it was too tender to scrub so he had to attend the funeral with a blue face. It was probably red under the blue.Another story about Booger C (don't want to embarrass him) when we attended Methodist Youth Camp at Cedarvale. He was showing off and put poison ivy on his face and even in his mouth. He was not a pretty sight the next day. I could fill the entire T&T with poison ivy stories. That is the nickname that my dad gave my sister-in-law. But that is another story. Look forward to Fridays and T&T." -Frances Long Dunlap
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"Butch, I've found that if you think you've touched poison ivy or oak that if you wash the affected areas with soap and water, it removes the oil that spreads to other places, and should be done within 5 minutes or so. Then it won't spread if you scratch it....but of course, infection could come from scratching. Never found that calamine lotion is of any good, but a soda paste applied to the itching areas will help. Ol' Doc. Boyd used to give you little pills that would cure it overnight. He was out north of downtown Ardmore. I doubt that he shared his medical 'secrets' with anyone."
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"Butch, My mom used to get Poison Ivy every year if she happened to get near where it was being cut,I know how bad it is. worse case I ever saw was in the Bay Area where I worked some people went to Half Moon Bay for a picnic they were roasting hotdogs on a stick over an open fire one guy cut a stick from a bush and put the dog on it, it turned out to be a Poison Ivy vine and he had it in his mouth all the way down to his stomach. he was a mess."
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"I was just wondering. Were any of you ever crazy enough to ride your bikes across the railroad trestle(s)? Really it sounds more scary than it actually was. The thing was so wide that you were not going to fall off. Can anyone tell me the name of the lake that is northwest of Ardmore. It is a lake that you are not allowed to swim in, but I think that you can fish from it. Anyway we would go out that way for family gatherings and we would collect cardboard boxes, trash can lids, and big wheels and ride those things down the big hill that was out there. Also, did any of you ever go into the trash cans behind Mac's Wholesale? We would go out there and wait for them to throw candy bars out that had just expired. Sounds gross now, but hey we never did get sick, and we were kids."
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"Butch, I just happened to be cleaning out my old chest type freezer, so I could store another ton of stuff to be cleaned out in about 20 more years. Anyway down in the bottom of the freezer was this old Cooper Farms milk carton filled with water. I used to freeze water everyday to provide ice for my drinking water for my survey crew. There were a couple of Braum's Cartons, but I though that old Cooper Farms carton would at least be a conversation piece for some one along your ways.I don't know how old it is, but Cooper Farms has been gone for a while, and there is not price code on the carton. Some more history down the pike." -Michael D. Carr <----- Click Here
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The Daily Ardmoreite October 14, 1910
Justice of the Peace Ferguson is in a quandary, and is inclined to believe that foul play has been practiced in the city. The story of the case is as follows: Some time ago one J.E.W. Jones who lives two miles south of Lone Grove had a little difficulty with one J.C. Scarberry of Lone Grove. Jones was arraigned before justice of the peace of Lone Grove and paid a fine. Jones then filed a complaint before Justice of the Peace Ferguson of this city against Scarberry for assault and Scarberry made bond for his appearance in Justice Ferguson's court yesterday. All parties appeared and by agreement the case was continued until two o'clock p.m. About 1 o'clock Jones was seen on Main street but did not show up when the case was called and Officer Landrum together with the father of the young man was sent to find him. Their efforts were unsaviling and though the search was continued throughout the night and up to the present time, no trace of the young man has been found, and Justice Ferguson fears that foul play has been practiced in removing him.
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October 18, 1910
The law abiding citizens of Carter county will have to take off their hats to Buck Garrett, the efficient chief of police of the city and sheriff-elect of Carter county. News had been tipped off that there was a dangerous bunch of crooks following the Barnum and Bailey show, and it would be well for the officers to be on the lookout for them, so yesterday while the show was in the city, Chief Garrett was on the job early and late and as a result of his efforts the county jail today holds eight men who were rounded up through his vigilance with a charge of robbery from the person, or in other words pocket-picking lodged against them. The first two fell victims to his untiring efforts were captured near the Santa Fe right of way near Tyler and Simpson's. Special Officer Coggins of the Santa Fe informed Garrett that the two men were crooked and having located them he went to where they were and demanded to know their business. They were not very communicative, however, and wanted to know by what right he asked the question. It took about a minute for them to become enlightened and in less than half that time they were on the way to the city jail. The names given were Riley and Walsh. When near the police station Walsh concluded that he didn't care to go further. In fact, he was endeavoring to give the officer trouble all along the route, and when at the fire station made a dash for liberty through the wash room. Chief Garrett called on him to halt but he disregarded the order and Garrett fired intending to wound him in the legs. He did a quick tumble into an ash heap and seeing that his way would be blocked in that direction, arose and came at the officer fighting. A blow on the head from the gun of the officer soon convinced him that he had better behave, which he consented to do, and went to the station where he was locked up. During the melee Garrett who was leading his horse at the time had dropped the bridle rein and became so interested in the one trying to escape that he lost sight of the other party. When he returned both horse and his other prisoner had disappeared. He got busy at once as there was little time in which he could have gotten far. Riley ignored the horse and took to his heels down Washington street, and when in the rear of the old City National bank building turned into the alley in hopes of eluding his pursuers. Errett Dunlap who chanced to be passing at the time suspected that there was something wrong and that the man was endeavoring to elude some one, and being a stranger, he grappled him and held him until Garrett and Officer Lee McCoy, who had mounted Garrett's horse, arrived and placed him under arrest. Then began the search for the rest of the gang who were believed to be still in the city. They soon located Watson near the Madden store on Main street and placed him under arrest, and Myers was arrested later by Officer Stroud near the Whittington hotel. The activities of the police did not end there, and last night on Caddo street three men who gave their names as Jas. E. Campbell, George S. Neal, and George Galvin were placed under arrest by Chief Garrett and placed in jail. In this last bunch the chief suspects that the one who gave his name as Campbell is a dangerous criminal and for whom there is a reward of $400, offered by authorities of another city. He is in communication with them at present and will receive information this afternoon as to whether he is the man wanted or not. And yet there was another. Late last night while Garrett was at the corner of Main and A street he noticed a well dressed stranger and got into a conversation with him. He was soon convinced that he was another of the men wanted and invited him to the police station where he gave his name as Holland and was locked up. Every one of these parties were well supplied with money and were well dressed. Report reached the chief of police of this city that the operations of thieves following the show at Muskogee, Dallas and Fort Worth had yielded a rich harvest, and they evidently thought they would have easy picking here. Chief Garrett is confident that he can make a case against each of them. A few minor thefts were reported and the parties will be called upon at the preliminary hearing to identify the stuff.
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October 19, 1910
The suspected pickpockets that were rounded up by Chief Garrett and the city police here circus day were arraigned before Judge Winfrey this morning and an opportunity given them to plead, and each pleaded not guilty to the charge. They were held under bond for their appearance in the justice court tomorrow morning. None furnished bond, they were taken back to the jail by the sheriff. The names of the parties to be tried tomorrow are C. Riley, Joe Myers, J.W. Watson, J. Walsh, George S. Neal, Joe Campbell, and George Garvin. The case against Holland was continued because of the fact that Fred Williams, who is to swear to the complaint, was compelled to go to McAlester early this morning, to bring back Jake Lewis, who was convicted at this term of the district court to receive his sentence. Holland will be given an opportunity to plead before Judge Winfrey tomorrow morning.
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Mrs. A.M. Brady left today for West Point, Miss., to be present at the golden anniversary of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. J.L. Abbott.
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October 23, 1910
Chief of Detectives Connelly of Ft. Worth, together with plain clothesman Jim Clark of that city and special officer Allen of the Santa Fe with headquarters at Cleburne, were in the city yesterday looking over the bunch of suspected pickpockets that Chief Garrett rounded up here circus day and who are now in the county jail awaiting their arraignment Monday morning. The officers recognized them as old offenders and were profuse in their congratulations to the chief and the police department of this city. The culprits were no better known to the officers than the officers were to them. and they were reluctant about showing their faces, in fact one was so anxious to hide his identity that he resorted to covering his head as he lay on a cot with a blanket. The officers talked with them however, and gave the chief here a list of the different aliases that they have operated under. An attempt was made yesterday to take their pictures, but they refused and the sheriff did not insist. They will be brought to the city police station Monday morning under the new charge filed against them, and Chief Garrett says that they will either sit for their picture or he will know the reason why. The state believes that it will be able to make a strong case against these men and send them up for a term in the penitentiary at McAlester.
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October 27, 1910
J.E.W. Jones, the young man from Cheek, who so mysteriously disappeared from here last week, has been heard from in Kentucky.
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"Cecil, I remember sliding down the sides of the trestle in northeast Ardmore very well. There were two.... one just north of "G" NE and 8th street. The other one was just north of "I" NE and 8th street. Yes, I rode my bike across the trestle, but what I remember so well was the challenge of just walking across it. You had to constantly stair down at the railroad ties, watch where you put each foot as you went across. If you were wrong, your foot would go between the ties and a good possibility of major hurt. And as you walked across..... the ties just seemed to kinda blur making it much more tricky to walk. I think the trestles are still there, but the tracks are vacated now and not used."
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"Hi Butch, was reading the attached booklet when your T&T hit my computer. Thought you might be interested in his Tales. Mr. Erbie Taylor still resides in the Wilson area. I thought his book was quite interesting." <----- Click Here
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"We have decided to sell our property at Burneyville and move to Marietta. We would like you to pass the word to your friends, I have attached a link to the website for more details on the property. We have 20 acres and our house has 2,128 sq ft living space, and we have a 36 x 40 carport/shop building." <----- Click Here
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"gwen out yenna fer porpay" (I'm going out yonder for red guavas) -Mutiny on the Bounty, 1935

See everyone next Saturday!

Butch Bridges
Nashobish Ikana
PO Box 11
Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402

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