Email: [email protected]
11:11 PM 3/22/2022
Phone: 580-490-6823
If you’re looking for a certain article I wrote in a past issue of “This & That” you might find it faster by doing a “search” with your browser. With Netscape just click your mouse at the top at EDIT and then FIND and type in the word or words you’re looking for. If you use Internet Explorer, just click on EDIT and then FIND ON THIS PAGE to do a search.
Below is December 8, 2005 to December 29, 2005.
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December 29, 2005 Circulation over 5,000 Vol 9 Issue 466 A few weeks ago I mentioned David Cathey of Pauls Valley told me he would try to get some pics of a piece of history in Paoli, Oklahoma. Well this week David came through and he came through in grand style! Paoli is just a very small town of about 650 people located just 7 miles north of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma but still in Garvin county. Paoli may be small but they sure have something big to brag about called Christine’s Cafe. Christine Bruce started her eating establishment many years ago long before I-35 when Highway 77 was the busy highway between Oklahoma City and Dallas. When I-35 opened up in 1970 I’m sure Christine’s business dropped off, just like all businesses did along Highway 77. But when some businesses faded away into the sunset, Christine’s is still there today in Paoli serving home style food. I’m going to let David Cathey tell in his own words about Christine’s followed by a number of photos he took with his digital camera while at the cafe:
“Butch, when I was a kid growing up, my grandparents lived near the little town of Paoli, OK. It was always a treat to go to Paoli to visit them. Often one of the highlights of the visit was going to town with my granddad to Christine’s cafe. Christine’s was the hub of this little town for a lot of years. The cafe was closed for sometime in recent years. In the fall of 2005 the cafe was reopened by the son of Christine Bruce who was the proprietor there for twenty-nine years before her death. Feeling a little nostalgic at seeing the cafe in operation again, I stopped in to eat one evening. What I found was really a pleasant surprise. Now named Christine’s Crossing, the cafe is a living tribute by James Eastwood, to his mom, the lady that was there for so long. The place is very nicely decorated, reminding one of a nice home. The tables are covered in glass and under the glass at each table is a collection of photos, some from the heyday of Christine’s, some school memorabilia and others in OU/OSU items, one with the covers of seed catalogs and seed packages. All very nicely done!
The cover of a Christine’s Crossing menu reads: “Alma Christine Holland was born August 4, 1931 in Roseboro, North Carolina, in the heart of Tobacco road. The first eighteen years of her life were spent working in the tobacco fields. In 1949 Christine married an “okie” soldier boy stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. They made their way 1,300 miles to Oklahoma and what would be her home for the rest of her life. In November of 1965, Christine became the owner of the only cafe in Paoli. She quickly fell in love with the warm and friendly people. For over twenty years, Christine operated one of the most successful cafes in South central Oklahoma. Patrons would travel from as far away as Dallas and Oklahoma City to eat her homestyle cooking. During those years, Christine’s was the social hub of the community. Locals and not so locals would gather daily at the cafe for a bite to eat and to catch up on all the local news of the day. Christine always had a way of putting a comical slant to the day’s “goings on”. Her uncanny ability to talk to and laugh with people was one of the main reasons she had such a successful business. In September of 2005, her son, James Eastwood retired from teaching and reopened the cafe’. James continues the tradition of good food and conversation that Christine started so many years ago. -Dedicated to the memory of Christine Bruce. 308 S. Oklahoma Street. Paoli, OK 73074 405-484-7922
This is the way I remember Christine’s when I visited there as a young boy. <—– Click Here
Those orange booths were a most prominent feature in those days. <—– Click Here
The way Christine’s Crossing looks today. <—– Click Here
Conversation still the order of the day in this place. <—– Click Here
Proprietor James Eastwood and waitress Salina Goode. <—– Click Here
Portrait of Christine Bruce. <—– Click Here
Part of the memorabilia under glass from the old cafe. <—– Click Here
A few antiques really give the place a nice touch. <—– Click Here
A pretty good home cooked chicken fry for about six bucks. <—– Click Here
So, if your north of Pauls Valley traveling the Big I, it will be worth the 2 mile drive east of the interstate to Christine’s and try some home style cooking. Surprise that little town and tell them you saw it on the internet! lol
You know, now that I think about it, per capita I may have more T&T Readers in Paoli then any other town in Oklahoma. I know there are about half a dozen T&T Readers in Paoli. Some I’ve known since high school. Come on guys, are you holding out on me? Is there more history hid away in that little sleepy town of 650 that we dont know about? What do I have to do, tempt you guys with a hamburger from Christine’s? lol
The day after Christmas I decided to take a walk around my neighborhood and check out the Christmas lights. Just a couple of blocks or so south of me I found two home that were absolutely beautiful. The two homes were both on Frensley Street SW (near G SW and Frensley). This first house was in the middle of the block on the southside, at 612 Frensley SW. <—– Click Here
The next house was just across the street on the north side of Frensley at 617. <—– Click Here
Here is a request from a lady in Texas. She is asking about any info on a school in Ada, Oklahoma……. “Is anyone familiar with the “McCall’s Chapel School” in Ada? If I remember correctly it was originally in Allen, Oklahoma. I’m not sure how far apart the two towns are. The reason I’m interested in it is that my grandmother founded it in 1950 and then sold it in about 1968.”
Maybe some you will remember something about this school and write in.
Last weekend I came close to losing everything on my computer. I havnt had that happen in several years. I decided to run SETUP from my Window 98 CD like I have done a dozen times the past few years with no problem. But this time it hung up with 17 minutes remaining where it says, “Windows will now search for any Plug and Play devices you have.” I tried everything I knew to try to get past that point, and because of a couple of hardware quirks particular to my computer, I could not finish the Windows 98 Install. I finally gave up. But thankfully I did a Drive Image (by Symantic) backup just 8 days before. I had been doing the Drive Image backup (takes 1 hr) for several years, but never had to do a Restore until last weekend. Everything went just like the book says, and in 30 minutes my computer was restored just like it was December 17th when I did the backup. Everything worked and I only lost a few files and emails.
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“RE: “The Dinkey” that Bill Spearman mentioned. I remember that little train. My brother and I would ride it to Simpson to visit our grand-parents. Simpson is south of Mannsville. We would walk about a mile from there to their farm. Usually they would meet us and walk back with us. But I don’t recall any place by the name of Provence. However, I do remember Bill Spearman and all of the Spearmans. His sister, Betty, and were close friends.” -Alwilda Payne Stephens
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“Hi Butch, In researching Lawmen of Southern Oklahoma I have found a couple of articles on a Tatums, Oklahoma marshal who I cannot find in your TNTs and thought you might like it. As you will see, I don’t have the outcome of either of these two cases. Who killed John Wall? and how did the case turn out for Marshal Powell?” -mindy taylorWilson Daily Democrat 4-17-1923
“Negro Marshal Is Murdered” Wilson Daily Democrat 4-24-1923
“Mystery Murder Still a Mystery”
The five negroes arrested shortly after the fatal shooting of John Wall, negro city marshal of Tatum, on the evening of April 16, are still in the county jail. No charges have been filed against them and the date of their preliminary hearing has not been set. Sheriff Ewing C. London and County Attorney John L. Hodge are conducting a probe of the shooting and will not take action against the five held until the investigation has been entirely completed. Sheriff London and Mr. Hodge made a trip to Tatum Monday afternoon and spent considerable time going over the scene of the mysterious murder. The men announced on their return to Ardmore, that nothing new had developed in the case during the day.Wilson Daily Democrat 4-26-1923
“Tatums Death Case Suspects Released”
Ardmore, April 25. By order of John L. Hodge, county attorney, the five negroes who were being held in the county jail here in connection with the murder of John Wall, negro marshal of Tatums, were released Wednesday. They are T. S. McMillan, Gussie Hawkins, ___ Bell Smith, Henry Carter and Walker Bettes. Their release followed a series of investigations by county officials which culminated Tuesday when several citizens of the Tatums negro community were brought to Ardmore and cross-examined by the county attorney.Wilson Daily Democrat 9-19-1923
“Tatum Negro Dies From Wounds”
The second murder in Tatum, the direct outgrowth of a feud existing between John Wall, negro city marshal, who was called to his door and killed in April, and bootleggers in the vicinity of the negro village, occurred Monday night when Ellis Dial succumbed to wounds received in a knife duel with Marshal Powell Saturday night. Powell who has signed a complete statement regarding the fight which resulted in the death of Dial, is held in the community jail. Charges of murder are to be filed against him.
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“Where can I get hold of a copy of the history of Dornick Hills? My father started as a caddie there as a very young man and it would be great to get this for him.” -Anne Wylie [email protected]
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“Mr. Bridges, When researching some more of my folks I came across one of the Law officers memorials about a cousins husband. Louis Hervill who was killed along with a constable W Arthur Hood in Addington 28 Jan 1928. The 1920 census list Louis with wife Laura two children and his father in law Jim Blalock my great uncle. I not being that familiar with the area didn’t find a Newspaper with any stories of the shooting or where there was a trial. Do you know what papers I should try. I have a photo of Louis and wife on their wedding day, but it is on a tape and converted to DVD and I have never taken a photo from a DVD to print. I would be glad to furnish that portion of the DVD to the Historical folks if they wish. I would also like to make contact with who ever gave the information to the Historical Society about him.” -Taylor F Crowe [email protected]
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Hi Butch Bridges, I enjoy your articles out of the “This & That” I was born in Norman Oklahoma in the year of 1936 and grew up there. As we get older—we meet people such as I had and from Ardmore. But have lost track and now trying to find Butch Bailey who went to O.U. in the mid 1950’s—Married Jayne Hawks— A Norman Girl– and had one child that I know of. Would love to make contact. Please help if possible?” -Gene Henry
Harold Gene Henry
[email protected]
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“This is my new hotmail e-mail address. Please help me spread the word.” -Ralph Leon Ford in Korea [email protected]
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“I enjoyed your bell website. Very interesting. I live in Yale, Oklahoma and there is also an old bell on an old church here. It is the head start building now but has been a church as long as I can remember.”
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=========================================================================In a couple days this year will be gone and 2006 will be here with whatever it brings us. I look back the past year, and so many friends are not going to be starting 06 with us here. Sometimes its a spouse, or sometimes its a son or daughter emailing to tell me a T&T Reader passed away and to remove them from my mailing list. Even though most I’ve never seen in person, its like a neighbor down the street has passed away. I’m going to miss them just like they were kin, in fact, they even seemed like kinfolk to me. Every week for the past 9 years so many of you have allowed me in your home. Its like one big family here…. and I appreciate every one of you. We must look forward to the new year with hope and faith and courage.
AULD LANG SYNE
(Johnson’s Museum, 1796)Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!Chorus.–For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.See everyone next year!
Butch Bridges
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December 22, 2005 Circulation over 5,000 Vol 9 Issue 465
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la. I took some night photos with my digital camera this week at Central Park with all the Christmas lights and decorations. Really quite beautiful with all the color and glimmer and shine. I’ve noticed holiday lights up all around town. Ardmore is really a beautiful town at Christmas time. I am proud to live here. <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
And Ardmore’s Catholic Church was all decorated with Christmas lights when I walked by one evening this week. At this particular year and time with all the controversy that’s going on, I can not think of a more appropriate time for churches to decorate with Christmas lights outside their places of worship and send a message to passerbys what the celebration is all about. <—– Click Here
The girls in the Carter County Election Board spread a little Christmas cheer this year in their office. I was over there Thursday morning and the table was spread with all kinds of goodies to eat. <—– Click Here
But did you notice in the above picture that summer sausage in the lower left hand corner? Well let me tell you this was no ordinary summer sausage. It was made from deer meat combined with jalopenos pieces and bits of cheese. Helen McReynolds’ daughter and son-in law had it custom made at Muenster, Texas from a deer they bagged this fall. Most of you know Muenster is about 50 miles SW of Ardmore just over the Red River in Texas where the German Fest is held each year. And everyone knows nobody can make sausage like the Germans. This may be the best summer sausage I’ve eaten in my life. <—– Click Here
In the mailbag below a Reader answers the question last week about what kind of antique cars Bob Kerr had in his photo collection. Something I failed to mention last week is that Bob is kinda the ‘appointed’ historian for Dornick Hills Country Club at the north edge of Ardmore. Bob even put together a history compilation of Dornick Hills. Its about 40 pages in length and covers so much of its history starting back in its inception June 17, 1915. Maxwell probably started a 4 hole golf course in 1913. About 1923 it was extended to an 18 hole course. Most of you know from past T&Ts Perry Maxwell, Vice President of Ardmore National Bank, who was the driving force behind the golf course. 100 members did put up $100 each in the beginning and dues were $2.00 a month. Here is a pic I took of the book “A History of Dornick Hills 1913-2004” <—– Click Here
1963: How to call another party on your line. 1. Dial the number as listed in our directory. When the person whose number you have dialed is on the party line, you will hear a high pitched tone instead of the regular ringing signal.
2. When you hear the high pitched tone, dial your one digit code which should be on the back of your directory. After dialing your station number you will hear the busy signal.
3. When you hear the busy signal, hang up. Both your phone and the other party’s phone will ring.
4. When your bell has stopped ringing, your party has answered. Pick up the phone and begin your conversation. If the other party does not answer, your phone will continue to ring. To stop it, lift our receive for a few seconds, then hang up.
5. If you do know have your station code, you can obtain it by dialing the operator. The telephone number prefix in Ardmore is CApital. For brevity this is abbreviated as “CA”. Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, 200 West Broadway. D.T. Dunford, Manager, F.A Miller, District Manager.
A few eating places in Ardmore in 1963:
Black Saddle Restaurant 2625 N Commerce
Uncle Charlie’s Hamburgers 515 S Washington
Carl’s Dairy Queen 311 N Washington
City Cafe 124 N Washington
Courthouse Cafe 17 A Street SW
Anastasio’s Pizzeria 29 Broadlawn
Bob Restaurant Highway 77 South Bob McClanahan, owner
Edna’s Cafe 33 A Street NE
Fern’s Hamburger King Highway 70 E
Jack and Jewels Cafe 219 K SE
Jay’s Drive In 1111 West Main
Patton’s Cafe 314 East Main
Sanderson Dairy Queen 708 Lake Murray Drive
Smokehouse 22 S Commerce
Tower Restaurant 209 N Commerce
Tucker’s Cafe 1002 S Commerce
Tudor Cafe 16 N Washington
Eden’s Fine Foods 205 W Main
Cooper Farms Restaurant 925 W Broadway
Marco Polo No. 1 Supper Club 2 miles west and 1/2 mile north of city
The Gourmet Restaurant 1606 McLishOur drive to replace the broken and missing Veteran markers at Rosehill Cemetery has came along very nicely the past two weeks. We have over $1,000 in pledges and that should get most of them replaced. We will start by replacing those that are so badly broken first. I can hardly wait til better weather to start pouring. Thanks everyone. <—– Click Here
Recently webshots.com put a new look on the webshot albums. I like the new look. <—– Click Here
Harold and Linda Bridges in Oklahoma City sent me a Christmas gift this week, a special CD. The CD is The Chicago Tribune’s “When Evil Struck America,” a CD-ROM time capsule distributed to more than 1 million subscribers on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks. It boosted single-day street sales of the newspaper by 100,000. The presentation was not available to view online, but rather was a CD insert in the Sunday paper on September 8, 2002. The Tribune reported that this edition of the paper sold out faster than any other and for a while copies of the CD were going on e-Bay for about $15. I havnt had time to set down and watch the CD, but I can hardly wait. Thanks Harold and Linda. <—– Click Here
SOAPBOX: A Virginia lawmaker is proposing tough legislation to punish dog owners whose pets injure or kill, following a fatal attack on an elderly widow by three roaming pit bulls. Dorothy Sullivan, 82, was mauled to death by the dogs. Can you imagine dying at the jaws of pit bull dogs? Below is a link to a pic of Mrs. Sullivan. I was at the Family Dollar Store on South Washington last week and here came 3 teenage boys, each with a pit bull. They were on a leash. But I thought how people should live free of fear inside the city limits of pit bull attacks. I was very concerned last week when I saw these three teenagers walking across the parking lot toward me with their pit bulls. Maybe soon something will be done. <—– Click Here
Its really been a somber time at the Ardmore courthouse this week. Employees came to work Wednesday morning to learn our District Attorney, Mitch Sperry, had died only a couple hours before. We were all in shock and could hardly believe the sad news. Mitch was at home Wednesday morning getting ready for work when some medical problem struck. Whatever happened that morning, in an instant it snuffed out the life of a friend we all saw on a daily basis and loved. When he came walking down the hallway, it didnt matter if you were the cleaning lady, or a judge, and anyone in between, Mitch would always take the time to say hello and ask how you’re doing, and just talk with you about everyday life for a minute. He’s sure going to be missed by a lot of people. I know if I live to be 100 years old, I will never forget the man Mitch Sperry. His friends were countless. Funeral services will be Friday at 2:00pm at the First United Methodist Church at West Main and “E” Street NW. <—– Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Thanks for this information My Dad took me to an Indian stomp dance. His words they had an election for chief of Choctaw’s this was sometime in 1938. I was 8 years old he gave me some food and he called it shofa corn. he would not let me have much as he said it was fermented and had alcohol in it. that was the only time I ever saw or heard of it. Now I know what it is. Thanks.” -Paskell
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“Thanks for the shot of the window of Key’s Grocery. About twenty years ago I was visiting in Ardmore and when I drove up Broadway one Sunday morning the window sign was advertising “chittlings.” I couldn’t stand not knowing so I parked and went in. The place was pretty empty, giving me courage to ask the clerk if she would show me some, since I had heard about chittlins all my life but never saw any. She took me back to the frozen food case and showed me a bucket full of them. Then she told me how they were generally cooked. I wasn’t interested in the cooking lesson, but just in case anyone ever asks, I am prepared to explain.” -Carolyn Frei
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“Saw in your latest TnT that someone gave away some bois d’ark. If you know of any one else wit some, I’d sure like to get a piece. I would also be appreciative of just about any other wood someone wanted to get rid of (oak, pecan, hickory, walnut, etc.) I bought a band saw a little over a year ago. Once I figured out how to use it, and got the proper blade, I’ve made some interesting projects. The band saw allows me to be very economical because I can take a large piece of wood and cut it into many thinner slices. Here are some projects I’ve done so far (hope the page is still up, it’s supposed to die soon). What I need are pieces of good wood at least 4″ across and 6″ long. I can re-saw these down to 1/8″ pieces for the card boxes. If I have a piece of highly figured wood in smaller sizes, I can also bookmatch them to make larger pieces.” [email protected] <—– Click Here
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I LOVE your publication! thank you so much. I am a bit behind schedule in getting to Ardmore to revisit sites from my childhood memories of long ago ….. AND to solicit assistance in establishing a memorial of some sort to my great grandfather Frederick P. vonKeller, MD., hospital founder and pioneer doctor of Ardmore Indian territory. Dr. vonKeller and his associates did so much for Ardmore and surrounding areas providing health care and surgery to anyone in need whether they could pay or not. Not only did Dr. vonKeller build the first hospital in Ardmore Indian territory providing care to all (even to black people whom he sheltered and hid) who were not ‘allowed’ to receive care in ‘white hospitals’. His philanthropy along with those of his ‘pioneer doctor’ associates who traveled by horseback and wagon to care for those in need have somehow been neglected to be recognized by any kind of memorial for their generous contributions to the growth and welfare of the area. My cousin Susan Nance currently lives in Ardmore and has most kindly provided me with much needed information, and will help as time permits to establish some sort of memorial. Anyone else out there who has information or ideas regarding this tribute can contact me at [email protected] or perhaps cousin Susan in Ardmore at [email protected]A very merry Christmas to you all….wishes for a blessed New Year.
gretchen hart-vonKeller
306 S. Animas St.
Trinidad, CO 81082
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RE: “The Dinkey” that Bill Spearman mentioned. I remember that little train. My brother and I would ride it to Simpson to visit our grand-parents. Simpson is south of Mannsville. We would walk about a mile from there to their farm. Usually they would meet us and walk back with us. But I don’t recall any place by the name of Provence. However, I do remember Bill Spearman and all of the Spearmans. His sister, Betty, and were close friends.” -Alwilda Payne Stephens
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“I am not a “car buff” however know several people who are, and I am told: (1) the “Antique Car 5a” appears to be a STANLEY STEAMER (early 1900’s –before 1920); and (2) the “Antique Car 5b” is probably a RIO (of the WW I era). Hope this helps lead to some determination about the make of the autos.” <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
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“Butch, here are a couple photos I took in over in Maysville a few weeks ago. I had intended to send these earlier, then lost track of where I had put them. Here they are, rediscovered. As you know, Maysville claims famous Oklahoman, Wylie Post as its favorite son. There is a little restaurant over there called the lumberyard that pays respect to Wylie’s memory with the tail of an airplane sticking out of its roof, and a mural inside depicting Wylie and his famous “Winnie mae”.” -David Cathey [email protected] <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
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Q. “Butch, a while back you had an article about putting old 8 mm movies on CDs.I think I heard of someone taking old 35mm slides and putting them on a CD also. Do you know where I might get more information about this?”A. Butch this can be done at home on a good cannoscan scanner they have an adapter for that purpose. -Paskell
A. I had mine done at Photo Synthesis on 16th NW in Ardmore.
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Ardmore, Oklahoma.”KING COTTON”. Crowed street scene with wagons loaded with bails of cotton. Notice the water well in the center of the street. <—– Click Here
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“My niece lives in Boulder and she is coming to Ardmore for Christmas with her mom and dad. At Thanksgiving she was in Mississippi with her husband’s family and ate her first persimmon; she fell in love with them! I told her the best persimmons in the world are right there in Carter County after a good frost. She didn’t even know they grew in our neck of the woods! Do anyone know where she might find some ripe persimmons when she is home for Christmas?” [email protected]
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“Grand Dad (J.O.) Collier was a Deputy Sheriff of Love County, Oklahoma. He wasn’t afraid of the Devil- himself, according to Velma Morris. Everyone was afraid of him – especially the kids. He had a bad Stomach problem. The Doctor said If he would drink whisky or beer it would help. So he ask Gilbert Morris to make or get some for him and Gilbert for pity sake- don’t tell Bill, my son about it! So Gilbert promised he wouldn’t tell him. So what did he do -? He got Bill to help him make it! They put it in bottles and left it in a hiding place for Grand Dad Collier. He picked it up – drank a little and couldn’t stand the taste of it. So he told Gilbert to pour it out. Would you believe the way Gilbert poured it out? He and Bill Collier drank it. They got real drunk and Bill couldn’t go home until he got sober But Gilbert went home – to top it all off – he hadn’t been married very long and he and Velma were going to a church meeting that night. That is they were- but he was too drunk and they couldn’t go. Gilbert and Bill never did tell Grand Dad that they drank the Beer instead of pouring it out! Grand Dad Collier had a stiff leg. He was kicked by a mule and broke his kneecap and it never did get well. He was in such a hurry for Spring to get here – but he died a few days before Spring.”
-As told to Irmadene Mapp Blankenship by Velma Morris
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“Has anyone ever heard of a place called Frog rock? It is in the wooded area behind the softball park in Ardmore? Was wondering if anyone knew if a trail still leads to it. It is just a big old rock sticking out near a creek that we would use as a launching pad for running and jumping the creek.”
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“Just wanted to let y’all know that the Fayetteville, AR High School Band will be performing in the Rose Bowl Parade on Monday, Jan. 2nd at 10:00 a.m. (Fayetteville time). The Parade will be on ABC, NBC, Univision, Travel Channel, Discovery HD and commercial free on HGTV. This is the first time that an Arkansas high school band has ever performed in the Rose Parade. This same band performed in the Fiesta Bowl Parade last year. The Rose Parade committee were so impressed with the band that they invited them to be in it this year. They will be the first band to play behind the Grand Marshall, so they’ll be close to the front part of the parade. They’ve been working hard all year to raise the money needed and it went down to the wire, but local donations poured in to help them to make the 36 hour trip with 5 chartered busses!! Geez! 36 hours on busses with all those teenagers. HA!! But, if you get a chance to watch the parades, try to catch a listen to the band. A couple of kids from our church are marching in it, too.” -Kathi Pritchard George [email protected]
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“I’m working on the manuscript for a companion gift book for “Every Day Is Mother’s Day.” Help me out! Here’s your assignment for the holidays. Write me a short, tight, paragraph on this subject. What I’d like to say to my father but never have. Who knows, it might end up in “Every Day Is Father’s Day” with your permission, of course.” -Jane Hale [email protected]
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Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 or more for 411 / information calls when they don’t have to. When you need to use the 411 / information option, simply dial 1 800 FREE 411 or 1 800 373 3411 without incurring a charge at all except for the minutes required to make the call.
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=========================================================================Thanks everyone for all the Christmas wishes by emails and snailmail Christmas cards the past few days. And let’s not forget all the candy and food some of you brought by the past day or two. I appreciate everyone, and you all are just like family to me. Here is just an example of the Christmas eCards I’ve received, and like this one, they’ve all touched my heart. And its not just addressed to me, but to all Ardmore… sent from New Jersey. <—– Click Here
Merry Christmas everyone and may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob keep you safe in the New Year! <—– Click Here
Butch Bridges
____________________________________________________________________________December 15, 2005 Circulation over 5,000 Vol 9 Issue 464
When I first announced last week the project to replace broken and missing Veteran markers at Rosehill cemetery, I wondered what interest there might be. Within 1 hour after sending out last week’s T&T, the responses started coming in. I now know we will be able to replace every broken marker in the Veterans section. Even after a couple stumbling blocks right after the announcement, those of you who responded just fired me up even more to get’er done. A big thank you to everyone who stepped forward with your pledges on this needed project. I will be updating the webpage on this project on a regular basis. <—– Click Here
Last week we had our Christmas Dinner at noon for those of us in the Annex Building next door to the courthouse. Commissioner Dale Ott offered to provide the brisket and ribs if the rest of us would bring the trimmings. Needless to say he didnt have to ask us twice. Boy, I’m telling you it was a feast fit for a king. Here are pics of the delicious brisket Dale prepared in his smoker. <—– Click Here
This is a pic of those big meaty ribs Dale provided. Boy, you talk about finger licking good! <—– Click Here
The following is a picture I took at noontime of the dinner table all spread with good food. <—– Click Here
This is a photo of my plate. I hate the whole thing! lol <—– Click Here
And I had to get a piece of both pecan pies! Was that wrong of me? Well, dont matter, cause I wanted it all! lol <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
Dwane Stevens sent in an email he snapped at Key’s Grocery near Caddo and East Broadway. The items listed for sale in the window you dont see just everyday at the meat markets. Let’s see, there is: hog head cheese $3.98 a pound and Pashofa corn 2 lbs for a $1.00 and pork pig feet 99 cents a pound, and pork neck bones 99 cents a pound and last but not least ham hock $1.98 a pound. I can almost taste that ham hock in a simmering pot of navy beans right now! <—– Click Here
Pashofa corn? You say you want to cook up a mess of pashofa but not sure how? <—– Click Here
Last week Ardmoreite Bob Kerr brought by a couple of old black and white photographs that were originally in his mother’s collection. Bob was wondering if anyone might now what model cars these are, and, hopefully, who the people in the photos. The photos were probably taken at Dornick Hills on the north edge of Ardmore. I dont know if it was a sign of hard times or what, but that cow behind the one car is one of the skinniest cows I’ve ever seen. lol Does anyone recognize what make and model cars these might be? <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
A T&T Reader by Lone Grove has some bois d’ark wood, estimated at least 40 years old, laying in their back yard and decided to do something with it last month. They gave the extra hard wood to a man in Tulsa to make a writing pen out of it. When they received the handmade pen, its was beautiful. <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
I guess most of you have seen on TV that fantastic Christmas light display by Carson Williams in Mason, Ohio. That guy is one genius to take all those sequencers, 25,000 lights and $10,000 of his own money to produce the display at his home. He turned it all off after a couple of weeks, the traffic was getting way out of hand in his neighborhood, and safety was a concern. But I’d bet he is back next year, bigger and better, at another location! This link will take you to a website where the video automatically downloads and plays. Its a pretty big file, so it make take a minute to load. Turn up your speakers for 3 minutes of real homemade entertainment! <—– Click Here
Here is a little more info on Carson Williams and his family and that Christmas display <—– Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“My mother was born in Hastings in 1930. For sometime I’ve been looking for some pictures of Hastings around that time or a diagram that shows where things were in town (labeled with the names of business). Does anyone have anything like that or know where I may find some pictures?” -Pamela in McKinney, Texas [email protected]
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“J.D.s cafe in Ada has a sales display of the hanging postcards next to the cash register with this post card avalable. They are located at 911 N Broadway. Phone 580-332-9750” -John <—– Click Here
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“Butch, you might mention to your readers that our friend Bill James wrote a book on the four men they hanged. They can reach Bill at 940-321-1117 in Corinth, Texas. Also you can still get that postcard from the Ada Chamber of Commerce. They used to sell coffee mugs and tee shirts too. -Herman Kirkwood
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“Butch, Most of the time just doing nothing works as well as dialing any digits. The first time they ask me to press a number I just wait. Pretend I have a rotary dial. If one ever hits any key it won’t work and your out of luck.” -Larry <—– Click Here
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“Was reading your newsletter of the week of Dec. 5 and saw reference to a Kits Cafe on old Caddo Street. Don’t remember a “Kits” but used to get really good Red-Top Stew with cornbread at Crits Cafe on Caddo during the early 50s. Wonder if that was the cafe to which your reader was referring?” -Harold Burton, Ardmore, OK
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“I crawled up the magnetic hill reaching 20mph when I had my little Buick but now in my SUV it wont work. Go figure!” -Nellie
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“Hi Butch, Boy, Those venison steaks sure do look good. Makes me hungry just looking at them. I hunted here in New York State this year with a 20 gauge shotgun and got a nice big 4 point buck on opening day first thing in the morning. I only had to shoot once and he only ran a short distance before he died so I didn’t have to look very long before i found him. I butcher my own meat but I cut all the meat away from the bones so all my steaks are boneless. I usually marinade my steaks in something for a half day or so before I grill them or pan-fry them, it keeps them from getting dried out. I took some pictures but I don’t have a digital camera so when I get the film developed I’ll send a picture.” -Roxanne
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“We all need to know who is living next door or in the neighborhood!! Let your friends and families know about this website, it’s pretty scary! Okay, here’s the deal… go to the link below, and near the bottom left, it has a “Click Here” button… click on it and enter your address… it will show a “house”, that’s yours… all the little colored boxes are Sex Offenders… click on them and you get a name, address & picture of the person along with his crime… pretty scary.” <—– Click Here
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Butch, a while back you had an article about putting old 8 mm movies on CDs. I think I heard of someone taking old 35mm slides and putting them on a CD also. Do you know where I might get more information about this.”
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The Ardmore Computer Discussion Circle will meet on Tuesday, December 20th. The meeting will be at the Ardmore Public Library, 320 E Street NW, from 6:00 pm till 8:00 pm. The December meeting will be an open discussion to glean topics for future meetings. Everyone is invited to attend and bring suggestions or questions for subjects to be discussed in the coming sessions. If you have immediate questions, we will also try to address those. We will also be examining in detail a program called HijackThis, which is an excellent tool for finding adware and spyware infections. This program is used to show programs that start on bootup of your computer, so that you can see what is running before you even start an application. This program is freeware and is available on the internet. If you are interested, come join the Circle! Contact the Ardmore Computer Discussion Circle at [email protected]
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Q. “How Do I Change The Registered Owner Name In Windows XP?” A. <—– Click Here
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From 1935 to 1943 the Works Progress Administration sponsored the Federal Writers Project. The project employed over 6000 writers around the US. They wrote on every subject imaginable, including a famous series of travel guides for the 48 states. The following article was published by the Writers Project in 1936.“The Ghost of Ardmore”
Half a century ago when trains of the Santa Fe Railroad first began to run in the vicinity of Ardmore, Oklahoma, one was held up by bandits seven miles from town where the tracks cross Caddo Creek. Afterwards, the robbers retired to an old house, where they divided and quarreled over the spoils. One robber was shot and killed. It is a tradition that part or all or the booty was hidden for a time in or about the house. People soon began to say that the ghost of the murdered bandit walked about the place trying to find where the money was hid and for many years nobody was willing to live there.
However, about seven years ago, a family named Lynch moved into the deserted building and for several months remained in peaceful possession. One afternoon, along in the summer, Mrs. Lynch left her two oldest children at home and crossed the fields to visit neighbors. Perhaps an hour later, she heard her children screaming and ran out with her friends to learn the cause. Almost in hysterics, the youngsters cam flying along shouting that someone was tearing the kitchen to pieces and that the teakettle was laughing and singing.
Mrs. Lynch and others attracted by the excitement went to investigate. They found the teakettle steaming in the middle of the kitchen floor. A fire was burning in the cook stove, though none had been burning in it when Mrs. Lynch left home.
The mystification of the onlookers was changed to horror when they observed that drops of blood were sprinkled all about.
The next day, the Lynches moved out and no family has lived in the building since.
This queer story was related to writers who are preparing articles for the American Guide, the forthcoming travel handbook for the Works Progress Administration. No one knows when the house was erected, though it is supposed to have been put up sometime in the late 70’s. The best hewn rock and heavy timber were used in its construction and its roof consists of hand-made shingles. The whole lower story is devoted to one large room with two huge fire places. Upstairs, there are four rooms.
Ellis Perkins, who lives in the vicinity, had the latest known uncanny experience in the old dwelling. One afternoon, about four years ago, he was caught in a heavy rain storm while hunting. The only shelter, he told the Guide writers, was offered by the old house, so he and his bull dog ran into it to get out of the rain. The place was entirely vacant. He walked up the stairs and looked around the second floor, but there was no sign of recent occupancy. He shut the door at the top of the stairway and descended to the ground floor.
As his foot left the lowest step, his dog sprang around and looked toward the top, his hair bristling; then began to bark as though he scented the presence of a stranger. Mr. Perkins said that he also looked back toward the top of the stairs. Under his gaze, the doorknob turned. The door opened, as though to permit someone to pass on to the stairway, and closed noiselessly. The hunter waited for nothing more. Followed by his yelping dog, he sprang to the front door and rushed out into the downpour.
The wind must have blown the door open, friends tell him, but his invariable retort is, “How could the wind have turned the doorknob?”
(This story is not in the WPA guide for Oklahoma, and I don’t believe in ghosts, but it is certainly entertaining.) -Mark Coe
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“Look at the first photo and you may think you have “double vision”! I was “touring” the big town of Dougherty today (Dec 15th) and shot these photos of the old and new bridge southeast of town. It’s just about a mile or so out of town on the road that runs from Dougherty to the Dolese Crusher and then on to Nebo, Oklahoma and intersects with Hwy 177. Classic old iron side (iron top) metal bridge of a bygone era. Not much support on the roadway part. I walked across it and there are numerous holes in the bed revealing the relatively thin (as compared to todays standards) wooden planks supporting the thin pavement. Apparently it served it’s intended purpose for many years though before being replaced with the modern concrete bridge next to it.” -Dwane Stevens <—– Click Here <—– Click Here <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
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Burning Healdton field … Healdton, Oklahoma <—– Click Here
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=========================================================================“George, remember no man is a failure who has friends. Love, Clarence” -Its a Wonderful Life – 1946
See everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
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December 8, 2005 Circulation over 5,000 Vol 9 Issue 463
Last week I mentioned a project to replace the broken markers in the Veterans section of Rosehilll cemetery here in Ardmore. As I expected, some of you have already stepped forward to help with the endeavor with your pledges. I have put all the details of the project including thumbnails of those markers needing replaced on a webpage. Thanks to T&T Readers the money needed to replace about half the markers is already met! Yes we can do it! <—– Click Here
Vonessa Barker in Texas is looking for any postcards of the 1909 Ada Hanging. I remember seeing some at the Trade Days in Sulphur several years ago. Maybe someone has seen these postcards for sale somewhere? Let me know and I’ll get word to Vonessa. <—– Click Here
About three weeks ago I was in Sulphur, Oklahoma and stopped by Poor Girls Cafe for one of their great hamburgers. The cafe is located just one block north of the traffic light in downtown Sulphur. Their hamburger at $2.55 is a real deal and it’s delicious! <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
Forty years ago the clapper from the Velma-Alma school bell was stolen as a prank. About 4 weeks ago a T&T Reader sent me an email saying the clapper as finally been returned to its place in the bell which is on display at the Barbara Wood Elementary School in Velma-Alma. Velma-Alma, Oklahoma is just a few miles east of Duncan in Stephens county near the Carter county line. <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
This time of year is probably the best of all. And its always nice to get packages in the mail. This week my friends in Australia, Steve and Sonia Moran, in Branxton, New South Wales, Australia sent me a calendar. Now those Aussies really know how to make a calendar in the down under! The calendar is photos of various trains used in Australia, one train per calendar month. They are in stunning color. The calendar is printed by Bartel Publications and I know there are a lot of dyed-in-the-wool train buffs out there, so if you want one, check out their website at www.bartelpc.com.au I see they print a lot of calendars, and it looks like the large full color ones like I have are $10 bucks. Now I dont know if that’s US money or AU money. lol Anyway the calendar the Morans sent me this week has a beautiful detail map of Australia too. <—– Click Here <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
I hadnt ate venison (deer meat) in many years, and thanks to Ed Reed I had a mess of it this past week. Ed is the Carter County Emergency Management Director and one of his friends went hunting and bagged a deer. After it was processed, Ed asked if I wanted a couple venison steaks. Boy, you can bet I said yes. I cooked the two steaks in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, and the meat was great. I coated the meat with Extra Virgin olive oil and sprinkled Morton’s Natures Seasons Seasoning Blend before baking in the oven. You can tell from the photos below venison is a darker meat than cow meat. If you haven’t ate venison, its does have a ‘wild taste’ but its a not a bad flavor. <—– Click Here <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
The clock in the dome of the Carter County courthouse had been on the blink for several weeks and for the life of me I couldnt figure out what was wrong. After a lot of tests, I found out the culprit causing the clock to stop after running a few hours was the “escapement” mechanism. The ‘hammer’ was coming down right on top of a sprocket tooth, and that would stop the pendulum dead in its tracks. After making some adjustments to a couple of places that affect the escapement mechanism, the clock is back to running and chimming its beautiful bell every hour and half hour. You can see in the following photos the escapement mechanism. <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
Here is an overview of the 1928 Seth Thomas Tower Clock in the dome of the courthouse. This bell is really the second bell in the dome. The first one was installed in 1910 when the courthouse was complete, but it never kept correct time, so in 1928 the County Commissioners replaced it with the Seth Thomas clock. There are only two other courthouses in Oklahoma that have working clocks in their dome. So needless to say we have something to be proud of here….. a real piece of Carter county history. <—– Click Here <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
“Press 3 for customer service. Press 5 to report a problem or stay on line for the next available representative. Your call is very important. Please stay on the line. Do not hang up as this will only removed you from our que. You are caller number 3…. blah blah blah.” Dont you just hate those automated telephone systems when all you want to do is talk to a real live human being. Well, maybe the cheat sheet below will help. It tells you the shortcuts to a human being, bypassing all the recordings for many popular companies and organizations. <—– Click Here
SOME LETTERS FROM THIS WEEK’S MAILBAG
“Regarding the “TATER PIE” song, I am sure you can hear a bit of it by going to www.walmart.com music section and ask for: “BOOT HEEL DRAG” The MGM years, this album is by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. The song is #40 on this album and its called “TATER PIE”.” -John from Joliet, IL
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“To The person asking about the song Tater Pie, It was recorded by Bob Wills. I don’t remember the release date or the record label, but I think it was in the 1940s on Columbia.” -Jim Brown, Odessa TX
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“Hi Ya Butch, I read your comments and viewed your photos of the Gainesville, Texas courthouse, the fried pie company, and “Elvis.” Your photos were like a homecoming to me. As a youngster during the early 40’s I visited the Gainesville courthouse several times as a visitor to view court scenes and listen to the defense and prosecuting lawyers talk to the jury. I even tried one time to slide down the fire slide attached to the courthouse but was prevented by a bailiff. During those days benches circled the Gainesville courthouse. On Saturdays, and holidays, the farmers and their wives came to town. While the farmer wives shopped at the local stores some of their husbands, and locals, sat on the benches and told stories. I loved to listen to them tell their tales. I had recognized that much wisdom could be learned from the aged. While listening to others some of the men whittled while others spat out their tobacco juice. Alas, some years later, the benches were removed from around the courthouse. Even the hugh spittoon that use to sit in the middle of the waiting room at the local train station was removed. Kresses was the most popular store in downtown Gainesville (it was only a short distance from the courthouse) because coffee sold for only a nickel a cup, and of course, it was a 5, 10 and 25 cent store at that time. I remember when Kresses raised their price of coffee from 5 cents to 10 cents. Many of the farmers revolted, saying “Why, I an’t about to pay 10 cents for a cup of coffee.” Their wives refused to shop at the store. Kresses held out for only a couple of weeks before returning to the old price of coffee to 5 cents. The farmers and their wives were their income.” -Grant West.
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“Butch- I now have the Turner Falls picture set as my wallpaper, and it has become a challenge to find embedded pictures. I can’t for the life of me see the nun, but have found the others and more that have not yet been mentioned. Above and to the right of the gator is a profile of an eagle’s head with a very prominent beak, and straight to the right of the gator is a female figure, appears to me to be an angel with her right wing showing and her male companion on her left. Also, I see a mask at the left side of the cave entrance. I’m sure this isn’t all and more will appear as time goes on.” <—– Click Here <—– Click Here
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“I was reading with interest the little bit in your newsletter about The Hanging. I am a descendent of Jesse West and the story has always been a fascination of mine. I actually wrote my senior paper on the event in 1981. Jesse would be a distant uncle. My maiden name is West, so I have always felt closer to the event than I actually was. I do remember as a child, my father came across a picture of the hanging in a western magazine. When he took it to his father and mother to see, my grandmother was furious that he brought the picture into her house. It was not something that the “older” generations talked about. They were close enough to be very ashamed. Back in the mid 80’s I came across a gift shop in Ft. Worth Texas that was selling post cards with the picture of the hanging. I think I bought them all, but no longer have any. I gave them to family members over the years. I have been searching recently looking for more, but so far have not found any.” -Vonessa (West) Barker, Lorena, Texas [email protected] <—– Click Here
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“Butch, How did you find out about this magnetic anomaly? It is just as you said it would be except our compact car backed up at 15 mph.” <—– Click Here
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Indians waiting for payment …… First National Bank, Eufaula, IT <—– Click Here
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“Butch, Maybe you have already covered the area around Provence. In the 1940’s our family used to visit in Provence, between Ardmore and Dickson, south of Highway 70. Province had a two room grade school which was near their cemetery. Sometimes we would ride the Frisco train to Provence and in the evening ride it back to Ardmore. We had to flag it down to get it to stop. Frisco ran a train from Ardmore to Hope, Arkansas, once a day. We called it “The Dinkey”, sometimes it had one car and sometimes two cars. Near the track was a hill, which the locals called “Tater Hill,” because they thought it looked like a potato, I guess. Does anyone else remember Provence ?” -Bill Spearman
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“Butch, My wife’s great grandfather is buried near the broken marker in this week’s newsletter. We were out there last month and we were wishing someone would repair all the broken markers. You can count on me for $20.” <—– Click Here
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“Butch, I was wondering if someone might be able to tell me something about the Cafe’s down on Caddo street from probably around the late 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. One of the Cafe’s name I believe was Kit’s Cafe. I was told that my Uncle’s owned the other one. Any information or if they have pictures would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.” [email protected]
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“The American Bell Foundry was located in Northville, Michigan. It made cast iron bells from 1899 to 1924. The shape of the yoke in Nanette’s photo is typical of those I’ve seen from the same foundry. The flange at the left end of the yoke is where a wheel would have been attached to swing the bell with a rope. A 30-inch bell should have been hung from a #30 yoke. It’s hard to tell from the photo, but this #28 yoke might not be wide enough to allow the bell to swing between the side frames properly. So it’s possible that the original yoke broke and someone replaced it with a different (and wrong) size. It’s even possible that yoke and bell are not from the same foundry; unfortunately I don’t have any good photos of other ABF bells available to verify the shape of the bells. (As you have realized, the bell itself doesn’t carry any markings; that’s typical of iron bells from all foundries, though there are occasional exceptions.)”Carl Scott Zimmerman, Campanologist
Avocation: tower bells: http://www.gcna.org/ (Co-Webmaster)
Recreation: handbells: http://gatewayringers.homestead.com/
Mission: church bells: http://www.TowerBells.org/ (Webmaster)
Voicemail: +1-314-821-8437 (home) E-mail: [email protected]
St Louis, Missouri, USA
19th c. home of at least 34 bell foundries or resellers
<—– Click Here
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=========================================================================I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know,
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write,
May your days be merry and bright,
And may all your Christmases be white.-Irving Berlin, 1942
http://my.homewithgod.com/heavenlymidis/Christmas/white.htmlSee everyone next week!
Butch Bridges
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