The Daily Ardmoreite December 30th 1931
Prowler fires on Ardmore policeman
Bullet tears cap from head of Lorenz Boyd
Unidentified assailant shoots at patrolman from distance of only 5 ft
Boyd followed man into alley
Officer was investigating suspicious actions of prowler
Lorenz boyd, city policeman, narrowly escaped death at 10:30 o’clock last night when a shot fired point blank at him by an unidentified assailant plowed through his cap. The would be assailant fired at the officer from a distance of 5 ft and only the fact that it was dark prevented his aim being more deadly, it is stated. Boyd, a patrolman, saw a prowler near the Herndon-Boyer market on North Washington. He investigated and the man skulked into a alley at the rear of the Underwood apartments. Boyd summoned aid and then afraid the man would escape, entered the alley, which is unlighted, in search of the fugitive.
Cap Knocked From Head
About halfway between 2nd and 3rd Avenue entrances, he rounded the corner of a fence. As he did so, a shot was fired. The bullet tore through his cap, knocking it from his head. The man had leaped from the place where he was crouching and ran away into the night.
Newton Burkett, policeman, and Ott Holden, detective, summoned by Boyd prior to the shooting, arrived a few seconds later but the man made his escape.
Boyd is one of the new members of the force. He was added to the staff several weeks ago, according to Hale Dunn, city police chief.
NOTE: Exactly 2 years later officer Lorenz Boyd was fired at by two men from New York. That story in next week’s newsletter.
Additional info: Lorenz Boyd was the son of Dr. J. J. Boyd, a homopathic doctor whose office was at F Northeast and 2nd when I was a kid. He was well known of his “sugar pills” for poison ivy.
Lorenz’s sister was Thelma Boyd Roberts, was my 1st grade teacher at Washington School back in the late 50s.
Kalub Miller and the maintenance crew at the courthouse has been keeping a close eye on the clock in the dome. As of yesterday, Wednessday, the clock has been running fine since Brian Schmidt and Tom Henley with the NAWCC clock chapter in Ft Worth were here 3 weeks ago getting it repaired and running. I remember in 1996 when I came to work at the county commissioners office and how the clock had not ran in over 10 years. Searching the world wide web I found horologist who offered to help me getting it running. Les Lesovsky in Alhambra, California came to my aid, and in no time we found the problem and got it running again.
Speaking of the courthouse maintence crew, they have been busy upgrading/replacing the lights around the courthouse along with new holiday lights around the top of building. They even replaced the aircraft warning red light at the very top of the dome (FAA: generally required on any structure over 200 feet high). In 2002 J. L. Self bought a Bushnell Laser DistanceFinder when she was director of the E911 office for Carter County Government. She and I went outside my office to try it and measure the distance from the ground to the very top of the dome, seems like it was 300 and something feet. But then my memory is not as good as it use to be. Anyway, If you want to see this awesome building arrayed in night lights, go there at night for a look-see.
Note: That is not a bail bondsman’s sign on the courthouse lawn in the picture above. lol
Q. Where in Oklahoma is the tallest playground in the sky?
A. Oklahoma City Riversport. The SandRidge Sky Trail is the tallest adventure course of its kind in the world! The 80-foot structure features six levels of challenges that increase in difficulty the higher you climb. Your safety harness is secure, so you are free to take it to the next level. Like a playground in the sky, the challenges include rope bridges, balance beams, zig-zag elements and more.
When you get to the top, go down the high-speed 72-foot Sky Slide, jump from the 80-foot Rumble Drop free fall experience, or soar across the Oklahoma River on the SandRidge Sky Zip. Not ready for this much adrenaline? No worries. Just walk back down the stairs to exit the structure.
Please note – all adventures require secure footwear; no flip-flops or sandals without a back strap are allowed. You’ll find more important information here to ensure you have a great RIVERSPORT Adventure! Weight requirement: 40 lbs. minimum, 300 lbs. maximum. Height requirement for the SandRidge Sky Trail: 48″, unless accompanied by an adult.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/oklahoma/unforgettable-adventure-ok/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niHVjOyWYLUQ.
Q. When was the worst winter in Oklahoma history?
A. Answer in next week’s newsletter
Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG….
Hi Butch,
You can look on the website (see link below) to see what years we have. We found boxes full of old Wilson annuals in the annex and are selling them for 15.00 each.
Also, the Wilson History book that covers Wilson’s history between 1913 – 1939 are on sale for 75.00 between now and January 1, 2023.
Korean/Vietnam hardback books are for sale as well for 40.00 until January 1, 2023.
Customers can drop by the museum on Saturdays 10:00 – 4:00 or visit us online to order.
https://www.wilsonhistoricalmuseum.org/museum_store/museum_store.html
Hi Butch, I forgot I had this photo, I worked at Edens and Ponders. Those phone no’s I’m sure says its a long time ago. Some guy came in Ponders one nite when I was working wanting to sell them, you can’t see it in the photo but they are in a nice frame, I paid him $20 for it. -Ruby
Q. What year did McDonalds come to Ardmore?
A. Opened November 1976 by Vincent Capraro
Museum Memories
Compiled by Melinda Taylor
The Wilson News
June 15, 1917
MERCHANT’S SON SHOT BY ROBBER
Robert Hall, 17-year-old son of Cyrus P. Hall of Ardmore, was shot and perhaps fatally injured about 9:30 Saturday night. Hall was taken immediately to Hardy’s Sanitarium where he was given medical attention
According to the story the boy told his father at the sanitarium he was crossing the playground of the First Ward School, bound toward town from the family home at 835 G. Street, northwest, when the man approached him from the shadows and pointed a revolver against his breast, demanding him to throw up his hands and give up his money. After he had taken the boy’s money the robber shot him.
The bullet entered the left side just below the heart, and passed out back, about two inches to the left of the spine. The lower left lobe of the lung was punctured by the bullet.
As soon as he was shot young Hall staggered toward the grocery store of J. D. Lane 530 E. Street, northwest, where he fell to the pavement. Mr. Lane notified the police immediately, and the boy was carried to the sanitarium.
C. P. Hall, the father of the hold-up victim is owner of the C. P. Hall Furniture Company of this place. Visit us online at
http://www.wilsonhistoricalmuseum.org
Below are a couple of rare photos sent to me by my good friend Ken Fitzgerald.
Two shots of the last train over the Ringling Road at the depot in the town of Ringling. He said he followed the train on Oct 31, 1976 and documented them picking up the last cars left on the line at Lone Grove, Wilson, Ringling and Healdton. There were members of the Oklahoma Historical Society that were riding in the caboose. The caboose is not shown in these two photos but it was there. Healdton was the last place they stopped to pick up cars before going back to Ardmore. It was late evening when they left Healdton in the dark. By the time they reached Ardmore all of the remaining cars on the entire line had been removed and were brought back to the rail yard in Ardmore. No more trains went over the line after that. Ken was working for the Ardmoreite at the time and photo documented the event. By 1979 all the rails and ties had been removed from the Ringling Road. The line, originally named the Oklahoma, New Mexico and Pacific, was constructed by John Ringling in 1913 and purchased by the Santa Fe in 1926. By 1976 the Santa Fe had received permission from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to abandon the line. -Dwane Stevens
CHRISTMAS EGGNOG BREAD
submitted by Robert Hensley
Ingredients :
2 eggs.
1 cup of sugar.
1/2 cup butter, melted.
1 cup of eggnog.
2 tbsp. rum flavor extract.
1 C. teaspoon vanilla extract.
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour.
2 tbsp. baking powder.
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg.
How To Make :
Preheat the oven to 350 ° F (175 ° C). Greased bottom a 5 9-inch loaf pan. Whisk eggs in a big bowl; add sugar, melt butter, eggnog, rum extract also vanilla extract.
Mix flour with baking powder, salt & nutmeg, then stirring to eggnog mixture; stirring only plenty to blend everything. Pour to mold.
Baking for 40 to 60 min, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow cool 11 min in pan before transferring to a wire rack finalize cooling. pack in plastic wrap & store in refrigerator.
Below is from my Vol 3, Issue 136 November 27, 1999 newsletter:
In my October 30, 1999 issue of T&T, I mentioned that the oldest house in Ardmore may be at 618 6th Southeast. A friend, Noel Mann. told me his house is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places as the oldest house in Ardmore. Here is a photo of Noel Mann’s house at 323 F Street Southwest in Ardmore. It was built in 1888.
Below is a picture of the 1887 house at 618 6th Southeast in Ardmore.
Last week I mentioned the Lazy “S” Ranch 10 miles north of Ardmore at the foothills of the Arbuckle Mts. This is a photo of the “lazy S Sign” in the south side of the mountain as can be seen going north on I-35.
“When I was growing up, 1940’s early 1950’s, the sign on the side of the mountain read Moss Patterson —- Lazy S Ranch. I think the S was laying down tho.”
“Talk about memorable times. And the big train wreck in Wapanucka. I was a freshman at Murray A&M (now Murray State) at the time. A friend of mine (now my brother-in-law) and I went over there. Beat the authorities, loaded up his 55 chevy with cases and cases of Texas Schlitz beer. Hid most of it in the woods on my dad’s farm northwest of Milburn, carried some of it back to the dorm, and PARTY time. A couple of weeks later, we went back to our hiding place to get more beer, and found a couple of squirrel hunters sitting on our stash, having a good and drunken time. So, this weeks column has brought back some memories, and a couple of chuckles. Thanks Butch.”
Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. -William Shakespeare
See everyone next Thursday!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823