PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
Email: [email protected], Phone: 580-490-6823
T&T Readers have came through for me again. Since last week’s issue when I announced how placing Google ads at the top of the newsletter would help with my website expenses, there has been over 8,543 page impressions, 302 click throughs, and a click through rate of over 3.5%. Impressions, click throughs, what does this all mean? Its a lot of techno mumbo jumbo to go into, but the bottom line is this, thanks to you who have clicked on the above Google Adsense links, my Oklahoma History website and newsletters will be coming to you free-gratis for a long time to come! Thanks everyone.
And if the above was not enough, you guys did it again. Jill was overwhelmed with so many happy birthday wishes arriving in her Inbox after last week’s T&T went out. When Jill checked her email last Friday morning, I heard her let out a yell you could hear all over. She did not know I had asked you the T&T Readers to wish her a happy birthday in the last newsletter, and she was smiling from ear to ear thanks to all of you! Our wireless internet was acting up last Friday when she tried to reply to all of you who emailed, but hopefully she didn’t leave anyone out. If she didn’t send a ‘Thank You’ email back to you, it was not intentional I assure you. She appreciates everyone one of you! Jill even received happy birthday cards in the mail.
Speaking of mail, my wireless internet developed a hiccup last Friday evening, not sure what is wrong, but its got a lot of hesitations when I go from website to website, or try to send emails. So I hope this issue of T&T goes out with no problems. It usually takes 20 minutes to send out 1,600 emails to subscribers using my GroupMail Program.
Jill and I stopped in at the new Buddy’s Drive-In for a burger last week. It is located just east of North Washington on Sam Noble Parkway. Even tho the meat could have been cooked just a tad more, it was a delicious burger. There was small pieces of onion mixed in with the meat, making it like a fried onion burger, but better. The owner Crystal is at the counter in the photo below.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/BuddysInside061508.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/BuddysOutside061508.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/BuddysBurger061508.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/BuddysBurgerPlace.jpg
Bill Uhles at Sulphur mailed Jill some Castor Bean Seeds this week for planting. I have never heard of them myself, but from reading on the Net I can tell they are interesting plants. They can grow to 12 feet high, so we can use them as a privacy fence out by the road. Not that we really need a privacy fence, since we have a thick growth of trees on 2 sides of our property, including the front. But they do contain 50% oil…. so maybe we need them commercially planted for the oil. I can hardly wait to see them in full bloom. Here is a scan I did of the seeds (some call the seeds ‘petrified dog ticks’ ).
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/CastorBeans061708.jpg
Ardmoreite Tonya Rangel gave me some old photos she found in a shoe box this week. In the box was a 1968 Graduation Program for Ardmore Junior High. I have scanned the four pages below. I recognize a lot of names!
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/AJrHS1968a.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/AJrHS1968b.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/AJrHS1968c.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/AJrHS1968d.jpg
Tonya also had pictures of Rose and Jim of Bewley’s Chuck Wagon Gang.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/ChuckWagonGangFtWorth.jpg
Also included was a KRLD radio station ad card with The Stamps Quartet. Listed are Walter Rippetoe, Bob Bacon, Wilkin Bacon, Frank Stamps, and Mrs Stamps.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/TheStamps8a.jpg
On the back of the card is an advertisement for American Beauty Biscuits by Russell-Miller Milling Company of Dallas that made American Beauty Flour. There are two recipes, one for Buttermilk Biscuits, and one for Baking Powder Biscuits. Both sound good!
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/TheStamps8b.jpg
But the best pic of all was a post card of the Lake Murray Inn. By looking at the cars parked in front, I’d say around 1939 to 1941. The Inn was located about where the Lake Murray Lodge is now, so I would guess it predates the Lodge. What makes me smile is the sign on the building, “Honk for Service”. Now that IS a thing of the past. It is hard to find a single service station left in Carter county (maybe the whole U.S), only filling stations. There is only a handful of stations left in Ardmore where you can even still get air. Boy, times have changed.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/LakeMurrayInn8a.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/LakeMurrayInn8b.jpg
If anyone knows of a place in Carter county where you can get air in your tire, especially ‘after hours’, send in an email and let us know. I’d like to compile a list.
Visit the Oklahoma History Boards, start a topic if you want too!
http://oklahomaroots.proboards83.com/
Q. Who opened Oklahoma’s first mail route?
A. Rogers and Hammerstein
Q. What is Oklahoma’s state game bird?
A. (answer in next week’s T&T)
If anyone has a good running push gasoline lawn mower, I’m in the market for one. We have lots of oak trees in around the house that is hard to get around with a riding mower, but a push mower would work nicely Just send me an email if you have one for sale or know of one close by.
Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG…..
“Butch- The 9-hole golf course on the base was a course for military personnel, their wives, family and friends. It was located north of the hospital area and was built through donations of material, labor and money by civilians and military personnel. No base funds were involved in the building of the course. Several years after the base closed, the course was leased from the City of Ardmore by two or more civilians employed elsewhere as an additional income source. The following information was copied from the Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base website http://brightok.net/`gsimmons Memory Joggers 1953-59 link. http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons/mem53-59.htm
“AAFB golf course is under construction but funds for 10,000 feet of pipe for course irrigation are not available. The Ardmore Chamber of Commerce has initiated a fund raising and donation drive to provide funds for the pipe. Government funds will be available for maintaining the course after it is completed. Joe Taylor, Marvin Yeager and Gus Hendrix, members of the C of C Trade Development Division, are active in the project. July 11, 1954”
“The nine-hole, 3,017 ft. AAFB golf course officially opened at 3:00PM July 1, 1955. Two Ardmore golf course professionals, Dick Phillips of Dornick Hills, and Filmore Vaughn of Sunset, played M/Sgt. Robert Hensley, AAFB course manager and S/Sgt. Robert Gillihand, assistant manager. The course was built with 20,000 man-hours of volunteer labor by AF personnel, costing only $3,700. With paid labor, the cost was estimated to have been $40,000. Sixty-two civic minded Ardmoreites contributed 10,000 ft. of irrigation pipe for watering the course. The Noble Foundation and their agronomist and plant breeder, Dr. Roy A. Chessmore, provided the grass and cultural information. Twenty-five sets of free clubs for playing were available on a “first-come” basis. Green fees were 35 cents per player.” [email protected]
“I used to caddy on that course for Sam Clendenin for the total of .75 cents for 18 holes about 3 hours worth of work. But Sam would have a pull cart so it was easy and he would buy me a pop after every 9 holes. I think that the steel bridge is still there that was between hole #8 and #9 fairway.” -Doug
“Butch I know I visit with you a few times a week but will answer the request about the 9 hole golf course at the Ardmore Airbase. I returned from a tour in Korea during the “Police Action” as the politicians called it in late 1953. My first assignment after a 30 day furlough was Ardmore, Airbase Ardmore, Oklahoma. My gosh I thought I had come to the end of the real world but soon got use to the Okie customs. Back to the golf course, it was located north and east of the main gate and went quite a distance east almost to the flight line. When we were assigned extra duty it would be to help tend to the course-water, rake sand traps, pick up cigarette butts and general care, it was a well kept course and I can remember those who played it said it was very good. I believe at the time I was there it was used by military personal only. The building that I worked in (communications) was at the far north end of the course and in it we had an old BC-610 transmitter and receivers which we maintained and serviced for those air force personal who used it, it was the local MARS station (Ham Radio).” -Richard “Rick” Feiler
“Hello Butch, I just read that Jan Smith is wanting information re Don Pinkston, the artist. A man here in Ada could tell her about Mr. Pinkston. His name is Shane Miller and his shop is The Frame Hut, located at 119 North Broadway, Ada, Oklahoma 74820. Phone number is 580-332-2535.”
“Yes, I remember the air coolers you hung in your car windows, although the only places I ever saw them used were in the desert in California and Arizona. I think the water bags were simply for holding water, not additional cooling, although you typically saw them hanging from the front bumper of cars. They were burlap and leaked water so you couldn’t put them in the car.
We crossed the desert every summer when I was growing up to visit my grandmother in Long Beach, CA and I always wanted to have one of those air coolers but my dad always said no. I remember them costing $14.95. You simply poured water in the pan and the fan on the front of the unit pushed the water cooled air into the car as you traveled.
Our car wasn’t air conditioned and we would dab Vasoline in our noses and roll the windows up almost closed to allow a little air into the car for ventilation. We also carried a small galvanized water can with a small block of ice in it along with as much water as it would hold. Ah, travel before AC, power stearing and cruise control.” -Monroe Cameron
“Not sure if this is a true remedy or not, but I do remember my Grandpa Parker (Ardmore) putting some sort of yellowish salve on his hunting dogs’ ears to keep flies and such away from them. But don’t exactly remember what it was. I know it didn’t smell too good.” -Kathi G
“Hi Butch, I was wondering if any of your readers recall the Rawleigh Salesmen who made their rounds in the rural areas selling various house hold goods? Looking back to the summer of 1961 my family and I lived in western Grady county near the old town site of Laverty Oklahoma. This was about 12 miles west of Chickasha Oklahoma. Most people who came to visit us made the comment that we were living out in the sticks. Laverty wasn’t actually a town but once had a post office and store which had long vanished before we lived in the area. Our house was pretty isolated and we were always thrilled when company came to see us. There was one visitor who would show up from time to time, we called him the Rawleigh Man and it was always a joyous occasion when he would come calling. He sold salves, ointments, spices, and a few household items such as sewing thread and basic items such as that. This was a time when a lot of farm wives didn’t drive and people didn’t visit the super market every other day.
The old gentleman who sold the Rawleigh goods was probably in his seventies he had a head of well groomed white hair, and wore a freshly starched white shirt with a bow tie and suspenders along with dress pants and shined shoes. He was a dapper old gent and had a light slender build. My parents invited him to eat dinner with us a time or two and I can remember that he was a very pleasant individual. I don’t recall his name we just referred to him as the Rawliegh Man. The best I can remember he did mention that he lived in Duncan and I am sure he probably had several routes in the rural areas of Grady and Stephens County that he probably visited daily or a few times a week.
Several years ago when I was carrying mail in Ardmore I noticed a sign on the front porch of a residence on C St. NW. The sign had the Rawleigh logo on it with the words, “Licensed Rawleigh Dealer,” or something to that effect. Every time I saw the sign I remembered with fondness the Rawleigh Man who came by our house selling his goods and how it broke the monotony of that summer when we were out of school and had little outside contact or social outlets. I was just wondering if any of your other readers might have had similar experiences back in that era. I don’t suppose there are any Rawleigh Salesmen left in this day and time they have probably went the way of the one room school house and other institutions that are gone but not forgotten.” -Mike Jones
“Butch, I received several positive letters about the Shrine Video post last week, many from Shriners out of state. I also had requests for copies of the Program so I have scanned the program and made it into 4 PDF documents instead of one large document for easier emailing. PDF files make for easy viewing and printing and Adobe Acrobat reader is available as a free download online. I’ve already sent out some and was told that they printed out fine. If you and any of your Readers want copies of the 1964 Ardmore Shrine Rodeo Program just let me know via email. Lots of good advertisements from Ardmore and area businesses of 1964.” -Dwane Stevens [email protected]
“Hi Butch and Jill, Since the prices of gas and food are going up, I have been looking into indoor gardening. The hard part is where I live, Montana. Last year I think the coldest day was about 45 below with the wind chill factor. It was roughly 25 below without. I was wondering if any of your readers know how to grow a garden indoors, like my garage since we only use it to store things in it I figure I can use some of it to grow a garden. Does anyone know of which vegetables would work best, since this will be my first. Or even an excellent website that I could checkout. Just email me. Thanks so much. -Elizabeth Cook [email protected]
“Butch: Thought you may want to post this? We are in the middle of the oilpatch!” http://trutv.com/shows/black_gold/index.html
“Butch, if any of your readers would like to have an emailed copy of a January 1945 Carter County Oklahoma Map just let me know and I will email them a copy. I scanned the original map in segments and stitched them together with software to make one large file. The file size is 6.21 Megabyte and is a simple Jpeg file. It is at high enough resolution to clearly identify small details. It can be viewed with any simple photo handling program that will allow zooming in and out. This is strictly a jpg file so you will have to use your own photo program for cropping out segments to print. I have attached a small cropped portion of the map to show what the native resolution will look like. All the old country schools are clearly identified. Anyone that would like a copy just send me an email.” -Dwane Stevens [email protected]
“Greetings Butch, If you happen to go through Thackerville around lunch time, stop at the Front Porch Caf?. Angie Melton has the best hamburger in Love County. I?m not qualified to judge ?All of Southern Oklahoma? (yet) but I?d bet it would be a strong contender. She also has an excellent chicken-fried steak that has a good steak-to-plate ratio. Order the small unless you have a powerful hunger.” -Willis
“Butch: I noticed you included a picture of the person that shot the Highway Patrolman Terry Dickson. There was also the address of the McAlester Prison and Warden’s name. Highway Patrolmen are very dear to me, my nephew is one and was on the scene when the young patrolman from McAlester was shot and killed. This was in Poteau, if memory serves me correctly approximately 10 years ago. They were on the same SWAT team together. Could a person write the Warden and protest his parole? Can anyone tell me?”
“June 21 – I will return to my hometown of Gene Autry, Oklahoma for the Summer Jamboree, a fund raiser for the Museum. Music from 1pm to 6pm.” -Les Gilliam, The Oklahoma Balladeer http://www.LesGilliam.com
‘You Are My Sunshine’ was written and originally recorded by Governor Jimmie Davis of Louisiana in 1940. In 1941 Gene Autry would push it even further up the charts with his rendition.
You Are My Sunshine
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away
The other nite, dear,
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
When I awoke, dear,
I was mistaken
And I hung my head and cried.
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
I’ll always love you
And make you happy
If you will only say the same
But if you leave me
To love another
You’ll regret it all some day;
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
You told me once, dear
You really loved me
And no one else could come between
But now you’ve left me
And love another
You have shattered all my dreams;
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
Louisiana my Louisiana
the place where I was borne.
White fields of cotton
— green fields clover,
the best fishing
and long tall corn;
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
Crawfish gumbo and jambalaya
the biggest shrimp and sugar cane,
the finest oysters
and sweet strawberries
from Toledo Bend to New Orleans;
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S-41sXK22w
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore Oklahoma
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443https://oklahomahistory.net
Save on long distance calls, just a couple cents a minute!
http://www.CheapLongDistance.org
Oklahoma Bells: https://oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
American Flyers Memorial Fund – Administration Webpage
https://oklahomahistory.net/crash66.html
Official American Flyers Memorial Website
http://www.brightok.net/~wwwafm
Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Base Website
http://www.brightok.net/~gsimmons
Mirror Site of the Ardmore Army Air Field/Ardmore Air Force Website
https://oklahomahistory.net/airbase/
Carter county schools, past and present
http://community.webshots.com/user/oklahomahistory
Carter County Government Website
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/
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