PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 580-490-6823
Those of you who live far away from Oklahoma have probably been hearing on the national news about the terrible flooding here. So many people and friends of mine have lost everything when their homes flooded over the past 24 hours. I know of 2 lives that were lost in this area because of the torrential rains like I have never seen in my lifetime. We are lucky here on our little 3 acres south of Lone Grove, no flooding, but so many around us have suffered great loss to their property. I do want to report that as of today the rains are gone and the sun has finally appeared. The weather forecasters are saying the worst is behind us now, and I know everyone is so thankful for this terrible flooding to go away.
I received an email this week with an attached 1959 newspaper clipping. The clipping was a photo of Career Day held that year in Ardmore and in the photo were the following people:
Mike Thompson, Fox; Martha Jerrett, Ardmore; David Carmany, Wilson; and Ellen Strong, Healdton. Counciling the 4 students is Hugh DeWoody, Carter County 4-H Agent.
The email was a request to see if any of those in the photo were still around and how to get in touch with them. If you recognize any one, let me know.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/CareerCounselingDay1959.jpg
In last week’s newsletter I posted in the Archive section, an email I received in 2001. I want to repost it here as I have had a request last week to find out who made the original email to me, as I have lost their name. If you know who wrote the email below let me know.
“Mr. Richie taught me in Tishomingo in the 7, 8th and 9th grade. He was our history teacher, and he was, in my opinion, the most wonderful teacher that ever taught. His wife taught typing and shorthand, and she was my instructor in the 10th and 11th grade. She instilled the two skills that help me perform my jobs for 25 years. One question? Did Mr. Richie tell your class the story of how he smuggled a child home from Europe? The story is fascinating.
“Here is the group graduation picture. Mr. Richie is the man with the tie. I am on the end next to the girl standing. I have on a light colored dress and dark shoes. The girl to my right is the lady that became Mrs. Ward and taught school in Ardmore for many years.”
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/MrRichieTishomingo1951.jpg
Below is a link to Antelope Springs at the Chickasaw National Recreation Area (old Platt National Park) at Sulphur, Oklahoma. It documents how the park came back to life after several years of drought. The two springs mentioned in the video are at the east end of the Park, far end of Perimeter Road. It’s a 1/2 mile walk from the road to the springs, but I can hardly wait to make it back to Sulphur and see the fresh water springs!
http://kfor.com/2015/05/13/great-state-after-more-that-a-year-the-springs-return-to-life-in-sulphur/
The days are running down. As of today only 4 workdays left before I join the ranks of the unemployed. Thursday June 25th, a week from today, will be my last day on the job at the County Commissioners office. If you are in the area the afternoon of Wednesday June 24th stop my office for my retirement party. I’d love to see you there and wish me luck in my new life. It’s just a come and go, so stop by a few minutes.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/ButchBridgesParty2015.jpg
After nearly a month of not losing any weight with TruVision I decided 2 weeks ago to stop taking it. During the two weeks I gained back a couple pounds reaching 180 lbs. When I started back I lost 2 lbs. in a 24 hour period. Plus I could tell my energy level was down too. Now to see if I can break below that 177 pound plateau I had reached over a month ago. If anyone wants to try it, give me a holler. “I’ll meet you at the Walmart mailbox!” Join us and check it all out at the link below.
https://oklahomahistory.net/truvision.html
http://butch.truvisionhealth.com/
If you have a swimming pool in the backyard my OKie Power Saver will help keep the electric bill down. Also the A/C is probably the most energy hungry appliance for the homeowner. But if you have a swimming pool that has a pump running 24/7 during the summer months, that too can run up an electric bill. It should save on your electric bill to install an OKie Power Saver at the pool pump, especially if that pump motor is more than 30 feet away from the main electric service panel. I have made a checklist to help before ordering. I guarantee my OKie power saver to save you money or you get a complete refund. Want to know more, send me an email or give me a call.
Q. Where is the world’s largest concrete totem pole located?
A. The totem pole is located near Foyil, Oklahoma just off Route 66 on the Ed Galloway place.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9058
Q. What percentage of Oklahoma is made up of forests?
A. (answer in next week’s T&T)
From This and That newsletter archives of June 16, 2001:This week County Commissioner Kevin Robinson drove his 1939 GMC Panel Wagon to the courthouse. He has been working on it for several years, and just got it painted. It even has air conditioning!
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/RobinsonGMC1939.jpg
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I have been noticing that mostly cheaper, plastic water meter covers are being used around town in the installation of water meters. On Main Street we have several older iron meter covers, one remarkable preserved meter cover is in front of Stolfa Hardware on East Main. This particular meter cover was made by the Gainesville Iron Works in Gainesville, Texas
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/GainesvilleIronWorks.jpg
This is an example of the cheaper plastic water meter covers being installed around town.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/PlasticWaterMeterLid.jpg
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The Carter County Assessor’s Website this week passed the 9,000 mark for available online photos of Carter County properties (plus 9,000 thumbnails). More are being added daily. A lot of the work in gathering those photos his being done by the Assessor’s two Field Appraisers, Jim Rozzell and Eric Dellinger.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/RozzellAndDellinger.jpg
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“(Yr. 1923) Blue Ribbon School is located a few miles northwest of Lone Grove. Mrs. Paul Mitchell is Principal of the school and Miss Etta Ward is assistant teacher. Under the careful management of these two teachers eight grades of work is taught. School census in the district is 112 – valuation is $115,150 – approved 1910.”
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Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG…..
Old Settlers Day is held once a year at Bromide, Oklahoma and this year it is Saturday June 20th. The owners of the Bromide rock quarry open the private property up to the public each year on Settlers Day. It’s absolutely beautiful “photos taken last year” the water is always crystal clear!
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/BromideRockQuarry.jpg
“Butch, this is the pear tree I told you about. Sits inside my pasture near the highway. there have been many folks naming it, several said it was a Christmas pear. The pears fall off about the middle of November. They have the strongest pear taste you ever bit into. Then your mouth will draw like biting into a green persimmon. Cattle will tear a fence down to get one. Deer love them. One day an old 80 or 85 year old fellow was there getting some lumber. A young fellow with him ask what kind of tree it was. I told him I didn’t know, but some call it a Christmas pear. The old fellow said that is right. Then said it makes the best pickled pears you ever ate. I picked him up a feed sack full of them. He was to bring me back a small jar of them pickled. Well one or three things happened to my pickled pears –he forgot why he had them , the wife refused to make them or he died. Now one of the cousins with a green thumb and I took cuttings from it and tried to root them. I piled up the pears. I planted the pears and not one tree has come forth. There is a young one I discovered a couple of years back. How it got there I have no idea. I am thankful for it. Notice in the photo how the pears cluster together like grapes. There will be hundreds of clusters. When they fall the ground is covered solid, that is if the cows are in another pasture.” -Taylor Crowe in Alabama
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/ChristmasPears2015a.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/ChristmasPears2015b.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/ChristmasPears2015c.jpg
“Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. Yes, I would like to attend your Retirement Party, but have a doctor’s appointment that afternoon.” -Patti
“Butch, Need a new lawnmower? I bought a Spring and Summer, 1224 page, 1956 Sears Catalog that had been sent to a book binder in Dallas, Tx to be made into a large hard bound volume. Business sticker in back page identifies the binder as Henry Nuss Bookbinder. It doesn’t say when it was bound but Nuss’s phone number is given as “PRospect 5545.” The address was “419 So. Ervay St, Dallas 1, Texas.” I’d say with that phone number and address it’s probably been a long time back. The catalog is chocked full of interesting stuff such as these cool looking mowers. Maybe they will come back in style!:” -C. Dwane Stevens
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/SearsCatalog1956.jpg
Note: zip codes as we know them today began July 1, 1965.
The Dougherty, Oklahoma Homecoming and School Reunion will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at the Dougherty School. Visitation begins at 5:30. Alumni membership fee and meal $15.00. Guest meal $10.00. We welcome graduates, former students, teachers, and residents, those who have attended church in Dougherty, and friends.
July 4th Fireworks celebration at Lake Murray.
http://chickasawcountry.com/events/view/lake-murray-fireworks-display
“Butch, in your May 29th newsletter, Tommie Jenkins talked about a swimming pool in Healdton 30’s and 40’s that was filled with oil. My Granddad George W. Gandy built the pool, I have been told. I didn’t know it had been filled with oil, but my older brother told me that he had heard that it was at one time. I used to live right across the street from it with my Uncle Jesse and Aunt Vallie Gandy in the early 50’s, I don’t remember the pool, just remember all the pump stations and the sucker rods that me and my cousin used to ride, the good old days. If I can find a picture of it I will send it to you. I hope this information helps.” -Larry Gandy
Hennepin, Oklahoma 1908
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/HennepinOK1908.jpg
A picture of Pretty Boy Floyd’s funeral in Akins, Oklahoma. The biggest funeral in Oklahoma’s history, it’s estimated that a minimum of 20,000 people showed up for the event. Photo courtesy of Tammy Stafford via Emily Barwick.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos15a/PrettyBoyFloydFuneral.jpg
“We have known each other since the BBS days (bulletin board system), and have followed T&T for God knows how long. Hope your retirement will be all you wanted it to be. Many, many people are happy with your decision to continue T&T, and me among them. Congratulations for sticking it out ’till the end — Great fortitude.”
Jaime A Gonzalez
Ardmore 1988-2015
Harker Heights TX 2015-?
“Hi Butch. You will Love being retired because then you will get to do what you want and when you want, I hope you don’t really believe that, I retired 3 years ago at the young old age of 75 and I’m more busy now than when I worked but a lot less head aches.
Happy Retirement Butch.” -Bob Cole in Oregon
Hi Butch.
I get a smirk each time I see you mention your approaching retirement. It is a daunting prospect, but not one to be feared. I suspect that, like me and many others, you’ll soon find so much to do with your time that you’ll wonder how you ever found time to hold down a full time job.
Someone mentioned the Ardmore explosion in this week’s newsletter. I’ve been wondering for some time now what the City is planning to do to recognise the 100th anniversary of that tragic event. Will you be personally involved in any activities?Regards,
Ron in the Down Under
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/Memorial092715.jpg
Lonnie Rooney trophy
http://bid.oldwestevents.com/The-Ken-Maynard-Trophy_i22362621
“Retirement may be an ending, a closing, but it is also a new beginning.” -Catherine Pulsifer
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore Oklahoma
PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443http://www.7is7.com/otto/countdown.html?year=2015&month=06&date=25&ts=12&hrs=16&min=30&sec=0&lang=en&show=dhm&mode=t&cdir=down&bgcolor=%23CCFFFF&fgcolor=%23000000&title=Retirement%20Day%21
Follow me on the TruVision lose weight program
https://oklahomahistory.net/truvision.html
Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
https://oklahomahistory.net/viciousdogs.html
Bells of Oklahoma
https://oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
Carter County Courthouse Paver Project
http://www.brightok.net/cartercounty/pavers
Ardmore High School Criterions Online
http://www.ArdmoreCriterion.com/
Oklahoma Bells: https://oklahomahistory.net/bellpage.html
Bill Hamm’s Cemetery Database
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/carter/cartercm.htm
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://cartercountyOK.us/
All previous issues of This & That can be found on my Website.
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