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Vol 20 Issue 1001 April 7, 2016

Ardmore, Oklahoma

Email:  butchbridges@oklahomahistory.net , 580-490-6823

Last Tuesday, March 29th, the new Sonic Drive-in opened for its first day of business in the same

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16a/BirdEggs032716.jpg

A few pavers I sandblasted.

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https://oklahomahistory.net/BSA/BSAJohnnyWatsonPaver.jpg

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You can find current gas prices for a particular Oklahoma town by entering the name or zip code in the GasBuddy search box.

http://www.oklahomagasprices.com/

In the summer months 60% or more of your electric bill can be attributed to the air conditioner running day and night to keep your house cool. Several of my friends have found out how to reduce those high electric bills by maybe 15% or more. The Okie Power Saver takes difference of the watts you are being billed for, and what you are actually using, and recycles those watts. The Okie Power Saver is a great way to reduce that electric bill and save money year round.

http://www.OKiePowerSaver.com

Q.  Where is Indian Head Rock in Oklahoma?
A.  

Q. 
A.  (answer in next week’s T&T)

From This and That newsletter archives of March 30, 2002:

I saw a pretty unusually statue this week on the west side of Lone Grove. He looks so real, you do a double take just to see if you saw what you thought you saw. The gorilla statue is near the SW corner of Highway 70 and Cheek Road.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos10a/LoneGroveGorilla2002.jpg

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“Butch, I was wondering if you or any of your readers have any info on the Eastern Cherokees who were listed on the Miller Rolls. I am researching for two of my siblings and their families who are of E. Cherokee desc. Apparently, in addition to the Dawes Roll, there was a Miller roll which was open past the 1907 date that the Dawes was closed. It listed E. Cherokees ( I don’t really understand why they were listed separately). The family I am searching came from NC (some of the E. Cherokees also came from Florida). I spoke to a lady in Talequah OK and she referred me to call a number in Cherokee, NC. I was told by someone in NC that in order to be eligible for the CDIB that is recognized in OK (if you are one the Miller Roll), one’s ancestors have to be listed on the 1924 Baker Roll. Don’t really don’t what the Baker Roll was for. I was sent a form to fill out, listing the ancestors, etc., but haven’t heard back. IF this family line is listed on the BAker Roll, does anyone out there know what to do from there in order to get a CDIB card for OK? Any info will be appreciated. Also, do you or any of your readers know if there has ever been an “open-enrollment” period for Chickasaw descendants whose family was listed on the Dawes Census but not the final rolls. The census and final rolls were 2 different things. Apparently, starting in the late 1880’s or early 1890s, a census was taken in OK, I.T., to determine how many Indians (of each recognized tribe) were living there. Then when the rolls closed in 1907 (or there-abouts) final rolls were determined and those names were listed in the Dawes Final Rolls and issued a “roll” number. Anyway, my great great grandparents were on the census, along with their 3 children who were at home at the time, but were not on the final rolls. Have not found where they were denied or rejected, just weren’t there. Have been told that they moved to NM in 1906 so that might be the explanation. I would like to find out if we can still apply and get a CDIB card since they were on the original census. I have a copy of that in the original hand writing…got it from NAIL in Ft. Worth TX. I have been told that there was an open enrollment period about 10 or 12 years ago and thought some of your readers might know if there are plans to have another one anytime soon. Hope so. Enough for now. (Aren’t you Glad? Haha). Butch, I appreciate your hard work. I know this helps connect so many people across the country, thru your weekly T&T. God bless you. Take care.” -Di
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“Some day soon, I plan to do some research on the Mail hack that ran from Ardmore to Durant during the war years. Is there any old people that worked at the Ardmore post office that you could interview about the mail hack. According to my sister’s memories, the truck originated in Durant in the early morning hours, traveled through the small towns delivering mail, and picking passengers. He stopped in Milburn post office, Tishomingo and other small towns en route to Ardmore. He waited until the afternoon train brought in the mail, and he left Ardmore about 3:p.m. and headed back the route with mail and passengers and ended up in Durant. I rode the mail truck to Ardmore many times.”
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“Hi Butch. You ask if anyone remembered Boundary Street. Yes, I do I remember when the carnival use to set up on the North side of Boundary, and also I remember on a few occasions there would be one of the old Traveling Medicine Shows come to town and that is where they would set up. My mother would always buy a bottle of the snake oil. Another wasted dollar. LOL. That would have to be 1939 to 1942 are so. Another little tidbit about those same years on up to about 1949 or so. Highway 77 coming thru Ardmore you had to turn east on roadway up to K. Street, then north on K. Street to 12th Ave Then west on 12th back to the highway. That strip from Broadway to 12th. Ave was dirt road. Our house was at 1201 8th Ave N.W. When they built the highway on thru we had our house moved to 1329 10th. N.W. The old house was still there 3 or 4 years ago and still may be. This info just about tells my age Ha. Love reading the T&T Keep up the good work.”
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“Butch, There is a bell at the Gibson Baptist Campground by Hardesty, OK. I think it is the bell from the First Baptist Church in Guymon, Texas County. I will have to research it. let me look into it and I will get back to you.”
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“The Clock Tolled Last Time Saturday Night. For 60 years the clock in the dome of the Lincoln County courthouse tolled the hours. At 8 PM Saturday it tolled for the final time. An hour later, flames had consumed the clock tower and the clock had fallen through the ceiling of the third floor. When the sun came up Sunday morning, the clock was a smoldering pile of crumpled metal. The big bell which had awakened local citizens from their slumbers and turned out church for six decades was shattered on the concrete floor”.
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Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG…..Our Ardmore Class of 1966 50th Reunion is having their reunion April 22-24, 2016. We are so excited that so many will be there. We have some people that we can’t find and its not complete without them. Also if anyone in our class who wants to come and have not received any information, just let me know. My email address is maca1947@yahoo.com  If anyone knows any of these people, please let me know their address, email, or phone number.”  -Millie Adams

People we cannot find:

Adams Kay
Adams Deborah
Anderson Joyce
Barcus Barbara
Barrs Brown Mica
Byers Reba
Clendenin Janie
Cravens Norma
Davis Susan
Dewitt Sharon
Fender Barbara
Henson Nancy
Henson Steve
Hyder Danny
Jackson Cathy
Jordan Teddy
Joshua Susie
King Molly
Moore Donna
Moore (Mertens) Gary (John)
Morris Donna
Nelson Randy
Parks, Charletta
Randolph James
Ralls, Rod and Karen
Riley Laquita
Sam Jimmy
Seaberry Mike
Sellman Paul
Smith Jerry
South Mike
Spencer Larry
Spradley Glenn
Vaughn Jerry
Vaile, Jerry
Wallace Connie
Wilkins Donna
Wilson Carl H
Wise Maxine
Wood Jennifer
Yount Carolyn


“Last week’s Newsletter sparked a second letter to you this month, Jack and I were married July 5, 1940, went to Eagle Nest, NM to operate his Dad’s Lodge which is another story. When we returned home, we purchased the home on 521 Boundary Street in 1941. In 1955 when we returned from a summer trip to NM, we found that our street had been renamed Monroe! We never knew why but later discovered our entrance was still in the county!! The house was 13 years old and was built by a man named Chisenhall who had married one of the Frame daughter. They had one daughter.  He also was the first director, I was told, of the Ardmore Little Theater. However his wife needed to move to Arizona for her health and he sold this acreage to us . There were no houses North of us. I still live on Monroe Street and have watched all the growth of NW Ardmore and feel blessed to live here, regardless of the address change. LOL


“I worked in the 100 block in downtown Ardmore for 40 years and during that time I ate many hamburgers at the Hamburger Inn. I watched a guy named Chock fry those burgers. He would plop a ball of hamburger meat on the grill, flatten it out, next came onions, then he would pick up a pot on the side of the grill and pour an oil on them. Now I believe that pot contained suet, not cooking oil. As we know, the best taste of beef is in the fat melted and that’s the suet. I think that’s where the great taste came from in their burgers. Could I be right?” -Fred J. Paul


“Butch, I enhanced the picture of the 1908 Fireman’s Convention in Ardmore from last week as much as I could.” -Cecil
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos16a/ArdmoreFiremansConvention1908b.jpg


Are there any pictures of the Staple family or Store in Ardmore?

July 28, 1887 Ardmore’s Main Street is laid out when Jim Staples plows a furrow in the prairie a quarter mile long west of the railroad tracks.
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Cherokee Prayer Blessing

May the Warm Winds of Heaven
Blow softly upon your house.
May the Great Spirit
Bless all who enter there.
May your Moccasins
Make happy tracks
in many snows,
and may the Rainbow
Always touch your shoulder.

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges
All previous issues of This & That can be found on my Website.
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