PO Box 2, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73402

Email: [email protected], Phone: 580-490-6823

Vol

I received an interesting photo last week that really caught my attention. A 1907 cabinet photograph of the first 3 Carter County commissioners. When I read the names at the bottom and 2 of the 3 men I had never heard of, that really grabbed my attention. Lots of research has been done through the years identifying the commissioners, but somehow these 2 men were missed. There is even a wood plaque in the commissioners office that lists the elected commissioners from statehood (1907) to present but these two men are not listed.

http://cartercountyok.us/commissionerspast.html

The two men are William F. Bowman and Clinton O. Bunn. Below is the cabinet photograph that was sent to me last week of the first three commissioners.

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/FirstCarterCountyCommissioners.jpg

I did some search and did find some info on the first Carter County commissioners in the Marlow Weekly newspaper back in 1907.

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/ElmoreWeeklyFirstCommissionersCarterCounty1907.jpg

I will continue researching Mr. Bowman and Mr. Bunn. Maybe someone will recognize the names as their ancestors.

April 1934
Claiming to know of unusual mineral deposits in the Arbuckle Mountains, S. M. McKay, who lives 1 mile east of Woodford is seeking parties to take on excursions on the Southern Oklahoma hills. He says he knows of a long lost silver mine worked by the Chickasaw nearly 90 years ago. “I’d be glad to show anyone interested in developing the mine its location.”

April 1934
Prompt work on the part of the Sheriff’s Office resulted in the recovery of a Chevrolet sedan stolen from S. M. Summerville. The car was recovered by W. A. Ward and Hugh Cunningham near Lone Grove. It was not harmed.

April 1934
Louise Johnson, 11, daughter of Mrs. Clyde Johnson, Lone Grove, died Thursday in the Hardy Murphy Sanitarium. She is a granddaughter of Cole Johnson, chairman of the board of County Commissioners. Funeral services were held in the Baptist Church, Reverend R. C. Baker in charge of Rites. Active pallbearers were, Fred Johnson, Guy Johnson, Ernie Johnson, Vernon Troop, Wallace Troop and Olen Troop. The child is survived by her mother and two sisters Maurice 12, and Frankie 9.

1905 – Dr. Charles Evans becomes the new Carter County school superintendent. He changes the numerical designations of the four “ward schools” to Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Franklin Elementary. He ends the flying of the Confederate flag on Ardmore’s schools, replacing it with the “Stars and Stripes”. Under his tenure, a new high school building opens. Dr. Evans hires Harry Meade as the first football coach of AHS in 1907. In 1908, Dr. Evans is elected the first president of the Oklahoma Education Association. He later becomes head of Central State College in Edmond, and head of the Oklahoma Historical Society. Returning to live in Ardmore during his retirement, a newly build elementary school is named for him in 1953.

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos/charlesevans3.jpg

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18921500/charles-evans

I think most people from Southern Oklahoma are familiar with the 3 crosses in the Arbuckle Mountains near Turner Falls. They have been their since around 1950. I was informed that one of them is leaning and most likely will fall soon. I hope someone repairs these Southern Oklahoma landmark.

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/ThreeCrossesArbuckleMountains082918.jpg

After nearly 500 Shares and over 200 comments on my Facebook page, I started a webpage about the BBB method (bleach, 20 Mule Team Borax and Baking Soda) on keeping a swimming pool clean without costly and harsh chemicals and breaking the bank. Karen Middleton Myers originally informed me of this new method that is sweeping the country.

https://oklahomahistory.net/swimmingpool.html

Q.  Along the Pathway Parkway hike is a beautiful bridge that will completely mesmerize you. Where in Oklahoma is this bridge located?
A.   On the 12 mile walkway in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
http://www.bartlesvilleparks.net/Pages/pathfinder1.html

Q.  Where in Oklahoma is an expired parking meter tombstone?
A.  Answer in next week’s newsletter

Some pavers I sandblasted recently.

https://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/DanWagonerPaverFTC.jpg

https://oklahomahistory.net/bricks/MakeTodayYourBestDay.jpg

Below is from This and That newsletter archives of June 8, 2006

Last week I decided to trim two or three Empress Tree limbs in my yard to make it look better, and I found that the limbs I cut were hollow. The piece of limb in the next pic is about the size of a quarter, and the hole the size of a ball point pen. I would think this hollow core is one of the reasons its the fastest growing tree in the world. The bark is beautiful.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos6a/EmpressHollow.jpg
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I was in Ardmore’s OSU Extension Office this week and they had these darling little baby quail, about 16 of them that were born this week in an incubator. They were adorable.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos6a/quail060806.jpg
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“Anyone in Indian Territory that is a Methodist. Here is a hint regarding how to research. Hope it helps someone.”
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos6a/MethodistArchives.jpg
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“thought you might be interested, the old Nebo store, north on hwy 177, and a house just north of it were totally taken out and it is now an empty lot. believe they are going to widen the highway and that might be the reason, don’t know for sure, just know it’s gone.”
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The Choctaws after the removal lived all over the state of Alabama, They could apply for citizenship and remain– if it was granted— Georgia refused to allow this— So I have read. Like unto Will Rogers “All I know is what I read and someone tells me.” I live in north Alabama and spend a lot of time on ancestors.” -Taylor Crowe
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Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG…..

When I was in high school back in the mid fifties I worked for Criterion Theaters. They owned every movie theater in Ardmore with the exception of the Globe which was owned by Hershel Gilliam. At one time or another I worked at The Tivoli. The Ritz (later changed to The Park) , The Skyview Drive in, The Starlight Drive In, and the 77 North Drive in. I am hoping you or some of your readers might have some pictures of any of these old theaters and would be kind enough to show them in your newsletter. -James (Jim) Guess
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I am sending you a total of 10 snapshots from Fort Washita dated on back February 2, 1939. These are a rare look at the buildings and of Charles Colbert, Chickasaw, who owned Fort Washita in his land Allotment in 1905. Charles Colbert and his family are buried at Fort Washita in the Colbert section of the cemetery. -Robert Hensley

This first photo is of the Washita River (now called Cumberland Cut) near Fort Washita.

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/WashitaRiverNowCumberlandCutNearFortWashita1939k.jpg

The next 4 photos are views of the original cabin built by General Douglas Cooper in 1840s

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/OriginalCabinBuiltByGenDouglasCooper1939.jpg

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/GenCooperCabinAndChimneys1939a.jpg

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/GenGlenCooperCabinAndTavernChimneys1939b.jpg

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/GenGlenCooperCabinAndTavernChimneys1939c.jpg

This is Charles Colbert’s grave at Ft Washita

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/CharlesColbertGrave1939.jpg

This is a photo of Charles Colbert in 1939

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/CharlesColbert1939.jpg

The next 3 photos are buildings at Ft Washita

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/BuildingAtFortWashita1939a.jpg

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/BuildingAtFortWashita1939b.jpg

https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos18a/BarracksAtFortWashita1939.jpg

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“I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture, its breed of useful animals, and other branches of a husbandman’s cares.” -George Washington

See everyone next week!

Butch and Jill Bridges

“Friends Make Life Worth Living”PO Box 2
Lone Grove, Oklahoma 73443

https://oklahomahistory.net

Vicious Dog Attacks in Oklahoma
https://oklahomahistory.net/viciousdogs.html
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 Government Website
http://cartercountyok.us