Ardmore began as a railroad Town come and the railroad is still an integral part of the city. The old Union depot, which stood abandoned for many years, has been refurnished and gained a game again serves as a passenger platform for the heartland flyer. It is also home to Ardmore main Street authority, which sponsors many community activities in the Ardmore area. -Photo courtesy of Ardmore Main Street Authority
Because of regular shipments of goods into Ardmore on the Santa Fe line, stores were well stocked. People came from almost 100 miles to shop the variety of stores. Supplies were also unloaded directly onto wagons and delivered to nearby farms and ranches or outlying stores. This picture was taken about 1910 and has Landrum and Team written on the back. Prior to the railroad, supplies had to be hauled by wagon and horses or mule teams from Gainesville or Denison Texas. Roads were not paved, so in the rainy season supplies often took weeks to arrive due to poor road conditions. Fresh meat could not be trusted on a wagon trip, and vegetables often arrived limp and wilted.
With she coming of the railroad, grocers could shop seafood, which often became quite a treat to the people of Ardmore. Goods such as clothing and furniture could be obtained at the most reasonable rate, and agricultural products, especially cotton, could be sold for higher prices. The railroads brought financial advancement to the area. -Courtesy of the McGalliard collection, Ardmore Public Library.
A Glimpse Into The Past
December 16th 1942
The Daily Ardmoreite
Tribute paid to Mrs. Church
Rotary Honors Her For Work With Farm Women of County
Tribute to Mrs. Minnie B. Church, 28 years home demonstration agent in Carter county, marked the regular meeting of the Ardmore Rotary Club on Wednesday at noon. John F. Easley was chairman of the program. Miss Dorothy Longino read a tribute to Mrs. Church as a special feature.
Mrs. Church has gained wide renown as one of the pioneers in home demonstration activities in Oklahoma.
Tussy, Oklahoma NW Carter County
Henry Baker Tussy entered Pickens County in 1869 working for the Addington ranch northwest of Ardmore. In the Indian Pioneer Papers interview, Tussy remembered that Federal militia would not let us think about settling. They called us “nesters.” The militia cut the wires and drove our cattle back across the Red River. He is seen here mounted on the white horse. -Courtesy of Betty and John Stanton and book Images Of Ardmore by Charlsie Foust Allen
This week KTEN TV had a feature broadcast story on Kate Zaneis (1st superintendant of schools in Carter county) and her connection to Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU) at Durant.
https://www.kten.com/story/47473303/southeastern-honoring-its-first-female-president
Q. What is the safest city in Oklahoma?
A. Lone Grove, Oklahoma
Q. How many buffalo (bison) in Oklahoma?
A. Answer in next week’s newsletter
Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG….
Ardmore Pharmacy 1920, located on first floor in Simpson building. -Robert Hensley
I just read last week’s newsletter. Very interesting.
The fire/water situation reminded me of the terrible Payne/Texoma Hotel fire in Tishomingo on Dec 24, 1953 when Tony Roberts perished. As I recall, rotten hoses and lack of adequate water pressure prevented or contributed to a successful rescue. 10 years old, 5th grade. The fire station was across the street from the hotel!! -Regards from Oregon, Richard Craven
Below is from my Vol 3, Issue 129 Octobor 16, 1999 newsletter:
On January 1, 1974 the Feds dropped the speed limit from 70 down to 55 mph. I will always remember it. Just two weeks into the month, I was traveling to east Texas. Near Marshall, Texas I was traveling about 75 or 80 and the Texas Highway Patrol caught me speeding. It was on Sunday afternoon, and I had to go to the courthouse and wait for the Justice of the Peace. Fines had to be paid to JPs. I waited over 2 hours! Finally he arrived, I paid $30 and was on my way. But now with the advent of the Internet, Texans can pay their speeding fines AFTER they get home via the Net. I know people in every state will want this!
The Worlds Largest Bell is now in Newport, Kentucky and ready to ring in the Millennium as the World Peace Bell. “On December 31, 1999 the Peace Bell will sound for every time zone around the World. The event will be televised live to each time zone separately so that the people from every country can ring in the new millennium with the World Peace Bell.”
https://www.kentuckytourism.com/newport/attractions/family-fun/world-peace-bell-and-exhibit-center
The present day Lincoln Center at 301 West Main here in Ardmore used to be the Ardmore Hotel years ago. I remember going in there as a kid in the 50s. We did not have a tv at home and the Ardmore Hotel was the only place we could go and watch television.
This week I have gone to the Browns Springs cemetery in Love county several times. And I am happy to report I have not seen any ghosts, ghouls, or goblins. And I am still at a loss as to what is in the photo, if anything. But myself and a lot of others feel there is something very wrong down there in Love Valley along the Red River. Without exposing my sources, I will tell you there are people who are doing some very serious research in Love Valley. Maybe someday we will know more about this place. In the mean time, I can tell you I have been flooded with email about Browns Springs. So many I am not going to list those emails in my usual Mailbag below. I have placed the emails I’ve received about Browns Springs in a special file in chronological order. So if you’re interested, just read and enjoy.
I did achieve what I went to Browns Springs this week to do. I was able to get the wording off the marker of that child:
“Tis a little grave, but O! have care for world wide hopes are buried there. How much of light, how much of joy, is buried in a darling boy.”
For genealogy researchers, here is a listing of those buried there as complied by Bill Hamm. Because of rummaging, pilfering, and grave robbing, only about 5 markers are still there on which writing is readable. This is sad.
“Butch, here’s an old genealogist’s trick to make the writing on tombstones easier to read. The next time you’re in a cemetery take some chalk along with you. Rub it across the words and it’ll highlight them. The best thing about this is that it doesn’t do any damage to the stone and will wash off during the next rain.”
“Reference the reader who wrote about the “Susan” Pruitt who won the $4,000 on Regis and Kathie Lee. It’s Sandra Pruitt, works at McCulloh Travel and is married to Joe Ben Pruitt. Her parents are Calvin and Hazel Duncan. Just thought you might want to know.”
“There was a question in this weeks This and That ref: Susan Pruitt who is she? Since those folks saw her win $4000.00 on Regis and Cathy Lee. It should be SANDRA Pruitt and she works at McCulloh Travel. Butch, her dad is Calvin Duncan our old OHP friend.”
“howdy i have been to the Dickson’s Lazypark many many times as a matter of fact i was at the Dickson park when i was supposed to be in school!! haha!! theres a few pieces of playground equipment and a pavilion,,, in 1984 when i graduated Dickson we went down there to take some pics i was voted biggest flirt,, i’m sure a lot of Dickson yearbook pics are still taken down there,, oh yeay they probably locked the gate cause we used to party all hours of the night out there,, and i know some of the old sherrif deputies know there way out there cause i can remeber them coming out there and running us off,, i guess they wanted us to go to town to drink and party???”
All the flowers of all the tomorrows
are in the seeds of today – Indian Proverb
See everyone next Thursday!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823