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Vol 27 Issue 1,357 February 2, 2023

Whitmarsh M. Anderson (1867-1954) opened the first veterinarian hospital in southern Oklahoma. It was located about #8 East Broadway and opened in September 1915, just about the time of the Great Explosion. Anderson advertised himself as a veterinarian surgeon. His facility was the most modern of any veterinarian hospital between Oklahoma City and Dallas, Texas. -Courtesy of Sally Gray

Note: in 1918 the business was Anderson & Hartnitt (John Hartnitt, wife Amanda Hartnitt) located at 120 South Washington. I believe the South Washington address is where the above picture was taken.


I received a surprize in the mail from W.E. “Bill” Garrison last week. He is the author of a book titled, “Another Baby Boomer Strolls Down Amnesia Lane”. The book is available in Kindle format or paperback on Amazon.

(more from Bill Garrison in the Mailbag below)


HAM Talk
I had an interesting long converssaton using Echolink on my computer yesterday evening with a HAM on the island of Malta. I learned there is actually 3 islands that make up Malta south of Italy. Joe Tabone has been a HAM since 1992 and lives on the northern most island. There is a very small island between the two bigger islands. Joe’s island is 9 miles long by 5 miles wide.
https://www.qrz.com/db/9H5JO


When I helped in my grandpa’s lumberyard on 3rd NE as a kid, he would brush on a thin coat of Lindseed oil on the windows where he was going to replace the window pane. He’d let it set over night before applying new putty to hold the glass in its frame. This improved the adhesion of the putty to the years old dry wood windows.

Why are barns red?


Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG….

Has anyone tried their genuine Butter nut bread they advertised on the envelope? -Robert Hensley


It started snowing last night and will continue into the night. Over 2 feet so far today. -Monroe in BigSky, Montana 1/27/23


You need to do a little research, but I think I am right that Chili Bowl actually started in Ardmore by the Berryhill family.  Matt Berryhill was the last one of the family to own it.  They moved it to Tulsa.

Note: Why is the race called the Chili Bowl?

– Bobby Berryhill, a Tulsa businessman, owned a food service company named the “Original Chili Bowl” and came on board as the sponsor of the 1987 Midget Nationals. The company made pre-mix and pre-made chili for distribution nationwide.


1.  My dad, John E. Garrison, worked at WITS END on Main Street when he enlisted to fight in WWII.  I recently came across an Ardmorite article about a party they gave for his departure.  [His printing career stared by his experience at Wits End]….he worked for two newspapers in California and at one point owned his own commercial printing company in Tulare, I’m sure it was much like what he did at Wit’s End.  When back in Ardmore, he worked at Spreaklemyer’s, and later at the Ardmorite, before relocating to Tulsa and working at the Tulsa Tribune/World, where he retired (when the Tribune shut down)….later passing in 1999.

 2. I know my mother, Meredith Moorhead, (AHS Class of ’41) took voice lessons with Mrs. Rawlins.  After the war my folks moved to California (where I was born in 1949) and when we moved to Oklahoma in 1960 I had the honor of meeting Mrs. Rawlins.  My mother wanted me to have voice lesson and I remember going to her home (Not far from the city/central park?)…..as a 6th grade young man, I wasn’t too interested in the idea of taking voice lessons.  I only had the one lesson, and I believe it was not long afterwards that Mrs. Rawlins passed away.  I never had any more voice lessons.  I remember her as being a very nice lady and she was very kind to me.  She was able to listen to me speak to decide where to start working with me.  I was very impressed with her ability to do so.  

Each generation has it’s own remarkable unique examples of greatness.  I have always been intrigued by the many great things that are unique to that generation and the history surrounding Ardmore during those times.
-Bill Garrison


Below is from my Vol 4, Issue 145 January 29, 2000 newsletter:

Ever wonder the meaning in a name?
https://www.behindthename.com/


“Thanks for the picture of Ardmore Courthouse, my husband’s Grandparents Hiram Joseph Potter and Ethel Smith were married there in 1926.”


“Hello Butch. I was glad to get T&T this week. I saw one of the emails that was sent to you last week about the Chili Bowl chili at Sams…. Chili Bowl is good chili and only cost 5.89 at Sam’s That’s about 1.17 per pound. It comes in a 5# container.”


“Butch, in the Ardmoreite, dated January 21, 1979, there is an article about Dr. Washington and Buster Ned. It seems the American Trail series filmed Buster Ned and Mac McGalliard telling the story of the Kwanakuasha. In fact one of the pictures shows Mac holding a book about the story of the Kwanakuasha, I guess. My clipping of this is torn and faded not suitable for scanning but I did have the picture of the Dr. and the little man standing on the table. You probably remember this article.”


This is a photo of the bell tower at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ada, Oklahoma.


Tom & Fleet Coopers Auto Garage, Ardmore, Oklahoma. Located at 401-403 West Main where the First National Bank is now. 4th from front is Hoot Halloway, 2nd in grey suit is Tom Cooper, (owner of Tom Coopers Dairy), first, in white shirt is Fleet Cooper. Circa 1925 -Robert Hensley

Below is the old Jordan bus cafe, 1948, located at #30 South Washington, corner of 1st St S.E. and South Washington. Seated under coke sign is Darryl Sears, Jordan bus driver, woman in plaid is Zela McClain. Notice signs, Barbecue beef sandwich, .30 cents and plate lunch for .55 cents! Times sure have changed! -Robert Hensley


“Have the courage to act instead of react.” –Ovid

Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823

See everyone next Thursday!