Some time back we talked about Potts Red River Chili that operated in Healdton, Oklahoma. Someone wondered if I had a photo of the establishment. I found it!
Floyd Randolph for Sheriff – 1954
Find-A-Grave for Floyd Randolph along with some history.
Charles Beane for Sheriff – 1956. He was in the running with Gerald Theo Cobb, Skeet Lewis, Robert Price, W. Robert Denney, Otto Powell, Billy Hensley, Jim Eskew, Jr., Fred C. Thompson, Cortez Craddock, Charles H. Beane, Wade Shelton, and Lee Carlton. Gerald Cobb won.
When I was a teen Charlie Beane operated a barber shop just east of Cardinal Park around the 400 block of P Street SE back in the 1960s.
A side note on my friend Charlie Beane:
My mind flashed back to the late ’60s when the city limits ended at “P” street NE/SE. My friend Charlie Bean lived about 200 feet east of the “P” street dividing line between “city” and “county”. So, Charlie did not live inside the City Limits at the time. Prior to 1968 or so when the city annexed property on east, Charlie Bean had tried for over 10 years to get on city water (he had a water well). He even told the City he would pay for the 200 feet of water line and all… to connect him from his house to the City water main that rain north and south on “P” Street. The City still said No. Then after he was annexed into the City around 1968, the City told him he had to be on city water and pay a city water bill like everyone else. Charlie said No (and a few other words). hahahaha. Charlie Bean is dead now, and I don’t know if or when he ever did get on the City water. Interesting how things go.
Ardmore City Hall – 1904
Below is a picture of the start of contruction crews replacing all the windows at the courthouse with bronze color windows.
Last Sunday at 5:00pm was the final day of the Estate Sale of the old Colvert homeplace on 12th NW. Several 1,000 people attended during those 4 days. What will become of the home now is still undecided by the Colvert family.
HAM Radio Talk via Echolink
My HAM activity has not been very active the past week. Only one NEW contact in Michigan. Of course I’ve talked to past contacts on almost a daily basis. I do check-in with my Boredom Breaker Net in Claremore Oklahoma most days. It runs from 12 Noon to 2pm everyday (central time). We nearly always have over 50 HAMs check-in during those 2 hours from all over the U.S. and even overseas. Lots of fun. Below is a link to their website in Claremore.
https://www.rcwa.org/
#268. 06/04/23 7:10pm W4FSW Dave in Michigan
https://www.qrz.com/db/W4FSW
Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG….
Q. Butch, do you know any history on this rock? It’s West on Timber Rd from Cheek Road about a mile. -Rhett Lathum
A. Yes, I have plenty of history on it from years ago:
From my Nov 2007 newsletter: “Butch, In the late 40’s and early 50’s my grandfather, H. B. Chastain, owned the property where the Poker Rock you mentioned a few weeks ago is located (SW of Lone Grove). I have attached a couple of pictures from back then. That is Grandmother Mattie Chastain on and beside the rock. Looks like the rock has eroded some since back then.” -Rick Lewellen in Plano, TX.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos7a/PokerRock1945a.jpg
Oct 11, 2007 newsletter – A year or so ago a Reader told me about a rock SW of Lone Grove called Poker Rock. This is one piece of Carter county history I had never heard of until 2 years ago. The story goes that back before Oklahoma was a state this rock was used by groups of men to congregate around and play poker, and drink moonshine. I’m sure there was lots of illegal activities going on around this rock, since it was way out in the boonies, a long way from law enforcement officials. Last week we were traveling west on Timber Road (2 miles south of Lone Grove and Highway 70) and there right in front of me was this huge rock. What a unusual piece of history, just sitting there in the yard. Jill mentioned how she wish she had Poker Rock, she could do some landscaping and turn it into a water falls. That hole in the side sure looks spooky, not telling what is down there.
Ardmore Beautification Council, Inc.
2023 Garden Tour
June 25th
1 to 4 pm
1190 Majestic Hills Road
309 Woods Lane
3811 3rd Ave NE
1315 Bixby SW
Donation Baskets will be available at each location!
We are looking forward to seeing you at the ABC 2023 Garden Tour!
Below is from my Vol 4, Issue 164 June 10, 2000 newsletter:
Leon, Indian Territory July 5, 1902: About 25 miles Southwest of Marietta, Oklahoma along the Red River is Leon, Oklahoma. Before Oklahoma became a state (1907) a former Ardmoreite, Dave Putty, had moved to Leon to operate a barber shop there in Leon. This particular afternoon there happened to be a picnic going on in town and Dave Putty, being intoxicated, decided to crash the party. Deputy Marshal W.E. McLemore out of Ardmore was attempting to arrest Putty, he resisted arrest, and was shot once in the head by Marshal McLemore. Dave Puddy died instantly.
“This tornado (in Ardmore) was on Feb. 13, 1946 and happened on the first night I was home after WW-2 and being discharged from the Army Air Corps. I slept through this storm although it missed my parents house by only two or three blocks. I was almost 25 years old at the time.”
Live every day as if it were your last, because one of these days, it will be.” -Jeremy Schwartz
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823