County Races On – 93 Hopefuls Seek 32 Elective Positions
The Daily Ardmoreite
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Sunday May 4, 1958
Carter County political races are on, and a record number of 93 candidates has filed hoping to win one of the 32 offices in the forthcoming elections. The previous record was four years ago when 69 filed.
Actually the number of candidates the people will decide upon is 81 because 12 of the 93 are unopposed. Heading the list of unopposed candidates is County Judge Christine Legate*. According to court house observers, the hottest race will be between 12 candidates seeking the office of sheriff. Sheriff Enoch Watterson did not file for re-election.
County Commissioners Paul Heartsill, Lonnie Rooney and Mont Kern, seeking re-election, all have opponents. Heartsill, commissioner of District 1, has nine opponents, Kern, of District 2 has six and Rooney, one.
Here is a list of candidates:
County Judge, Christine Legate*. County Superintendent of Schools, Omer Rowe. County Surveyor, R.C. Bates. County Weigher, Raymond C. Boutwell. J-P of Healdton, Emmett G. Chase. Constable, Healdton, W.M. Ratliff. J-P, Wilson, O.B. Orr. Constable, Wilson, Elbert C. Adams. J-P Lone Grove, Arthur C. Reneau. Constable, Akers Township, Edward J. Merritt. J-P Hewitt Township, Charles P. Jones. Constable, Berwyn Township, Milton E. Dillon.
Sheriff: 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, Lee Carlton.
County Commissioner, District 1: Paul Heartsill, Huss Standifer, Roscoe Smith, Iley E. Oxford, A. E. Holt, Herman Day, Joe E. Buchanan, Vanoy Green, Odis A. Deatherage, W.M. West.
County Commissioner, District 2: L.R. Cullom, W.L. Kern, Bill Muse, Theron Godwin, Jess Phipps, Robert Nickson Bass, Finis Smalley.
County Commissioner, District 3: Lonnie Rooney, Thomas M. Fraser,
Court Clerk: Ancel Graham, Joe Maddox
County Clerk: Jerry McCharren McMahan, R.J. Meek.
County Attorney: James D. Payne, Claud H. Smith, E.C. Nelson.
County Treasurer: C. Roy Bigbie, O.A. Sparks.
County Assessor: Ulis S. Barnett, W. H. France
J-P Ardmore, 1: G. W. Puny Sparger, Arthur O. Stewart, Sterling Paskell.
J-P, Ardmore, 2: Fred Johnson, Calvin B. Keith, H.C. Davenport Jr.
Constable, Ardmore 1: Elmer Wintin, Gene Willingham, Ira Wells.
Constable, Ardmore 2: Hale Dunn, Buddie McClaine, Leroy Hattensty, L.A. Snider.
Constable, Hewitt Township: Royce Arnold, Frank Lowery, Dewey Keith, John R. Fanning, John Chatham.
J-P, Graham Township: Monroe H. Short, C.H. Denney, Roy Moss.
Constable, Graham Township: Charlie Brown, Sidney C. Ross, Lee Byram, Howell Fore.
Constable, Morgan Township: Luther Berry, Earl H. Minter, Willie Fisher, Maiklan Cain, Him Orsaole.
Constable, Lone Grove Township: Claude Baker, Clinton C. Bennett, Valton Jones, Lawrence Blalock, Ernest E. Smith.
J-P, Wilson Township: James A Preston, G.H. McKee.
Constable, Wilson Township: J.V. Wells, C.L. Holt.
*January 1957
Christine Legate, Carter County’s first woman judge, was sworn into office on January 14th by District Judge John Caldwell. She thinks she is the seventh female County Judge in the state. Sulphur and Ada have female County judges.
The Daily Ardmoreite May 20, 1956
Christine Legate is Candidate for County Judge
Christine Legate is a candidate for the office of judge of the county court of Carter county.
The business of the county court is the personal concern of every citizen in Carter county because this court has jurisdiction over most matters which touch and concern the everyday living of the people.
In this court, that Willis or probate and estates administered. Sanity hearings are held, the approval or denial of licenses to sell beer, drunk driving cases, these and other civil and criminal matters are within the jurisdiction of the county court.
Most important to us as citizens of Carter county, as parents within this county, is the jurisdiction of the county court over our youngsters. Adoption cases, dependent and neglected children, guardianship cases and the ever-increasing problem of the juvenile delinquent, all these are matters which are resolved in the county court.
Christine Legate was born and raised in Oklahoma and has been a resident of Carter county for the past 17 years. She received her education in the schools of Oklahoma and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, holding a degree in speech and in law. Legate is a member of the Oklahoma State Bar Association and is a practicing attorney in Ardmore.
Mrs Legate has the educational background and training which qualifies her to serve as county judge of Carter county.
She is a mother of an 18-year-old son, Clark Legate Jr.; who is a freshman at the University of Oklahoma.
For many years Mrs legate has worked with the young people of Carter county as teacher and advisor and she is well qualified to understand and determine the many problems of our young citizens.
Your interest is in better government in Carter county vote for Christine Legate who is qualified and capable to serve as our county judge. You’re consideration and support will be appreciated.
BODY OF AERONAUT KILLED AT PAULS VALLEY BURIED AT SHERMAN
The Daily Ardmoreite
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Tuesday, September 19, 1917
Mr and Mrs R.C. Adams of Legate, uncle and aunt of Miss Beulah Crabtree, who was killed at Pauls Valley last week, when she fell from a parachute, passed through Ardmore yesterday en route to Sherman, Texas where the body was taken for burial. Miss Crabtree is said to have lost her hold on the parachute and fallen 200 feet after she had made a balloon ascension at a carnival being held at Pauls Valley. She was considered one of the best aeronauts in this country. She was related to John T. Spears and V.C. Adams of Ardmore.
Photo below is the Ardmore Fire Department’ steam engine around 1900.
Below is a street scene of Ardmore around 1900 during horse and wagon days. I see one of the 3 water wells in the lower right hand corner.
Another pre-1900 view of Main Street Ardmore
Carter County Courthouse about 1910 or 1911 with the flag on top. Beautiful.
Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG….
The original owner of the Sonic here in Ardmore in the 1960’s was Ned Albert. He was the nicest man. He put up with us kid’s double parking Friday and Saturday nights. After we graduated my parents would go there every now and then and when mom was in the hospital Ned would always give daddy a burger to take to her. He had two young sons and he was Jewish. If I remember correctly he lived on Cherry Street Northwest.
My neighbors and friends were his first roller skating carhops. Karen and Larry Beckham and wow they could skate.
After I moved back here in the late 1970’s I’d go by the Sonic drive in window to get a coke and if Ned was there he would always give me a bag of potato chips for my little girl.
So many fun times there and precious memories. -Robbie Horn
Below is from my Vol 4, Issue 168 July 8, 2000 newsletter:
I had something to share with everyone from about 1910, but can’t find the article. I have looked everywhere. It was about a move underway at the courthouse in 1910 to put a fountain in front. I guess it never happened.
“Though I’m not a native I recall an ice house just across the railroad tracks on C SE. No one has mentioned it yet but during the 1940’s, early, it was there on the left just over the tracks. Another “trivia” need- am sure someone remembers Priddys Parmesan salad dressing- used to serve it at the restaurant on main street, and you could buy it most anywhere. Know they eventually were bought out, but does anyone know if it might still be available somewhere or by chance even have the recipe. We visited Ardmore almost annually and always “smuggled” some jars of it back to Ohio. They can contact me at mailto:BobF327631@aol.com or maybe others will answer directly to you. Thanks much!”
“I wanted to let you know that I was the purchasing agent for American Flyers Airline when 183-H crashed, and was charged with the responsibility of seeing what remained of it. We were able to salvage one “hot section” from one of the engines, and I sold the rest of the $3,000,000 airplane to OK Iron & Metal in Ardmore for $125.00″
“I noticed a bell on McClain Road west of the intersection with Harvey Road. It is on the south side of McClain before you get to the bridge.”
https://oklahomahistory.net/bellphotos/bpbellb.jpg
“They told me they had been searching for Pleasant Mound cemetary for several weeks. After sharing what I had accumulated over the last few years. They agree with me that Pleasant Mound became Legate. Legate got a P.O. in 1905 and their records for Pleasant Mound ended in 1904. I am still trying to find a territorial map that may show Pleasant Mound.”
“Could give any information about a place called Paradise court or cove outside of ardmore I believe it was on highway 70 in the early 1900.”
“In 1997, my parents returned to Springer, OK after nearly 40 years away. Dad’s always been interested in local history, so I forwarded the text of the Ardmoreite’s article about the great 1910 fire. Dad has an old photo of Springer that we think was taken prior to the fire. It’s not original, but does show that commercial district in it’s heyday. He wondered if you’d like a scanned version for the web site.”
The Daily Ardmoreite
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Sunday, September 18, 1910
TOWN OF SPRINGER IS FIRE STRICKEN
RESIDENTS RESORTED TO DYNAMITE
TO CLEAR PATH OF FOOD FOR FLAMES
The little city of Springer was visited by a fire Friday night that cost that town ten thousand dollars. Between the hours of seven and eight in the evening fire from some unknown cause broke out in the postoffice building. The building was quickly consumed and the government lost some property. It is said that more then $90 licked up by the flames, money that had been received for the sale of stamps. D.P. McDowel, the postmaster, had in the office a cold drink stand. All the fixtures were destroyed. The building was the property of Robert F. Scivally and he was protected with no insurance. The fire quickly spread to the blacksmith shop of Kuntz Bros., and it too was totally destroyed with no insurance. The general merchandise store of D.M Sellers & Company was destroyed, together with their stock of goods. Over the Sellers Company store was the hall occupied by the Masons, Odd Fellows and Woodmen. All their paraphernalia was destroyed. The building belonged to W.O.W. Company and Robt. F. Scivally owned the majority of the shares. He was also a member of the Sellers mercantile firm. Mr. Scivally had built a fifty foot addition to the building upon which there was no insurance. Sellers & Co., carried a $6,000 stock and $4,000 insurance. The Woodmen had $800 insurance.
The flames threatned to sweep clean the south side of Main street. The fire, fanned by the wind, was making great headway and the fire fighters resorted to dynamiting the Eskew store. The store was razed to the ground, the debris was removed, and the path of the fire was stopped. Mr. Eskew owned a stock of drugs and he carried no insurance. By destroying his store the fire was stopped and the balance of the town was saved.
The total loss to the town will amount to more then ten thousand dollars and there was less then one-half that amount of insurance carried.
Robert F. Scivally was driving into Ardmore last night. When he reached Hargrove Heights he saw the blaze and believing it to be Springer that was burning, turned and drove back home.
“Did you know that just north of Ames, Oklahoma, in Major county there is….. A local oil field that is one of only three in the western hemishere drilled on an ancient meteor crater; that is around 450-million to 600-million-year old crater… AND… It is eight miles in diameter and supports 65 wells.”
https://okmag.com/blog/the-ames-crater/
For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others. -Eleanor Roosevelt
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823