The Daily Admoreite
May 30, 1943
Hardy Sanitarium and Ardmore Have Grown In Stature Together
Institution was started in 1898, founder widely known
The history of the Hardy Sanitarium has woven into much of the history of Ardmore.
Hospital life first spring into life in 1898 when Dr Walter Hardy and the late doctors Frederick von Keller and Robert Henry equipped the second floor of the Ramsey drug store with 10 beds, and x-ray machine and a small laboratory at East main and Caddo. It was called the Ardmore Sanitarium and it functioned until 1911.
New Building Started
In May 1911 construction work on the present Hardy Sanitarium (1st & B SW) began and it progressed in spite of drought and hard times in the shadow of Carter county’s new courthouse which had recently been been completed. Workman picked up their tools and lay them down in accordance with the chimes of the clock in the courthouse tower.
Older residents of Ardmore remember 1911, it had the questionable merit of providing what has been described as the hottest and driest summer on record, a period when there was little money and a lot of alberta peaches.
In the beginning the new hospital comprised only of one thing, an abbreviated wing, at that, which was formerly opened in October 1911. Then came the Healdton oil fields and a new era of boom, prosperity and up went more hospital. A new x-ray was added, a clinical laboratory appeared and 10 additional rooms and two wards made their appearance.
January 7, 1920. Primrose Farms established. Mort Woods, Proprietor.
The dairy farm was located north of Dornick Hills
I remember Davis Radio and TV coming out to my grandparents home on 3rd NE and installing an TV antenna. Mr. Davis’ #1 hand was a man named Claude. He made all the house calls, and even took over the Davis TV repair shop when Mr. Davis retired, I believe.
Hole In The Wall beer joint north of Marietta on Highway 77
Q. Who owned the Hole In The Wall beer joint north of Marietta?
A. David A. Shellenberger (1923-2000) owned it first, he held the chili cookoffs. Dale Lyons owned it next.
Below is a link to David Shellenberger’s obituary and more history on this Love county businessman..
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15998707/david-albert-shellenberger
The Daily Ardmoreite
May 30, 1943
Wiley Post Formerly Lived In Ardmore
Wiley Post (1898-1935), probably best known figure in aviation in this country, who pioneered transoceanic and global girdling flights and met his death with the reknown Will Rogers, Oklahoma humorist, in the wilds of Alaska in a plane crash. Post learned to fly at the old Oakley-Askew airport. The Oakley-Askew flying field was one of the first commercial aviation enterprises in Oklahoma and many aces of the air, commercial and military, learned their art there.
Note: In 1924 the Oakley-Askew airport hanger was located in the southeast corner of Locust Street and Chickasaw Blvd Northwest.
Dr. Walter Hardy and World War pilot officer Arthur Oakley and Dorsey Askew did a very unusual thing back in 1916 establishing an air ambulance service. This was credited with saving of many lives, it gave the doctor more time to practice medicine and less trying, frustrating hours on the surface roads wondering if they could make it in time.
On August 15, 1935, in a plane crash near Point Barrow Alaska, famed aviator Wiley Post perished alongside his close friend, the renowned humorist and popular culture icon Will Rogers.
Post wore a distinctive patch over his left eye after he lost it in an oil rig accident. Two years later, Post made a solo fight around the world, becoming the first man to circumnavigate the earth twice in an aircraft. Post completed his first solo world flight in seven days, 18 hours and 49.5 minutes.
Chickasha, Oklahoma 1909
Downtown Cleveland, Oklahoma 1907
Just like in Ardmore during that time period, I see a water well on Main Street.
75 miles east of Ardmore in Bryan county is Bennnigton, Oklahoma. This is an old photo of the Bennington Main street.
Street scene at Wakita, Oklahoma back in the day.
The Mailbag
Do you know if the Jensen railroad tunnel is still in use? -Keith Read
Yes, it’s still in use. I’ve always wanted to go over there but it’s not easy to get to. You have to cross private property or walk down the tracks a long way (which is private property also). -Dwane Stevens
Click/Tap here for more Jensen tunnel information and pictures.
Thank you for telling the history of the Hudson-Houston Lumber Yard in Wilson in last week’s newsletter. My dad, Charles Merrill, was manager there in 1937 and I was born on the second floor where there was a large living area. So I can truthfully say that I was born on top of a lumber yard! -R. Helms
HAM Radio Talk KC5JVT via EchoLink
I saw a photo taken back in the late 1960s of ex-Ardmoreite HAM radio operator George Pretty II. He lived in Ardmore in his younger days, but now a resident of South Carolina. The plaque was presented to George as Student of the Month by the Ardmore Kiwanis Club. On the right is George’s mother. George’s HAM call sign is W5SCX.
Below is from my Vol 4 Issue 172 August 6, 2000 newsletter:
This week there’s been a lot of excitement at the county Assessor’s office at the courthouse when a company in Ft Collins, Colorado came down and installed their new assessor’s program. It will replace one they been using since 1988.
In October 1971 about 7 people filed for the Carter County Commissioners post for District 2. There was Carl Pevehouse, a Ratliff City rancher. (The post came up for election when incumbent Joyce Taliaferro died in office in August of 1971.) Others seeking the post were Leon W. Loftis, an Ardmore rancher; Jim Dollar, a Healdton construction worker; and Rex Puckett, an oil field worker. Also running was Donald Duke, who created a special interest in the election since he had the same name as State Representative Don Duke. But also a candidate for the county commissioners office was Healdton, Oklahoma resident Martha Treadwell. Mrs. Treadwell would put her name in history as the first ever female to run for the Carter County commissioners office. In the end, E.C. “Chub” Davis would edge out all those seeking the office, including Mrs. Treadwell.
“Before the Postal Service came out with their list of two-letter codes that were designed for the convenience of machines rather than people, the standard abbreviation for Ohio was “O.” Oregon was “Ore.” or “Oreg.” (And Oklahoma was “Okla.”)
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” -Abraham Lincoln
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823