Indian Territory in 1894, Berwyn school opened in a two-story frame building owned by the Masonic Lodge. It was a subscription school. Berwyn was incorporated as a town in 1900, but it was not until 1902 that the town fathers decided a new building was needed. On a hill overlooking the lush Washita River Valley a four-room frame building was constructed. Several years later in 1915 a red brick building containing six classrooms and an auditorium completed.
In 1921 Henderson Flats, Dunlap, and Cullens rural schools joined with Berwyn to form Consolidated School District No. 71. It then became the center school for Group One schools of Barrett, Baum, and Young. The Berwyn School played a vital role in the rural area under the leadership of E. A. Glider, superintendent; and A. G. Oursler, Vocational Agriculture teacher.
Berwyn, Oklahoma. Formerly Dresden. In Carter County. Post office name changed to Berwyn September 1, 1887. The name changed to Gene Autry January 1, 1942, Its name comes from Berwyn, Pennsylvania.
Fraser’s Wholesale Meat Company #6 E Street NE (behind Lasley’s Grocery).
Thomas “Mack” Fraser was Carter county commissioner from 1959-1978
Between Ardmore and Lake Murray the Chickasaw Nation is building a new casino and hotel. Its going to be beautiful. Should be ready by May 2024.
https://www.kxii.com/2023/10/17/chickasaw-nation-developing-lake-murray-resort/
When I worked for the ambulance service I’d see Dr. Vazquez at Adventist Hopital many many times. Dr Vazquez was the sweetest man and great physician. He had a way of quieting crying babies that the nurses couldn’t match. I remember the babies wouldn’t stop crying at the hospital, in would walk Dr. Vazquez, take the baby in his arms, and the baby would immediately stop crying. His wife was a pediatrician too, they made a great team. Together they delivered untold countless babies in Ardmore.
https://www.hdouglasfuneralhome.com/obituary/dr-hiram-vazquez
Americans by Choice by Dr. Josephina Vazquez
https://www.amazon.com/Americans-Choice-Josefina-Dedieu-Vazquez/dp/1503583848
The Mailbag
Tonight, Oct 19th the Starlink train will go over Ardmore.
To check schedules in your area…..
Hey, Butch. I’m the same age as you, and I used to ride my bike a mile to school every day, and all over the town. Our parents used to let us ride or run around the neighborhoods at night, playing starlight moonlight and stuff like that because I don’t remember there ever being much worry that it was not safe. If I remember right, I don’t think we ever started locking our house when we were gone until the 60s. Anybody else remember stuff like that?
Hey Butch, the pictures of Healdton are right on. I’ve been writing a weekly article on history of the Healdton area in the Healdton Herald. This week it was on Blackie Horton who donated the land for the athletic fields and swimming pool in the photo. -Vince Freeman, Healdton
Below is from my Vol 4 Issue 183
October 21, 2000 newsletter:
“I now now far more about Ardmore than Bowdoinham, Maine…and I’ve lived here for 15 years. Guess I needed something to occupy my mind while being out on strike these past 7 weeks, and looking at an 8th…but there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel…and our shipyard did not build the aegis cruiser USS COLE but that is what we build. Keep up the good work.
“Hi Butch, Your pic of the Ardmore Oil & MIlling Co may be the one I have info about. In 1893, when cotton was king and Ardmore was the inland center of the cotton industry with 13 firms representing 13 foreign countries, the Ardmore Cotton Oil Mill and the Choctaw Cotton Oil Mill were established. They took cotton seeds that formerly were discarded and made seed cake for livestock and oil for industrial purposes.”
“When i was a kid, i remember going to a drive in hamburger place about a block south of Colverts Dairy on the East side of Lake Murray Drive. Seems they had a big parrot in a cage right out front, do you or anyone remember that? What about The car wash on north washington, just north of the traffic light intersecting old Highway 70, to the right. I remember it as “Coopers Corner”. Years ago, i was told this was the first coin operated car wash in the state, Don’t know if it is true.”
“I’m hoping your readers can help me. My name is Robin. I was born in Ardmore and grew up in Healdton in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s. My family has been in the Healdton area for many generations. Now, I live far away and am always very homesick, but even when I can make it back to Healdton/Ardmore, the places I remember and long to visit are gone. I’d love to be able to show these places to my husband and children, too. I’ve decided to make a photo album of my “memory lane” . I’m looking for pictures of businesses (inside and out) and other landmarks in Healdton during this time period, and would also love similar photos of places like TG&Y, Woolworth’s, Anthony’s and JC Penney’s and other businesses in downtown Ardmore, especially Daube’s (anyone have a photo of the puppet window display at Christmas?). Any help your readers can give will be greatly appreciated! VaunG@aol.com
“I see you’re still doing a great job on T&T. Enjoying it more every time. Saw that someone wrote you about the airstrip at Enville. When I was young, used to spend part of summers with my aunt and uncle Buddy and Jeanine Bryant. They were dairy farmers who lived about 2 miles north of the enville store. A bunch of us kids made a baseball field at the airstrip, but once in a while, would have to clear off so a plane could land, taxi to Lemons store to get fuel and off again. This was in the early, to mid 50’s. Also, re: the movie Dillinger, Richard Dreyfuss was in it also as Baby Face Nelson. I was a member of the Ardmore Police Dept. back then, and while they were filming at the Chickasaw Lake Club, I was assigned as Ben Johnson’s personal bodyguard. He was a class act, and a good man.”
Jerry Landrum
“When i was a kid, i remember going to a drive in hamburger place about a block south of Colverts Dairy on the East side of Lake Murray Drive. Seems they had a big parrot in a cage right out front, do you or anyone remember that? What about The car wash on north washington, just north of the traffic light intersecting old Highway 70, to the right. I remember it as “Coopers Corner”. Years ago, i was told this was the first coin operated car wash in the state, Don’t know if it is true.”
“I went to Cross Point Camp on Lake Texhoma (Kingston, OK) today and guess what was sitting just outside the cafeteria door????? A BIG beautiful bell and I took a picture! I have e-mailed the camp to see if they can tell me who to ask about the history. It is a really pretty bell.”
My uncle, Doyle Bridges, (1922-2003) has been in town this weekend attending their 60th Ardmore High School Reunion. He said they had a BBQ dinner at the Noble Pavilion Friday evening and there were 63 in attendance. Saturday evening they are topping off the gala affair with a dinner at the Country Club at Dornick Hills. Doyle lives in Oklahoma City and this is the 11th reunion he’s attended in a row, since graduation in 1940. Since Doyle knows I love to eat, he said he’d invite me out to eat with them, but didn’t have the authority to do that. Hey, get hold of the Class President and tell him this is an emergency! haha. I’m sure high school and 1940 seems like only yesterday to my uncle. The years just fall away.
A song by Kenny Rogers has a message in it to everyone who has a special loved one, its the little things that makes life worth living….
“Buy me a rose, call me from work
open a door for me, what would it hurt.
Show me you love me by the look in your eyes
these are the little things I need the most in my life.”
-Kenny Rogers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZUWTV-JbC4
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823
