I hope everyone had a good Christmas no matter how small or large. We just stayed home, it was quiet and peaceful, just the way I like it. This week’s newsletter will be short, I know many of you are still in the Christmas mode with kinfolk and friends and travels.
We received just a tad under 2 nches of rain the past few days. We will take it, it’s badly needed. But according to the weather predictions, no rain is forecast for the next 7 days. According to the drought monitor Oklahoma is abnormally dry.
From the Mailbag
The Daily Ardmoreite 5/04/1971
submitted by Malinda Taylor
City Telegraph Office Closing
Wednesday at 5 p.m. Ardmore’s Western Union telegraph office will close for the last time, ending a service almost as old as Ardmore itself.
This announcement came from Mrs. Lena B. Robertson, manager here for the past 20 years who is retiring after 46 years with Western Union.
Mrs. Robertson said she does not have the date WU came to Ardmore in pioneer days, but is sure it was more than 75 years ago which means the 1890s.
Local people can send a telegram by calling 1-800-522-3481, a toll-free call to Western Union in Oklahoma City.
Western Union money orders will be handled by the Chief Motel on South Commerce in Ardmore.
Before the days of modern electronic communications and media, the Western Union office in Ardmore and other towns was a busy center of communication, and particularly for press releases. Many times, such as the disastrous explosion in 1915, the shooting of Jake Hamon and the ousting of Buck Garrett in the early 1920s and other news events, newsmen from all over the state and nation converged on Ardmore and sent out reams of copy by telegraph.
Museum Memories
Compiled by Melinda Taylor
The Wilson News
June 22, 1917
Engineers Corps Wants Volunteers – Like Over Fifty Being Up to War Strength
The Ardmore Engineering Corps is still short more than fifty men. The number that has passed the physical examinations is 114. The number required to put the company up to war strength is 164.
So far New Wilson has contributed only ten members to the corps, but there are said to be many young men who contemplate joining before the boys are mustered into the service, which date is August 5. The men will report for duty at Fort Sill and will undergo another examination similar to the one taken at Ardmore. The New Wilson boys answer roll call here and at Ardmore on alternate Monday nights.
To avoid being conscripted young men would do well to enlist in the engineering corps.
Those who passed the examination and are now waiting to be called are:
Adali S. Baker, Grover Dillard, Willie A. Galloway, Howard M. Harris, Arthur E. Hopkins, Creek Lawrence, Reed K. McKim, Roy Lawrence, John C. Payne, and William B. Thatcher. Clyde R. Williams failed to pass the examination on the account of defective hearing, he being totally deaf in one ear. He took three examinations but failed each time.
Mr. Thatcher is looking after the New Wilson contingent and can be found any time at the National Supply Company.
Visit us at the Wilson, Oklahoma museum Fridays and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. or online at http://www.wilsonhistoricalmuseum.org.
Seeing the Luke’s ad in last week’s blog reminded me of the little statue of Nipper, the Victor mascot that sat in the front window of Luke’s Music Store. Nipper was a real dog that lived in England. The artist, Francis Barraud, painted the dog listening to “His Master’s Voice” in 1899. The painting and copyright were purchased by the Gramophone Company located in London. E. R. Johnson acquired the U.S. rights to the painting in 1901 for use by the Victor Talking Machine Company. And the rest is history. The dog Nipper is buried in Kingston-Upon-Thames in England. Merry Christmas to Jill and you. -Monroe Cameron
For a history of Nipper the RCA dog CLICK HERE
Christmas in the 1950s in America. submitted by Cecil Elliott
HAM Talk by KC5JVT via Echolink
Last Sunday there were 9 HAM check-ins with a couple of them for the first timer check-ins. If any of you are HAMs or friends of HAMs we’d like to see you check in this coming Sunday at 8pm. Our group is growing, howbeit slowly. Looking forward to hearing from more HAMs in this area who are able to hit the Repeater 17 miles north of Ardmore.
With 2023 quickly coming to an end, it is this time I think about all the good times we’ve had on here the past 12 months. So many friends and connections through this newsletter helped make it a good year. I’m also sadden when I think about those who did not get to finish 2023 with us. Some of them I have never meet but I feel like long time friends as some has been with me for decades. I will always remember those friends and the memories they shared on here through the years.
Now we have to look forward to the new year and all it brings, whatever that my be. I know I’m ready to get 2023 behind me and move on.
We say goodbye to the old year, remember people we may have lost, think with fondness of happy times, learn the lessons the year has given us.
See everyone next Thursday in 2024!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore, OK
580-490-6823