Torrance Monuments – Ardmore Oklahoma
While Vernon C. Torrance was a salesman with the Vermont Marble Company he had occasion to travel through Texas and Oklahoma extensively, and Ardmore was on his circuit. Vernon immediately loved Ardmore, and watched for some opportunity to open for him to live there. In 1919, a monument company, in business since 1909, was available for sale, and Vernon grabbed his opportunity. He immediately went back home and married Laurette Gates, and this couple made Ardmore their permanent home.
Vernon’s new business, Torrance Monuments, was located at the southeast corner of 4th and B streets SW. He bought the company from Sherwin Owens, whose home was on the northwest corner of 4th and C Street SW. Torrance Monuments furnished the headstones for many of the graves in Rose Hill and other cemeteries. The company had one of the larger displays in Southern Oklahoma, and had the distinction of being the only monument company in a large area to cut their granite from “scratch”, a raw source.
One of the company’s long time and talented employees was William James. He began working for Vernon in 1922, and remained there for 51 years. William had a son, Billy James, that also worked for the company about 20 years. At the time of Vernon’s death in 1959, Emmagene, a daughter, and Laurette, the wife, took over the management. In 1969, Laurette died and Emmagene took complete leadership. She had help in the business for her son-in-law Frank Ritter and her son John Dubiel. In 1973 Emmagene built an attractive new building to house the company in the same location. In 1976 the company was sold to Jack C. Brewster and thus ended a long reign of family workmanship. -from the 1983 Indian Territory and Carter County Pioneers Book
In 1951, scientists J. Paul Hogan and Robert L. Banks at Phillips Petroleum Company developed polypropylene and high-density polyethylene—two plastics that revolutionized everyday products. First introduced to the market as Marlex polyethylene in 1954, this material quickly found its way into food containers, toys, furniture, carpeting, and even basketball backboards.
But it was the Hula Hoop that put Marlex in the spotlight! When the toy became a nationwide sensation, demand for the plastic skyrocketed, using up Phillips Petroleum’s entire supply for nearly six months. Over time, Marlex became a go-to material for baby bottles, shatterproof containers, and countless household items.
A friend on my Facebook posted the picture below of the Doodle dog on the right chained up in the weather along with a pup. I re-posted the dog on my Facebook for help. Another young lady saw my Post and went and got the dogs (the other 2 pups had already froze to death). Another friend on my Facebook took the dogs in and will take care of them. Here is what she wrote:
“I have been asking God to send me a dog who really needs a home. He did. This big one is just starving for loving. She is so sweet.”
I’m just glad to get the word out and people came to help, getting the dogs re-homed to a warm, loving lady in Ardmore.
Wednesday Feb 12, 2025: Her hair was so badly matted most hair had to be trimmed back by the groomer. They think she is a poodle, not a doodle dog.
I found a high precision rain total App they claim is 60% better than NOAA. I downloaded the PRECIP.AI app to my cellphone. You can zoom right down to your house and see what the total rain amount is. This morning it showed I had Zero rain at my house. After the rain this afternoon I checked and below is what it showed. If I move the crosshairs to another spot, the amount changes depending on rainfall at that location. Pretty neat.
Mail from the Mailbag
Hey Butch, it’s a small world. Jimmie Lee Pass (her name in the 4th grade in 1953) went to Healdton school. She was in my class. Her family lived on the SE corner of Franklin and 6th Street in Healdton during that time. I lived on McGraw Street for about 15 years and walked to school on 6th Street to Sunset School. When the Greater SW Museum in Ardmore gave all those pictures away I went to look at some. They had a picture of Jimmie Lee in her wedding dress there. No one claimed it. She was a really sweet classmate. Thanks for the memories in your This & That. -C. West-Wise
Q. Do you have a photo of the train depot in TISHOMINGO? The historical society in Tish did not have one last time I checked a couple years ago. -Richard Craven
A. Yes I do.
Someon emailed me saying the 6 pictures of the Ardmore cotton press gin that burned in my January 30, 2025 issue were too small to see. So I fixed the problem and here they are again.
In my newsletter last Thursday I had links to Leroy McDanial’s photos he took in the 60s. The picture links did not work, so I am posting them again. Below are links to the photos Leroy McDaniel took when he was a teenage apprentice working for a local photographer. The pics are of South Washington Street about where Ernie’s Meat Market was located of the old cotton compress. It was all under one roof. It burned and they tore it down in the early 60s.
Photo GinFire1 – Photo GinFire2 – Photo GinFire3
Photo GinFire4 – Photo GinFire5 – Photo GinFire6
Q. The above grave marker is about a 12 high piece of white granite and about 7-8 inches wide. We have tried so many times to read this and haven’t come up with anything for sure. I think they spelled the name like it sounds. For instance, the word, died is spelled dide. Do you know of anyone I might send this picture to that has something that would make it clear enough to read??? -Cleta, McAlister Cemetery
A.
HAM Talk by KC5JVT via Echolink node # 101960
Below is last Sunday nights check-ins for the Arbuckle 97 Net at 8:00pm. Check-in to the Net is every Sunday night at 8pm. All licensed HAMs are welcome to check-in.
Below is from my newsletter archives dated
February 7, 2008 – Issue 576
Millie Scribner Adams ran across an interesting piece of Ardmore history the other day, and is now its new owner. The item is a beautifully framed newspaper page of The Daily Ardmoreite from January 27, 1918. Its page features the Ardmore Akron Tire and Rubber Company. The article promotes the company’s stock for sale and the big gains rubber has made the past few years. The Ardmore Akron Tire Plant was located about 3 miles north of Ardmore at the edge of town. The business’s downtown office was at 209-212 West Main in the Von Weise building. From what I found, the company ceased to be about 1925. The interesting thing about this is my uncle, Donald Bridges, in California owns a stock certificate from Ardmore Akron Tire Company. I wonder if this stock is of any value? Maybe I finally have a rich uncle. lol
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/ArdmoreAkronTireClipping1918.jpg
This is a view from the rock outcrop from around where Tuckers Tower stands today, before Lake Murray was built.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/LakeMurrayBeginning.jpg
I stopped by Casey Catfish Corral just off Grand Avenue in Ardmore the other day and got an old fashion burger. I hadn’t had a burger from there since last March, and sure enough, its still a great burger even if the price has went up 25 cents since March. Here’s a pic of the great burger……
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/CaseyBurger013008.jpg
“Butch there was an accident at a power plant on San Francisco Bay today and several workmen were injured. The plant is being dismantled. Also, it appears that a camel was killed by falling debris. Hard to believe. Which got me to thinking about a faded memory of a power plant in Ardmore on the east side of the railroad at about Third Aveune Southeast. The cooling water pond was on the east side of “C” street until at least the 1950’s. I believe the power equipment was in a red brick building with “Maybe” a coal yard near the building. Or, perhaps I have it all wrong. Does anyone know anything about an Ardmore power plant? Thanks” -Jerry Brown
“Hi Butch, Looking at your latest last nite I am reminded something. Does anyone remember the Broom Factory in Springer? That Springer was once called the “Broomcorn Capital of the World?” -Bob McCrory
“Hi, Butch – Hope you are getting settled in Lone Grove. Have been reading your former newsletters about the old ferry system across the Red River. Does anyone know of a Colvin’s Ferry? Was there a custom of people going from Texas to one of these ferry crossings to get married ? Our research takes us many places, so am trying to locate this place. Thanks for the wonderful information about our great 100 year old state !”
“Bromide, Oklahoma- These granite quarry cuts are 7 ft. in height so you can add up the cuts to get your total depth. That is the sun peering through the little spot at the top of the pic. This is a corner of the “room” that was formed by the cuts taken there back in the “old” days. It is a beautiful place to walk around in Spring or Fall, but you don’t want to go when the snakes and ticks are out!”
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/BromideOKquarry.jpg
The Wilson News submitted by Mindy Taylor
9-30-1915
WILSONIAN IN ARDMORE EXPLOSION
Joe Moore, local manager for the Chickasaw Lumber Co., was injured in the Ardmore explosion Monday. He was standing by one of the big plate glass windows which shattered and the falling glass cut him just above the (foot). Dr. says that Joe will have to stay off his foot for a few days and he will be okay. Of course Joe doesn’t mind a little cut so long as he can set around the hotel. “We wonder why”.
All the Wilson doctors were called to Ardmore to help care for the injured.
L. F. Son who was called to Ardmore to help embalm the unfortunates that were caught in the explosion returned last Wednesday.
The trains are loaded by sightseers going to and from Ardmore to see what the explosion did, and they all say that they never saw anything like it.
9-30-1915
Captured Booze and Gamblers
Deputy Sheriffs, W. A. Ward, Bill Brooks and Bud Ballew made a raid on the red lights of the oil fields last night . 100 quart of good squirrel oil was captured and a good bunch of the velvet boys, better known as gamblers was brought in.
10-14-1915
Main Street Lighted Up
Say, did you ever see the great white way in the larger cities, well, we have a white way here that has them all beat.
The Yale theatre has put up two large electric lights on Main Street which lights up a whole block and helps the appearance of the city a great deal.
12-16-1915
The Moonlight school meets every Tuesday and Thursday nights. All those men and women who desire to learn to read and write are especially invited to attend free of cost, also any who would like to take a review in English or Arithmetic.
Wilson Museum Hours:
Thurs., Fri., Sat., 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
https://www.wilsonhistoricalmuseum.org/
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. -Mark Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson’s Calendar
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore Oklahoma
580-490-6823
https://oklahomahistory.net