This Thursday morning has been rainy, as in torrential downpour rainy, from about 10:00am to 1:00pm. Everything is flooded in this area. No telling what kinds of damage. But it looks like the rain has stopped, for now.
The Rock Bluff Ferry of Love County, Oklahoma: a Tale of Three Ferries!
by the Red River Historian by Robin Cole-Jett
Often, photographs lead me down many rabbit trails, and these are, of course, my favorite kind.
The Ardmore Public Library features a wonderful photograph of what has been labeled “Rock Creek Ferry, southwest of Marietta by J. Tal Nutting” (Love County, Oklahoma) in its collection. I don’t think this is Rock Creek, however. The undated photo seems to have been taken on the sandy side of Indian Territory /Oklahoma. Across, on the Texas side (Cooke County) is a scenic rock outcrop; this is where the ferry’s cable was attached to (Photo #1).
While Rock Creek is located in Love County west and south of Marietta, it doesn’t look like this creek ever had a need for the elaborate ferry crossing mechanisms that the library’s photograph depicts. It also was never this wide; the creek is narrowed by rock outcroppings on both sides. In 1947, a Warren deck truss was built over Rock Creek (bridgehunter.com). And, while Rock Creek enters the Red River at Sivell’s Bend in Cooke County, this was at the site of Freeman’s Ferry, at least according to the 1901 USGS map (Photo # 2).
I believe the photo actually depicts the Rock Bluff Ferry (Photo # 3). This Love County – Cooke County ferry should not be confused with the Rock Bluff Ferry that was at one point the Texas Trail’s cattle crossing between Grayson County, Texas and Bryan County, Oklahoma (Photo # 4 – this site is now under Lake Texoma). A satellite map shows a landscape between Love County and Cooke County that is very similar to the one depicted in the photograph (Photo #5).
A bit of research leads to uncovering a lot more ferries than was initially intended!
For more detailed info on the Rock Creek Ferry go to the Red River Historian website. (CLICK/TAP HERE)
This is a close-up of the new recently finished Carter County Courthouse copper dome.
We’ve added a few more Oklahomans with unclaimed insurance at the State Treasurers Office in OKC.
https://oklahomahistory.net/unclaimed-property-in-oklahoma/
Mail From The Mailbag
I found my original bag of marbles from the Kress store in Ardmore Oklahoma.
-Steve Miller (like the band)
My memory is fading too. This is the best I can do for now. The newer guys I just can’t pull their names up. When I went to work for Ardmore PD in 1970, the only guys still alive and working there then is Robert Musgrove and Ed Burton. Have a good evening! -David Willingham
HAM Talk By Butch Bridges KC5JVT – Allstar node # 58735
There was probably a record number of Check-Ins by local area HAMs last Sunday night at 8:00am. The word is getting out that HAMs are welcome to check in each Sunday night. Any licensed HAM is welcome.
Below is from my newsletter archives dated
June 12, 2008 – Issue 594
This week the mayor of Overbrook, Oklahoma stopped by to see me, at least that is the title I always call Albert Cullum. Al had a little story to share about his childhood and his parents’ jennies. A jenny is a young female donkey. A trained jenny was controlled with only 3 words. They would turn right, if the farmer said “Gee!” They would turn left, if the farmer said “Haw!” The command “Whoa!” was probably the most welcome. Anyway, here is Al’s story in his own words:
“Hi Butch, I thought I would let you know that my grandfather and grandmother, G.T. and Annie Ford (Preacher Ford), lived about 3 miles south of Milo, Oklahoma. About once a month they would hook up their pair of jennies to their hack and come to Springer airport (all day trip). The next day mother would take them to Ardmore to sell their eggs and whatever. Also he made brooms and would trade them on their grocery bill. He raised his own broom corn. They would spend the night and go home the next day across the swinging bridge at Caddo Creek, south of Milo. This all took place around 1939 to 1941” -Albert Cullum, Overbrook Oklahoma
1923 abandoned schools in the Consolidated District 71 (Berwyn). Henderson Flatts, Dunlap and Cullins schools.
J.B. White, architect, 1923.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/JBWhiteArchitect1923.jpg
A friend mentioned to me this week about going to a 9 hole golf course at Gene Autry when he was in high school, the 60s. It was located just north of the entrance to the Ardmore Air Park. Does anyone remember this small golf course?
I was at Rose Hill Cemetery the other day, snapped a picture of the entrance everyone remembers through the years. I’ve read the main entrance is going to be moved to the east side of the cemetery soon.
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/RosehillCemetery061008.jpg
“I just read you latest T&T and as usual enjoyed it very much. It especially brought back fond memories when you spoke of water witching. When we were having a home built back in 1959 about a half mile East of the Freewill Baptist Church of Stobtown, we needed to locate a site for a well to be drilled. My Grandmother Brewer who lived near Deese (just East of Stobtown a couple of miles) came and witched one for us. She cut a willow branch (like a Y) and used it and placed a rock over the spot she had chosen. She cautioned us to not let Joe Barrett drill anywhere but there! We called him and he drilled on the spot and found a great stream of water. I might add that even during the drought years, it never ran dry. We left there and sold our place in 1963 but I still miss that place and remember how much love and care she put into her ‘witchin’, as she called it. Thanks for a great newsletter and we do enjoy it. Give my best to Jill and tell her to watch out for those chiggers!” -Kathryn in Las Vegas, Nevada
“Hi Butch, It was most interesting reading about the Belleview Pool in Sulphur. I worked there in the ’60’s as a teenager selling popcorn, sodas and frozen candy bars. I fondly remember the contrary record player that boomed songs out over the big speakers in the pool area. The cold plunge pools on the outer edges were actually warming pools for the icy cold water from of the cold flowing wells. The pool was owned and operated by Tommy and Edith Molachek as long as I can remember. They had a home across the street south of the picnic area. The grounds were beautiful with lush grassy picnic areas and bridges over the various water pools. I remember walking the big wheel at the pool, but don’t remember a drowning associated with the wheel, which one of your contributors mentioned. Directly across the street was a large duck pond with a small deck where I feed the ducks as a child. My husband and I were dating while I worked at the Bellview, he and Mr. Molachek visited as he waited for me to finish my shift. I can remember him repairing the old record player so many times, as it malfunctioned and sent records sailing across the room instead of gently dropping them down. Mr Molachek often told my husband stories of his past. I remember him telling of working as a young man with his brother on the Hoover dam project, they stockpiled rebar which was in short supply due to the war and sold it to the contractors. Apparently doing very well on his rebar project, he saved his money for the Belleview. We can’t remember if he told us that he bought the Belleview or if he built it. He was quite a unique character, his wife was a nurse, they didn’t have children. Belleview was the site of many family reunions, church picnics and such. Evening activities were ongoing as the park area was open to the public at no charge, strings of lights kept the park light until closing. It was the perfect place for an evening party, and usually there was a cool breeze blowing across the ponds. It’s such a shame we were unable to preserve this unique bit of Sulphur history. I know the pool was still in operation in the early 70’s as our daughter took swimming lessons there. I do know that the pool closed for a period of time and reopened without much success. Mr Molachek came to us as a young married couple wanting us to purchase the pool, he wanted so badly to see it continue. It is so sad to look at the lot there where the once beautiful pool and park has been filled in and nothing remains but our fond memories.” -Larry and June O’Gwen
“Dear Mr. Bridges, Does anyone remember those auto air conditioners that fit into the windows and cooled by evaporation as the car moved? And how about those “water bags” hanging on the front grill that cooled the motor? Or the signs on the sidewalk on Main Street in Ardmore outside the movie theaters that read “20 degrees cooler inside”. Those who recall can appreciate what we have currently to make us more comfortable.” -Donald Bridges, CA
“Butch, reading your newsletter today. I had to let your friend know I have an older friend than his 87 year old lady. I’d really like to talk to that lady genealogy wise. My friend is 97, she has just bought herself a new computer. She told me she hoped to use it at least 3 years. I told her with her attitude she probably would. I’m sending you some pictures of my flowers. My husband has a really nice garden too. But I haven’t taken any pictures of it. I really look forward to your newsletter. I often send it to friends. And I think some have subscribed to it. Keep up the good work.” –Minnie Lou Whittington (1934-2014) in Grandfield, Oklahoma
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/HollyhockBlooms8a.jpg
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/HollyhockBlooms8b.jpg
“Wanted to mention that your newsletter in some respects reminds me of Mr. Norris’s popular, Roving Reporter, column in the Daily Ardmoreite. When we were in junior high and high school always read the paper to see who he might mention or had seen in town that day. Thanks.”
“Hi Butch and Jill. I know this is not an Ardmore paper. However, It will feature stories I write about growing up in Ardmore. A section of the paper is the Whitewright Rose. I am a contributing writer for that section. I am attaching a page (Acrobat Reader format) from last Thursday’s edition that introduces me. I thought your readers would like to know.” -Richard Henry 1932-2002
https://oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos8a/WhitewrightRose05JUN08.pdf
It was not until 1912 that the words to the Happy Birthday song as we know it today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Birthday_to_You
Memorial Day is next Monday May 26th, a day to honor and remember those who have died serving in the U.S. military.
See everyone next week!
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore Oklahoma
580-490-6823
https://oklahomahistory.net