I was over at a friend’s house north of Lone Grove last week and got to see a remarkable piece of Pearl Harbor history. My friend’s uncle, John J. Burton (d. 2005) was there on December 7, 1941. When the bombing was over he went and looked at the destroyer USS Cassin which was in drydock and destroyed. When he arrived, there in the water was the US flag from the ship. He saved the flag and now is on display in my friend’s home.
Immediately after the attack and in fear a second attack would take place, new money was printed that would only be good in Hawaii, if that did happen. These bills are on display in my friend’s home in Lone Grove along with the flag and much more items from that day saved by his uncle.
Below is Sam and Byron Apple‘s home at 208 1st Street SW in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Some mail from this week’s MAILBAG….
Hey Butch, Vince from western Carter County here. The T&T with the early 50s Cardinals baseball players brought back memories. My dad took me to many of the games. The Sherman/Denison Twins was among teams mostly from Oklahoma towns like Shawnee, a Chickasha etc. Some Ardmore teams were made up of Cubans. The tie to St Louis had a few players ending up at the Majors. J C Dunn was a player coach for a while. My dad would get frustrated when J C would hit a solid single then getting thrown out at 2nd base trying to make it a double. Additional memory: A trip into Ardmore back in the late 40s early 50s meant a trip into the original Hamburger Inn across from present days. Ole Chock would be turning out those onion burgers at an amazing rate with anxious customers waiting. Dad always got the educated burger. Guess that’s why he was so much smarter than me. -Vince Freeman, Healdton
T&M Pharmacy is going out of business at 6:00 PM November 12th, 2025 after 67 years of providing quality prescription services to our communities. All patient records and prescriptions will be at Henry Roberts Express Pharmacy, 1316 12th Avenue NW, Ardmore, OK
HAM Talk By Butch Bridges KC5JVT
Allstar node # 58735 – Echolink # 101960 – HamsOverIP # 103010
Hope some local HAMs will check-in this coming Sunday night at 8:00pm on the 97 Net!
The Tech Corner
Since Microsoft will stop updating/supporting my Windows 10 October 14th I have downloaded and installed the Linux operating system Ubuntu on my PC. I’ve tried Linux systems several times over the past 20 years but always went back to Windows. After research I’ve concluded Ubuntu is one of the best and easiest to use and almost like Windows. I used Balena Etcher to create a bootable thumbdrive with Ubuntu for installation. The good thing is at the beginning of the installation Ubuntu asked if I want a complete install over Windows or install Ubuntu along side my Windows 10. I chose along side so when I turn on my PC I can choose either operating system to load and run. Ubuntu has 1,000s of Apps to choose from that run exactly like their counter parts on Windows. So far I really like it. Check it out at the link below. And is all FREE!
Here is what a HAM friend told me about Ubuntu:
“You can’t beat Ubuntu, none of that Microsoft garbage, you’re right, tons of apps, especially for amateur radio, I still run Windows on my one laptop for programming my HAM radios, I wish Lunux had programming software for radios, I’d scrap windows in a heartbeat, except for my older laptop, that baby is an old 486 and runs DOS 6.22 and Windows 95, the only thing I use that for is my Motorola programming software, most of it is DOS but some is Windows 95 based. Getting ready to close the lake up for the year, its getting too cold out there at night, hit the low 30s at few times already, I’ll be back to playing HAM radio soon, I have a few new projects to work on, have a great day.” -Mike in Pennsylvania
Below is from my newsletter archives
3/15/1997 – Devil’s Den, north of Tishomingo, has been closed down since 1980. 1 remember going there as a child to picnic and swim. Leroy McDaniel let me borrow several pics he took in 1950 of Devil’s Den.
3/22/1997 – There is a new resident on top of the courthouse dome. He is Herman, a plastic owl. An experiment has been underway to see if Herman will help keep some of those blasted pigeons scared away. So far, he has done a fairly good job. Plus other measures are in the mill to keep those pesky pigeons at bay. LATE NOTE: Herman was not a very good scarecrow. He retired after about 30 days.
3/22/1997 – In 1975 a friend gave me a “coaster” that was produced by Memorial Hospital of Southern Oklahoma as a tribute to the 6 employees who were still employed by Memorial Hospital twenty years after their first opening the doors in 1955. All were personal friends of mine, some have since passed away. The ”coaster” is truly a masterpiece.
3/22/1997 – The Carter County Court Clerks Novell network is running smoothly, and all her Deputies are busy, daily entering the court’s records. All of 1997’s records are entered into the database. I have been busy the past week hooking up the DA’s Office to the network. So far, I have about half of his employees online. I have installed a 16 Port Hub in the DA’s Office and an 8 Port Hub off that in the Annex Building located next door to the courthouse. The 8 port Hub will eventually tie computers in that building to the network. Steps are being taken, so hopefully soon, the Sheriffs Office computers will be able to access the county courthouse’s Novell network. But it is all taking time, and I’m learning Novell as I go.
3/29/1997 – Carter county maintenance employees painted the little wooden house in the dome of the courthouse brown last week. The wooden house was built around the clock in 1928 to keep the elements, dirt, and pigeon poop off the delicate clock works. Also a fresh layer of aluminum paint was put on the spiral stairways leading up to the clock and dome.
3/29/1997 – Judge Walker’s courtroom was painted last week by maintenance a very appealing pastel blue. Also some other court rooms received some paint. Sure spruced up the third floor.
3/29/1997 – I have placed nearly all the DA’s 15 computers on the Novel network. The employees are really happy. Saves them calling the court clerk humpteen times a day checking on cases. Plus I setup each workstation with access to the county’s 1,900 outstanding warrants. Yesterday I gave the DA employees access to the 400,000 felon records the DOC maintains. They already had the database, but just on this one standalone computer. Sure makes it easier for all the girls to look up the felony records right from their workstation.
4/15/1997 – Carter County Commissioners approved last Monday to hire Karr Tuckpointing company in Vinson, Iowa to clean the outside of the courthouse. They will start immediately and repair some cracks in the granite, sandblast where needed, and power wash from top to bottom. With one of the most beautiful courthouses in Oklahoma, I for one, want to preserve it for future generations to see. It’s been over 20 years since it was last given a face lift.
4/15/1997 – In a few days Security TeleCom of Grand Prairie, Texas will install three computers at the sheriffs office. The company’s comprehensive Jail Management Program and Photo Imaging System is used by 120 agencies in 22 states. Once these three computers are in place, then in July, seven more will be added to the system. It is all run on a Novell network, making it compatible with the courthouse network. VIA a cable, soon the two networks should be tied together.
“A squeaky wheel gets the grease” is an idiom that means the person or situation that complains the loudest or makes the most fuss is the one most likely to receive attention or to get what they want.
Butch and Jill Bridges
Ardmore Oklahoma
580-490-6823
https://oklahomahistory.net