The Okie Legacy

HOW HOT IS IT?

"IT'S SO HOT IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA THAT... The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.  The potatoes cook underground and all you have to do to have lunch is to pull one out and add butter, salt, and pepper. Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs." unknown author.

This last week was a hot one and not just in Oklahoma.  They are saying that parts of Texas have gone without rain for over 60 days.  By mid-week the temperature did drop from 108 to 100 degrees... BUT NO rain!  The green grasses are now turning a crunchy, golden color under your feet.  They have most of the state  under a burn ban. Here it is the first day of September; children have gone back to school; wheat prices are at approximately $2.47; and farmers are waiting for a break and some much needed rain.

A friend, Jack, in SW Oklahoma sent me the above & following tidbits for this weeks newsletter, "It's so dry in Western Oklahoma that... The cows are giving evaporated milk. The trees are whistling for the dogs. A sad western Oklahoman once prayed, 'I wish it would rain--not so much for me, cuz I've seen it... but for my 7-year old.'" When a visitor to western Oklahoma asks, "Does it ever rain out here?"  Rancher & Farmers quickly answer, "Yes, it does. Do you remember that part in the Bible where it rained for 40 days and 40 nights?"  The visitor replied, "Yes, I'm familiar with Noah's flood."  "Well," said the rancher/farmer, "we got about two and a half inches of that."

Some might say, "You know you're in western Oklahoma when... You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water. You can say 110 degrees without fainting. You eat hot chilies to cool your mouth off. You can make instant sun tea. You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron. When the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly. You discover that in July, it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car. You discover that you can get sunburn through your car window. You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance. Hot water now comes out of both taps. It's noon in July, the kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is out on the streets. You actually burn your hand opening the car door. You break a sweat the instant you step outside and it's only 8:30 am. No one would dream of putting vinyl upholstery in a car or not having air conditioning."

A lot is going on in NW Oklahoma, September 10, Sunday, Grandparents Day. My  Paris Family Reunion is being held September 10th, in Chester (aka Tailholt or Cottonwood Corners), Oklahoma at noon, in the Chester Community building (bring a covered dish and family mementos). The Fairvalley Reunion is being held the same day, at 12:30 p.m. in the Freedom United Methodist Church, Freedom, Oklahoma (bring a covered dish). 

This Oakie (Paris & Fairvalley descendant) is still trying to figure out how to divide my time and make both Reunions (Paris & Fairvalley). I'm going to try, though.  If you see a someone cruising between Chester and Freedom the weekend of September 10th at a legal, safe speed, wave and smile.  It might be Oakie!

For all you Oklahoma football fans... OU Alumni & Fans will be venturing to Norman, Oklahoma. September 2, this weekend for OU's Opening football season against a Texas team. Next Weekend, OSU, Stillwater opens their football season against Tulsa.  I hope things start cooling down by then. Please take lots of "cool water" along and keep cool the best you can this weekend and next.

o OAKIE'S MAILBAG/LINKS

Oakie's Photo Album Updated --  Ghost Towns

OAKIE'S POLLS -- Have you VOTED in Oakie's Presidential Poll?  If you have voted, you can leave as many 'Comments' in that Poll.  I have a couple of other Polls that you can check out, also.

Oakie's Ghost Towns Collections - Check out Oklahoma's ghost towns for more names added to the list.

FOIOklahoma Inc. - Freedom of Information in Oklahoma.

National Freedom of Information Coalition -
"Open Meetings Law - OK Stat., tit. 25, §301 et seq. Closed: Executive sessions of the State Banking Board and Oklahoma Savings and Loan Board; state judiciary, legislative, or administrative staffs meetings of public bodies; and some meetings of institutions of higher education and certain school board meetings."

"Open Records Law - OK Stat, tit. 51, §24A.1 et seq. Exempt: If protected by state evidentiary privilege; real estate appraisals; personnel records; registration files of sex offenders; public officials' personnel notes; business-related bids; computer programs; medical market research; and certain educational records including student records."

The National Freedom of Information Coalition's State & National Freedom of Information Resources - "As part of the NFOIC's continued efforts to support citizen access to government information, the Freedom of Information Resource Web project provides a comprehensive guide to obtaining information guaranteed under state and federal open meetings and open records laws. Regularly updated and maintained, these pages contain descriptions and links for FOI publications, contacts, legislation and current events."

Oklahoma Legal Research System: Basic Oklahoma Statutes Search

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Society of Professional Journalists

Freedom Forum

American Library Association

Oklahoma Opens Records Act -- "it is the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government."

Rodney C. Murrow mailto:rod@murrow.com -- "Hi,Linda... Another postcard view you can use if you don't already have it.  It's taken looking up College Avenue straight up to the Castle on the Hill, before paved streets.  No date given (I don't have it yet, so if I discover a date on it, will let you know)."

"Linda:  Thanks for including the articles about Leonard Peltier.  I believe in his innocence, if not by proof, by the mere reason that the whole situation was not instigated by the Oglala Sioux people, but by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  If there is any wrongdoing here, perhaps our government should take a closer look at the facts. In fact, I not only think they should, I think it is a travesty of injustice of the constitutional rights of the people not to review this case and release Leonard from prison.  Thanks again." Sharon W.

"I showed the Dacoma post card to my dad today and have learned some additional information. My grandparents, A. L. "Lute" and Mildred Murrow, moved to Dacoma in 1929 from Cherokee.  Dad had begun second grade in Cherokee, then moved to Dacoma during that school year. Grandpa's business was in the center building of that postcard for most of the 1930s.  The business was the Swift and Co. produce house, owned and operated by Ed Applegate.  Grandpa bought the business in 1929 from Mr. Applegate and continued operating the produce house in that location for a number of years, until the late 1930s (perhaps until 1938), at which time Grandpa became a partner in the Smith and Murrow Grocery Co., which eventually became the 'Jot 'Em Down Store', owned by my grandfather, which eventually became known as 'Murrow's Grocery', then 'Murrow & Murrow Grocery' after my father joined the business when he got out of the Navy in 1945. Some of this information is on one of my web pages -- including a copy of an early Jot 'Em Down postcard advertisement. At any rate, that center building was the location of the 'Swift & Co. Produce House' as early as 1929.  At this point, I can't determine what business might have been there prior to Mr. Applegate's produce business.  According to my dad, when Grandpa sold that building, it was by a trade with the Town of Dacoma for the building to which he eventually moved (Whittet's current building).  Betty Hunt was by then the Postmistress in Dacoma and needed to move from the old Post Office across the street, so the trade was done to accomplish the move of the Post Office to that center building on the west side of the street (next to the bank)." Rod rod@murrow.com || Rod's Family pages || Dacoma, OK

"Oakie, I really enjoyed H&H this week -- though I was somewhat dismayed to find that even though in my heart and soul I am a mortal mountain mammal, you could still tell, in 20 different ways, that I'm from Oklahoma.  Thanks for the information about Peltier and the reminder that we're all in this together." ZD

"The CollinsvilleAlabama.Net web site is sponsored by the people and government of Collinsville, Alabama.  Many new features will be added each week, and Collinsville Panther activities will be added this fall.  And please tell all of your family and friends about the new Collinsville, Alabama web site! Collinsville, Alabama -- Promoting our Town and Industrial opportunities; The Town of Collinsville; Industrial Opportunities; Mayor & Council; Town Hall - Directory; Bulletin Board--Police & Fire Departments, Local Attractions, Collinsville Panthers." collinsvillealabama.net/ || Collinsville, Alabama

"Thanks for adding dad's name to your list.  I know he will enjoy it very much. Thank you for putting up the 'Goldbug site' in the first place.  It has been very useful in finding people that I knew in the past.  Thanks again, Linda. Take care and keep up the great work."

"I was browsing your site, and I wondered if you may be able to advise me how I could gain access to old historical records of a shooting of a Private Detective in West Kansas about 1870.  He was shot dead by the 'felon' he was pursuing.  I was wondering where, and if, records of this type were kept anywhere.  My great Uncle's name was Peter Morrison.  He was born in Madderty, Perthshire Scotland in 1840.  I know that he was in the Police Force in Edinburgh and was at the wedding of my Great-Grandfather William in 1862 at Leith in Scotland.  As to when he migrated to the USA I have no knowledge.  He may well have gone there with a brother and sister in 1867.  Both of these siblings purchased property in Kansas shortly after arriving in the USA. Their names were Andrew Morrison and his twin sister, Margaret.  Margaret married a Ben Butler before she moved to Kansas from Illinois.  That would have been in 1878. Through reading my notes, I believe the land was in Plymouth. That is all I have at this time.  Many thanks again. If I can provide any more clues please ask, Gregg Morrison in Sydney Australia." Gregg Morrison mailto:greggm@bigpond.net.au

"I have started a new mailing list called OK-Cemeteries.  It is a mailing list for anyone interested in locating, and preserving historical information about, Oklahoma cemeteries or sharing information about them. 

To subscribe to this list send the word SUBSCRIBE" to:
OK-Cemeteries-L-request@rootsweb.com
OK-Cemeteries-D-request@rootsweb.com (digest form).

"I look forward to helping this list grow and become another tool for those researching in Oklahoma." Kathleen Burnett, "Learn more about my world visit" - More about my world"Join one of the  Join one of the mailing list I am List Mom of

"Linda, The other day someone sent me a story entitled 'Dirt Roads' and it made me think of something I might could use to illustrate the setting in the story.   A picture of a painting I did one August evening in 1944 . The photo of it bears a fatal reflection and another photograph of the exact location that I made a day or two ago.  I want to mention that I was home on a pass and drove out north of Ardmore in my Dad's old 1939 Plymouth.  I set the canvas board against the steering wheel - placed the palette in the seat beside me and made the painting in about 30 minutes.  During that time I think one car came by. I just wanted to share this thought with you - stay out of the heat which is everywhere in Oklahoma."
DirtRoadAug1944.jpg
SameRoadAug2000.jpg

Dirt Roads, author unknown: "What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt roads have been paved. There s not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency that wouldn't be remedied, if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character. People who live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it s worth it, if at the end is home, a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog. We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got their exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along. There was less crime in our streets before they were paved. Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by 5 barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun.There were no drive by shootings. Our values were better when our roads were worse! People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper or the guy in front would choke you with dust and bust your windshield with rocks. Dirt roads taught patience. Dirt Roads were environmentally friendly. You didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk. You walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you walked to the mail box. What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part, then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony road on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody. At the end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap. Most paved roads led to trouble, Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole. At the end of a Dirt Road, the only time we locked our car was in August, because if we didn't some neighbor would fill it with too much zucchini. At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a dollar. Always you got a new friend at the end of a Dirt Road."

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QUOTE/POEM of the WEEK

"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." James Madison, Father of the U.S. Constitution

o "Drawing Contest" - Alabaster/Silver Clock

"What are the Ghost Town Legacies in your area?"... Open to Everyone --- We have a Free Drawing Each Friday, 11:00PM, CDT... Help US keep the memory of the Ghost Towns alive!  If I didn't draw your name this week, Do NOT fret! It is still in the 'Fishbowl'... AND... There is always next week!  Keep sending me your Ghost Town Legacies, Okie Legacies & Ghost Town memories w/photos!

See Y'all Next weekend!
Linda 'Oakie'

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