The Okie Legacy

"April Fools & Daylight Savings Time"
(Spring ahead -- your clocks)
Vol. 2, Issue 52, -- 1 April 2000, Saturday

Pioneer Rest Rooms & Stop-overs

The spring rains are giving Mother Nature's earth a soaking in northwest Oklahoma. After the warm weather hit, we got another gust of cooler air in mid-week. I'm just glad that I got the boxes put on shelves in my basement before the rains seeped into my basement. (whew! lucky or what!)

But wait! I've found some more treasures for you. One of them is a guestbook dating back to around 1909-1910 and used in a "Rest Room" for weary travelers and country folks traveling to/through Alva, Oklahoma to visit and shop.

I'm not sure exactly where this rest room was located, but... I have found a notebook that looks like it was used as a guestbook back around 1909 & 1910 with names, addresses, and comments of traveling country people who stayed at the "Rest Room" in the Alva area when they were on the road to town to do shopping.

It starts with number 41 visitor and the first few pages are missing. Some people just signed their name and address of where they were from. Some left comments. It is written mainly in pencil, but there are some signatures in ink.

On the second page there is a date with one of the signers, Feb. 17, 1909. Grace & cousin (Mrs. W. L. Eastlock) traveled 10 miles from southwest of Alva and wrote, "The Rest Room is certainly very nice as it very comfortable for the country people, as is appreciated very much by us."

Mrs. J. W. Witham wrote, "May the dear lord bless the originators and supporters of the rest room. It is certainly a comfortable place in which to rest and eat a lunch."

Leona Myers, Andrews, Ind. wrote, "We praise God for the Rest-Room. Its a great blessing to the farmers."

Mrs. Albert Clark & children of Capron (Okla.) wrote, "The Rest Room is a boon to Alva."

Mrs. J. B. Gum, 10 miles west and one mile north wrote,"Was tired after riding so far in the mud. Was glad for the rest room.

March 27, 1909, E. W. McFarland & daughter and Roy Eastlock, RR#3, 10 miles southwest wrote,"We very much appreciate the rest room. Let us all help keep it up."

Mr. and Mrs. D.D. White, Attica, Kansas, wrote, "What every town needs. Success attend it."

I could go on and on, but I will give you one more example of what others have written in this little gem of a guestbook for the Rest Room located in the Alva Community and hosted by some womens organizations (I think).

Anna Maddox wrote, "I think this room is just right for tired people and little children to rest."

OAKIE's LINKS & MAILBAG

I am still working on Uncle Bob's WWII Timeline Info that I run across. Here's some info that someone sent me concerning RE: "G-3" Section 75th infantry Division: The staff sections at a division HQ are as follows:
G-1 Personnel Administration
G-2 Security and Intelligence
G-3 Operations and Training
G-4 Logistics and Supply
G-5 (in combat only) Civilian Affairs
These same staff sections appear at the lower Brigade and Battalion levels but they are designated S-1, S-2 , S-3 etc. The "G" would indicate that the staff section belonged to a command of a Brigadier General or higher.

RE: 18 July to 28 August 1943 -- The Armored Force School, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Clearance for Armored Force School Student Officers. Name of Officer Robert L. McGill, Capt. Inf. Rank and present organizations on this post, Capt. SOG AS, Aug. 1943. "From my research, I believe that SOG AS = Special Operations Group Air Support"

Gwinn Cousins -- I have also learned of some more Gwinn cousins out there. Check out their sites at the following URLs.Gwinn Genealogy page! || Letter & Notes from the "Gwinn Papers".

By 21 Feb 1945, Bob and the 75th entered into Maastricht and along about 24 miles of the Maas River in Holland, as relief for the British 6th Airborne Division. From this defensive position, patrols crossed the river every night to gain information on German actions and plans. The Americans were housed in "reasonably comfortable homes along the edge of the river, within sight of the enemy." From there, the 75th Division went "Across the Rhine, into the Ruhr." 104th takes Maastricht, Holland 64-5

A New site as joined the Oklahoma History Ring -- Honey Springs Battlefield, The Battle of Honey Springs, Indian Territory, July 17, 1863. "Civil War historian Ed Bearss called the battle 'America's first 'Rainbow Coalition!' Troops on both sides included Native Americans, African Americans, and Anglo Americans. The Federal victory opened the way for occupation of Fort Smith and the later Union victories in the Red River valley."

"I went in search of the military meaning of the word "salient" and through that, I have found this motherlode of resources. I am trying to restrain myself in what I send on to you...honestly. "

"I just found this really great dictionary/thesaurus. Try at least one word in it to see what all it gives you. . And, Linda, you could put a link on your page to a one-stop-several-dictionaries place. "

This next photo is a picture of my grandad (Will McGill), his mother and father posing in front of their homestead.

Here's another Pioneers of Alva, Oklahoma school districts photo showing Wm. J. McGill, teacher, and his pupils. It has no names written on back. Perhaps someone viewing this could help fill in some names.

I have found an early 1900 (after 1910) northwestern Oklahoma pioneer school photograph of my Grandmother (Constance E. Warwick McGill) and her pupils. The names listed on the back are: Joseph Endicott, Earl Benningfield, Clarance Endicott, Ernie Benninfield, Ada Gaham (Murrow), Gertrude Douglas (Porter), Olive fugit, Lonnie Fugit, Roy Snyder, Jessie Kuiech (Mrs. Roy Snyder), Erma Benningfield (Mrs. Lancaster), Sylvia Fugit, Elsie Snyder (Mrs. Orval Brown), Lula Snyder (Mrs. McDaniel), Mable Fugit (Mrs. Will Ross), Lizzie Snyder, Millie WRight (Mrs. Wise), Nora Aviatt, Bessie Wright, Ethel Benningfield, Clara Wise, Connie McGill, Teacher.

How To Start a Car (early 1900s) (Info taken from a handwritten notepaper find in Grandparents treasures at 1027 Maple, Alva, OK.):
DO....
1. Turn key to left to start car.
2. Turn to rigbht immediately to run.
3. See about oil in crank case twice a week.
4. See about grease in diferential once each month.
5. See about water morning & eve.
6. See about batteries once a week.
7. See about gas twice a week.
8. If anything gets wrong with car stop right there until repaired.
9. See about tires each time you start to drive car.
DO NOT....
1. Run car on two or three cylinders. Fix it. possibly a coil is sticking.
2. Do not start car with lights on.
3. Do not drive fast around corners.
4. Do not leave key in car. left side battery Right side Mag.
(start on battery. Run on Mag.)

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"This day is golden. Live it. This time is potent. Use it. Waiting or wishing will only waste it. Always do what you can, when you can. Start right now and keep on going. This moment is everything you could possibly hope for. Mine the treasure it contains and you'll be rich indeed." -- Ralph Marston

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