Oakie's Heart to Heart, Vol. 3-Iss. 18

	The OkieLegacy Oakie's Heart To Heart Home is where the heart is! Learn the Past! Live the Present!..... Soar into the Future with the FairValley Eagle!

Millennium Edition - http://OkieLegacy.org

5 May 2001, Vol. III, Iss. 18

Kiowa & Carry Nation...

Just a mile over the Kansas Border in NW Oklahoma is the small, rural community of Kiowa, Kansas.

On the south side of town, located near the water tower and town park is an historical marker that tells how Carry Nation launched her career of saloon smashing in Kiowa, Kansas.

Carry A. Nation Historical Marker.... "Carry A. Nation, the militant crusader against illegal saloons, launched her career of saloon smashing in Kiowa. She and her followers in Medicine Lodge, her home town, had closed the local saloons by holding prayer meetings on their premises and displays of force. However, as the Women's Christian Temperance Unions jail evangelist, she found as many drunks as ever in the county jail. These men named Kiowa as their source of supply. A voice spoke to Carry, telling her to go to Kiowa and smash the saloons. On June 1, 1900, she attacked three 'joints' in Kiowa using stones, brickbats, full malt bottles, and one billard ball as ammunition. Carry's attacked surprised local officials, but because of the fact that the operation of such 'joints' was illegal she was not jailed as she would be later in other communities. She did not adopt the use of her now famous hatchet until her visit to Wichita some six months later. The Kiowa attack quickly received national attention and instigated great debate even among the temperance organizations. Carry Nation spent the remainder of her life in the crusade against the liquor interests and lecturing on prohibition. She died June 9, 1911."

Birth Announcement...

Oakie's family, Moon and Cindy would like to announce a new addition to their equine family. On April 29th, Sunday, Cindy had a precious "Chestnut Sorrel Filly" (Chestnut Starz) weighing in at whatever new colts weigh.

In the early evening of April 30th we drove out into the wheat field where Cindy and the other Mares & colts were grazing. I got out of the pick-up and slowly walked over to Cindy with my arm out-stretched and bearing apple treats in the palm of my hand. Cindy and "Chestnut Starz" with their ears leaning forward in the curious mode came over to me -- Cindy took the apple treats right out of my hand while the new foal got close enough for me to touch her body.

As all new momma mares, Cindy is very protective of her new little filly. I have noticed when other horse get too near the new filly colt, Cindy's ear flatten completely back in defense as to shoo, kick the other horses away.

BUT... When I get close to Cindy, her ears perk up in a friendly, curious manner -- Cindy then eases forward and gently takes the treat while her little, inquistivie filly gets close enough for this horse-loving writer to lay her hands on this 2-day-old "Chestnut Starz" filly colt.

I'm Hooked! A horse-lover... For Sure!!!

The only white markings on Chestnut Starz is the white, left-hind stocking. The Filly's other legs, face, tail and mane are black and blended with the sorrel coloring.

I was told recently, "It reminds me of the color of Uncle Bob's mare, which was named, so far as I know, 'Uncle Bob's Mare'."

Celebrating Life Memories...

Sometimes it is hard letting go of those you love and those who nutured you through your life. But... We all have to face that day sometime during our life.

The family and friends of Vernon E. Whitney celebrated the passing of a NW Oklahoma pioneer's life and legacy this weekend when Vernon passed away, quietly in his home last Saturday, April 28, 2001.

Vernon Everette Whitney, age 86 years, 2 months, and 23 days, died the evening of 28 April 2001, Saturday, at his home. Vernon was a quiet man, who liked to take time to smell the flowers and enjoy the simple things of life.

He did not leave his family and friends empty-handed or alone. Somewhere the sun is shining on this northwest Oklahoma pioneer while he watches over his family and friends. He was known for his quiet patience, gentleness and self control. Vernon left his children, grandchildren, great-granchildren and friends with special memories, stories and oklahoma legacies they shall keep deep in their heart and soul while passing down to each new generation of Whitneys that comes along.

Vernon Everette Whitney was the son of the late John Jacob and Cloy McCray Whitney. Vernon was born 25 February 1915 on a farm southeast of Waynoka, Oklahoma.

Vernon attended the Highland Rural School near Waynoka. He graduated from Alva High School in 1934 with my Uncle Bob McGill. On May 27, 1935, he was united in marriage to Pauline Johnson at Alva, Oklahoma.

Living in NW Oklahoma all his life, .Whitney engaged in farming, and also served on the Waynoka Police Force. He was an officer for the Campus Police at Northwestern State College for 15 years.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters... Edna Dinker, Cecil Haltom, and Mildred Curtis.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline, of Waynoka; three sons... Everette Whitney and his wife (Louise) of Waynoka, Lowell Whitney and his wife (LaDona) of Waynoka, and John Whitney and his wife (Jane) of Angleton, Texas; one daughter, Janice Earhart and her husband (Howard) of Newkirk, Oklahoma; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Oakie's NW Corner...

As April quietly, slid into May the beginning of this week, I am trying to figure out where April has gone.

I did happen to catch this NW Okie Sunset, in Alfalfa County, 1st day of May 2001, just north of Dacoma, Oklahoma. If you Click on the photo to see the large picture, notice in the upper-left corner the jet stream blazing through the clouds.

Y'all know that my mare (Cindy) had her 2001 colt last weekend (April 29). As to new things... Did you happen to notice the new heading at the top of the E-zine? It is still "Oakie's Heart to Heart", but the main heading is now called, "The OkieLegacy." So... Gather up your family & Okie Legacies and "Soar into the Future with the FairValley Eagle!"

Wednesday I had to run some errands up in Kiowa, Kansas for some friends this week -- Stopping long enough to get a shot of the Old Santa Fe Depot & Kiowa Social Club. Kiowa is only one mile from the Kansas-Oklahoma border.

The depot is located in the southwest part of this Kansas community and must have been a buzzing, lively spot for train crews. Out in front of the depot is a brick-paved street leading across to a building that was used for the Santa Fe Hotel until the depot closed.

Today you might see a sign on the red and white painted building that reads, "Kiowa Social Club." I'm told that before it was a social club, that it became a rooming house. Then Kansas went wet when liquor stores became legal and the large lobby of the Hotel was turned into a supper club. I have never been up to the "Kiowa Social Club" but a few people have told me that it was a great steak house with a bottle club for taking your own bottle for drinks and a room to dance.

Being so close to the Kansas border, lots of NW Oklahomans took the journey to Kiowa for dances, fine-dining and parties. A.T. Kimmell was telling me about the "Sweet Shop" which was a kids hangout, where you could dance. He also mentioned that after WWII many big bands played in theVets building.

Does anyone else have any memories of the "Kiowa Social Club" and legacies?

If you are in the NW part of Oklahoma this weekend, Saturday, May 5th, Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) is having it's outdoor ceremonies for it's graduating seniors. They may get a little bit damp with a 60% chance of rain on saturday.

Meanwhile over around the Great Salt Plains, near Cherokee and Jet, the "Crystal Festival" will be going on May 5th thru the 6th. AND... Enid, Oklahoma is home to the "Tri-state Music Festival" this week with Saturday culminating in a parade in downtown Enid.

Have a great weekend! I'll see you next week. Thanks to Ernest Martin (retired state senator) and Tom Hinkle (Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs) for helping Vernon Dennis, his brother (Wayne) and Alois locate Kurt Leonharty's grave in McAlester, Oklahoma.

-- Linda - "Oakie"

Linda K McGill Wagner
c/o WWW Publishing Co

WWII Grave (Kurt Leonardt) Found...

In last weeks E-zine there was a request by Vernon Dennis for the location of a WWII German POW's that died in McAlester and was buried in Oklahoma. Through the help of a few friends and numerous emails, Paul Kurt Leonardt's grave has been located in the McAlester Cemetery.

Mr. Hinkle reports, "The grave of Kurt Leonhardt was located in McAlester, Oklahoma along with the graves of two other German WWII POWs." A picture was sent to Ernest Martin who forwarded the photo on to V. Dennis and this writer (Oakie).

Thanks from Vernon Dennis.... "This is great news!! On behalf of my brother Wayne, his friend from Germany and my self, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your hard work and the help from Tom Hinkle is greatly appreciated. I will never forget it. I thank you for the great write up you put in your weekly magazine, on my behalf. It is much appreciated. I thank you. I am looking forward to getting the photo. If I can ever be of help to you folks please let me know. Linda, I will be sure and send you a copy of the photo. I am greatful to everyone who helped out. Ernest sent me a short note from Tom Hinkle which I thought was very nice."

Vernon adds, "As a side note, I ask my brother Wayne, the name of the fellow from Germany. He replied by email that his name is Alois Bittner. He works for Siemens. He travels to the US about every other month. His email address is: Alois Bittner. I am forwarding a copy of this (photo of grave) directly to Alois. I bet he will be one happy person. Again, on behalf of Alois Bittner and my brother Wayne, and myself, I thank you. Your assistance has been most helpful."

Tom Hinkle (Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs) sent the following message to Ernest Martin, "You may want to know that in McAlester they honor each wartime veteran on Memorial Day by placing a flag on the graves. That includes the German graves."

Thanks For All Your Help, Ernest & Tom!

Mailbag & Links...

Old Monfort Apartments... In one of my early newsletters I mentioned that my uncle Alvin Paris and his wife (Naomi) first apartment was in the old Monfort apartments... Well! While reading "The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma 1886-1986", by Seekers of Oklahoma Heritage Association, I found where the old Monfort apartments were located. They were above what is now the local law offices located in the middle of the block between 6th & 7th street, on the southside of Barnes Ave., and next door to the old McGill Swimming pool (which has been filled in). If anyone has a picture of the "Old Monfort Apartments", send me a copy to share with everyone.

McKeever School... "Linda, Your most recent HTH has done it again. In your listing of teachers from the old McKeever School, there were two names which really jumped out at me. When I started to school at Longfellow Elementary in about 1943, Hulda Grosbeck was the principal. Then when the new Washington School was completed Mrs. Fay McAlpin was my fourth grade teacher. The school had just been completed, so must have been about '48." -- M. Henry

Col. Kirkbride Photo... "I Have a favor to request. Having mentioned in the past about Col. Bob Kirkbride and his taffy making enterprise during WWII, I have run across the picture of him making taffy in the basement of his home. I believe Mrs. Margery Clyne whom taught at AHS was his daughter. She had two daughters, the eldest being Robyn Clyne who should have been about the class of '58 and the youngest (Marilyn, whom married Jim Filson, Gene Filson's son.) If anyone knows how to get word to Robyn or her sister (Marilyn), have them contact me, I would be more than happy to send them the picture of their grandfather." -- Marvin Henry, figment1@htg.net lcfigment@uswestmail.net

Signs of Spring.... "Last but by no means least, you have mentioned about the 'signs of spring.' Would have sent this sooner, but have been working around computer crashes. Am sending a photo of one of my favorite signs of spring. In addition to the bloom of the wisteria, roses, iris, and everything else, the 'flying flowers' are the most enduring as they stay throughout the spring and clear into the fall." -- Marvin

What is Your Perfect Spring in May?... "This morning I awoke at 6:30, not my usual hour I can assure you, and saw movement in the air. I thought rain, but when I got my glasses on, I saw snow. SNOW!! I hopped out of bed and checked out all the doors and windows. Along with a multitude of birds, I also had the beginning of a very delightful covering of snow on my roofs and trees and bridges and ground ... 4.5" by 2:00 - 5.75" by 5:00 - 7.5" by 7:15 - 8" by 9:40 - and its still snowing. I LOVE this place! I had a good fire going by 6:50 this a.m. and I'm just now letting it go out before I go to bed. I fed birds all day long, keeping their feeders cleared of snow and putting out more feed when they had finished what was there. Now, that's my idea of a perfect 3rd day of May."

WWII POW Camps.... "Hi Linda, I was surfing the net and got to your page via a Concordia, KS. page. I really enjoyed your POW page. My Dad was a MP with the guard detachment at the Concordia camp. In fact, I have his 'Class A Pass,' issued 4 May 1944. He hated every minute he was in Concordia, KS. He has told me some things that the Germans would do to get the guards to shoot at them. And that the people of the town treated the POW's better than the Army troops. But, he did meet my Mother at the Bowling Alley in Concordia and were married 53 years! I have been to Concordia once and have to agree with my Dad, 'Concordia is the Arm Pit of the mid west!' He was a Scotsman who joined the US Army because they would not let him return to Britain because of the war, and he HAD to fight somewhere. And he got stuck in Concordia! Again, I had fun looking at you web page." -- Jim Ross

Spring Iris'.... "Linda, your photographs of the irises are beautiful and artful. Would you please have them reproduced and blown up to about 5x5 so that I can have them matted and framed? They would look beautiful grouped on a wall."

Coreopsis & Peonies... "Linda, your Iris blooms are very pretty. I don't think we have that color. I'm surprised by how many different colors can show up with the Iris. Our pasture is covered with blooming Coreopsis & Indian paint brush flowers. It is a very pretty season - we are blessed."
Squirrels of Spring -- Spring Goose

Look what you can do with Alka Seltzer...
"Clean a toilet - Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action cleans vitreous China. Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets. Polish jewelry - Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle - Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary). Unclog a drain - Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water."

WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR WALLET...
"Here's some critical information to limit the damage in case you or someone you know looses their wallet or it gets stolen. As everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know who to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation.

BUT Here's What is Most Important... Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
The Numbers Are...
Equifax - 1-800 525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW) - 1-800-301-7195
Trans Union - 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration fraud line - 1-800-269-0271

Pass this information along.... it could help someone else. I hope it never happens but this might come in handy." -- Joel

"HI, I think Wesley, Oklahoma, Atoka County should qualify to be ghost town. Regards "

"Hi Linda, I am sure that others may know more about the Kiowa Social Club, than I -- But, this I do remember... The building was the Santa Fe Hotel, when we first moved there. Here, the train crews stayed over night. I think that Kiowa, was a divison point, and trains frequently stopped here. After the depot closed, the hotel was kinda a rooming house. I remember one widow leaved there for quite some time. But when Kansas went wet (liquor stores become legal), a guy by the name of Charlie Bratten, made the large lobby into a supper club. It was a bottle club, so you could order drinks from your reserve stock. It was a good steak house and there was room to dance. As I recall, Brattens owned it a few years, and then it went through several owners, and at times was closed between owners. Your dad was right -- Kiowa, had the reputation of being a place to go --There was a 'Sweet-Shop', a kids hangout, where you could dance. Then following WW2 many big bands played in the Vets building. Seems that Kiowa, was just the right distance between Kansas City, & Amarillo, for them to stop for a one night stand." -- AT. Kimmell

The Crystal Festival... Crystal Festival, May 5-6, 2001, at the Great Salt Plains, Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. Check out what The Great Salt Plains Association web site has concerning what is going on and schedule for the Crystal Festival & Bird watching... OR give them a call at area code (580) 596-3053.

Old McClure Clothing Store... Does anyone remember the old McClure Clothing store that was located on the westside of the square in downtown Alva, Oklahoma?