Oakie's NW Corner...
Spring has sprung here in Oklahoma. We did receive some rain last
weekend with only a little over a half an inch falling in the western
and northwestern parts of the state. You can see the Redbud, Fruitless
Pear trees blossoming over the state of Oklahoma
 I
have kept myself busy this week sorting, organizing 'Grandma's Treasures'
and found some little red tokens with "OPA RedPoint"
and "1" in the center. They were loosely scattered in
the box of Grandma's treasures and I gathered them into a small
cloth bag for safe keeping. I am NOT quite sure what they are --
when they were used -- why they were used. I was hoping someone
out there reading this might clue us in to when, what, why these
little "Red Point" tokens of some type were used.
 Here
is another little millage tax token I found amongst Grandma's treasures.
I know that it is one millage tax token -- it took ten of these
little tokens to make One-cent. They were made of different kinds
of materials by different states. They were also mainly used for
school millage tax. My question is... What does the "Check
Oklahoma" mean towards the bottom? How old is this Consumer
Tax Millage token? Did Grandma get it in change for something else?
Also... I have been reading my "First 100 Years
of Alva, Oklahoma" history book looking for clues to where
the "Old" Opera House might have been located in the 400
block of Barnes Avenue. Was that the location of Justice N. L. Miller's
office & Old Opera House?
According to First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma book on page
117, there is a story about "Alva Body & Fender Shop"
with some memories of Del Brunsteter quoted as remembering, ".....an
open air-dome which held the first pictureshow and vaudeville was
located on those lots (400 block of Barnes Ave.) now owned
by the Farmer's Co-Operative Association."
In that same Northwest Oklahoma history book, (First 100 Years
of Alva, Oklahoma, page 268), there is a story concerning the
"Memories of Dorothy Parker" that points to the
southwest corner of 4th Street & Barnes Avenue (downtown,
south side of the square, in Alva, Oklahoma) where there was
an air-drome, a silent movie out in the open with only a wooden
fence around it. This was back around 1916, though, when the children
enjoyed seeing the serials of "Peg
O' the Ring" and other silent movies on Saturday nights.
As to some juicy tidbits of the "NEW" Opera House...
In First 100 years of Alva, Oklahoma history book, page 143,
a story about Homer C. Jones (Jones Amusement Co.) -- we
learn that the New Opera House at 612 Flynn St. (NE corner of
7th & Flynn) was constructed around 1907 and went by the
name of Grand Opera House and played road shows of the legitimate
stage and musicals. It was later known as the Liberty Theatre.
The New Opera House (The Grand & Liberty Theatre) burned
except for the brick shell of the building, in 1933 and wasn't rebuilt.
There is a link to more info about the New Opera House in the Mailbag
& Link Corner.
As to Jones Amusement Company... besides the Liberty theatre
they owned three other theatres back in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Jones brought the first partial talkie to Alva and equipped the
Liberty theatre with Vitaphone sound discs on June 7, 1929.
Jones also owned the Rialto theatre at the time and left the Liberty
to devote full time to the Rialto. In 1933 -- the Ritz
Theatre on the south side of the square (527 Barnes, later
known as Otasco Store) was built. In 1939 -- the Ranger Theatre
(416 Flynn) was one of the finest 400 seat houses in the southwest.
The three R's of entertainment - Rialto, Ritz and Ranger
- were all operated by Jones Amusement until the 1950s when television
started to make an impact on the movie business. That is about the
time that Jones closed the Ranger and Ritz theatres. The Rialto
still remains today in the middle of the 500 block of Flynn Street
on the north side of the downtown square.
There was a fourth theatre (Pix - located on the west side of
the square, 441 College Avenue) which was not owned by Jones
Amusement. As this writer recalls, there were two different cafes
in that location after the Pix theatre closed down -- the Faires
Cafe and then Kentucky Fried Chicken. Today there is
an antique store run by the Powders family. On the north side of
that building is Cunningham's Law Offices. On the south is... (Oops!
My mind just went blank)... Etc. Shoppe?
This writer also remembers her older sister taking her to one of
those four theatres when she was just a young, sweet girl. What
sticks out about that theatre was that it had twin ticket booths
at the front of the building. I can't for the life of me remember
if it was the Ritz or the Pix theatre. Can anyone out there jog
my memory?
Before my mind goes completely blank... I am going to leave you
here to read the NW Mystery Corner and Mailbag Corner.
Have a great weekend. Relax and enjoy the budding blossoms of Spring
trees, shrubs, flowers.
~~ Linda "OaKie" ~~
NW Mystery Corner...
This week of our serial (Alva'
First Homicide - 9 Nov. 1910) finds us ready for Chapter
II - The Coroners Inquest.
As to Coroners in the early 1900s... back when Oklahoma
was just a young state there were no coroners in town. The Judge
would usually appoint local doctors to do an autopsy and impanel
an Coroners Inquest jury of local citizens.
I found this bit of information concerning Inquests... An inquest
is a court hearing where the Coroner(s) consider information to
help determine the manner and cause of death. At this hearing, the
Coroner may call witnesses to give evidence of their knowledge of
the circumstances of the death. Inquests are generally open to the
public, so you may attend and listen to the proceedings. In certain
circumstances, however, the Coroner has the power to exclude individuals,
or the public generally, from attending the proceedings. The Coroner(s)
can also prohibit the publication of evidence.
Thanks for staying tuned in to this week's serial of the "Old
Opera House Murder (Alva's First Homicide - 9 Nov. 1910).
Here is Chapter II
- The Inquest.
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Opening of Oklahoma
The Run - 1889
Backside
of Postcard
Big Beaver (Okla.) Reunion... "Just a short line
to let you know that we are going to have a Big Beaver (Oklahoma)
Reunion on the 20th of April (2002) in Shidler, Oklahoma.
Everyone that has any memories or pictures of the Old Dance
Hall be sure and come. It will be starting at around 12:30p.m.
at the Senior Citizen Building. Dinner will be served.
Don't be late and miss out on the fun." -- 20 April 2002,
12:30p.m., Shidler, Okla., Senior Citizen Building - Contact
Don Hughes for more info.
20 February 1927 - Photo
McGills, Friends &
Castle on the Hill
Front-left, Young Bob McGill.
Front-right, Young Gene McGill standing in front of his Dad,
W.J. "Bill" McGill. Not sure who the other man and
two boys are in between.
Menu:
Linda K McGill Wagner
c/o WWW Publishing Co
PO Box 619, Bayfield, CO 81122
Thanks! You can also view The OkieLegacy online. Copyrighted © 2008 by WWWPubCo & OkieLegacy.
All Rights Reserved.
|
Mailbag & Links Corner....
Fairvalley, OK Inquiry...
"Searching for info re: Floyd D. THOMAS b. 28 Jul 1906 at Fairvalley,
OK. Thanks." -- George Shute - E-mail
address
1910 Murder Mystery... "Linda, have you
been to the Police station on the murder story. There might be a chance
they have something of value on the story. I am assuming you have
checked the court house as well. Some of the old timers may have had
the story handed down to them, if only we knew who to ask. This is
like reading a murder mystery and not yet getting to the final chapter.
LOL!"
'Lectric
Law Library... "I thought you might need this as you
go through your case and, through it, help educate yourself and your
readers ... which is what your OHH is all about. The Net's Best Law
Dictionary with Thousands of Definitions & Explanations of Legal
Terms, Phrases & Concepts." -- 'Lectric
Law Library
Your Challenge to Readers... "LOVED the
way you introduced the challenge to readers - like the old Mission
Impossible shows. Good job!"
Alva & the KKK... "You know, you mentioned
the NAACP was developed or created during the period of 1900 to 1910
but haven't mentioned how VERY powerful the KKK was in Alva during
that period! I was totally shocked when I read the articles about
the KKK in either the "Footprints..." or "First
100 Years... KKK No. 166 in Alva" books! I was equallly
shocked at how much space was devoted to the KKK and explaining how
"out in the open" it all was (which I still find
mind-boggling!!!) My mother remembers that blacks (aka "African
Americans" or "negroes" as they were probably called
during that period) could be in town working or shopping, etc
during the day but when sundown came, NO blacks were allowed inside
the town. Mother said she had no idea if the blacks lived outside
the city or what the deal was but said it was just common knowledge
no blacks were to be inside the city after sundown! Now this was in
the late 1930 and early 1940's and later!! Apparently that was just
as common then as electric traffic lights are now."
Fascinators... "Found
this about some "fascinator" jewelry -- 'Shelley's Notes:
By the end of the 1920s, the 'flapper' look had been translated into
popular ready-to-wear apparel. The height of fashion was a cloche
hat, from under which, only painted lips, spit curls and dangling
earrings could be seen. Drop style earrings were known as 'fascinators'
for the attention they drew'.
Scarf
Fascinators... "When looking
at women's garments, Joy learned a 'fascinator' is a shawl or scarf
worn over the head or shoulders......"
 New
Opera House... "There are several discrepancies
between the article in the book (First
100 Years of Alva, OK - New Opera House article) and the notes
below -- The book says the building was finished in August of 1909
- but doesn't say when they started it. The book does say they decided
in 1907 they needed a new Opera house and decided where to put it,
etc. but the information below says finished in 1907 - and that it
was started in 1906. Also says (in the book) it cost between
$20 - $25,000.00 but below says $20,000. Actually, I like the description
in the book a little better. It has more trivia in it like the thickness
of the walls, seating capacity, dimensions, etc. Something I did find
interesting is that neither this article nor the one in the "First
100 years..." book mentions N. L. Miller! I think the "Pioneer
Footprints" book is the only one that even mentions his name
in relationship to the Opera House. Obviously, the postcard is a MUCH
MUCH better picture of the building and the area than the book's (black
& white copy). Something I find funny too (about this whole
thing), I also have a CRANDALL in my line!! Lois Crandall married
Frank MOREFIELD - who was my grandfather Glenn Calvin Morefield's
nephew! And the owner of the building - A. P. Crandall - was Lois'
grandfather! (Footprints book: 'H. C. (Crandall) and Mary moved
to Alva with Albert and Flo Crandall. They purchased the Liberty
Theatre on Flynn Street..... and sold the show shortly before
the beginning of talking pictures.') Funny how all the players from
this mystery are interwoven into each other's lives." -- Karel
Yucatan Chewing Wrapper...
"I keep meaning to tell you that the act of straightening her
body and clothing, posing her hands ... all are marks of a killer
who had many tender feelings about and was close to his victim, the
killer more likely to be male than female. Strangulation is the most
up-close and personal method of murder, even though in Mabel's case,
the killer used a scarf as the fatal weapon rather than his bare hands.
I'm surprised that he hadn't covered her face. (You can tell I
read too many mysteries.) I hope your trial transcript will explain
the presence of the Yucatan chewing gum wrapper in her hands. Did
she take the chewing gum to cover the smell of whiskey on her breath,
then pass out, clutching the paper in her hand, causing NL not to
see it when he arranged her hands on her breast? I am assuming that
Mabel took the drink without argument or struggle, at the coaxing
of her lover, to relax her with the anticipation of 'illicit relations'
to come. And then chewed the gum to freshen her breath." -- Another
Mystery Buff
Finding Bobbi Parker...
"Hi Linda, Always enjoy 'The Okie Legacy!' While you are on murders
and mysteries -- click on 'Finding
Bobbi Parker.' We've had this page up for three years. The supposed
oldest son of Randolph Franklin Dial, (Randy
Starnes) phoned me 2-years ago in May after seeing the page.
We exchanged info. In November of 2000 (sixth year following the
abduction) the FBI added a $25,000 reward. Her husband is Randy
Parker (formerly from Carmen, worked at Crabtree, Helena before
going to Granite), now the Warden or Deputy Warden at the William
S. Key Correctional institution at Fort Supply (Oklahoma).
Charles Sasser, author of the Life and Crimes of Randolph Franklin
Dial has a very interesting life history. Read some of his writings
(and bio) for Guidepost at: Since it involves local people
the Life and Crimes of Randolph Franklin Dial makes for interesting
reading. Don't see how they just disappeared." -- Contact Carolyn
& AJ Rexroat - Heritage Manor
Bed & Breakfast (Aline, NW Okla.)
Preservation
Technologies... "Don't know if you
knew about this but I just found out about it thru another genealogist!
Apparently this product has been around since 1999 too! I know we
all have wonderful treasures we want to preserve for at LEAST another
100 years or more - and this just might do it! Hope this helps someone.
I'm going to go to craft store and see if I can buy it."
New Subscriber... "I
have only skimmed the one page but it is just my thing. As a retired
displaced Okie living in Highland, CA this is right up my alley. History
is a favorite of mine and anything on the great plains I do enjoy.
I want to join your group and receive the news letter. I have a friend
still living in our home town of Tipton and sister in Maryland that
will be alerted to your site. Thanks for being there." -- Jimmie
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Editors Note... Some of the links on my web pages lead to
PDF files that need Acrobat Reader
5.0 to read them. If you are having trouble reading the
files, you may need to Download
the Acrobat Reader for Free. In the near future I will be adding
another PDF file of a February, 1909 thru March 26, 1910 Guestbook
of a place called "The Rest Room" where out of town travelers
could rest and eat dinner before traveling on to their destinations.
If anyone out there has any knowledge of "The Rest Room"
or where it was located, please Contact
Linda with any information.
I have also added some more of my Grandma's Penny Postcard Collection
to Oakie's
Webshots for viewing.
Nell Gwynn... "I hope
we were related to Nell Gwynn - Lived: 1650-1687 - Profession: The
oldest - Local links: Reputedly born in Oxford. Father and grandfather
both lived in city - High point: Most famous mistress of Charles II
- Down side: Although Charles II famously pleaded on his deathbed
'Let not poor Nelly starve' -- she outlived him by less than two years,
dying at the age of 36."
1910 Buggy Rides... "While
NL was setting off in a buggy to seduce the robust Mabel -- 15 June
1910 - Captain Scott set off on his fatal expedition to the South
Pole. 31 July 1910 - Dr Crippen arrested for murder on SS Montrose,
the first criminal captured by using wireless. (NL should have
taken a lesson from Crippen's capture: You can run but you cannot
hide; OR You can't get away with murder most foul.)Lady
Baden Powell, founder in 1910 of Guide movement
(forerunner of Girl Scouts)."
Early Day Medicines... "In the early days
there were still many old time Doctors that were using many of the
older crude drugs - one of which was Strychnine Sulfate in a red coated
compressed tablet which was round like a pill. The coating was very
likely an enteric coating because strychnine is very bitter and with
the enteric coating the tablet would not dissolve until it reached
the intestines. The use of the strychnine was primarily as a tonic
and was also presumably effective as a bitter tonic in gastric atony.
I recall that most doctors used it as a stimulant and in doses of
only 1/60 of a grain. It takes 60 mg. to be equilivant to 1 grain.
Strychnine is an alkaloid obtained chiefly
from Nux Vomica which comes from a plant and is extremely poisonous.
Nux Vomica is or at least was available at any drug store without
a prescription and was often used to kill animals..The alkaloid
is largely used for destroying rodents.
Strychnine is of definite value in treatment
of poisoning from central nervous system depressants especially barbiturates
and under such circumstances large doses may be administered without
fear of causing convulsions."
Marie Curie - Scandal & Recovery (1910-1913)...
"Until late 1910 most press coverage of Marie Curie focused on
the heroic labors of the blonde, foreign-born mother, wife, and then
widow. Some of the press changed its tune, however, in November 1910,
when Curie offered herself as a candidate for the single vacant seat
for a physicist in the French Academy of Sciences."
In
The News (Nov. 1910)... "Sunday,
November 27th - IN THE NEWS: The touring Detroit Tigers, with
Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford in the lineup, play an exhibition game in
Havana, Cuba. With George Mullin on the mound, the Tigers beat Almendares,
4-0.
Tuesday, November 29th - IN THE NEWS: It's the Cubans' turn
today as Cuban ace Jose Mendez shuts out the Tigers, 3-0. On a steal
attempt, Ty Cobb is thrown out three times by Bruce Petway, who played
last year for the Chicago Leland Giants, and Gervasio "Strike"
Gonzales. On his last attempt, Cobb argues that the bag is three inches
too far. When measured, Cobb is proved correct, but is still out stealing.
A frustrated Cobb will cut short the tour and return to the U.S. The
Tigers will end their Cuban swing at 7-4, with a tie. This is a reversal
of last year's 4-8 record, when they played the Cuban teams without
Cobb and Sam Crawford. The champion A's also played in Havana at the
same time, finishing with a 4-6 record." -- In
The News (Nov. 1910)
"Hi Linda... I hope you remember me as
your almost next door neighbor from childhood days in Alva. We lived
at 726 Locust, just on the opposite corner of the same block. I was
in the class of '59 & '60 (long story). I'm not sure we
ever met. I enjoy your newsletter and have one small request. In the
'Mailbag & Links' area, sometimes there is a note from
someone I might like to contact, but the article has no name. The
old classmate of Max Oaks would be interesting to know. Oh, I love
your new mystery story of the first murder! Since I left Alva in '61
and my parents moved to Tulsa in about '68, it is hard to keep up
with news from NW Okla. My grandparents came to Alva in about 1906
so they were there at that time (W.E.Steadman). Too bad they are both
gone. My mother seems to remember the judge named Miller, but not
much else. My brother Lewis, lives in Dallas. He is also a Judge!
He used to work for the old man (Morton) Share who left so much money
to Alva when he died.(He lived just up the block from you.) His life
& gifts to Alva would make a nice story some day. My mom knew
your folks and worked in some of the elections together. You write
some interesting stories. Keep up the good work!"
-- Steve N.
Inquiry - Social, Economic Impact of WWII in Stilwell
(Okla.)... "My name is Ryan Tiger and
I am doing a paper on the 'Social & Economic Impact of WWII
in Stilwell, Okla.' Any information with relation to camps in
the area of Stilwell would greatly be appreciated. If there are other
sources please email me back. Thank you." -- Contact:
Ryan
Fly-by
of Alva Airport Picture...
"The text says the airport is northwest of the city. Gee, I hope
nobody tries to land northwest of the city." -- Editor's
note... The Airport is South of Alva (Okla.)
Alva
Cemtery Records...
Just click on the letter of the surname to find listings of burial
records in the Alva, Oklahoma Cemetery.
Science
Hall, Northwestern Normal School...
A postcard view of Alva, Oklahoma's Castle on the Hill, Science Hall
at Northwestern Normal School.
PARIS Family Info... "My
family tree shows that Polly PARIS was married to Moses Taylor in
the early 1800's and they have had several children in Tennessseee.
They also lived in Overton County. The dates on the childrens birth
looks to be inline with Polly PARIS... I have more info." --
Contact Rick Parker
TUCKER Inquiry... "Was
wondering if you might know of a Dr. P Tucker? He was in LeFlore County,
OK. That's all the info I have on him. Thanks." -- Contact
Robin |
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