The Okie Legacy

Oakie's NW Corner...

Most of this week has been spent in NW Oklahoma helping, caring for the feeding, watering of my what my sister calls "My Remuda."

The week started off with a wet Sunday & Monday. Leaving around 2-1/2-inches of rain around the Fairvalley (Oklahoma) stomping grounds. It cooled things off until the last day of July before the temps reached the 102F mark on the temp sign posted on Oklahoma Blvd., in Alva, NW Oklahoma.

I said I was feeding, watering my Remuda of horses this week... I have to relay this little tidbit -- I was working to turn on the windmill, standing between windmill and tank, my 2-year gelding (Moon) comes up to me across the tank and sticks his head over in my direction as if to ask, "Please rub my forehead, ears, nose and then hurry up with that dang water. I'm thirstier than all get out." So... I did the quick rubbing part and got the water flowing into the tank as fast as it would run.

Girl Scout Hut Legacy... We need your NW Oklahoma memories and your help with this next bit of trivia. A lady (Alva Girl Scout Coordinator) sent me an email this last week concerning the Girl Scout Hut in Hatfield Park, in Alva, Oklahoma.

I found out something that I did not realize... that the Girl Scout Hut in the park was moved in there around 1945 when an old WWII bunk house was moved in and given to the Girl Scouts with certain stipulations. You can read more about the request concerning the Girl Scout Hut in Hatfield Park in the "Mailbag & Link Corner." If you have any memories, news clippings, or whatever history to share concerning the Girl Scout Hut, please Contact Lana Joachims or Myself (Linda). Thanks!

Hatfield Park Plat -- Alva, NW Oklahoma... I have not made it to the Okla. Historical Society to review the 1945 newspapers for info concerning the WWII bunk house that was brought in to Hatfield Park & Lake for the Girl Scout Hut.

BUT... I did manage to find a handwritten Warranty Deed at the Woods County courthouse, dated 20 March 1906 from Wm. F. and Fannie Hatfield. It was deeded to the City of Alva. It had a Plat Map of the park & lake showing the area east of Fourteenth Street and north of Flynn Ave.

How many of you NW Oklahoman's remember a 30.529 acres of Fair Ground property located north of Fair Street and east of Fourteenth Street? At this fair grounds once stood a standard half mile race track bordered on the north by the A.T.& S.F. RR. A small grand stand was located on the southside of the race track. Click Photo to see larger view of the Plat Map. This is the Warranty Deed from Wm. F. & Fannie Hatfield to the City of Alva.

I am going to leave you with the following quote... "People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there ... Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here, we might as well dance!"

~~ Linda "OaKie" ~~

Letter To Uncle Alvin R. Paris...

Alvin R. Paris, you may have left us for a higher sphere, 31 July 2002, 8:30a.m., to be with your mom, dad, and other siblings, BUT... you have not been forgotten.

We shall always have the memories you built, shared with your family, friends as we celebrate almost 90 years of your life here on earth.

You were born the 2nd oldest son of Ernest Claude & Mary Barbara (Hurt) Paris on November 1, 1912. The Ernie & Mary Hurt Paris siblings are... Leslie, Alvin, Vernon, Vada, Zella, Kenneth, Sam, Geneva and Ernie "EJ", Jr. You may have gone to be with your sisters, brothers, Mom & Dad, Grandparents on the Conover, Hurt & Paris side of the family who have departed before you, but... you still leave behind a younger brother, Sam, in Sand Point, Idaho - your wife, Naomi - three sons, daughters-in-law, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

On February 3, 1935... you married Naomi Warren -- taking her as your bride, companion and life-partner. From 1938 thru 1948 you and Naomi produced three great sons, Stan, b. 2/25/1938; Lynn, b. 10/15/1942; and Phil, b. 6/09/1948.

The Hurt Family Lineage takes us back to your great-grandpa, John James Hurt, born 16 May 1832, in the Village of Oujezdec (today Ujezdec), Town of Kutna Hora, County, Caslav. Czech. John James Hurt died 1915 and is buried in the Old Hurt Place located 2 miles west, 1/4 mile southeast of Orion Cemetery, Major Co., OK.

Your Great-grandparents... John James Hurt and Mary Markvicka, had seven children all born in the old country (Austria). They came to America 14 March 1876 and settled in Posen (Farewell), Nebraska. The John Hurt family moved to Oklahoma, others moved to Minnesota and others stayed in Nebraska..... Read more Family history

It wasn't so long ago (maybe a couple years ago) that you sent me a cassette recording of yourself singing some of the old songs that fueled your heart, soul while growing, living in the small townsMajor and Woods County, in NW Oklahoma. I shall always treasure it and hold it in my family treasure box of memories forever.

Alvin, I remember you sharing with me some of the memories you had of your mother that she would bake bread everyday of the week -- even though she wouldn't have flour. Thanks for all of those memories you leave with us all.

I will be there... August 5th, 2002, 10:00 o'clock, Monday morning, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Ave. (corner of Platte & Cascade), Interment, Evergreen Cemetery -- Many of your friends and family will also be gathering to help celebrate almost 90 years of your life.

Thanks for being my Uncle Alvin! !

~~ Your Niece, Linda K. McGill Wagner ~~

Burned Castle on the Hill

1935 - Fire Hits Oklahoma School
Castle on the Hill Legacy

By the Associated Press, Alva, Okla... The Alva headlines read, March 1, 1935 -- Loss at Northwestern Teachers' College is 1/2 Million.
      "Fire destroyed the main administration building at (NSTC) Northwestern State Teachers' College here early today, causing damage estimated at more than 1/2 million dollars.
      Origin of the fire was not determined. The building, built in 1898, was constructed in the form of a Spanish castle and was the largest educational structure in the state of Oklahoma.
      Three students, sleeping on the top floor of the 3-story building, were trapped when the flames started and were rescued by firemen. They are Floyd Anthis and Clyde Friend, both of Cushing, and Tom Anderson, Picher.
      The huge, rambling administration building housed forty large classrooms, in addition to the college library, the music department, the museum and the fine arts and industrial arts departments.
      The library contained 60,000 volumes, valued by L. A. Ward, librarian, at $180,000. All were destroyed."

---

Lost in NW Oklahoma
Antique Phonograph

     This is a picture of my antique, windup phonograph that my grandmother Constance Estelle Warwick McGill gave me back in the the early 1960s when I was in Jr. High School.
      I had it in storage at my folks house at 829 Skyline Drive, Alva, Oklahoma.
      During the mid-1990s and the probate of my folk's estate & trusts the estate executor and trustee changed the locks on the folk's house so we couldn't retrieve any of our personal things left there in storage.
      They held an estate auction. I don't know whether they sold my antique phonograph by mistake, or what, where, who now has it in their possession.
      I have tried several times in writing to the executor and the trustee to find out where my antique phonograph ended up and asking them to retrieve it for me, BUT... I have never heard or seen any reply from either of the executor or the trustee concerning my antique windup phonograph.
      Bottomline is... I would very much like to have my property (antique, windup phonograph) back.
      If anyone out there has seen this antique windup phonograph, would you let me know where and who has it in their possession? Thanks!

~~ Linda ~~

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Linda K McGill Wagner
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Linda Kay - 1955

Hollis-Smith Showers... Miss Ealon Hollis, Sunday became the bride of John Smith. Mrs. W. E. Steadman, Mrs. J. L. Burchett and Mrs. C. C. Stewart entertained Tuesday evening in the home of Mrs. Steadman, 819 5th St.

Hollis-Myers - ca. 1938... Miss Daphne Hollis Becomes Bride of Harry Myers Sunday - The Home of Mrs. W. E. Steadman Is Scene of Ceremony - Miss Daphne Hollis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Hollis, 1127 Flynn Ave., marries Harry Myers, accountant for Arkansas Gas and Electric company, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The ceremony took place at 9:00 o'clock Sunday morning in the home of Mrs. W. E. Steadman, 819 Fifth Street.

Stewart-Wishert Shower... Miss Sharlie Meth Stewart, bride-elect of J. Bryant Wishert, Kansas city, Missouri, was complimented at an attractively appointed shower on Saturday afternoon when hostesses were Mrs. Fred Heckman, Mrs. W. E. Steadman and Mrs. Gus Hadwiger.

Bright-Fash - August 1937... Bright-Fash Nuptials Take Place Today at the Home of Bride's Grandparents - Popular City Couple's Wedding Calendared Among August Social Activities; Over 60 Guests to Witness Event - Miss Justine Fash, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Fash, 724 Santa Fe Street, and Robert C. Bright, Alva, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray E. Bright, Gage, Oklahoma were united in marriage at 2:00p.m., at the home of the bride's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Noble, 717 Fourth Street. Robert C. Bright was educated in the Gage public schools and at Northwestern State Teachers college. Mr. Bright joined the Alva Daily Record news staff in March, 1935, and since January 1, 1936, has been employed at the Alva Review-Courier, where he was news editor at the time of his marriage to Miss Fash.