Oakie's NW Corner...
I have heard from lots of you out there concerning memories of
NW Oklahoma and Alva. One particular was an oldest son (Bill, born
in Alva, graduated from AHS in 1949). His father (E. M. Barker)
was the 1943 sports writer for the Alva-Review Courier. That email
lead me on a search of my webpages looking for that name. I found
it in an old 1943 article that was in my Grandpa's baseball legacy
clippings entitled 1943
Kings of Sport. You never know who will stop by and read nowadays,
but every once in awhile someone finds a connection here and there.
Then there is the reader whose great-grandfather, JB McMurphy,
is listed as one of the correspondents of the Woods
County Socialist. That article he speaks about dates back
to 1910 and the Old Opera House Murder in NW Oklahoma. I happen
to run onto the Woods County Socialist newspaper article
at the Oklahoma Historical
Society when I was doing research on the Old
Opera House Murder of 1910. If anyone out there has any more
info concerning the Woods Count Socialist, please share it
with us and see Curt's email address in the Mailbag Corner. Thanks!
Do some of you Northwest Okies remember when Monfort Drugs burned
down? Was it in the early 1950s - Maybe around 1952 or 1953?
These are shots sent to me of the Monfort Drugs fire scenes taken
sometime during the early 1950s. As to my recollection of the fire,
it is really quite vague. All I remember is living on the corner
of 7th & Church Street (a couple or three blocks south and west
of the downtown square in Alva, Oklahoma. I also remember heading
downtown early one morning with my Dad and family - seeing lots
of people lining Barnes Ave. in the 600 block to see the devastation
of the burned, gutted building that once held this Northwest downtown
landmark they called Monfort Drugs. Click the photo to view more
scenes of the Monfort Drugs Fire in the early 1950s.
 In
one of the mid-1980s history books of Alva, Oklahoma it describes
Alva as "The Pearl on the Nescatunga" in it's earlier
days. On page 106 of "The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma"
there is a brief history
of Monfort Drugs written by Dwight Anderson, but it doesn't
say when the fire was. Monfort's sold drugs, medicines, paints,
oils and glass, books, stationery, school supplies, toilet articles,
choice confections and anything else imaginable. Their motto was
"We've got it if we can find it." Monfort's soda
fountain was twice as long as the average fountain in those days.
It was a popular gathering place after an evening at the movies.
Monfort's was opened at 6 o'clock a.m. daily and closed whenever
the streets were empty of customers in the evening. The pharmacy
was at the rear. Monfort's employed local people... including teenagers.
It was a windy night in the early 1950s when it was gutted by a
fire.
This picture was taken from the top of the Bell Hotel, looking west
towards the southwest corner of the downtown square. It shows the
westside of square along College Avenue (6th Street) and part of
Barnes Avenue that runs west to east. The CR Anthony company occupies
the corner of 6th Street and Barnes where Monfort Drugs once stood
before it burned in the early 1950s. (Click photo to view larger
scene.) This picture according to M. Henry was taken around 1956
and can be seen in the AHS yearbook or on Marvin's
Website. On the SW corner of Barnes & Sixth Street is the
CR Anthony store where Monfort Drugs and Pangburn's Cafe used to
reside. Next to Anthony's is Tanner's Clothing and north of Tanner's
is the old T. G. & Y store. A couple of doors north of T.G.
& Y you will notice the Pix Theatre and Jett's Department store.
Do you remember Jett's and how the entry way went in one side, curved
around past the front doors, and then on out the other side? It's
been remodeled into Cunningham's Law Offices today. Things do change,
don't they?
Y'all take care this weekend and stay reasonably warm and dry.
Have a safe weekend and enjoy the rest of the Autumn, Fall colors
out there. Shuffle through and kick up a few of those fallen leaves
and watch them slowly float back down to the ground. See you next
weekend!
~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~
NW OK Marriages - 1939...
Behel-Howell
- Easter Sunday, 1939 -- Behel-Howell
Nuptial Vows are Read Sunday Afternoon - Alva Couple Wedded at United
Brethren Church, Rev. Williams Officiates - Miss Lois Eleanor Behel,
attractive daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Behel, became the bride
of E. Raymond Howell, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Howell, at a lovely
ceremony Easter Sunday afternoon at 3:30 at the First United Brethren
church, with Rev. A. L. Williams, officiating.
Hamm-Heaton
- Sunday, 1939 -- Miss Hamm Becomes Bride of Mr. Heaton
- At a quiet wedding before a group of relatives and friends, Miss
Margaret Hamm, granddaughter of A. T. Hill of Medford, became the
bride of Floyd Heaton, son of Mrs. Elsie Lieurance.
Cornish-Tate
-- Sunday, 1939 -- Tate-Cornish Marriage Event of Sunday
- An early morning ceremony marked the marriage Sunday morning of
Miss Nina Cornish, daughter of Mrs. Pearl Cornish, and Howard Tate,
son of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Tate of Olustee, Oklahoma.
Romjue-Wilson
- Sunday, 1939 -- Dorothy Romjue Weds Wichita Man - Mr.
and Mrs. W. C. Romjue announce the marriage of their daughter, Dorothy,
to Harold Wilson, son of Mrs. Clare Wilson of Wichita, Kans.
Morehart-Marcum
- Sunday, 1939 -- Popular Couple Married Sunday Afternoon
- At a pretty afternoon ceremony Sunday Miss Avis Morehart, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Morehart, became the bride of Frank K. Marcum,
son of A. R. Marcum.
Kurth-Coles
- Sunday, 1939 -- Coles-Kurth Marriage Is Announced - Miss
Margaret Kurth, daughter of Mrs. E. L. Kurth, and Jack Coles, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Coles of Lookout, were married Sunday with the
Rev. Gady, minister of the Lutheran church of Cherokee, officiating.
Hazard-Gibler
- Monday, 1939 -- Alva Couple Is Wed On Monday Evening -
Announcement has been made of the marriage of Mrs. Ellen Hazard
and Mr. C. A. Gibler, both of Alva.
Grunig-Harburg
- Monday, 1939 -- Printed in the "The Monitor"
in Masquero, New Mexico - In a quiet wedding solemnized at the J.
R. McLaughlin home last Monday night, Miss Millie Beth Grunig of
Roy became the bride of Mr. Fred Harburg, employed in the local
SCS office.
Lehl-Reid
- Wednesday, 1939 -- Marriage Is Announced - Announcement
has been made of the marriage of Miss Ruby Reid, daughter of N.
W. Reid of Alva, and Elvest Lehl, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Lehl,
also of Alva, which took place Wednesday at Enid.
Harding-Wells
- Thursday, 1939 -- Virginia Harding Becomes Bride of Lloyd
Wells - Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Harding of Woodward, formerly of Alva,
announce the marriage of their daughter, Virginia, to Lloyd Wells
of Carmen.
Vincent-Shelite
-Saturday, 1939 -- Miss Vincent Becomes Bride of Mr. Shelite
- Miss Irma Vincent, attractive daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Vincent,
Lakin, Kans., became the bride of Laverne Shelite in a small, quiet
ceremony in Enid Saturday.
Gillen-Whitchurch
- March 27, 1939 -- Wedding Announced - Announcement has
been made of the wedding of Miss Lola Gillen to J. B. Whitchurch.
The ceremony was performed March 27 at Medford. Mr. and Mrs. Whitchurch
will make their home in Alva where Mr. Whitchurch will operate the
Super Shine Salon on West Flynn Avenue.
Black-Chew
- May 20, 1939 -- Ellen Black Becomes Bride of Woody Chew
- Miss Ellen Black, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. V. V. Black of Ringwood
became the bride of Woodrow Chew, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Chew
of Las Cruces, N. M., May 20, in a quiet ceremony held at Fort Worth,
Texas.
Rose-Clark
- June 3, 1939 -- Former Alva Girl Is June Bride - Of interest
to her friends in Alva is the marriage of Miss Marie Rose, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Rose of Siloam Springs, Ark., formerly of
Alva, to Forest Clark of Manhattan, Kans.
Fossey-Korn
- Sunday, June 4, 1939 -- Alva, Okla. Margaret Fossey Becomes
Bride of Melvin Korn - Miss Margaret Fossey of Buffalo and Melvin
Korn of Gage were married in the home of the bride's parents, Mr.
and Mrs. W. F. Fossey of Buffalo, by Rev. George B. Baker, pastor
of the Buffalo M. E. church, Sunday afternoon, June 4.
Shelby-Oshel
-- Wednesday, June 7, 1939 -- Shelby- Oshel Marriage Is
Announced Here - Announcement has been made of the marriage of Miss
Billie Oshel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Oshel, to Truett Shelby,
son of Mrs. W. B. Shelby, Oklahoma City. The vows were read by the
rev. A. Norman Evans, pastor of the church, Norman, on Wednesday,
June 7.
Muegge-Carter
- Sunday, June 11, 1939, Alva, Okla. -- Miss Caroline Muegge
Weds Dr. Robt. P. Carter - Miss Caroline Muegge, daughter of Mrs.
G. A. Muegge of Lamont became the bride of Dr. Robert P. Carter
of Tonkawa, son of Dr. and Mrs. T. C. Carter of Alva, at 4 o'clock
Sunday afternoon in the Lamont Methodist church. Rev. Don H. LaGrone
of Oklahoma City read the single ring ceremony.
Kish-Sercomb
- Friday, June 18, 1939 -- Vows Read In Borger - One of
the most prominent of Borger's June weddings was that solemnized
Friday evening, when Miss Mary Kish became the bride of William
A. Sercomb in the rectory of St. John's Catholic Church. Vows were
exchanged at 9 o'clock, as the couple stood before an improvised
altar of flowers. The bride, the daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Kish
of Alva, Okla. The bridegroom, the son of Mrs. Sadie Sercomb of
Houston,
McDonald-Eason
- June 26, 1939 -- Alva Couple
Married Saturday Evening - At a simple evening ceremony Miss Lorene
McDonald, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. I. McDonald, became the bride
of Dub Eason, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Eason.
Whiteside-LeGree
- June 26, 1939 -- Brooks LaGree Will Be Married Soon -
Of interest to many Alvans is the announcement of the approaching
marriage of Miss Helan Whiteside, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs.
Stansell Whiteside, Altus, to Brooks Jennings LaGree, Woodward.
The wedding will take place at 4:30 o'clock the afternoon June 26
in the First Methodist church, Altus.
Gourley-Cameron
-- Wednesday, July 2, 1939 -- Marriage Is Announced In Alva
- Mr. and Mrs. John Cameron, west of Alva, announce the marriage
of their daughter, Frances, to R. Doss Gourley of near Avard on
July 2, 1938 (sic).
Katherman-King
-- Saturday, July 8, 1939 -- Miss Katherman Becomes Bride
of Jack King - Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Katherman, Olathe, Kans., announce
the marriage of their daughter, Josephine Eileen, to Jack King,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter King, Alva on Saturday, July 8.
Avery-Crisp
- Saturday, July 8, 1939 -- Marriage Is Announced - Mr.
and Mrs. Holmes Crisp announce the marriage of their daughter, Faye
Marie, to Norville Ellis Avery of Chickasha, Okla. The wedding was
an event of Saturday, July 8, at Chickasha.
Throckmorton-McGlothlin
- Sunday, July 16, 1939 -- Alva, Oklahoma
Evening Ceremony Unites Popular Young Couple - Mr. and Mrs. Lee
Throckmorton of Capron announce the marriage of their daughter,
Miss Lois Lee Throckmorton, to Charles McGlothlin, son of Mr. and
Mrs. John McGlothlin of Alva.
Beeler-Stites
- Friday, July 28, 1939 -- Marriage Is Announced Here -
Mr. and Mrs. William Stites, 20 Barnes, announce the marriage of
their daughter, Joyce, to Mr. R. M. Beeler of Alva. The young couple
was united at a simple wedding ceremony Friday evening, July 28.
Payne-Weber
- July 30, 1939, Alva, Oklahoma --
Miss LaVaughan Payne Becomes Bride of Fabien Weber Today - Early
Morning Ceremony Unites Popular Young Couple in Alva Today - An
early morning, single ring ceremony will mark the marriage this
morning of Miss LaVaughn Payne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Payne,
and Fabien Weber, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weber of Cherokee.
Hill-Allen
- Enid, August 1, 1939 -- Wilbur V. Allen, 29, and Sara
U. Hill, 25, both of Harper, Kans. - Mrs. Wilbur Allen was Miss
Sally Hill, daughter of Dr. Mae Clements, Danville, Kans., prior
to her marriage August 1, at Enid, Okla. Mr. Allen is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Allen of Harper, Kans., where he owns and operates
a recreation parlor. Mrs. Allen, a former teacher in Harper County,
attended Emporia State Teachers College and Oklahoma A & M at
Stillwater.
Echel
(sic) -Hadwiger - Wednesday, August 9, 1939 -- Noon Ceremony
Joins Alice Echel and Robert Hadwiger In a quiet ceremony at 12
o'clock noon Wednesday, August 9, Miss Alice C. Eckel and Robert
L. Hadwiger were married in Wichita, Kans., in the home of Rev.
H. D. Barton, retired minister of the Methodist church. Mrs. Hadwiger
is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Eckel of Douglass, Kans. Mr.
Hadwiger is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Hadwiger of Alva.
Parker-Bixler
- Thursday, August 10, 1939 -- Afternoon
Ceremony Unites Young Couple - At an impressive four o'clock ceremony
Wednesday afternoon, Miss Maryel Louise Parker, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. H. E. Parker of Avard, became the bride of Dean G. Bixler,
son of Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Bixler of Waynoka.
Gatz-Tiberghien
- August 13, 1939 -- Mrs. Bill Tiberghien Honoree At Shower
- Mrs. Earl Marsh entertained Tuesday evening at a post nuptial
shower honoring Mrs. Bill Tiberghien, formerly Miss Clara Gatz whose
marriage was an event of August 13.
Dean-Wise
- Monday, August 21, 1939 -- Former Northwestern Student
Marries - Of interest to her friends in Alva is the recent marriage
of Miss Lillie Dean of Oklahoma City to Clark M. Wise, Los Angeles.
Zinn-Duck
- Monday, August 28, 1939 -- Alva Couple United In Afternoon
Ceremony - An event of Sunday afternoon was the marriage of Miss
Arvi Zinn to Vernon Duck in a quiet ceremony in the Baptist parsonage
in Cherokee. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Zinn
of Alva. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Duck, Alva.
Parker-Bingham
- Friday, December 8, 1939 -- Alva, Oklahoma - The society
editor takes pen in hand to record her own wedding in the first
person. Written by Society Editor, Miss Louise Parker, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Parker, and Drake Bingham, Editor and son
of Mrs. Maud A. Drake-Bingham for their wedding.
Brand-Shea
- Saturday, December 30, 1939 -- Marriage Is Announced -
A simple evening ceremony at Augusta, Kans., marked the marriage
of Miss Zema Shea, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Shea, and Max Brand,
son of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Brand.
Adams-Brenneman
- Saturday, Dec. 30, 1939 -- Former Alva Girl Marries In
Clinton - Of interest to her friends in Alva is the marriage of
Miss Euta Adams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Adams of Sayre,
to Leroy J. Brenneman of Phoenix, Ariz. The wedding was solemnized
at noon on Saturday, Dec. 30, at the Episcopal church in Clinton.
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My Black Moon
We have gotten the horses sorted, weaned and tagged
this season. Just happened to get this great shot of my two-year-old
gelding that is going on three years... or maybe they call him
a long two-year-old. Being an amateur horse lady the terms are
still new to me. So if some experienced horse person out there
can educate this Oakie, please do! Thanks!
You can read more about my horses at Essemar
Farms. click the photo to see larger view of my gelding, Black
Moon. his winter coat does make him appear to be a dark, black
horse.
Jack & Me - At Treat Time!
Menu:
Autumn Flight of Geese
The Gaggle of Geese were noisy last week in the northwest
corner of Oklahoma while we were working, sorting and weaning horses.
I just happen to catch them in flight after I startled them where
they were busy singing, eating and resting in this Alfalfa County
maize field before their seasonal flight south. Click on photo to
view larger view and closeup of Geese.
Autumn On Maple Street
Maple Street Autumn in Northwest Oklahoma was sparkling with it's
gold, reddish hues earlier this week in my front and back yards.
Remember when the leaves would fall to the ground and when we were
kids - how we would rake up the leaves into piles - put an old blanket
over it and have a leafy, cozy spot to rest in the shade of the
leafless trees. We would also shuffle our feet through the leaves
as we walk through kicking, scattering them everywhere. Aaaaaahhhh!
Those were the Days, huh?! Here's some views of the Frontyard
trees & the Backyard
tree on the Southeast corner of Maple & Eleventh Street.
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.
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