Oakie's Heart to Heart, Vol. 4, Iss. 48

	The Okie Legacy Inspiration... Light the Fire Within! Learn the Past! Live the Present!..... Like the Eagle... Be not afraid of the storm! Be as strong! Be smart enough to soar above it!

The Okie Legacy - http://okielegacy.org

November 30, 2002, Vol. IV, Iss. 48

Oakie's NW Corner...

The Mailbag is full of NW Oklahoma memories this week. Thanks to all who sent in their special memories.

You will be glad to hear that new owners (John & Amy Ryerson) have taken over the Old Bell Hotel in downtown Alva, Oklahoma. They have evicted the pigeons who have called the Bell Hotel's penthouse home for these many years while it stood empty.

These are some more of the memories you can check out in the Mailbag Corner for NW Oklahoma memories: The Monfort's Fire 28 May 1953 - center parking in Alva's downtown streets around the square - Frozen chocolate malts that you could get at Monfort Drugs for 25-cents - Bob "Buzz" Brandenburg as a local policeman in 1953 - A nickel dip of ice cream in a cone - Snyder's Pool Hall where religious groups would sing to the sinners - the Old Courthouse with the fountain on the westside - Saturday afternoon's when the courtyard on the square would be filled with children playing and parents shopping in downtown Alva - Dr. Hefner's Chiropractor office above Monfort Drugstore - Pangburn's Cafe being sold to Rufus Gordon in early 1953 - Pangburn's Cafe moves out to the Jct. of hwy. 281 & 64 while Gordon's Cafe moves in just north of Monfort Drugstore.

I did find out the approximate month, year of the Monfort building fire from a reader earlier this week. That date gave me the information I need to do my sleuthing in the Historical Society's newspaper archives earlier this week before the Thanksgiving break.

The old Alva newspaper archives around may, 1953 found lots of articles on the Monfort building burning. The exact date it burned was... May 28, 1953, Thursday, early morning with the first alarm of the fire around 1:30a.m. and/or 1:45a.m.

Did you know... that only a week earlier the city council of Alva (Oklahoma) abolished the center parking in the downtown business district streets around the square. Merchants & farmers were more than peeved for not having fair warning. You can read the transcriptions of those 1953 news articles dated May 20, May 21, May 22 and May 27, 1953.

The 27th of May 1953 article was quite interesting with the heated debate with 300 citizens (farmers, local citizens, merchants), the counsel members, invited guests and the mayor. A special council meeting was called by Mayor Art Lane concerning the council's decision of May 20, 1953 to finally abolish the center parking in the downtown square. Instead of meeting in the city chambers, the mayor, council members and invited guests met in the American Legion Hut on the evening of 27 may 1953.

During that meeting Marion S. Monfort was quoted as saying that he believed the farmers and the business men and women in Alva should have had more time to consider the change exacted by the council and urged that the council sescind its action on the emergency clause which would delay the elimination of center parking for 30 days and permit time for a substitute to be planned and made ready to put into effect.

Did you know... that if you have ever traveled from Hot Springs, Arkansas to Colorado Springs, Colorado that you might have been traveling on the Albert Pike Highway?! To you NW Oklahoma's around Alva... It runs right through your town as the east-west highway (64) that runs in front of the Castle on the Hill. Some of you call it Oklahoma Blvd., Hwy. 64 and Normal Street maybe. How come we don't have any signs up that show it is part of the Albert Pike Highway? Are we ashamed of that name... Albert Pike highway?

About Albert Pike... Albert Pike was born Dec. 29, 1809 in Boston. Went to Harvard college in 1825. In 1831 he went west with a trading party to Santa Fe. Pike was admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 1835. He was a Teacher, poet, essayist, trapper/explorer, Historian, revolutionary, short story writer, newspaper editor, lawyer, Indian Advocate, military commander, oratory, State Supreme Court Justice, legal scholar, education reformer, political activist, philosopher, humorist, apologist, publisher, social reformer and a Freemason. He was a crusader for justice for Native Americans and the only Confederate soldier to be honored in America's capitol, Washington, DC. Even today, the United States honors Pike through its interstate highway system. The Albert Pike Highway runs from Hot Springs, Arkansas to Muskogee, Tulsa, Enid and Alva, Oklahoma to Dodge City, Kansas to Pueblo and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Read MORE about Albert Pike.

To all my Jewish friends and readers out there getting ready for their Hanukkah holiday... Happy Hanukkah! See everyone next month (December), next weekend at the same time... Hopefully earlier than tonight!Taking that Thanksgiving break kind of slowed things down a bit for this NW Okie. Where has November gone so soon?

~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~

NW OK Marriages 1940...

Rauh-Kletke - Sunday, January 21, 1940 - Church Vows Unite Couple - A pretty afternoon ceremony in the Lutheran church today will mark the marriage of Miss Margaret Rauh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Rauh, southeast of Alva, and Roland Kletke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Kletke of Alva.

Templin-Applebaugh - January 23, 1940 - Church Ceremony Tuesday Evening Joins Young Couple - One of the most beautiful weddings of the year was the marriage Tuesday of Miss F. Allene Templin, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. O. E. Templin, and Ray E. Applebaugh, son of Mrs. Myrtle Applebaugh of Salina, Kans.

Pennington-Higginbotham - Sunday, February 25, 1940 - Alva Couple Will Marry - A pretty, simple church ceremony will mark the marriage this afternoon of Miss Viola Pennington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Pennington, and Harvey Higginbotham, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Higginbotham.

Lindley-Kessinger - Sunday, March 24, 1940 - Wedding Held Easter Sunday - At a Pretty Easter Wedding attended by members of the two immediate families and a few close friends, Miss Jennilee Lindley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Lindley, became the bride of Paul Kessinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Kessinger of Alva.

Hadwiger-Weigand -Sunday, Spring, 1940 - Wedding Vows Exchanged - Miss Ruth Hadwiger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hadwiger, became the bride of Harvey Weigand, son of Mr. and Mrs. Weigand, Sr., in a ceremony at the home of the bride's parents at 4:30 Sunday afternoon. Reverend W. A. Keller officiated at the ceremony. The vows were exchanged in the presence of the immediate family and intimate friends.

Rives-Walton - May 8, 1940 - Marriage Announcement Is Received - Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Rives, of Kansas City, have announced the marriage of their daughter, Hazel, to Mr. Arley Walton of Alva, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sid P. Walton.

Shafer-Haney - May 31, 1940 - Miss Shafer Weds Byron Haney - A pretty candle light service in the First Presbyterian church in Ferguson, Mo., marked the marriage of Miss Joyce Shafer of Ferguson, daughter of Mrs. Anton Shafer of Alva, to Byron E. Haney, also of Ferguson.

Fulton-Noah -- June 15, 1940, Saturday - Lorraine Fulton and Clay Noah To Wed - Announcement has been received in Alva of the coming marriage of Miss Lorraine Fulton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chet Fulton of Los Angeles, former residents of Alva, and Clay Noah, formerly of Alva, son of Mrs. Musia Maxey of Los Angeles.

Griffith-Simms - Monday, 1940 - Simms-Griffith Wedding Is Solemnized at Woodward - Miss Amora Griffith, of Buffalo, and Herman Simms, of Alva, were married Monday evening at Woodward by the Rev. Fred J. Johnson, pastor of the United Brethren church there. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Griffith, of Buffalo. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. O. Simms

Center Parking In Alva

According to the 21 May 1953 article in the Alva Review-Courier, the city council Friday morning adopted Ordinance 508 which amends the city's traffic and parking code, Ordinance 442, and attached the Emergency Clause, thus making effective Friday morning the abolishing of all center parking in Alva.

Ordinance 508 States...

"That no automobiles or other motor vehicles shall be allowed to stand or park in the center of the street in or upon any of the streets within the city of Alva, Oklahoma.

"All vehicles parked at the curb of any street shall park at an angle of 45 degrees except where parallel parking is authorized or permitted, or at such other angle as parking lines indicate, and when desiring to leave such angle parking, the driver shall back slowing out of such parking place, making sure that there is no oncoming traffic within the reasonably clear and assured distance behind such backing vehicle and then such driver shall proceed forward in the general line of travel on that side of the street.

"Provided: that no truck or pickup larger than one-half ton capacity shall park at any place around the public square, not on Barnes or Flynn Avenues between College Avenue and Seventh Street nor on College Avenue between Choctaw Street and Center Street."

Mailbag & Links Corner....

Pictorial Coverage Shows How Fire Destroyed One of Alva's Oldest Landmarks...

Making Observations - concerning the damage Thursday morning are, far left, Carl Shafer, Jim Devery and Marion Monfort. Dr. Felicia Monfort and Toni Monfort, partly hidden, daughters of Marion, are shown on the far right with Leonard butler. (staff photo)

The Wrecking Crew - The front of Monfort's drug is shown being torn down by a wrecking crane in order that it would not all later and injure bystanders. The front wall was still standing following the disastrous $400,000 fire Thursday morning. (Traverse photo)

Early Morning & Monfort Building Fire - Early Morning sight in Alva Thursday was the completely gutted Monfort building at the corner of College and Barnes Ave. Smoke was still seen rising from the wreckage at 1 p.m. Thursday. (Staff photo)

The Back Wall - the Monfort building may be seen early Thursday morning in the center before it was knocked down by the wrecking crew about 11 a.m. Firemen can still be seen throwing water on the smoldering blaze. (Staff photo)

Monfort Building & Gordon's Cafe - Early problem Thursday morning was the smoke coming from Gordon's cafe. When the firemen first arrived the smoke was chiefly in Gordon's with the flames in the rear of both stores. When the glass was broken in the cafe, a huge puff of smoke burst out covering the firemen holding the hoses. (Staff photo)

Aerial View of Monfort Fire - the catastrophic fire Thursday was made by Austin Traverse about 6:30 a.m. from a plane which was flown by Wayne Kinzie. The overall view of the scene may be seen in the above photo.

Monfort Building & Streams of Water - shown pouring on the fire catastrophe which early Thursday morning wrecked and ravaged the Monfort building and damaged other adjoining structures. (Staff photo)

Monfort building & Tanner Bros Clothing - Volunteer firemen are shown with their hoses in front of the Monfort building and Tanner Brothers store here early Thursday pouring water on the fire. (staff photo)

Monfort Fire & Gordon Cafe Memories... "A point of clarification. The pictures of the Montfort fire refer to
Pangburn's Cafe next door to Montfort's, which was a total loss along with the drug store. It was indeed Pangburn's Cafe for a number of years, but it had been sold to Rufus Gordon not too long before the fire. Rufus had been the Chamber of Commerce manager in Alva prior to taking over this operation and was hit hard by this loss. He opened another smaller cafe in the Filson building on Oklahoma Blvd. (Normal Street at that time) at the top of 2nd Street which he ran for a number of years as Gordon's Cafe.
      Pangburn's had already moved to its new location at the east junction of Highways 281 and 64.
      I remember the Montfort fire very well. I got up early that morning, heard about the fire, and made immediately for downtown. The ruins were still smoking and the firemen were playing a high-pressure stream of water against a wall that was in danger of collapsing. They wanted it to fall into the
basement and therefore remove any threat it might have to people. It finally fell right where they wanted it to and was a pretty spectacular crash.
      Dr. Richey's dental office was indeed at the front right of the second floor of the Montfort Building. Chuck Richey, his son, was the circulation manager at the Alva Review Courier at the time and was therefore my boss, as I was a paper boy. I walked by the front of the building a few days later and saw
Chuck and James (another brother) sifting through the rubble looking for anything of salvagable value.
      I asked them if they needed any help and they accepted. I spent about an hour or so working with them and found several dental drill bits, picks, and various other small tools.
      Bob (Buzz) Brandenburg, who was an Alva policeman
at the time, came by and ordered us off the building as a matter of safety.
      The next day Chuck presented me with a check from Dr. Richey in the amount of $10.00 for my help. Up to that time in my life, it was the fastest money I had ever made.
      Great photos. I remember seeing very similar ones in the Courier following the blaze. Keep up your great work.
      One more memory about Montforts: They sold a frozen concoction from a machine that dispensed a dairy treat much like those later used by Dairy Queen. It was lighter and frothier, chocolate flavored, and was called a frozen malt
and for a nickel you got a generous helping heaped in an ice cream cone. It was one of the biggest bargains on the square." -- Jim

Center Parking & Montfort Fire... "Marion Monfort (the owner) was totally opposed to the abolishment of center parking and even went so far as to have handbills delivered to all of the cars on the square. I know, because Lorace Leatherman and I delivered them. Delivering handbills was a common way to get messages out in the early fifties, and kids were usually hired by the job to do it. I delivered handbills all over town for a lot of different businesses (Oklahoma Tire and Supply, F. M. Woodson real estate, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, etc.).
The only thing I can remember about the Montfort handbills was that they were large (probably legal-sized paper) and Marion expounded that it was A God-given right to park where it was legal and convenient. He really wanted to keep as much parking on the square as possible, and looking back he may have had a point. That square is almost dead today compared to what it was then."

HURT Family Legacy... "I am a Hurt. They tell me that my grandfather's parents were born in Bohemia and settled in Abby, Nebraska (Grant Co.) My grandfather was named Edward and he would have been born around 1880 I think in Neb. The name was originally Hurdt. My grandfather lived in Woodward and Carmen. They had two sons (Edward Jr. and Arlington). I know they lived in Carmen between l920 - 1960. My grandfather spoke fluent Bohemian as well as English. He was a barber by trade. I remember him taking me to the Kolache Festival in Prague when I was a kid. We lived in Shawnee. He would come to visit. I have no idea if we are part of your family tree. Unfortunatly... my father didn't seem to know much of his family past and my grandfather died
when I was ten. I do remember the name Vason or Vasin which could have been my grandfather's mother's maiden name... Im new to the internet and was just fooling around and tried Hurt Family Legacy and found you. If you can shed any light on my ancestors I would greatly
appreciate it." -- SoonerEd3rd@aol.com

Monfort's Fire 1953 & Other Alva Memories... "I am by no means an authority on the Monfort's burning, but as I recall, The Farry Junior and Seniors were on their school trip. That year we traveled the four corners and parts in between, of the state of Oklahoma. While on this trip we heard on the radio, and in the newspaper, of the tragedy of the burning of Monfort's. We could hardly believe, it could have happened, however when we returned, sure enough, it was gone. This was late May or early June 1953.
      My brother and I can remember going there and getting our favorite treat (A Chocolate FROZEN Malt for a quarter), the only place that you could get one. Monfort's was where you got your school text books, back in those days.
      Dr. Hefner had his Chiropractor Office above Monfort's, and his records were the only one's that survived the fire, as they were in pencil, instead of ink.
     I can remember when Alva had center parking around the square, and it was hard to find a parking as everything was always full on Saturdays. Alva had 4 theaters on the square, and was usually full on Saturday afternoons and again on Saturday night. Back then they showed the main feature twice, then as the late late show had a preview, which was the picture show for the first part of the week. They had two different movies each week.
      I can remember the old courthouse and the fountain on the West side and all the big trees and park benches. On Saturday afternoon the park around the square was full of people visiting, resting and children playing. Back in the forties, I remember when almost every woman wore a hat and several wore gloves.
      How times have changed, now lots of empty parking spaces, one theater, no Minton's Ice cream Parlor. No religious groups singing to the sinners at Snyder's Pool Hall. These are some of the things I can remember about Alva." -- Francis Melkus

German POW Grave of Leonhardt... "I was reading the issue of the April 28, 2001 Okie legacy and happened to come across the grave location for the POW (Kurt Leonhardt) you were talking about. He is buried in Tulsa along with 4 other German POWs, they were held at the McAlister prisoner of war camp. An article appears in the McAlister Democrat dated March 29, 1945 about the deaths. Sorry I don't know the cemetery name. I hope this helps." -- Bill Golden @ goldenb2@swbell.net

Your OkieLegacy Website... "I am Fox Indian & I found this very cool & insightful!"

Guestbook Entry... "I can't wait to come back and spend some time. Well done."

Horses, snowman & Kennedy Memories... "As usual, great shots of your horses and Quinton and his snowman are priceless! He looks so proud (well, BOTH of them look "proud" - tee hee). The stories about what and where people were when President Kennedy was shot and killed was interesting to read. I didn't send you anything because what I can remember was being at home (apparently I must have had a short day at school or something) and standing in the living room just staring at the TV in disbelief! Only problem is...... don't know if that was AFTER the event or while it was unfolding but THINK it was as it happened. Each time I hear someone being able to recall exactly what they were doing and where they were at when a memorable event took place always makes me wonder where my brain was during those periods cause I rarely remember EXACTLY what I was doing or where I was at. I admire those that can remember though. They are also the ones that will remember other memorable events - both personal and public."

Summers In Chester, Oklahoma... "My grandparents are Harold and Velma Newman. They lived in the Sherman area. My father is Melvin Newman. My aunt is Jeanene (Newman) Bonicelli. I live in Newnan, GA. I have fonds memories of spending my summers as a child in the Chester area. My grandfather took us to the diner on the corner in Chester, for what seemed like as a child, HUGE cinammon rolls. My family and I still visit regularly, and I sure wish I could stop by for a cinammon roll on the way out to the ranch." -- Deanna (Newman) Boyd @ dcardlady@hotmail.com

Pike Highway & Thanksgiving... "I ate too much turkey and giblet gravy. But it was good! Did you eat 'til your hearts content? Sure was nice outside. And have you ever driven on the Albert Pike Highway? It runs right through Alva!"

Albert Pike Highway... From Hot Springs, Ark. to Colorado Springs, Co. The cities along route... Arkansas: Hot Springs, Fort Smith; Oklahoma: Muskogee, Tulsa, Enid, Cherokee, Alva; Kansas: Coldwater, Greensburg, Dodge City; Colorado: Pueblo, Colorado Springs. Corresponding US Highways: US 64, [OK 34/KS 1], US 183, US 54, US 154, US 50, US 85

The Hotel Bell... "I was browsing the internet and found your article regarding the Bell Hotel. I am a native of Alva, Oklahoma and have an interest in the hotel. After leaving Alva, I lived in several major cities before moving my family back here in 1998.
      In August of this year, I purchased the Bell from Mr. Ramy and Dr. Steffan. You will be pleased to hear we have evicted all the pigeons and dedicated this fall to cleaning up their residue. Our plan is to restore the building, starting with a new roof and windows next year.
      The picture you included on this webpage depicting the Hotel Bell sign is new to me, and I would love to know if you know where I might obtain a copy. Incidentally, the Hotel Bell sign is still atop the Bell, lying flat, where I assume it has been for over forty years. In addition, I would be curious if you know of any old history books, detailing facts or pictures detailing the hotel.
      We are hoping to find as much Bell memorabilia as possible - as our plan is to build a display case in the lobby which would house old-time Bell items. I have also accumulated many old photos and artifacts from the hotel, which again, I would like to contribute back to the building following its restoration.
      I would like to talk with anyone regarding this great Oklahoma landmark at their convenience. Please feel free to call me at work at (580) 327-0476 or email me at home at jryerson@mba1998.hbs.edu. Thanks for sharing your Bell information on the OkieLegacy website." -- John Ryerson @
jryerson@mba1998.hbs.edu

May 22, 1953 - Playing at the Rialto & Ranger Theatres... Tickets were 45-cents, adults and 10-cents, children. They hd a Matinee daily 2:15 p.m. Evening show at 7:15 - 9:15p.m. The Ranger Theatre was showing a double feature programme - Lady From Louisiana with John Wayne & Ona Munson. The second feature was an action adventure Rex Allen The Arizona Cowboy and His Wonder Horse KoKo.

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