The Okie Legacy

Oakie's NW Corner...

I've been sleuthing again at the newspaper archives on microfilm at NWOSU Library, in Alva, Oklahoma. They finally had to kick me out at closing time this afternoon so they could shutdown.

Anyway, the breaking news is about the Alva Rest Room. The Alva Rest Room Guestbook that we have on the OkieLegacy.org site is dated 1909-1910, though. In The Alva Record, Friday, September 28, 1923, front page, bottom-center there was a short article with a small headline that read.... "Rest Room Being Built." I wasn't even looking for anything on the Alva Rest Room. Actually, I went there to find something on the "Hotel Bell." It was the week of 28 September, 1923 that work began on the Alva Ladies' Rest Room, which was constructed in the Court House Park just East of the Chamber of Commerce Building in September, 1923. The Rest Room was equipped with modern conveniences and open to all visitors to the city. It provided a place where women and children could rest and refresh and visit with friends in comfort while in the city. Was this a second edition of the Alva Rest Room? Where was the first?

24 September 1925... I found Geo. W. Bell's death announcement on the front-page of The Alva Record, dated 24 September 1925. I have added that article and others in the Mailbag Corner below.

Did You Know... Shortly before nine o'clock on the morning of 24 October 1924 the Avard (NW Oklahoma) Bank had been held up? The headlines in The Alva Record, Thursday, Sept. 24, 1925 read, "Patterson Is Acquitted."

Charles Patterson, one of those arrested at Woodward 17 September 1925, by Sheriff Beem, on a charge of being implicated in the Avard bank robbery. County Attorney Wilhite represented the State. C. H. Mauntel was the attorney for the defendant, Charles Patterson. The case attracted more than ordinary attention when it was called for hearing Tuesday morning (22 Sept. 1925) before Judge Wilson. The others arrested in the bank robbery were James Cellan and Tom Patterson.

James Cellan was the first witness for the State... He stated, "That he and Tom Patterson and the defendant, Charlie Patterson, planned the holdup of the Avard bank at his home in Oklahoma City on October 22, 1924. After the plans had all been completed the three men drove to Avard and looked the situation over. They then drove to Alva and stole a Ford car from the college campus where the fair was in progress and drove it to a place near Avard and left it there for the night. The next morning they drove to the place where the car was left the previous evening." Jim Cellan went on to state that he and Tom Patterson took the stolen car and left Charlie Patterson, in their Ford coupe where he remained in hiding until after the robbery. Ed Roberts was Cashier of the Avard Bank on that day. Roberts testified that it was NOT Jim Cellan, but Ben Parks and Tom Patterson who held up the bank on October 24th.

Judge Wilson summed up the case, "this is the most peculiar case I have ever been called upon to decide," said the Judge. "We have the evidence of a man who says that he is guilty of committing several bank robberies and who confesses he, with the defendant, Chas. Patterson, held up and robbed the Avard Bank on October 24, 1924. Over against this testimony we have that of Mr. Ed Roberts, whom I have known for twenty years, and who has always born a high reputation, who says positively that this man Cellan was never in his bank on that day at all, and that it was Parks and not Cellan who held up the bank on that date. According to the evidence in this case as I see it, it all simmers down to whether I must take the evidence of a self confessed criminal or whether I will believe the man who has lived here for the past twenty years and whose character and reputation are unquestioned. As I see it, according to the law and the evidence in this case, it becomes my duty to hold that the evidence it not sufficient to warrant the holding of this defendant for trial in the district court." Charlie Patterson was acquitted of the charge in the county court Wednesday, 23 September 1925.

Back To the Present... Old Man Winter and Mother Nature blew into Oklahoma December 4, 2002 dropping snow, ice across most of the State. Leaving 6 to 9 inches of snow in the Northern and Western parts of the state while the Central parts received that frozen, icy stuff during Tuesday night with a small dusting of snow the next morning, December 5th, 2002.

It wasn't as bad as last Winter's ice storm, but motorists were still caught slipping and sliding into other's bumpers. Electricity was interrupted for many as tree limbs bowed, broke taking electric poles with them.. By Friday morning this writer was once again on the Chisholm Trail & Albert Pike Highway headed towards the NW parts of the State. As I watched the sun's rays shining on the icy limbs of the trees, at one point it looked like the tree's limbs were shedding tears of rain.

My sources in Washington, DC reported that they had 5 to 6 inches of that white stuff. Meanwhile, a reader in Fredericksburg, Virginia reported 5.5 inches of snow on December 5, 2002.

Some of you have written in recently that you did NOT receive the latest issue of The Okie Legacy. If you have missed any of the last issues of The OkieLegacy, you can click Vol. IV Archives for the back issues. We hope this helps those of you who have missed receiving the back issues or want to review the last four-years of Oakie's Heart To Heart (The Okie Legacy).

OU Sooners have traveled to Houston, Texas to play in the playoffs this Saturday for the Big XII Championship against Colorado. Will it be OU Sooners or Colorado?

Have a great weekend! Keep warm, safe and don't get all stressed out over the Holiday shopping frenzy going on at this time. See You next weekend, same time. Maybe I'll have my Christmas card ready for viewing.

"If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it!" - author unknown

~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~

NW OK Marriages 1940...

Shafer-Smith - Friday, 1940 - Miss Shafer Becomes Bride of J. B. Smith - Simplicity throughout characterized the ceremony Friday morning when Miss Lillian Shafer, of Alva, exchanged wedding vows with J. B. Smith, also of Alva. Reverend A. L. Williams, of the United Brethren church, officiated at the simple and impressive ceremony. Mrs. Agnes Shafer, Miss Eva Grace Williams, and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Reneau, witnessed the beautiful service.

Earnest-Miner - Friday, 1940 - Opal Mae Earnest, John Miner, Jr. Are Married Friday - Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Earnest announce the marriage of their daughter, Opal Mae, to John Miner, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Miner of Alva. The wedding vows were read at 6:30 Friday evening in the Presbyterian manse with Rev. L. T. Knotter officiating.

Yoeman-LaPlante -- Tuesday, 1940 - Yoeman-LaPlante Vows Are Taken - In a simple service in Sacred Heart Rectory at eight o'clock this morning, Miss Ruth Yoeman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Yoeman, 1005 Church and Mr. Gideon La Plante, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. La Plante, Wichita, Kans., were untied in marriage, Rev. Father Claus performed the ceremony.

Hall-Anderson -- Saturday, June 1, 1940 - Hall-Anderson Rites Are Held - A wedding of interest to their many friends in this section of the state occurred Saturday at noon when Miss Louise Hall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Hall, Lookout and Joseph Ward Anderson, son of Mrs. J. W. Anderson, 1017 Barnes, Alva, were united in marriage. The vows were read in the home of Rev. Mosier, pastor of the First Baptist church, Laverne, Okla.

Mack-Smith -- June 15, 1940 - J. B. Smith, Jr. Marries In South Carolina - The wedding of Miss Louise Evangeline Mack, daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Jacob Arthur Mack, of the Crescent, to Dr. Jaroud Benonia Smith, Jr., N.S. N., of Alva, Oklahoma, and Charleston, took place at 5:30 o'clock June 15 in St. Phillip's Protestant Episcopal church. With the Rev. Merritt F. Williams, rector, officiating.

Gallon-Rose -Saturday, June 17, 1940, Alva, Oklahoma - Gallon-Rose Nuptials Are Solemnized On Saturday - The Methodist parsonage was the scene of a charming wedding service at one o'clock on Saturday when Miss Dorothy Rose Gallon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Gallon, became the bride of Ralph G. Rose, Jr. Mr. Rose is a graduate of Alva high school and is now employed by the Seismograph Service Corporation in Ardmore.

Lamont-Adams - August 14, 1940, Alva, Oklahoma - Mary Lois Lamont Weds Clifford Adams In Church - Miss Mary Lois Lamont, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Lamont, 621 Church, Alva, will become the bride of Clifford Emerson Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Adams of Wakita, Oklahoma in an impressive ceremony tonight at the Methodist church at 8:00 p.m. Rev. G. A. Parkhurst, pastor, will read the wedding vows, using the single ring ceremony.

Zeidler-Archer - Wednesday, August 14, 1940, Girard, Kansas - Former Freedom Boy Weds Popular Girl At Girard, Kans. - The wedding of Miss Helen Zeidler, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. O. W. Zeidler and Mr. Ellis C. Archer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emile Archer of Freedom, Okla., took place last Wednesday in the Methodist church at Girard, Kansas. Rev. Zeidler, father of the bride, read the double ring ceremony at 8:00 o'clock.

Grandma & Home Comfort Range...

Sunday, 20 September 1925 -- Geo. N. Ames Died. George Ames was living in Roy, NM, when he died Sunday, 20 September 1925. He was the uncle of Dr. H. B. Ames of Alva, Oklahoma. George was also an early day resident of Woods County, having lived on a farm near Capron for a number of years, later moving to Alva, where he resided for several years. He bought and sold real estate in this area.

21 September 1925 -- Frederick Reicker, who had lived on a farm south of Capron since the early days died at his home Monday evening at about ten o'clock . Mr. Reicker was survived by his wife and several children. He was 81 years of age. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock at the Methodist church in Capron and the body was laid to rest in the Capron cemetery.

Karen Hartzel & Janice Paris...