Oakie's NW Corner...
 How
cold was it in Oklahoma on the plains this week?
The cold front that came through Tuesday (January 29th)
left its mark across Oklahoma and Kansas the next three days with
glistening, slippery scenes of ice, destruction and snow in some
parts. Friday morning (Feb. 1st.), at 8:00AM, (after a night
without electrical power from 8:30pm to 11:00AM the next morning
in the OKC area) I did catch the these crystals shimmering in
my neighbors front yard as the sun began to shine.
 The
Oklahoma Panhandle (No
Mans Land) saw the first of what was to come and they say
it received over a half-foot of snow or more on top of everything
else. As it traveled across NW Oklahoma, it left many rural, small
communities (including Alva) at a standstill almost, without
electrical power from Wednesday, 6:00pm to Thursday, 10:00pm. Kingfisher,
Dover, Hennessey, Enid and Oklahoma City were just a few of the
cities that got caught in the Deep Freeze of 2002. Check
out OG&E's - System
Watch for more details on the Ice Storm. Connect with Oakie's
Community Webshots - Deep Freeze 2002 for more scenes before and after.
Sometimes I wonder if we are too spoiled. There must have been
this same kind of weather when our ancestors traveled westward in
Prairie Schooners, Conestogas, horseback and wagons in the late
19th century. Those ancestors that made the run into Oklahoma &
Indian Territory did NOT have the conveniences of refrigeration,
fueling stations, electricity, etc... I understand that they experienced
hard, cold winter in sod houses, tents with not much for heat than
a wood stove if any to keep them warm. Where were the Pioneers utility
repairmen that went out into the night to make sure we all had electrical
power? My hats off to all those who helped restore the power. Thanks.
My prayers go out to those caught in the destruction of Winter's
icy destruction.
Speaking of Conestogas, Prairie Schooners... a friend and
I were talking the other day about where they were first developed.
I did a few Google searches and found out that the Conestogas were
the large, boat-like wagons with angled ends, sloped floors to the
middle so barrels wouldn't roll out when the wagon was climbing
or descending a hill. It was developed in Pennsylvania and named
for the valley in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania by Pennsylvania-German
settlers for hauling freight in the east from 1750 until the railroads
came along. They were pulled by teams of six or eight horses and
could haul up to five tons. Traders on the Santa Fe Trail found
that bullwhackers, muleskinners were preferable to horses because
of the immense distances and scarcity of good water along the trail.
Two-dozen oxen, mules were used to haul the heaviest loads with
a second wagon (backaction) hitched behind the lead wagon.
The Prairie Schooners... were a half-sized version of the
Conestoga. They measured 4-feet wide and 10-feet to 12-feet in length.
The length doubled to 23-feet with the tongue and yoke attached.
The schooner stood about 10-feet tall with the homespun, cotton
bonnet (doubled over to make them watertight) and had a wheelbase
over 5-feet wide. It weighed around 1300-pounds empty. It was 2
to 3-feet deep with a bit of tar to render it watertight to float
across slow-moving rivers. It took 4 to 6 oxen or 6 to 10 mules
to get the sturdy little wagons across the prairies. It offered
shelter almost as good as a house. The front wheels were smaller
than the back wheels for easy, sharper turns and extra play.
I even found out that the prairie schooners were manufactured by
a dozen or more wainwrights specializing in building wagons for
the overland emigrants. One of those wainwrights was the Studebaker
brothers. I know you have all heard of the Studebaker,
but did you know they existed as Prairie Schooners? Was it the same
Studebaker relatives that made the automobile?
Well! It is the another weekend and time to say good-bye for now!
BUT... Before I go let me ask a few questions -- Will the Groundhog
see his shadow? Will the St. Louis Rams or the New England
Patriots when this years Super Bowl in New Orleans? What TV
commercials will make a touchdown during the Super Bowl of commercials?
Where did the word "stogie" come from? Check out the Mailbag
& Links for that answer.
Anyway... Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine as the ice crystals
melt this weekend. Send me your Deep Freeze 2002 photos.
~~ Linda "OaKie" ~~
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Before the Storm...
Ft. Supply, OK Penny Postcards
Okie Legacy 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.
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Mailbag & Links....
Old Timers In Three
Counties...
["How about this story from my MIL
, also the mother of Grace Wessels. Jessie R Sluder wrote this in
the 1960's. She was born in Kansas in 1890 and died in Alfalfa Co,
OK in 1969." -- Lois]
Jessie Sluder Guffy writings - "We
early timers lived in three counties without moving. The first was
'M' then Woods, these two comprised the now Woods, Major and Alfalfa
counties. At statehood these divisions were made. Our county seat
was Alva, which was quite a distance to go to pay taxes and do legal
business.
"From this part of the county it either meant a very early start
in the morning, getting home later at night or a stay over for the
night as most of the travel was by wagon and team. For the ‘proving
up’ of the claims for homestead four witnesses were necessary.
So five or more men would try to get the same time for claim proving
and go together thus making one trip do for all.
The county superintendents did not do a lot of school visiting, perhaps
not more than once in two or three years. But would come anytime for
some school business. They came in buggies and would sometimes stay
with the patrons overnight, therefore, visiting a number of schools
before going back to Alva. Mr. J.B. Cooprider stayed in our home once.
The three superintendents I remember were Mr. Myers, Mr. Cooprider
and Mrs. S.V. McGreevey. I think she was the last from old Woods County.
"This may sound unreasonable but it is true.
We had an elderly neighbor, Mr.. Henry Demott, who was a great walker
and he used to walk to Alva and back to pay his taxes. He lived
2-½ miles east of Byron. One time his folks insisted he ride
one of their mules as the Medicine River was flooding and they wanted
to be sure he could get across. He started on the mule, but when
he had gone a ways, he got off and led the mule to the river, then
got on and rode across. Then he got off, tied the mule to a post
and walked to Alva. He came back, rode the mule across the river
again and proceeded on home leading the mule."
American Volunteerism Is Alive... Did
you see the State
of the Union the other night? AmeriCorps
really got a boost. He also mentioned Freedom
Corps. The next morning USAFreedomCorps.gov was created.
IF you are young, old and want to get envolved with your community,
nation for two years or 4000 hours, Volunteer your talents -- create,
re-establish Volunteerism that this Nation was founded upon. HELP
Squash Terroisms, Terrorists, Threats... Check out SeniorCorps,
Peace Corps, AmeriCorps*Vista,
Freedom Corps and
NationService Organization.
USA Freedom Corps... "The USA
Freedom Corps will encourage and support those who want to serve
their country. Countless Americans now serve in countless ways to
improve our Nation and our world. The USA Freedom Corps values this
spirit and seeks to build upon it. The USA Freedom Corps will provide
opportunities and create incentives for Americans to become even more
involved in serving their communities and country -- and in serving
the people of other nations." -- USA
Freedom Corps Policy Book
Old Alva Photos... "Have
found some old photos that were taken by our grandfather when he worked
for various studios in Alva. Many do not have names on the back, but
several do. One says Billy Bare. Another says Maddox Children (3
children). Another says Mr. Wright, the milkman in Alva. One says
'Old Man Davis' and the name Davis Studio is on several of
the pictures, however there are two other studios whose names appear
on the front of the pictures. There is another that says Mr. Ledgerwood,
a friend of Charley's. I would love to get the pictures to family
who would appreciate them. If anyone recognizes these names, please
contact me. Also, if you know of a way that these photos could be
posted for someone to help identify them, let me know." -- Eileen
Plum Dumplings On-line...
June
Meyer's Authentic Hungarian Plum Dumplings (Szilvas gomboc)
-- "Plum Dumplings are a treat many people have never had. Plump
potato dough surrounding a pitted plum juicy with sugar and cinnamon,
and swimming in buttered bread crumbs. When you cut into them the
purple juices run out like a garnet river."
The Jewish-food.org
- Plum Dumplings -- "Adapted from 'Old Jewish Dishes'and
'Flavours of Hungary,' published by the Hungarian Tourist Board. (As
published in Jerusalem Post, June 7, 1996.)"
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Plum Dumplings... "3
medium potatoes, boiled the previous day, peeled -- 1 Tbsp. butter
-- 2 egg yolks -- pinch of salt -- 2-3 heaping Tbsp. flour
1 (1-1/4 lbs.) damson plums (sometimes called prune-plums)
-- 1 sugar cube for each plum.
Toppings... melted butter -- 1/4 cup bread crumbs (optional)
-- 3 Tbsp. sugar -- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional).
Wash the plums, wipe dry, remove stones,
and insert a sugar cube into the center of each plum. Smash the
boiled potatoes and mix with the cool melted butter, egg yolks,
and salt, then add as much flour as it takes to produce a slightly
adhesive dough. Note... the less flour you use... the better they
will turn out. Keep your hand cool. Take enough dough to cover the
plums with 1/4-1/2 inch thickness, carefully press the edges together.
Drop into boiling water and simmer until they start to float. Serve
with melted butter, and sprinkle sugar, cinnamon, or a combination
of both on it. Or serve with breadcrumbs, browned in butter.
Another Version of the Dumplings...
2 eggs -- 2 cups sifted flour (all-purpose) -- 2 cups boiled potatoes,
riced -- 1 cup fine bread crumbs
12-15 plumbs -- 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar -- salt -- butter.
Cream 2 tablespoons butter, beat in eggs
and salt. Gradually beat in flour and riced potatoes. Dough should
be stiff to knead thoroughly. On floured board roll out dough to
1/4-in thickness, then cut 3-inch squares. Lay 1 plum on each square,
sprinkle with little cinnamon sugar and fold edges over plum. Shape
with hands into a ball. The wall of dough should be very thin. Drop
dumplings into boiling salted water, cover and simmer for about
15 minutes. Brown bread crumbs in 1/3 cup hot butter. Roll dumplings
in buttered bread crumbs, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Makes 3-5
servings." -- Lois
Dumpling Recipes... "Hello, Thank you
for the recipe. I do not remember potatoes in this recipe. Although,
I do recall another dumpling dish mom made that was indeed made with
potatoes. This dumpling dough was put into a roll and cut into 1-1/2
inch pieces and also placed carefully in a pan of boiling water. This
dish was part of the main meal as with pork and saurkaut when done
dabbed with butter." -- Marilyn
NW Oklahoma Black Settlement... "I
was born in Fairview, OK and raised in Cleo Springs, OK. I remember
someone once telling me of an old town that was a 'black'settlement
that was somewhere north and west of Cleo Springs. I believe the town
existed in the early to mid 1900's. As I recall all that is really
left of the town is a cemetery. Being from the area and loving history
I would like to know more about this Ghost Town. Are you aware of
such a town?" -- Jana Brown
 Supply,
Oklahoma 1900s Postcards... "Would
it be possible to gain your permission to print, not for commercial
use, the postcards on the referenced page (Supply,
OK Penny Postcards). This would be for placement in a loose-leaf
history booklet (kept on public display) in City Hall at Fort
Supply, OK, giving credit as to where they were obtained. There is
a booklet kept in City Hall for public viewing, so that people can
view items (photo's) articles, etc. reflecting a history of our town.
I personally am not a member of city government, nor an official representative
of the Town, but ran across these postcards and thought they would
be of great interest to the citizens of Fort Supply. Usually when
a photo is found that would be of interest to the towns people a copy
is also printed in the monthly newsletter." -- Larry
Mennonite
Historical Society of Canada...
"The Conestoga wagon was named for the valley in Lancaster Co.,
Pa., where it was apparently developed by Pennsylvania-German settlers."
Wagon
Works - The Conestoga wagon history...
"The Conestoga was more widely used on the Santa Fee Trail, but
its main purpose was to move heavy goods on the east coast. The wagon
was massive for its day, somewhat akin to the tractor trailors of
today. Its huge rear wheels stood as tall as a man, and it could easily
carry up to 6000 lbs of goods. It was built mostly of hickory and
drawn by a team of 4 to 6 Conestoga horses specially bred for pulling
the heavy loads."
The word "stogie" (the long, strong cigar)...
The Stogie was favored by wagoneers. It is the corruption of the word
"Conestoga." |
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