Oakie's Heart to Heart, Vol. 5, Iss. 34

	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 & http://okielegacy.net

August 23, 2003, Vol. V, Iss. 34

Oakie's NW Corner...

Last weekend was Freedom's Biggest Open Rodeo & Old Cowhand Reunion in Northwest Oklahoma. That was where you could find this NW Okie... BUT NOT on horseback, though! Duchess wouldn't let me embarrass myself like that!

Speaking of Freedom... With it's rustic western Main Street, Freedom's Annual Rodeo, Old Cowhand Reunion, Cimarron Cowboy Monument and many other historical points of interest help preserve its western heritage over a period of time when most towns have placed an accent on modernization.

BUT... Not Freedom! Each third week in August of every year, citizens dress their parts when out-of-towners merge on the Main Street and the Cobb Gang comes to town for the early afternoon Great Bank Robbery and Shootout. The characters involved in the shootout ain't paid professionals and do not employ high dollar directors or stage settings. They are the local townspeople who volunteer "just for the fun of it!" Even the real banker, Wes Nixon, can be seen dressed in western attire and defending the towns local bank.

As always... the good guys ride into town in the neck of time for a blazin', gun-battle on the Main Street of Freedom while on-lookers use their imaginations to witness the shootout of the gun-totin' misfits and the good guys who ride into this quaint little Northwest Oklahoma Cowtown for their annual, staged Robbery and Shootout.

Who is left standing and caught in the middle of the shootout? None other than one lone town drunk that seems to meander through the crowd of misfits, dodging flying bullets from both sides with grace and luck. How does he do it? Is he numb to the pain of what is going on around him? Perhaps the days end will find him in a more sobering stature.

Meanwhile, the posse can be seen shootin' from behind bales of hay stacked on the south side of the street and some of the Cobb Gang bodies strung in the middle of the street. BUT wait! There is one Cobb Gang still shootin' from behind the water trough!

Who is that spirited bank teller coming out of the bank? It is Wes Nixon dressed in period clothing of the old time bank tellers and totin' his trusty shotgun to rid the town of the last Cobb bank robber... BANG! You can see more 2003 Freedom Rodeo and Shootout Photos at Oakie's Webshots - Freedom Rodeo 2003 Album. Click the following links to check out the 2003 Old Cowhand - Arlo Darr and History of the Cimarron Cowboy Association.

Freedom's 1st Honored Pioneer Rancher... In 1956, Mrs. Lucy Welty Snapp was chosen to be the honored Pioneer Rancher of the Freedom Rodeo celebration. Lucy and her husband Bunk started their ranching operation on a site east of Freedom, and Lucy worked on the range right along with Bunk throughout their lifetime. Bunk and two sons Frank and Jim preceded Lucy in death. During the years following their deaths Lucy and her daughter Helen managed the ranch. Helen later married Levi London and they continued with much the same operation as Bunk and Lucy had established. A daughter, Vilene, and a son, Jim, were born and reared there. At the time of Lucy's death in 1974, she was 96 years of age. Since that time Helen has continued to keep the Bar-S Brand of her parents. Today the original ranch is intact and is managed by Lucy's grandson, Jim London. He along with his wife, Deb, his son Levi, and daughter Randus, live in the same house where Lucy and Bunk began their ranching.

On to Northeastern Oklahoma... Is there something hidden in Blue Canyon, in Nowata County, near Childers? One of our readers is searching for an old map that lists the ghosttowns around Nowata and Washington Counties. If you have any clues or information, contact Tony in Mailbag Corner below ... or ... Contact Linda at paristimes@earthlink.net. Thanks!

And Finally... just wanted to say a word about this New "SoBig.f" virus that is sending out thousands of emails with attachments and in the message body saying something like "Please see the attached file for details". DO NOT OPEN these attachments as they contain a virus which will do the usual thing of getting the names from your address book then sending everyone emails as if they were from you or others in your address book. Keep your antivirus program updated. My Norton Antivirus Firewall seems to catch these nasty intrusions before they do harm. Hope you keep your anitvirus software updated weekly.

See you all next weekend as these Dog Days of Summer and August wind down. Hopefully, afterwards we will get a chance for some much needed rain for the farmers, ranchers and to cool things down a bit as September and Fall are just around the corner. Keep those Okie Legacy and memories coming this way. We couldn't do this without you! Thanks for your precious time!

~~ Linda "oaKie" & Duchess ~~

Munson Hatchery

A little history of the Munson Hatchery... it was started by Frank Munson in 1928 on the south side of the square in the area of 415 Barnes where the Shaefer Radio & TV used to be. As his business began to grow, he moved the hatchery one more time to a newly built location on the southeast corner of 7th and Choctaw.
      Those who had been in the employ of Munson Hatchery were Clarence Perkins, Addie Jackson, Ava Sawyer, Joan Hadley, Ed Schaefer, Estele Richardson, Doris Hada, Arlene (?), Rose Engle, Faye Summers, Louise Curtis, Julia Parsons, Alvin McDowell, Winnie Darling, Imogene Curry Wares, Warren Wares, Pearl Erikson, Aubery Hook, Bud Kilmer, Pauline Hada Zehr, Elizabeth Tiberghien and Gladys Herman.
      Munson Hatchery was sold in the early 1960's by Mrs. Munson, because Mr. Munson had died in the mid 1950's in California while visiting and was buried there. Bert Reed purchased the building and later sold it to the Moose Lodge.
      Mr. Munson also had an automobile dealership in Alva at one time known as Munson and McNeally. They sold Hudson and Essex automobiles. It was located where the Downtown Mall is today.

Sandie Olson (Waynoka Historical Society) is looking for the heirs of Mrs. Frank Munson. If you know of someone who might help find the heirs of Mrs. Frank Munson, please contact Sandie Olson - E-mail: sandieo@pldi.net

Mailbag & Links Corner....

1917 NSN Ranger - Seniors... The Class officers were President, Louis G. Wilke; Vice-President, George McClure; Treasurer, Frank Hess; Secretary, Isaac Julian; Reporter, J. C. Hoffsommer; Marshal, E. A. Sandefur. The Class of 1917 Seniors of Northwestern State Normal, in Alva, Oklahoma... Rosa Fellible, Ruby Skeen, J. C. Fellible, George McClure, Glenn McGill, Bert Raney, Carlos McGill, Foster Stockwell, Hilda Rank, Belle Chestnut, Nora Eutsler, Mitchall Osborne, Ersel Arnote, Mona Morton, Dennis Biggers, E. A. Sandefur, Edith Reeg, Della Brunstetter, Lorine Floid, Carrie Phillips, Irene Woodmansee, Ada Titus, Bess Davis, Harry Soliday, Chester Duncan, Mabel Dyer-Cameron, Elizabeth Springer, Bernice Fitzgerald, Cleo Lewellen, Ben Rackley, Ethal France, Marie McElhiney, Elbert Marlatt, Katherine Serviss, Nina Marie Hopper, Edna Talbot, Verda Dale, Nonnie Weiser, Earl Shelly, Mabel Willis, Wilbur Wilcox, Lottie Anderson, Jennie Smith, Onita Martin, Nell Searcy, Fern Williams, Ross Burns, Mabel Hobbie, J. C. Hoffsommer, Louis Wilke, Ulo Mae Curtis, Joyce Patterson, Ellavede Lambert, Emma Donaldson, Pearl Boling, Isaac Julian, Jess Sears, Buelah Hoffsommer, Elizabeth Hollen, Zella Gilbert, Jessie Hoefer, Ethel Utterback, Z. B. Freeman, Ruth Ranck, Ruth Moyer, Esther Delzell, Roscoe Grimm, Bess McCormick, Mercedes Moyer, Audrey Bainum, Rosa Adam, Velmarae Dunn. Stay tuned for the Class of 1918 Seniors next week.

J. F. Standiford... "You asked about that photo by Standiford... at the bottom, as it said 'Muskogee, Indian Territory' on it. My guess is the railroad dollars built it and it was a hotel. Actually, I have a couple of other ones [here, in my collection, in the original] See, why Standiford is interesting is [if you look closely at his work] he was an exceptional photographer. The bio below will fill you in a little and I have included the citation from the book this is from. Let me know if you would like the scans of the few cabinet cards I actually own [they are all portraits] and I will send them to you. Apparently his children kept the business going, as in the 1920's and '30s there are many real photo post cards from Kansas and Oklahoma marked 'Standiford'. I especially like this photograph by him, of the Mission School: from the Denver museum --- this one really says a lot. I own the individual portrait he did of her. There is a bio of her in this website. So, anyway, this is as good as I can explain this man to you. Not sure if you know about itinerant photographers of the 19th Century, so not sure how much I need to explain. Standiford was and is a Star of the firmament. Biographical Sketches... Indian Territory Its Chiefs, Legislators and Leading Men by H.F. & E. S. O'Beirne -- Standiford, J. F. (pp. 202, 204) Biographical Index - J. F. Standiford is a native of West Virginia, part of his life having been spent in Illinois and Kansas. He came to Muskogee, Indian Territory, in the spring of 1878, and there erected his art gallery and residence, engravings of which will be found in the grouped illustration. Mr. Standiford is the only licensed photographer in the Indian Territory, and has, without comparison, the neatest and best equipped gallery in the nation. He is ably assisted in his work by his wife and sister, the latter doing all the negative retouching, etc. A novel feature in the finishing department is a revolving printing room, a most complete addition to his gallery, and wholly an invention of his own, there being not another of its kind in existence. Another original device --- his own recent invention --- is an ingenious electric retouching apparatus, which is novel and useful. Mr. Standiford is, unquestionably, one of the finest photographic artists in the Southwest. A large number of the best engravings in this volume have been made from photographs taken by J. F. Standiford. " -- eric

OKC Memorial - Special Slideshow... "I so enjoy reading your ezine each week. My husband and I were passing through Oklahoma last week on vacation and stopped to visit the National Memorial in Oklahoma City. We were very moved by this place and I created a Special Slideshow page for my pictures if anyone would like to see. Keep up the good work." -- PJH - Email: pam@heckyeah.net

Davis-Humes... "Woods County Message Board Post: Searching for descendants of Oliver Davis, 1838-1911, and Martha L. Summers, 1845-?, through their daughter Emeline 'Emma,' c1865-? who married John F. Humes, c1860-?, in Sedgwick County, KS 19 May 1887, and moved to Woods County, OK by 1895. I am a direct descendant of Oliver's older brother, Chesterfield Davis, both of whom were the sons of Greenwood Davis, 1805-1866, born in KY and lived in Clark County, IL. Would like to hear from any descendants." -- Allen W. Davis - Email: davisaw1939@cox.net

The Gerloff's... "Was just surfing the web and googled Henry Gerloff which was my grandfather's name and can across your web site. My grandfather was also a very kind and gentle man." -- Darlene Glessman E-mail: glesbar@telusplanet

Looking for Historian in Beaver Area... "You have a terrific website. I found it by looking at my own name in the aol search. I'm NOT the Harry Faus referred to in the messages. I descended from Amos Hibbs who settled with his family in Beaver County when it was known as Cimarron Territory. His Son, Samuel Robert Hibbs is my maternal grandfather. Mom (Julia Hibbs) was born south of Beaver in Beaver County. Most of our family has passed on. Mom died last September in Gage, OK at age 91. It was her desire that I prepare a family history. It now goes back to 1630 England. The first Hibbs came to America in 1676. The early chapters are covered pretty well, but the period between the Cival War and 1930 are sketchy at best. It would be nice if a historian from the Beaver area could help with missing details. I live in California now, and have no connections remaining in Oklahoma. Thanks to you and anyone who can help." -- Harry Faus E-mail: h2faus@cs.com

McKinney Family of Marlow... "Born in Marlow, 1934, migrated to California in 1934. Okie roots go back to 1900, when Grandpa Frank Jennings crossed the Red River from Alvarado, TX with his passel of kids and a pregnant young wife. Ma's birth made front page news in Marlow Review, December 21,1914. That was the day Grandma Ina Shipman Jennings caught her clothes on fire while fixing to light a fire under the wash kettle. Ma was birthed while Grandma's gown was still smoldering, right there in front of God and all of her neighbors. It seems the store keeper mistakenly filled the coal oil can with gasoline. So it goes. In California, where I grew up, 'Okie' was a pejorative epithet. So I disowned my birthplace, Marlow in Stephens County, where my grand parents settled after rebuilding trestles on the KATY and Rock Island lines washed out by floods in North Texas and in Paul's Valley, I.T. Since shortly before mother's death in 1990, however, I have been learning a lot about the Territory and the State by reading back issues of the MARLOW REVIEW. You have one of the most interesting sites on this web. I shall be back often when time permits. It makes me proud to refer to myself as an 'Okie.' I recommend to you and your readers this website: www.koreanwar.org. Semper Fi." -- Ron McKinney - Email: mckinney@tampabay.rr.com

Korean War Project... "Remembering Korean War Veterans - KMAG - And The DMZ War 1945 - 2003. Click Here For Pledge Drive - You Keep The Korean War Project Online - The Korean War Project Is Free To All Visitors - But Our Members and Donors - Keep Us Online Since 1995 - Korean War Veterans Memorial Photo - Freedom."

Recent Pictures in OkieLegacy... "

I was quite taken by some of the pictures that have appeared in your last two issues of OkieLegacy. The first is a picture of a baseball game that I am assuming was played before 1910. It appears to show a collision between a baserunner and a catcher on the baseline between first and third. I have seen several 'live' shots of very early baseball games, but they are always taken during some lull in the action and usually depict the entire field. This appears to be a close-up of real action and as such is the oldest true baseball action shot I have ever seen. I don't know but what Cooperstown might be interested in this shot! Based on your other pictures, I'm guessing that the Palace Fountain was in Guthrie. Cooperstown is in upper New York state and it is the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. (A fabulous place to visit if you're a baseball fan!)

The second is the shot of what appears to be a Ford tri-motor or similarly-configured airplane at the Wichita airport in 1930. What strikes me about this picture is the team of horses shown in the background. They appear to be in harness and under the control of a driver, but they are not pulling anything. I wonder if they were used to pull airplanes into position on the runway. If so, it is certainly a great combination shot of early and modern travel in cooperation!
And third but not necessarily last, the picture of the 1931 Ranger football schedule. I note that the home games are scheduled to take place under the lights. Northwestern had one of the earliest lighted fields in Oklahoma, and as a matter of fact I believe they took part in the first night game ever played in the Sooner State. I think the year was 1929 and the game was played at Stillwater against Oklahoma A&M (Now Oklahoma State University). I knew coach W. D. Newby quite well (he was still around when I did my undergraduate and graduate work at NW in the late fifties and early sixties.) Also, I think it's quite probable that my father, E. M. Barker, was the printer who produced that schedule.

As to the eighth grade picture, I can provide a few more names: First row, center picture is Judy Horn; 2nd row, center picture is Sammie Fite; 3rd Row, 2nd pic is Dennis ? (if I remember I'll let you know later!); 3rd row, 4th pic might be Marna Rose, but not sure; and 4th row, 6th pic is Dana Glasgow. Also, "Jean Milton" is actually Jean Melton, and the Marcum girl's name is Marilyn. Hope this helps or jogs someone else's memory. Keep up your great work!" -- Jim

Searching Frank Munson Heirs... "I'm searching for heirs of Mrs. Frank Munson. I believe the Munson's had a hatchery in Alva. Thanks for your help. My email address is sandieo@pldi.net." -- Sandie

NE Blackout... "Wow, what a time we had. We live in Cleveland, OH and when the blackout hit it was immense. We were watching TV at 4:10 PM on Friday, August 15th when it hit. Everything went dead as if there had been an accident and someone hit a major power pole. We turned on our small battery radio and started listening to the news. Since I am from Alva, OK, this was some big news, having our power gone. We didn't really realize how much we depend on the electricity for: TV, radio, computers, cooking, phones, and lights (boy was that a trip).
     We have our water pumped to our suburb because we live on a hill. Those who lost water, because it was all gone, had to boil their water for at least 4 minutes until Sunday at 10 P.M. Those who didn't lose water had to boil their water for 3 minutes until the next day 'til about 2 P.M. Gas stations shut down and only about 1% could be found here and there so as people ran out of gas, they were stuck as well as their car, wherever they were. It looked like the long lines we had when the gas shortage was on. Batteries, candles, and ice became a priceless commodity. We even paid $1.50 for a bag of ice shavings off the inside of the ice chest at one store. Talk about greed.
     Most people took the problem in stride. It was funny to look out our front window and see nothing but pitch black at night. The street lights and neighbors lawn lamps usually shine a bright hello for those out late. An occasional car going by was the only light that broke the darkness. We didn't open our refrigerators because we didn't know how long they would be shut down. By A.M. the next morning, we were lucky to get our power back. The Illuminating Company worked hard and fast to recover people from the darkness. After it was all over and Sunday was upon us, we talked with others and found that some small communities like Akron, OH had their power all the time (never lost it) so people were shopping over there for batteries and such.
     We had people trapped in elevators and were rescued by firemen who climbed down on top of elevators and brought people through the top opening in an elevator. One woman had to climb 4 flights of stairs in one hospital to get some baby formula that she was out of. She said it was a long walk up and down carrying her baby, her purse, and the stroller with the diaper bag.
     Large amusement parks were shut down so long lines of cars trying to get in caused a commotion of a 'parking lot' to and from the entrances. People, all of the sudden couldn't get hotel rooms because hotel owners felt it unsafe to let people try and find rooms in the dark and maneuver in them so people slept outside on the sidewalk all night that normally wouldn't have. Now many people are signing up for help in the food that was lost when the refrigerators and freezers went out of commission.
     I wonder if that gave them a better outlook on the homeless????? Sorry to make this so long but there was so much that happened. Life has so many things handed out to us, that are not normal, that if you can 'go with the flow' it's really not so bad." -- Genevieve (Jenni) (Cook) Latza - Email: gwc4445@msn.com

1937 Lamont Dog Tax... "This is a dog tag from Lamont, Grant Co., OK in 1937, the year I was born. That year my grandparents, Clarence McCary and Hazel Martin, both of whom had roots in Woods Co., OK., moved to from their farm to nearby Lamont for a while. My parents were living in the old house on the farm during that period. This was the first house I ever lived in. My uncle swears that the old house was so drafty that one had to hold his hand over the match used to light the wood stove in the kitchen during the Winter, to keep the wind from blowing it out. It is amazing that a tiny town like Lamont would have a tax on dogs back in those days. I would give a thousand to one odds that this is the only one still existing… and I don’t gamble. The dog’s name was Pal, and he was a collie who lived 18 years." -- Charlie Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country.

Goldbug Alumnus... "Hey everybody! Just messing around and found this site. It's great to see some familiar names. I am living in Wichita,Ks. Married 7 years now and have three kids: Briana almost 13, Levi almost 6, and Chloe 6mo. I'm a stay at home mom now and loving it. It was great to see some of you at the 2000 reunion. Looking forward to the next one! Would love to hear from anyone." -- Amber Dooley Nice E-mail: berber42671@aol.com

Gwin Surnames & Coat of Arms... "I found this page while searching for my surname coat of arms. I am originally from Indiana, daughter of Joseph William, and granddaughter of William Joseph Gwin. I believe our history is so far researched back to the Civil War, but still looking for more info. We are from the Indianapolis area recently, but trace back to at least southern Indiana so far. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the image." -- Kathryn Gwin - E-mail: kateg3@comcast.net

IOOF Childrens Home - Carmen, Oklahoma... "I enjoyed looking at all the pictures of the IOOF Childrens Home. My father was a resident there in the early 1900's. His name was Homer Wolcott. He would have really enjoyed see those old pictures. He is deceased now (Dec. 1993) IOOF Childrens Home in Carmen, Okla." -- Bernice Hanes - E-mail: bhanes@junct.com

Freedom, Oklahoma... "Just popped in to tell you my hubby and I went toFreedom, Oklahoma to enjoy ourselves. It was okay until we decide to eat at Longbranch Cafe. They were open, but they did not come to our table even after 10 to 15 min. They were talking. People come a long way to that... you need some one to work there." -- Lady - Email: ladycake79@hotmail.com

Blue Canyon Treasure in Nowata County... "I am looking for references to Blue Canyon, in Nowata County. I am looking for a map as old as possible showing ghostowns in Nowata and Washington Counties. I live close to Pawhuska now, but I have reason to beleive there is something of interest hidden in Blue Canyon its close to Childers... I think." -- Tony - Email: Tonyandyasmine@wmconnect.com

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