Duchess' & Oakie's NW Corner...
Things have been hectic again this week... what with farmers drilling
and re-drilling some of their Winter wheat crops.
Besides helping friends get their wheat crop in, the other chores
of feeding livestock also keeps us busy. I have been noticing Duchess
eating only half her breakfast and hurrying me out the door every
morning so she can get to the farm for real snacks.  Right
now Duchess is sacked out on the dining room floor on her blanket
with a few stuff animals while I put some order to this week's ezine
/ newsletter. I should be in bed, but... Not enough hours in the
day right now and some things get pushed aside until the very last
minute. Maybe things will settled down around here soon.
Don't forget to check the Mailbag Corner for some interesting info
on the "Normal" school history.
Also in the Mailbag Corner is a photo that Jim sent me showing
the fountain in the background that used to be in the middle of
the downtown square in Alva, Oklahoma before the New courthouse
was built. Does anyone out there have any recall of what might have
happened to that fountain after it was sold at an antique auction
at 1st & Santa Fe? And what about those "Spit and Whittle
oldtimers" that used to hang around the fountain on favorable
days and whittle little wooden sailboats? Today you won't find the
fountain, BUT... only the lobby of the New courthouse in downtown
Alva. I guess that is progress... or something, huh?
We also found out about another ghosttown in Grant County, Oklahoma
about 6 miles east of Medford. I'm told that nothing much stands
there now except... a small grain elevator. Check out the token
in the Mailbag Corner. It shows the E. J. Fitzgeral Mercantile Co.
Store that once was in the ghosttown of Numa, Oklahoma.
I didn't quite get to the items from the 1917
Ranger Album this week with everything else going on, but...
I will in the near future. Right now this Oakie needs to get some
rest before daybreak shines around this Northwest Corner. Hope to
see you all next weekend with more OkieLegacy Memories to share.
Take care and enjoy the rest of September while October slips in
and around the next bend.
~~ Linda "oaKie" &
Duchess ~~
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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Needing You Help
Do you want to help me name another horse?
This is another new learning experience for me.
I have been doctoring a yearling, sorrel gelding that was cut-up
really bad a few weeks ago. It had to have a bunch of stitches
on his right front shoulder. My friend's that own the yearling
told me I could have the horse since I've been looking after him.
As I doctor him, he just stands there quiet, calm while I clean,
and pick matted hay out of the wound and hose it clean everyday.
Besides being a sorrel, he has a righthind white sock and a faded,
white blaze down his face. What I need from my friends out there
is an Indian name that might translate into something to do with
faded blaze -- calm, quiet nature as he stands still to be doctored
-- positive, uplifting name to strengthen his character as he
matures.
Before he got hurt... I think he may have been one of those horses
at the end of the pecking order that got kicked by the others
above him. You know what I mean?
Can you help me out and find some sort of Indian translation for
something that might be suitable as an Indian name for this sorrel
gelding? Thanks!
Linda "Oakie"
paristimes@earthlink.net
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Mailbag & Links Corner....
 Early
Courthouse Pond at Alva... "Some time ago you mentioned in
one of your articles that you wanted some more information about the
goldfish pond that was in the courthouse square in Alva. Attached
is a picture of the pond made about 1936 or 1937. The children in
the picture are my brother and sister, Bill and Ruby Barker.
You'll note that there is 2x4 lumber pressed
into the points on the top of the wrought iron fence, probably to
keep children like these from hurting themselves. I remember this
pond quite well, but there were no 2x4's during the years I saw the
pond. The pond was hexagonal or octagonal in shape, I can't remember
which, with a large iron fountain in the center. It was located about
where the main lobby of the present courthouse is now. I believe there
was some mention in your article about some iron birds or something,
but I don't recall those.
There was a concrete walk all around the
pond, park benches on the walk, and it was a favorite haunt of old-timers
(affectionately known as the Spit and Whittle Club) who liked
to sit and visit when the weather was favorable. Often times they
whittled out little boats and set them sailing in the pond and I would
check there occasionally to add one to my toy collection. There were
also several large goldfish in the pond and they were fun to watch.
The other thing I remember is that between
the pond and the courthouse steps there was a drinking fountain. It
was a tall, decorative, green-painted iron post with dragon heads
on each side. Under each dragon head there was a stainless steel drain
bowl with a drinking fountain over it. The last time I saw this fountain
was at Rebel's Antique Store at the corner of First & Santa
Fe Street sometime in the '60s after the present courthouse had been
constructed. It appeared to be used as a yard decoration.
Not too long after I saw it, the antiques
were auctioned off and I have no idea where the fountain wound up.
I saw the large fountain in the center of the pond running several
times and it was a very simple affair, with each basin successively
running into the basin below it. There may have been a small spray
at the top, but I can't remember for sure. It was a pretty fountain,
but it was turned off more often than not when I viewed it."
-- Jim
Normal Schools Info... "Normal schools were established
across the country in the late 1800's and early 1900's for the purpose
of training public school teachers to provide free public education.
The University of Central Oklahoma used to be called Territorial Normal
School. Here's something 'Father of the American Normal School'.
He was influential in the passage of a bill creating the first State
Board of Education in Massachusetts. Horace Mann was named the first
secretary on June 29, 1937. Mann said at the dedication of the Lexington
school 'I believe Normal Schools to be a new instrumentality in the
advancement of the race. I believe that, without them, Free Schools
themselves would be shorn of their strength and their healing power
and would at length become mere charity schools and thus die out in
fact and in form.' " -- Linda Manaugh
American POW Camps & WWII... "I was watching the History
Channel and there was mention of Alva
s POW Camp was name . Thanks." -- Dick
Normal Schools... "Thank you so much for your time and
effort to help educate me. Most of my research involving teachers
in the family was in Pennsylvania where there were private education
facilities for teachers. It is interesting to learn that Mass. went
public with theirs. There is much to learn from our past and certainly
not enough time to do so on our own. You are a gift to share your
time and knowledge with so many. please thank your readers, on my
behalf, who provided the information on the Normal School. May God
bless you and yours." -- Always, Barbara
More Normal School Info... "According to the New World
Dictionary of the American Language, Second College Edition (1986),
'Normal School' derives from the French 'école normale': formerly,
a school for training high-school graduates, usually in a two-year
program, to become teachers. In general nowadays, in the United States,
a bachelor's degree is considered minimal with a master's degree and
possibly a doctor's degree preferred, depending on level and specialty.
Hope that all is well with you and that the really hot days of summer
are over but the fun of riding and going places isn't!" -- Joel
 Numa
- Another Oklahoma Ghosttown... "Numa is/was six miles east
of Medford in Grant County. My father grew up a couple of miles south
of Numa. His parents were Earl Cook born in Illinois and Edith Smith
born in Indiana. I personally remember the Numa site clear back to
the WW II era. There was nothing there except a couple of old buildings
and a small grain elevator. A rail road runs through there. However,
my aunts told me there used to be a few stores there and that they
used to go to a grange dance there on Saturdays. There a road sign
pointing south off of OK highway 11 until a few years ago. Now there
is a hand painted sign on a post. The only thing there is a small
grain elevator.Here is an image of the E. J. Fitzgerald Merc. Co.,
store token from Numa, Oklahoma." -- Charlie Cook in Louisiana
Normal Schools... "Normal School - was a two-year program
to teach high-school graduates to become elementary schoolteachers.
Back then they needed teachers badly. Wayne's mother Jessie Sluder
got a teacher's permit when she was 16. She went to Stella Academy
Northwest of Cherokee. She had the highest score from all of those
attending at the time. She taught school near Byron and even taught
Wayne's dad James Guffy. She married him a few years later. "
-- Lois
Kachel & Hurt Legacy... "I was directed to the Hurt
Legacy by a distant relative of my wife. The part of interest
to our family is The Kachel
History. At the close it says in bold type 'Sam W. Kachel'
in the same book: 'Here is the log house - logs stood upright - 5
of 6 Kachel children were born.' How can we obtain a copy of this
information on Sam W. Kachel? Very interesting" -- Charles Parker
- E-mail: threedaychurches@aol.com
NW Normal School... "Recently one of your readers asked
about what 'Normal' meant. While attending one of my classes at NWOSU
I asked the same question. I was told that there were two types of
schools. Common and Normal. Common being one that everyone
could attend no matter what and the other 'Normal School' that only
those classified as 'normal' could attend. Most normal schools were
dedicated to train educators and the 'common folk' were not up to
educating others in proper form. Normal schools tended to attract
the non-traditional students of upper social stature. I don't know
if what I was told is the truth or not but I found it believable given
the mind set of most in the late 1800's when 'normal schools'were
created." --
Ken
Normal School History... "I am delighted to learn about
Normal Schools. I would say the definitions are correct from what
I do know. Walter Ross, who was a President at NW Normal School indeed
came from a well-to-do southern family of Scottish descent. His brother,
Leslie Price, was in politics in early Oklahoma. I recently learned
that Walter was educated in Illinois. He was also a Christian Minister.
My own grandmother graduated from 'a two year' nurses training in
New York in 1905 - so two years appears to have been thought adequate
in that era. I would never have been able to verify my suspicions
so quickly without your time and attention. I thank you again. How
in the world do you find time in your day to accomplish so much? You
are a gift to society. Please extend my gratitude to those who responded
to your request for information. If there is every anything in Arizona
that I can research for you, please ask. In the meantime, my father
taught me 'when you cannot repay a kindness to the person, then repay
that kindness in kind to another in need'. God Bless." -- Always,
Barbara
Normal School Info... "Normal school used to be the standard
terminology for a teacher's college. The Merriam-Webster Collegiate
Dictionary says it comes from the French école normale, from
the fact that the first French school so named was intended to serve
as a model. The Merriam-Webster definition also does not say
that normal schools were intended to train high school graduates;
at the time the term was in general use in
the United States high school graduates were fairly uncommon and probably
a majority of the matriculates
at the normal schools were not high school gradautes."
Cain's Concert Calendar... "Thanks to all of you, who
came out and supported the First Annual Oklahoma Music Experience
on Saturday. For those who didn't, you don't know what a good time
you missed! It was a beautiful day and the festival was great. Don't
forget to come out and visit the newly restored Cain's Ballroom,
as it opens on October 1st, 2003. You can get your tickets at Starship
Records and Tapes, the Bag in Broken Arrow, at www.startickets.com,
at all Albertson's customer service desks, and by calling 918-584-2306
between 10am and 4pm Monday thru Friday.
Cain's Concert Calendar: October 01, 2003 - Dwight Yoakam;
October 08, 2003 - Seether; October 09, 2003 - Bret Michaels (from
Posion); October 10, 2003 - moe; October 14, 2003 - Static X; October
15, 2003 - Charlie Robison; October 23, 2003 - Michael Martin Murphey;
October 30, 2003 - Jason Boland & the Stragglers; October 31,
2003 - Freakers Ball; November 1, 2003 - Leon Russell; November 8,
2003 - Nickel Creek; November 9, 2003 - Delbert McClinton; November
11, 2003 - Relient K; November 13, 2003 - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones;
November 14, 2004 - David Grisman Quintet ; November 15, 2003 - Hank
Thompson - his last tour ; November 16, 2003 - KMFDM; November 17,
2003 - Cheap Trick; November 22, 2003 - Lyle Lovett
Avard
Murder Mystery... "You have a story on your site about
an unsolved murder in Avard, Oklahoma. I have an interesting bit to
share with you if you would like... the cafe in Avard (Vina Rae's
Grill & Graze) is said to be haunted. I lead a paranormal
investigation team there to check it out. The story is that the cafe
owner's mother that is also the mayor of Avard saw a ghost in the
cafe. They have things happen quite frequently and they smell the
stench of burning hair a lot. They think it is the ghost of Ann Reynolds.
Why the cafe? It used to be the old high school gym where Ann's husband
was the basketball coach. Just seems kind of odd. We plan to go back
for a follow up investigation. You can read the Avard
Ghost Report at www.eerieok.com.
I happened upon your site today while doing some research on ghost
towns. I love the historical aspect of these investigations. I am
also interested in ghost towns in general. I am also a member of the
GHOULI (Ghost Haunts of Oklahoma and Urban Legends Investigations)
based in OKC. We have a researcher on the team that is actually doing
some research into the Brown Springs area and we are looking at a
road trip sometime in the near future. Tonya from GHOULI and I are
working on a video production of a program called Oklahoma's Forgotten
Mysteries wherein we will showcase any and all mysterious happenings
in Oklahoma. We have a few other projects that we are working on that
will incorporate these stories. We are actually going to Guthrie tomorrow
to do a show with Channel 9 news on some of the haunted places there.
We got to go to Eastern State Penitentiary in June to do an
investigation for The Learning Channel and it should be on
sometime soon." -- Tammy
Good Memories... "I haven't received an issue in recent
weeks and hope that I haven't been deleted from your mailing list.
I really admire what you have created with OkieLegacy and encourage
you to continue with your wonderful work. You may not remember me.
I grew up in Alva, knew your mom and dad and graduated high school
with your sister, Dorthy. Good memories all." -- Bob
Short Story Submission... "In these busy times, many readers
find that shorter is often better. For that reason, I offer my 1650-word
short story, Crying
Time for the Cherokee, for consideration. If the story meets
your requirements, you're free to publish it as long as you include
the box linking to my website at the bottom of it."
Lookout & Moundridge Photos... "Please add portash
to the OHTH e-Zine newsletter. Also was wandering if you had copies
of the Lookout Sunday School classes
and Moundridge School
without numbers on the fronts? The Bliss kids would be my great aunts
and uncles as my grandmother Mamie was the eldest of 12 siblings including
Kenneth and Marjorie. My great uncle Glenn Bliss married Virginia
Annett. Also my great grandmother Amelia (Knabe) Bliss has ties with
Marthesia (Knabe) Myers. If you do not have pictures with the numbers
- may I copy the pics you have on your site for my geneology notebook?"
-- Tonya Porter - Email: portash@pldi.net
English / Cherokee
Dictionary... Translate English into Cherokee.
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