Oakie's NW Corner...
Have I got a treasure for some of you former Alva High Grads! I
received in the snail-mail this week a 1920
Pow-Wow, Alva
High yearbook. I have started scanning the pages and have placed
them over at my NEW Webshots photo album - NWOkieLegacy.
This 83-year-old yearbook, I figure would put the Seniors at the
age of 100 or 101 present day.
When I was glancing through and reading the Senior
Class' history, prophecy and Will that they had written up,
I wonder if any of those prophecies ever came true. Very interesting
reading and a great source for some of you who are doing your genealogy
out there. Hope this jogs some of those memory cells for some of
you out there.
I have had several requests this week for lists of WWII German
POW's. Has anyone out there ever come across a list? Check out the
Mailbag Corner for some interesting tidbits about some of the German
POW artists that graced the Alva Camp. There is an inquiry as to
the identity of the portrait of a young German girl (daughter of
another German POW in Alva Camp during 1943-45).
Sandie sent us a picture of the restoration being done on the Edith
Section foreman house that is to be moved to the Waynoka Museum
& Historical Site.
When I was scanning this Old
1917 NSN Ranger yearbook for my NW OkieLegacy Webshots album,
I found a photo showing the Alva Fountain on the downtown square.
It shows some buildings in the background. Is that the northside
or the southside buildings showing in the background? It must be
Winter in this photo because of the icicles are like icing on a
tiered-wedding cake... hanging from the fountain's edges.
As to myself, my horses and my Pug (Duchess)... I have been enjoying
this beautiful Fall weather we have been having in NW Oklahoma.
I am still helping feed the horses. My two-year-old mare (Cassie)
is being ridden and trained for pleasure riding. I am told that
she is a smooth, smart young thing. It must be all that TLC that
she received as a young filly. As for Duchess... at the present
time she is zonked out. Ever since this Tuesday she has been taking
it easy recovering from her stitches when she visited her favorite
Vet and did the spaying thing. Duchess is back to her sweet, charming,
lovable self... as usual! BUT... with stitches on her belly for
the next week or so.
NOW... It is time for this NW Okie to call it a night and retire
for the evening. We hope you can find some memory joggers amongst
our old yearbooks we have been scanning to share with Y'all! See
you all next weekend and keep those Okie Legacies coming this way!
We couldn't do it without your memories! Thanks!!
~~ Linda "oaKie" ~~
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1917 Alva Ladies
I found this old photo
stuck inside the 1917 NSN Ranger yearbook. I am assuming that
one of the ladies may be my grandmother, Constance E. McGill.
BUT... I am NOT certain of that.
You know what... I wish that I had taken
more of an interest in these old photos while Grandmother, Granddad
and Dad were alive. Perhaps then some old photos would have been
identified. Click the photo to view the larger picture and see
if you recognize this somewhat blurry snapshot of these 1917 NW
Ladies.
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 Corner....
 WWII
Alva German POW Artist... "My father, Friedrich Wilhelm Rohrlack,
born 1918, was a prisoner at Camp Alva 1943-1945. He was also an artist,
mostly landscapes and scenery and he was from Berlin. I was sent copies
of the wall paintings and they could have been painted by him. One
other note: While he was there he painted a portrait of a teenage
blond girl who was the daughter of one of the prisoners. My father,
before he died, asked that I try to find who this person is and send
the portrait to her. I had tried to get this organized two years ago,
but my mother, who now has Alzheimer's, stopped me from following
through. The last that I remember is that the picture was painted
from a photograph of the daughter of a German prisoner. My father's
request was that we try to find the person in this picture, somehow,
and I would then forward it to them. To, however, ensure that we have
the right person, I covered up the neck as this girl was wearing a
rather unusual necklace. The person that claims this picture should
therefore be able to describe this necklace in detail or provide a
photograph that would show who this person is. The actual painting
is 21" X 27", plus matting and frame. The other matter...
I would like to pursue, is the inner wall paintings found in the huts.
My father was a very good artist, mostly scenery and mostly from German
themes. I should note that he was a Berliner, and I understand that
some of the art work was from Berlin. His name was Friedrich Wilhelm
Rohrlack born 1918, died 1995. I know this could be a long shot, but
I would very much succeed in this endeavor. Thank you" -- Werner
Rohrlack - E-mail address: w.r.accounting@shaw.ca
Welsh Ponies are Heavenly...
"We raise Welsh ponies in Okarche, Oklahoma." -- Shari
Lifelong Home - Oklahoma... "Oklahoma is my lifelong home
and I love it." -- Gloria
 Edith
Section House Restoration... "The exterior restoration of
the Edith section foreman's house is progressing beautifully. We are
excited about moving it to our site." -- Sandie
Oklahoma Hills - Good Memories... "I sure like this site.
It brings back so many good memories of Aunt Pat and Uncle Gene Hulsey
and Grandma Lillie and Grandma Knight.Would like to hear of/from the
cousins. In those Oklahoma Hills where I was born." -- Lucy Ruth
Phillips-Romero - E-mail address: grandmalucirom@Charter.net
 Old
Soldier Request!... "I enjoy the Legacy with relish each
week. You must be Wonder Woman to manage your time so perfectly! I
am hoping that some of your readers will help me find an old soldier.
Some time ago I found a small,  Heart
Shield Bible with heart shield belonging to a soldier serving
in the Korean War. The owner was Cpl. Bob C. Hayes whose
parents (Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Hayes) lived in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. There
is a dear inscription that would surely be treasured by a family member.
The cardboard cover with address is intact with a military address
in San Francisco, California. If this soldier or his family can be
determined and located, the Bible will be returned to them. Giving
me the name and exact address of the parents could be a determining
factor. The book is such an interesting artifact of that time in history
-- I can't help wondering if this soldier came home. Also, how did
this book end up in the dusty attic of my Victorian home? The soldier
would be about 75 years old. The book measures 3 1/2 x 5 inches and
is deteriorating so it is time to find it a proper home. If the owner
(family) is not located it will be donated to a deserving museum.
Thanks for your consideration. It will be exciting to learn the rest
of the story. Thanks." -- Bonnie - Email: bhaas@akslc.net
WWII German POW Camps... "The website about the WWII
POW Camp in Alva is very interesting. I have been researching
info about the Tonkawa Camp for several years. Spearheading
the campaign, a historical monument has been placed on the site of
the POW camp. Would you have any info about getting the list of German
prisoners for the camp? Occasionally a visitor at our museum will
want to know this -- these people usually are of German descent."
-- E. Coyle
Camp Carson... "I was interested in your WWII POW camps
on your website. I was wondering if you have any information on Camp
Carson, Colorado? My step-father served there but never talked much
about it. Also, have you ever heard of Germans who settled in South
America being captured and sent to POW camps in the US as a precaution?
Interesting website, good info. Thanks for your consideration."
-- Bonnie
Camp Carson - Fort
Carson History - Colorado Springs... "The War Years --
With the acceptance of the first buildings by the camp commander,
Col. Wilfrid M. Blunt, the war-time post was in business. Two days
later, on June 4, 1942, Maj. Gen. William H. Gill arrived to assume
command of the 89th Infantry Division. The first troops of the 89th
arrived from Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on June 15 and one month
later the division was activated. During World War II, a total of
104,165 soldiers trained at Camp Carson. Along with three other infantry
divisions--the 71st, 104th and 10th Mountain--more than 125 units
were activated at Camp Carson and over 100 other units were transferred
to the mountain post from other installations. The camp trained nurses,
cooks, mule packers, tank battalions, a Greek infantry battalion and
an Italian ordnance company--soldiers of any and every variety. Toward
the end of the war, after the departure of the divisions and established
units, Camp Carson trained replacement troops and provisional companies.
The peak troop strength of the installation was in late 1943 when
approximately 43,000 military personnel were stationed at the camp."
"The POW Camp -- The internment camp, opened on the first day
of 1943, was later re designated a POW camp. Located just inside Gate
3 between the service and supply area and Highway 115, it originally
housed 3,000 prisoners. In 1945, an additional 5,000 prisoners were
housed in barracks located east of Pershing Field in the area now
occupied by Division Artillery. A total of nearly 9,000 German, Italian,
and some Japanese prisoners of war were interned at Camp Carson during
World War II. During 1944, POWs alleviated the manpower shortage in
Colorado by doing general farm work, canning tomatoes, cutting corn,
and aiding in logging operations on Colorado's Western slope. They
earned 80 cents a day. In the winter months at Carson, they worked
in the Ouartermaster Laundry and other places on and off post. About
3,650 POWs worked at 17 branch camps located throughout the state.
At Camp Hale, near Leadville, about 400 of the most incorrigible members
of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's Afrika Corps were confined under tight
security. Each of the compounds of the camp had a canteen where prisoners
could purchase personal necessities and a few luxuries. The prisoners
built the canteens and made their own furniture in a prison woodworking
shop. The prisoners also published their own newspaper, a 20-page
mimeograph magazine-size publication called "Die PW Woche."
The paper, printed in German, was staffed by seven of the internees.
The staff had many American newspapers and magazines for reference
purposes. Restrictions imposed on the paper were few. There was no
board of censors as such, but Camp Carson personnel discussed the
paper with the prisoners before it was composed. A cemetery was set
aside for POWs who died here. After the war, their bodies were shipped
to their homelands. Only one POW strike is recorded. The day after
the war in Europe ended, Americans took all the food and cigarettes
out of the canteen. The only items left were books and papers, and
the POWs were decidedly miffed. The strike ended a couple of days
later when the prisoners were told that if they returned to work,
food and cigarettes would be returned to the canteen. In January,
1946, there were still a large number of German prisoners at Carson.
By July 21, 1946, all had been returned to Europe or released. "
Dick & Marjean McCrady... "Dick McCrady was an engineer,
civilian employee at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. Marjean was
a bank officer in Oklahoma City. I dated an engineer who worked with
Dick, met them both. We went out to eat often, played bridge, went
to Missouri for the Big Eight wrestling championship one year. After
I had known them sometime, I learned that Dick was a nephew of Parthena
McCrady, my second favorite teacher after Lee Haley, and that Marjean
was from Alva. Marjean died of cancer. Dick later married Mrs. Sneary
(widow of auto dealer Sneary, mother of Jerry) who gave up smoking
for Dick. They traveled a great deal after their marriage. Dick died
suddenly on one of their trips ... to the Middle East, I think."
Dick & Marjean McCrady... "Dick Married Alice Sneary.
Mom and Dad were good friends of the McCradys. They lived in Kansas."
-- Steve
Marjean Baker McCrady... "Although, I never saw Marjean
again after my family moved from Alva in 1937, I thought about her
every so often. And I hadn't known the story about her brother and
the accident on the square until it appeared in your newsletter. It
must have had a real impact on the rest of his life. It was kind of
you to share the info about Marjean and I do appreciate it."
Concerts at Cain's Ballroom... "Hello, we wanted to give
everyone a few updates to the Cain's Concert Calendar... This week
at the Cain's: Static X - Tuesday, October 14th; Charlie Robison -
Wednesday, October 15th, Tickets are only $15... And don't forget
the rest of October's lineup: Michael Martin Murphey - Thursday, October
23rd; Jason Boland & the Stragglers - Thursday, October 30th;
Freaker's Ball - Friday, October 31st
(17 Local Bands will be playing and there will be a $500 cash prize
for the best costume). Tickets are only $7. For more information,
check out: www.cainsballroom.com
Nevada Ghost-towns... "I have to do a PowerPoint on Dayton,
NV. I have been searching the web all day and have finally found your
website, but you don't have Dayton. You should definitely think about
focusing around Nevada because Nevada is so interesting."
Sweet Little Pug Pups... "Approximately 43 years ago my
husband bought me a little female pug pup (Skoshi) from the Reitz
family at Cherokee. It cost him $35 dollars which I think was more
than our grocery budget for 2 weeks. We probably visited kinfolk at
mealtimes for a while. I don't remember how he justified that to me.
I am sure that it made sense at the time." -- Ann
News, Books & Regional Info of Canada... "I'm Joe
Clawson and this is my site: www.iaqi.com/canada.
I contacted you because I would like to exchange links with your site:
okielegacy.org/journal/.
I think our sites are related. My site contains news, books and regional
information about canada.
 Liz
& Hiedi All Grown-up... "Do you remember these two Alva
girls from high school (Class of '89?) and grade school? Hiedi Edwards-Brown
is in Tennessee with two kids and Liz Avila is married and lives in
New York. They were pretty close in 5th and 6th grade before Heidi
moved away. I found Heidi by accident registering for classmates.com
and brought them together through email since Liz was living in Washing,
DC at the time." -- Michael
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Thanks! You can also view The
OkieLegacy online.
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