Moving Weekend

Patti Page - Its A Good Day
Where has June 2008 gone? Our Independence Day (July 4th) is just around the corner! AND... things are hectic this weekend in SW Colorado for the Wagner family!

Things are being loaded as NW Okie prepares this week's OkieLegacy newsletter. You see... we are in the process of moving to our new residence closer to the mountains in the forest by a lake, North of Bayfield, Colorado here in Southwest Colorado.

I got out of the heavy lifting and loading of stuff into the UHaul truck, 'cause I needed to get this week's OkieLegacy newsletter put to bed (or published).

If you browse over to our webcam site at okielegacy.us and okielegacy.net, might catch a glimpse of the UHaul truck being loaded for our move the end of this month thru the 1st of July.

Gas prices in Southwest Colorado at Bayfield's Conoco had regular priced at $4.13.9. For all of you getting ready to head out to celebrate Independence Day, have a safe trip and safe fireworks display where ever you are.
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1960 Democratic Politics - McGill & Edmondson

Back in February, 1960, my Dad, Gene McGill, was having a "showdown" with Democrat Governor Howard Edmondson, when Gene was running for State Chairman of the Democrats against Pat Malloy, Tulsa. Malloy was Governor Edmondson's choice so he (the Democratic governor) would have control of the party.

Gov. Edmondson carried the fight against McGill (the present chairman back in 1960), while Malloy had been on the sidelines for the most part, in the showdown exchanges.

Maybe some of you might remember some of James Lange's political cartoon's where Lange drew carricatures of Edmondson and McGill in their heated showdown battles for control of the Democratic party in Oklahoma.

The political cartoon that comes to mind that sticks out in this NW Okie's mind is the one showing Gene with a ladder leaned against a two story house as he is about to elope with the Democratic Voters. I know Gov. Edmondson was in the cartoon somewhere, but can't remember what Edmonson was doing.

I have an autograph picture of that political cartoon, but it is packed up some place right now. I will dig it out after we get settled in our new residence.

MORE 1960 Politics In Oklahoma
In The Oklahoman, dated Feb., 20, 1960, page 1 and continued on page 2, the headlines read: "Today's D-Day In Edmondson, McGill Battle," written by Otis Sullivant.

In the article, McGill is quoted as saying, "The only thing I have to offer Oklahoma Democrats is a chance for them to control their own Party, from precincts on up," said McGill. It was this opportunity which brought record turnouts at precinct meetings last Friday. "I am convinced that is what will elect me to a full-term," added McGill.

The next day, Sunday, Feb. 21, 1960, page 119, the headlines read: "McGill Winner By a Landslide In Party Fight." In the article, McGill attributed his victory to precinct Democrats, and declared the common objective will be election of a president this year and the Malloy and McGill forces will unite and work together in the cause.

McGill was quoted as saying, "The real victory today belongs to Oklahoma's precinct Democrats. They have spoken out forcefuly for a return of their party to the grassroots. I wholeheartedly agree this is the best way to keep our party strong. All Oklahoma Democrts are my boss. This includes eually those who opposed me and those who supported me. I intend to reflect the majority opinion of state government. I know there is no better Democrat than Pat Malloy. I also realize Gov. Edmondson is one of the most important men in our party, due every possible consideration. We worked together promoting a highly successful Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner, while the contest for state chairman was under way. I am sure we can work together in the party on an even closer basis."

Meanwhile... Gov. Edmondson was at Ardmore with friends and stated, "We have no comment at this time," said Gov. Edmondson of the results.

In Tulsa, Malloy said he believes outcome of Democratic county conventions in no way reflects on the popularity of Edmondson or his reforms in the state. Malloy goes on to state, "There still isn't any way to divorce me from the Democratic party -- I've been in it too long. I'll continue to work for the Democratic party on the local, state and national levels as I have all the time."

Trouble Not New
It seems trouble for Gov. Edmondson started last summer when he announced he would initiate the reform program and include the measure to take spending of county funds from the county commissioners.

The article goes on to say, "His difficulty with the party was augmented when he failed to get the executive committee to name Malloy to succeed Loyd Benefield, state chairman, when Benefield resigned in September, 1959."

AND... the governor failed to contact members of the executive committee himself, and in a surprise action they named McGill state chairman to serve until the party reorganization in 1960.

The force of the opposition dates back to the Edmondson campaign for governor in 1958 with his fight on the "old guard" and the politicians. He had since added the opposition of county commissioners, a powerful force.
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Snowstorm of '48 In NW Oklahoma

The Oklahoman, dated 1948, Nov. 29, page 1, had these headlines on the frontpage: "Storm Over, Utility Crews Rush Repairs In Northwest Area," "Clear, Warmer Weather Is Due In State Today," "Ice, Winds Combine To Isolate Towns, Some Roads Still Bad."

This news clipping is what we found on the frontpage headlines of the November, 1948, of The Oklahoman -- Northwest Oklahoma was suffering from ice storms that crippled telephone and power service to many communities in the northwest of the state.

"Wide areas of northwest Oklahoma lay crippled sunday night after severe ice storms cut off telephone and power service to many communities. Clinging ice broke power and communications wires after Saturday night's snowstorms had swept the entire northwest part of the state and parts of central Oklahoma.

Observers said the ice storm was one of the worst in this state in several years.

Broken wires disrupted electric service to 43 Oklahoma communities. The same number of towns had no long distance telephone service Sunday night.

Repair Crews at Work
Repair crews from Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. and Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. rushed into the stricken areas early sunday morning. They continued to work sunday night. Nearly 400 men were needed for the job. The power company said it hopes to restore all service by sometime Monday. But the telephone company said its lines may not be completely repaired for two or three days.

Although the weekend storms of ice snow and rain crippled parts of the state, wheat farmers over Oklahoma welcomed the moisture which fell in nearly every county.

In some counties rain and snow were called a "million-dollar blessing" for wheat which has struggled for water all autumn.

No Roads Blocked by Snow
No highways were blocked by snow sunday night. But the highway department and the highway patrol said many country roads were impassable completely bogged with mud.

The storm, second winter blast to it Oklahoma in two weeks, apparently had spent itself sunday night. The weatherman predicted fair weather for the entire state Monday. Temperatures will rise to the 45-50 range, he said. Snow Saturday night and early sunday fell mostly north of US66 and west of US77, the highway department reported.

Woodward got the most. five inches were recorded there. Buffalo reported three inches. Perry three inches. Watonga two inches and Ponca City an inch.

Snow Falls Here
In Oklahoma City, snow fell between 12:15 a.m. and 9:58 a.m. sunday. Much of it melted as it hit the ground but patches of white spotted the city sunday morning. Total moisture in Oklahoma City from Saturday's rain and the snow which followed was 1.09 inches, the airport weather station said. Southwestern Bell rushed 200 construction crewmen into the northwest sunday night to repair damaged long distance lines. The company counted 5,000 broken wires, 300 broken poles and 500 broken cross-arms.

Long distance breaks isolated five towns served by Bell and another 38 served by independent companies. Bell exchanges cut off from the outside sunday night were Forgan, Cherokee, Alva, Fairview and Carmen.

Private Company Hit
At the same time, there was no telephone service to Fort Supply, Laverne, Fairmont, Carrier, Goltry, Helena, Lambert, Douglas, Marshall, Drummond, Anes (sp. Ames), Okeene, Southard, Mutual, Cestos, Lahoma, Meno, Ringold, Hitchcock, Watonga, Hillsdale, Nash, Jet, Hunter, Salt Fork, Lamont, Manchester, Gibson,Wakita, Clyde, Breckenridge, Garber, Burlington, Driftwood, Byron, Amorita, Billings and Lucien.

These communities in the northwest are served by private telephone companies. Southwestern said some 1,500 local phones were knocked out in Enid, El Reno, Fairview, Woodward, Cherokee, Alva, Kremlin and Medford. The same troubles plagued OG&E. Ice up to three inches on power lines in the northwest plunged 43 communities into darkness.

The power company sent 125 workmen and a 12-man engineering staff into the areas to restore service.

No Power at Alva
Four crews went from Oklahoma City. Others were sent from Durant, Shawnee, Ardmore and Norman. They took with them equipment to dig pole holes and restring long sections of wire.

A power line running from Woodward to the city water wells, four miles northeast there, snapped under the ice. Water service was not halted, however, because the reservoir kept water running into the mains. A standby plant kept service uninterrupted in Woodward.

Alva had no power sunday. A small standby plant generated enough power only for emergency needs there.

Other communities cut off from OG&E service: Geary, Greenfield, Loyal, Hitchcock, Eagle City, Oakwood, Canton, Watonga, Ames, Ringwood, Meno, Lahoma, Goltry, Helena,....."
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1948 - "Tulsa" Movie Made in Oklahoma

According to The Oklahoman, dated 1948 June 27, front page, the caption under this photo read: "Home on the Range -- Susan Hayward, star of the movie "Tulsa," now being produced on the Turner Ranch, borrowed a long yellow slicker Saturday morning and used it to keep rain off Bill Gephart, 5, left and C. A. Collins, 11, Stillwater. Bill lives on the ranch. In the bottom photo, Robert Preston, male lead of the film, takes a look at some sleek Herefords used in judging contests Saturday with Ronald Wilhite, 12, Reed, left, and Jerry Ward Perryman, 11, Duke, both 4-H club members, who were at Sulphur for the ninth annual field day for young stockmen.

1948 - Rains Heckle Movie Folks Down by Ada
Sixty years ago, in southern Oklahoma a Dail Oklahoman staff writer by the name of Roy Stewart wrote about the rains that "heckled" the movie folks down by Ada.

He wrote, "The setting was just lovely for Oklahoma's latest and biggest movie production on turner Ranch in sunshine-kissed Hereford Heaven south of here. Then the rain came, and from the director, assistant director, head cameraman, grips and other assorted folk of the Eagle-Lion company came the yells -- 'Wrap it up.'"

Later down in the article Stewart also writes, "The 96 people in the location company are still determined to make a movie. They had a bad time at Tulsa, where both rain and an imminent tornado stopped production of scenes around an oil refinery. But the shots of Tulsa's skyline went on, to eventually end up as a montage fadeout for the movie about oil companies versus the lovers of space and natural grass."

Troubles A Plenty
Director Heisler, who proved he had something when he climbed out of the ranks of cutters after a score of years at paramount to make "Smash Up" and other pictures, had his troubles on the grassy location around the Turner Ranch. BUT... his assistant, howard H. Koch, had the most.

Hoch's troubles were too many. Like when he had a 6 a.m. crew call and an 8 a.m. cast call. first, the 12- ton light truck got stuck and stops traffic on the new road cut through Gov. turner's virgin grass. A ranch tractor pulled it out.

Then, on location, the camera broke, another was supplied, then the sound truck chose to be temperamental. Finally every thing was ready, including the herd of sleek Herefords which Roland Jack and some waddies were holding in the background.

Atop a hill in the vast grassland north of Turner ranch headquarters stood an oil rig, complete except for the top part and crown block. It was all new lumber except the walking beam, but after the movie painters got through with it you'd thought it was there for 30 years.

Gov. Turner got a small bit in the picture, but it consisted largely of the governor starting to smoke around an oil well.

This movie was a Walter Wanger production about Oklahoma from 1920 to 1925, and the bad man in it is the oil exploiter who would drill anywhere at any time to get another barrel.

Opposing this oil exploiter was a character played by Robert Preston, who believed in the need for oil, but wants it brought in under a conservation plan which will leave some for the future -- and some grass for cattle.

Lloyd Gough, the bad man was not just one man, he was all the men of the big companies who didn't care for cattle except as a steak on a plate. Gough is also a city builder, a guy who would use oil to build in tulsa the world's oil capital.

Pedro Amendariz was a lad up from Mexico who had done quite well with John Ford in a number of movies, in "Tulsa" he was an Indian who loves the grassland. But due to his love for the gal, he lets it be leased for drilling, but only according to his private spacing and proration plan. When the big fire comes, his is the only one that survives.

Dainty susan Hayward, in a buckskin costume, is the girl called Cherokee, a half-breed who is the daughter of Nels lansing, a rancher portrayed by Harry Shannon, all six feet two of him.

I was just a baby when this movie, Tulsa, was filmed in the summer months in Eastern and Southern Oklahoma. Does anyone out there remember this movie? This is one that I may have to rent at the movie rental place and check out for myself.
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Okie Flying Farmer

"The image on the left is a give away match book advertising the White Bros. airport.

The White brothers, Leslie and Orville, were early members of the Flying Farmers. They farmed a few miles west of Lamont in Grant Co., OK. Their air strip was located about three miles west of Lamont on U.S. 60. They started out with an old Piper Cub and went on to be Cessna dealers back in the 1950’s. They and my grandfather Clarence McCary helped each other farm and fished and grabbled together over the years. All these people have passed on.

After Leslie retired, he made the most marvelously perfect furniture from native Oklahoma black walnut. The OKC daily newspaper once featured his furniture making. He was truly a man for all seasons. Besides being a farmer, a pilot, and furniture maker he was also a good mechanic, welder, carpenter, and a fine human being. He could do it all." -- Charles M. Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country
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Remembering Neuman's Boys Choir Outing (Feb. 27, 1958)

Remembering Neuman's Boys Choir Outing (Feb. 27, 1958) ... "I remember when the old school house was purchased and moved to the lake to become the 'Lodge.' Before moving the school house, choir kids and parents had to clear the lake property of all the wild vegetation .... quite a job.

Nights in the Lodge were great fun with the beds up on the balcony. If you got up in the night to go to the bathroom and woke up Nipper ... who woke up Fred, you would get the 'honor' of running the beltline. So, we were really quiet! The beltline was a great way to to keep us kids under some semblance of control." -- Gary Tanner - OkieLegacy Comment
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Growing Up In Oklahoma & Noodling Golfballs

We are in the process of taking down Kenneth Updike's stories and ramblings of "Growing Up In Oklahoma" because Kenneth asked us, "To remove all of my previous writings to you about my Ramblins. Personal stories that I told you and your readers. My Son has had all of my writings, and notes copyrighted so that we can put them in a book or booklet. His idea. I really have no objections to this, but he insists we can be viewed by more people. I leave it up to him. Thanks for your help in the past, and I still read your Okie Legacy nearly every week."

If you find some of Kenneth's Ramblings that I have missed, Please email me the link with Vol. and Iss. numbers so that this NW Okie can remove them. Thanks for your help!
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Neumans Boys Choir - 1957

"I am mailing you a picture of the boys choir that was taking in 1957. Its from a copy of the Alva Newsgram that my mother had in a box." -- Ellis
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One Cent ... YES!

"A PENNY FOR YOUR SEARCH FOR THE BALMER FUND! GoodSearch.com

Last year, search engines generated more than $8 billion in advertising revenue. Part of that money can now go to support The Balmer Fund historic preservation projects.

GoodSearch.com does just that. Partnered with Yahoo!, 60,000 nonprofits are now using GoodSearch in what may be the simplest fundraising program you will find. Each time you search the Internet (just as you normally would), GoodSearch donates a penny to your cause.

The ASPCA, as one example, has already earned more than $15,000 from GoodSearch and USA Today called the concept "simple and brilliant."

Check it out! GoodSearch.com Add it to your tool bar! Type in The Balmer Fund and we will receive a penny for every search made. Such a painless way to donate! Please pass this message to your family and friends.

Thank you! The Balmer Fund Board, "Preserving the history, art & culture of the Prairies for Future Generations." -- 121 W. Main, Harper, KS 67058 620.896.7566 - EMAIL: wepreserve@balmerfund.org
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Looking for Alva WWII POW Camp Anecdotes

"Linda and readers, I am trying to help a colleague collect information about the WW II POW camp in Alva, Oklahoma. She has a project in mind and needs background information. If you have anecdotes to share, please send them to me. Thanks." -- Kathy Earnest- Email: kearnest77@sbcglobal.net
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Old Baseball Mits

"Linda, I have copies of two pictures from the era of baseball mits that looked like bird's nests. One is of the St Louis Browns of 1914, with Branch Rickey as Manager. The other is of 'The Colonels' of 1915 that was taken on April 14, 1915. I don't know where 'The Colonels' were located? Which town? A local lad was a pitcher with both these teams. His name was Willy Taylor." -- Jim Bradley - Email: jbrad723@bluevalley.net
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Noodling On Youtube

"Have you ever been noodling? I think you should take your camera and capture some guys noodlling, even try it yourself, stick your arm in a dark hole underwater, looking for a catfish. Youtube Noodling. -- BB
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Thanks For the Memories

1960 - John Cronley's Once Over by E. M. Barker... "Linda, thanks for printing my Daddy's article and also the Spasm on Crawdads. I appreciate the tribute you pay him. I thought he was the greatest too." -- Bill Barker - OkieLegacy Comment
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1959 - Business Charters Granted

As reported in The Oklahoman, page 11, on December 12, 1959, "Charters Granters" -- Charters were being granted for domestic businesses. If you go down the list to the four paragraph, among the list of charters granted that year, was Northwestern Flying Service, Inc., Alva (Oklahoma). Captial stock: $10,000, 50 years existence. Incorporators: Earl Hellman, Enid; Leo Strickland, Lura Strickland, Alva.
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Catalpa (Catawba) Tree In SW Colorado

Catalpa, also spelled Catawba, is a genus of mostly deciduous trees in the flowering plant family bignoniaceae, native to warm temperate regions of North America, the West Indies, and eastern Asia.

The Catalpas grow to 10-25 m tall, and can be recognized by their large heart-shaped to three-lobed leaves, showy white or yellow flowers in broad panicles, and in the autumn by their 20-50 cm long fruits which resemble a slender bean pod, containing numerous small flat seeds, each seed having two thin wings to aid wind dispersal. Because of the leaves, they are sometimes confused for Tung trees in the South US.

The name derives from the Catawba Native American name catawba for these trees (the tribal totem), with the spelling Catalpa being due to a transcription error on the part of the describing botanist (Scopoli) making the first formal scientific description of the genus.

The bean-like seed pod is the origin of the alternative vernacular names "Indian Bean Tree" and "Ciagar Tree" for C. bignonioides and C. speciosa.

The tree is the food plant of the Catalpa Sphinx moth, the leaves being eaten by the caterpillars. The caterpillars are an excellent live bait for fishing, particularly in the south US where some dedicated anglers plant catalpa mini-orchards for their own private source of "catawba-worms." -- Wikipedia - Catalpa
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Fight the Smears & Fears of Politics

Tired of receiving unwanted smear & fear tactics being sent through the snail-mail, emails and the whisper campaigns of politics? To find the REAL TRUTH check out this site at fight the Smears
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Where I Grew UP

"This is the area where I spent most of my teen and young adult years. In the Brick Town area, my grandfather and I bought tools at Miller-Jackson, and I later bought concessions supplies from a friend and sometimes business partner, Kenneth Doolitle who owned and operated Western Extract Supply just east of the downtown location of John A. Brown Co, (where my 'daytime job' was for awhile). And of course the Mummer's Theater (where I did most of my acting 'on stage', and took care of their audio requirements for two years) was located in the area. It was a happy time. And I must not forget "Harvey and the Wall Bangers" (the neighborhood band) that practiced all hours across the street from my parents' house. I wonder if they're still performing? Great memories!

Our gasoline prices have gone back up to $3.83.9, and I've seen the portable oil rigs rolling again, so I guess they're starting to drill somewhere. First time I've seen them going down the highway for a month or so. The wheat harvest is going strong again and we hear that this year's crop is excellent. It should bring top dollar again. " -- Roy K. - YouTube at Bricktown, OKC
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More From Roy In Perry, OK

"So many things have been happening I hardly know where to start. The visitors came and went and a good time was had by everyone.

We also had the freewheeling bicyclists who camped overnight in the courthouse park and then moved on (this is the third time those 1,000 cyclists and their support crews have chosen to come through Perry on their trip around the state) and they said that we gave them a better reception than most other towns they traveled through.

One of our church's provided two free current movies (free to anyone) and our "Great Big Band" gave a free concert at the bandstand in the courthouse park. A portable tent-enclosed shower was set up on a closed off street for anyone needing to remove the dust from the road (separate entrances for men and women in the 'divided' large tent). Port-a-Potties all around the square. Food booths set up on the square just like we do for the Cherokee Strip Celebration in September, etc. It was a carnival-like atmosphere.

I won't be able to be there for the Britton reunion (again). And so far as I can tell, Saturday July 5th would be okay. I know there's a city-wide celebration that weekend but I think that everything will take place on Friday, the 4th. ending that night with the free fireworks displays and watermelon feed at Perry Lake Park (west of town). I don't know yet what our special music will be ..... yes I do ..... we're practicing a choral version of "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" at tomorrow's choir practice, so that must be what we'll perform on Sunday, the 6th. I'm also the videographer for the church, and do videos (transferred to DVD) for our Perry Information Net on cable channel 19. Come to think of it, you knew that already.

Something that I failed to tell you though is that sculptor Jim Franklin's wife Linda has been diagnosed with COPD and carries oxygen with her anywhere she goes. She came down with Pneumonia while they were in Italy on their recent European trip and then had a more complete checkup after they returned. I don't know yet whether she'll opt for a lung-transplant.

Award-winning children's songwriter Monty Harper will be performing at the bandstand in our courthouse park this Thursday (sponsored by our Carnegie Library). He has a program of 'bug-themed' songs for the kids to go along with the library's "Catch the Reading Bug" theme. He has appeared in our area every summer for 17 years now and is expected to include tunes from his albums (that can also be downloaded in MP3 format from his website) entitled: "Catch the Reading Bug", "The Kid Who Ate A Bug", "Super Flea", "Creepy Crawly Party Time", and "The Great Green Squishy Mean Bilbiovore".

The man will be presenting 30 performances at libraries throughout Oklahoma and Kansas this summer (possibly at one of the OKC libraries on his tour). During the fall he'll teach writing to elementary school students through his "Song Work Series" programs. You can find him on the web at MontyHarper.com." -- Roy K.
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Looking For Info On R. H. Hannah

"I was looking for information on R.H. Hannah who practised medicine in Prague, Lincoln County, Oklahoma." -- Helen Harvey - Email: h-harvey@att.net
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