Why Daylight Savings Time?

Did you remember to set your clocks forward an hour on this second Sunday of March, 2009? It is Daylight Savings Time ... Again! Why cannot we do away with this gruesome "Daylight Savings Time" thing?

Saturday brought partly cloudy skies with miniscule snowflakes that fell off and on during the Saturday afternoon hours. We only accumulated a tiny fraction of an inch of snow and the temperatures dropped to the 20's towards evening.

What is it doing in your neck of the woods. We hear that Northwest Oklahoma could use some moisture for their pastures, spring crops and to squelch the fire danger that has been ravages some areas in northwest Oklahoma.

Have you Twittered yet? The OkieLegacy has been playing around at Twitter.com and learning to "Twitter" and "Tweet." Lately it has been more observing and reading their little tutorial. BUT ... if you are interested in Twittering, stop by OkieLegacy Twitter page and get connected. We also have a NEW Facebook identity, using our email: nwokie@me.com. Get connected.

There is a NEW "social browser" out there that this NW Okie is trying out. It is called "Flock." You can check it out at flock.com. It keeps all those networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Digg, MySpace, Photobucket, Picasa, TinyPic, eBlogger, Gmail, Yahoo! mail, etc... that you subscribe in one place, on a tab on the left column of the browser. You might want to try it out.

Before I head out of here, I leave you with this quote by Dag Hammarskjold (1905-1961) to think about - "The longest journey is the journey inward."
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Insight Into Grandma - 1904

Here is another insight into this NW Okie's grandmother, Constance Estella Warwick, before she was married and while she was going to school at the Normal School in Alva. This 1904 letter from John C. McClure, was postmarked Jan. 30, 1904, Quincy, Ill, and received by Constance Warwick, Jan. 31, 1904, in Alva, O. T. (Oklahoma Territory).

Quincy, Ill, Jan. 29, 1904 - Miss Constance Warwick, Alva O. T.
Dear Constance: I am beginning to think that my letters are getting served rather rough at your hands. I wrote you a letter a long time ago, but never received an answer. I have been in Q'y nearly two weeks, and have not received a single letter yet. It don't look as though I had any friends does it.

It has been terrible cold here. It has been zero weather all week as low as 2 below. I have had a pretty good time this winter. We had quite a bit of good sleighing up home. There is quite a bit of snow on the ground now.

I am taking short-hand. We had a spelling examination today. Only a few passed. We have to spell 95 out of a hundred words. The short-hand teacher we had before the holidays has gone to Texas to teach. There are about 1000 students including all the old maids, gross widows and etc.

We have a literacy society at the college on Friday nights. I did not go tonight. How did they make out about the Shop S. School. Did Nellie rule?

We had a leap-year party up home. The girls escorted the boys. It seemed funny. I am going to have my face taken tomorrow. I guess they will be some 15 centers. Are you going to Normal this Spring? You had better go some where and take a short hand course. Be sure and go some where, where they have a dining hall. I board at the college dining hall.

We get fried potatoes three times a day and hash for supper. You just better believe I like hash - far away.

Well I will close for this time. Please answer by return mail. Your Friend, J. C. McClure, 524 North 9th, Quincy, Ill. Bye Bye."
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More On Alva Rose Creamery

Jim says, "The Rose Creamery building was on the north side of Choctaw Street in the 500 block. I think it was about the first building east of the old Hackett house where Jim Scribner lives today. That house is at the corner of College (6th Street) and Choctaw." View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Cole Bros. - Alva OK

Rod says, "There is a little building in that vicinity of Choctaw Street, 500 block, in Alva, with the name "Cole Bros" atop what is now a garage door. I will have to drive by that block in the next few days and see if I can make any sense of it. If memory serves, the Newman Apartments are in that block, too.

From the appearance of the old postcard, then, most of the old creamery has been torn down in the intervening years. Based on the postcard, I assumed the main building was on a corner, given its angled entry and what might be a road going past on the other side. So now I am wondering who were the "Cole Brothers" whose name is on the little building that still sits there? Here's a photo of it: Cole Brothers building." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Genealogy Searching

Erika says, "I have a suggestion for another link to add to your Genealogy page ParisTimes Genealogy. I think is a pretty good genealogy article with lots of resources that I think fits well on your page: Genealogy on the Web.  Thanks so much for taking the time to read my email.   Have a great day." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Lest We Forget

Ellis says, "Audie Murphy Tribute - A very good tribute to Audie Murphy, and his astounding WWII Military record. It moves along rather quickly, so you might want to use the pause and start buttons. Enjoy! A quiet hero." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

F-16 Dead Stick Landing

Roy says, "As a former ground-to-air radio operator in the U S Airforce, I was able to separate and follow all of these transmissions.  In those days, we copied the entire transmissions by hand (printing only, no handwriting) and it probably would have taken me an additional 10 minutes or so to finish printing this out, with pencil on a yellow pad.  We monitored only two frequencies in each radio van and my frequencies were the emergency freq (121.9 Meg. as I recall) and a ground-to-air freq that I do not remember. We were trained to print our letters in a particular way (a "G" is a "C" with a "7" as its tail) and to print these letters very fast but readable by any and all personnel.  I still print like this today." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Perry OK Gas Prices

Roy says, "A couple of weeks ago the gas prices here in Perry stayed at $1.59.9 for several days but then bounced around again to settle on $1.79.9 and have stayed there for about a week now. I just noticed a few days ago that for the folks who use diesel, those prices are now 8 cents CHEAPER than regular. Diesel is at $1.71.9!

 It was also revealed today that Oklahoma City has the lowest jobless rate for any city its size in the nation! Oklahoma in general is a great place to live at this time. Housing is available (banks are lending money on them) plus lots of jobs are available at this time. Even though our local Ditch Witch plant has cut some working hours, it's a regular seasonal thing and they're slated to go back to full time in March. It appears that the GM dealer across the street from my shop is still selling plenty of vehicles (might not be making as much profit as before), and I know that they recently sold 35 police cars to the city of Tulsa. Interesting!" View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1933 - Salt City Creamery Ball Club

Speaking of creameries, we found this old 1933 news article in the publication, The Oklahoman, dated May 11, 1933, page 11, with the headlines that read: "Salt City Creamery Gets Alva Ball Club."

I am not sure what or where the "Salt City Creamery" was located. Could or does anyone out there remember or heard anything about the Salt City Creamery?

Anyway ... the 1933 short news article stated, "Alva, May 10, 1933 -- Special -- The Salt City creamery this week took over the Alva baseball club, semi-finalist in last year's state sandlot district elimination. The Alva team has won three games while losing one this year. It plays Cherokee at Cherokee Sunday."
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1934 - Alva Golfers Get Rattler

This interesting little news tidbit appeared in The Oklahoman, dated June 17, 1934, page 31, with headlines reading: "Alva Golfers Get Rattler, No Foolin'"

Alva, June 16 (1934) -- Special -- "The next time a duffer on the city golf course is seen off in the rough swinging his club wildly, he may be killing a snake sure enough.

"Four city golfers, looking for a lost ball, came upon a coiled diamond back rattlesnake just off the fairway on the No. 2 hole. The first golfer used a driver, the next a niblick but what finally did the trick was a mashie shot."
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1934 - Sam Houston Kin In College

Here is another interesting news article from The Oklahoman, dated Oct. 28, 1934, page 56, with headlines reading: "Sam Houston's Kin In College - Great Granddaughter Is In Alva School."

Alva, Oct. 27, 1934 -- AP -- "Pretty Margaret Houston, great granddaughter of Gen. Sam Houston and grand daughter of Temple Houston, a man whose picturesque career in the southwest is perhaps surpassed only by his father's, is enrolled in Northwestern State Teachers college, Alva.

Margaret may well be proud of her family heritage and she very ably lives up to the tradition of the Houston women for loveliness. Large, limpid brown eyes, skin as fair and smooth as cream colored satin, scarlet lips that need no rouge, almost black hair -- truly one of raven's.

The Houston men are noted for their fiery temper, courage and generosity. The Houston women are just as famed for their beauty. Margaret is the daughter of Sam Houston III, on the staff of Oklahoma Military Academy, Claremore."
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1935 - Scarlet Fever At Alva Bans Crowds

This next old 1935 news article appeared in The Oklahoman, dated January 4, 1935, page 1, with headlines reading: "Scarlet Fever At Alva Bans Crowds."

Alva, Jan. 3, 1935 -- AP -- "A ban upon all public gatherings in Alva was ordered Thursday because of many cases of scarlet fever. More than 100 cases, none fatal as yet, have been reported.

"Northwestern State Teachers' college, all public schools, churches, theaters and recreation centers were ordered closed until Dr. O. E. Templin, Woods County health officer, decides the danger is past. Dr. G. N. Bilby, state health commissioner, arrived here Thursday from Oklahoma City."
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1935 - Alva Open Again

This 1935 news article appeared in The Oklahoman, dated Jan. 20, 1935, page 49, with headlines that read: "Alva To Open Again Monday" - "Epidemic Ends, Clubs and Churches to Resume."

Alva, Jan. 19, 1935 -- Special -- "The procession of seven-days-a-week blue Sundays, which has stifled this ordinarily progressive city since the scarlet fever epidemic closed the town three weeks ago, will end Monday, and the city will enjoy freedom again.
"They have been rolling up the streets at 8 o'clock each night since Dr. G. N. Bilby, state health commissioner, ordered the quarantine, which prohibited churches, moving picture houses, pool halls and schools from operating. It was worse than Sunday for the ordinary Alva citizen for it has been his wont to visit a moving picture house on Sunday if he did not feel the need for the parson's weekly exhortation.

"He could not go to a luncheon club or any other kind of club. His wife was as bad off. SHe could not club around either. Even the public library, the last resort of the average bored mortal, was closed.

"The scarlet fever, while of epidemic proportions, was of the milder sort. There have been but a few serious cases since the onset."
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1935 - Arson Charge Filed At Alva

This 1935 news article appeared in The Oklahoman, dated April 12, 1935, page 20, with headlines that read: "Arson Chrage Filed At Alva" - "Echo of College Buildings Loss Is Heard."

Alva, April 11, 1935 -- AP -- "Harry S. Williams, whose large house burned the morning the main administration building of Northwestern State Teachers college was destroyed by fire, was named Thursday in arson charges filed here.

"Filing of the charges came after an investigation by W. C. Theimer, state fire marshal and Wes Warden, Alva fire chief.

"Sheriff Ken Greer arrested Williams following the filing of the arson charges by County Attorney L. Z. Lasley. The complain set forth that Williams employed Bill Cline, also named, to pour gasoline in the attic of the dwelling and set the house on fire while the college building was burning.

"The Williams house, located directly across the street from the campus, was a total loss.

"Cline was placed in the Alfalfa county jail at Cherokee, Sheriff Greer said, after he asked for protection pending the arrest of Williams.

"The fire that destroyed the administration building caused an estimated loss of $500,000."
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1935 - Alva Bans Card Games

Here is an interesting old news article that appeared in The Oklahoman, dated August 18, 1935, page 58, with headlines that read: "Alva's Ordinance Bans Card Games." Does it still hold true today?

Alva, Aug. 17, 1935 -- Special -- "Still hot after the gambling mushroom, which has caused the city council no end of sleepless nights, the city this week hurled down a ban against playing cards in all public places.

"Ostensibly it was aimed to eliminate the playing of the game of 'moon' with cards, a domino game which was outlawed a month ago. So broad is the ordinance, however, that it outlaws as well the playing of bridge or other card games in restaurants and other public places."
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1935 - Alva Get Funds For Bridges

Back in the Fall of 1935, September to be exact, The Oklahoman reported on page 59, September 22, 1935, that "Alva was given funds to build bridges.

It goes on to state that, "By spending $4,423, Woods county will build nine steel bridges across secondary roads in widely scattered areas. The state highway commission has returned to the county the use of the old highway 14 bridge damaged by a flood in May.

"With the $4,423, the county will have the bridge dismantled and will then set up WPA projects to take the segments of the bridge out to various creeks where small bridges are needed."
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1935 - Alva Mayor Quits

Back in October, 1935, there was an Alva Mayor, A. G. Sutton, who was elected mayor in 1934 by a large majority. The following 1935 news article appeared in The Oklahoman, dated Oct. 16, 1935, page 1, with headlines that read: "Alva Mayor Quits In Row Over Road."

Alva, Oct. 15, 1935 -- Special -- "A. G. Sutton, elected mayor last year by a large majority, resigned Tuesday night after the city council voted over his opposition to waive jurisdiction over a half-mile of U. S. highway 64 which runs through Alva.

"The state highway commission, preparing to improve that part of the highway in the city limits, sent a form letter asking the city to approve its request. The seven-man council voted unanimously to approve the request and Sutton gave his verbal resignation, which was not accepted by the council until it could be put in writing."
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