Spring Is In the Air

Well! It is Spring! We awoke this morning around 7a.m. MDT to find a couple of young deer shaking, raiding the hanging bird feeder I had hung at the top of the slope in my backyard, North of Bayfield, Colorado.

Yes! I did get a picture of the one of the two culprits. The birds that had been feeding from it yesterday were nowhere to be found during Sunday's early morning feeding schedule. Just two young deer shaking the contents from the bird feeder and eating what fell to the ground.

Our son sent me a photo above of the crab apple trees blooming in my yard on the corner of 11th & Maple Street, in Alva, Oklahoma. I hear tell the fruitless pear trees bloomed a few weeks ago just before the spring freeze went through NW Oklahoma. AND ... This week our 40+ year old Lilac bush in our backyard in Alva, Oklahoma has new Spring buds popping out all over.

What is it doing in your neck of the woods?

With Spring on the horizon and April 2009 just around the corner and basketball winding down, baseball should be coming into play. That is why this weeks OkieLegacy newsletter is giving you an insight into my Grandpa, William "Bill" Jacob (John) McGill and his early 1900s baseball legacy. Read on!
View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1909 Vacation to Colorado

This is a photo of the group that toured the Colorado Springs area in 1909. I believe that the lady seated down front, on the right in the dark suit dress, with glasses and looking away from camera, is my grandmother, Constance Estelle Warwick, who married William Jacob McGill in March, 1910.


My grandmother, Constance Estelle Warwick McGill, took a trip to Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, and surrounding areas with a group of friends when she was 27 years of age during the Summer of 1909 in July. I scanned that scrapbook and put it into a movie file to share with others and family members. It is also on my OkieLegacy/YouTube Site
View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Insight Into Grandma

Before we get started with another transcribed letter to Constance from John C. McClure, we shall share a West Virginia moment and photo of grandma with an old family heirloom (gun) handed down from from either her Warwick or Gwin side of the family. I believe it may have been the Gwin side of the family, though.

This weeks letter from John takes us back to February 22, 1910. John C. McClure is attending college at Gem City Business College, in Quincy, Illinois. Grandma is still single and residing and getting mail at postoffice box 133, in Alva, O. T.
.
The letter starts out with "Quincy, Ill, Sunday - Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, O.T. - Dear Friend Connie."

"I received your letter, which of course was glad to receive. it is a fine day here. Nice and warm. But I am horribly lonesome. There was a Big Excursion to Hanibal, Mo. today. They would not leave all the people on the boat that wanted to go. I suppose that Beer and Dancing will be the order of the day. Yes. I suppose Nellie would dearly love to have me come to Oklahoma and suppose I would a more cordial welcome from her than anybody else.

"Was sorry to hear that mabel Ayersman had left for California as I would like to see the dear Little girl. So Blanche is not married yet. Mebby (sic) there is some chance for me yet. (ha ha).

Say! Connie are you going to Worlds Fair? you wanted me to tell you more about a boat. Well a boat is pointed at both ends. Is about 4 foot across the top in the center of the boat and there is room for two to sit in the center of the boat, and at the ends only room enough for one. I would rather set in the middle, wouldn't you. Today would be a fine day to boat. I have not been boat riding yet.

I am in the 90 word class now, have two more classes yet to make. Students are leaving fast. You tell Essie that I would not advise her to fall in love with Ralph, that is before I get back to Oklahoma. Tell Ralph he had better becareful who he is talking to. Well! I am going to quit and send this in hopes it will pass for an answer to yours. Yours true - Don't wait so long. John McClure, 435 North 7th Street."
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Insight Into Grandpa

The following articles were found in an online website called: Sporting Life that had pdf/text files of news articles back to the late eighteen hundreds. The following are a few in the early 1900s concerning my Grandpa W. J. "Bill" McGill. It should give you an insight into my Grandpa.

April 1907 - Minor Leagues -- This article appeared in Sporting Life, dated Apri 6, 1907, with headlines that read: "Minor Leagues. Make A Most Impressive Showing Nowadays. The National Association Embraces Over Thirty Leagues, comprising 219 Clubs and Nearly 5000 Players, Thus Involving Big Money" - written by Francis C. Righter.

It starts out, "The growth of the minor base ball leagues of this country during the last ten years has been remarkable. Organized in 1901 under the name of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Leagues, they have come to be regarded as a powerful factor in the government of the game, inasmuch as the National Association is the third party to the National Agreement.

There are thirty-two leagues and 219 clubs in the organization, controlling nearly 4500 players. Patrick T. Powers, of New York City, a man of large base ball experience, is the president of this big association."

In this same article a little further down in the column it mentions the prices paid for players. It is not like what they pay base ball players today, though. My Grandpa Bill "Will" McGill of the Austin Senators of Texas league was bought by St. Louis Browns of the American League (A. L.), for $500 (five hundred dollars).

As far as this NW Okie knows... This was a time in base ball when baseball was played for the thrill of the game and the pitcher determined the play of the game.

In April, 1908 and April, 1909, Grandpa Bill McGill is still listed on the St. Louis Team roster as one of the pitchers: Howell, McGill, Criss, Pelty, Waddell, Dineen, Bailey, Keith, Farris, Graham. I am not sure if Grandpa played, though. I thought he was playing on a team in Guthrie around 1909 and with the Western League in Enid, Oklahoma in 1908.

Aug. 25, 1906 - Sporting Life -- We found yet another mention of Grandpa McGill's base ball news in the Sporting Life dated August 25, 1906, with headlines reading: "South Texas League. The Record of the Championship Race of the Organization."

If you scroll down through the article it mentions, " McGill, the 6ft. 4in. (grandpa's stats show him at 6ft-2inches) southpaw, shut out the heavy hitting Beaumont Club last week with only one hit."

Baseball Stats for Bill McGill -- On May 8, 1906, The Dispatch, was quoted as saying, "(Bill) McGill, the 'cross fire' pitcher, was twirling yesterday and he showed the opposing pitcher up at all stages of the game."

This little tidbit of Grandpa's baseball stats shows up on the baseball Almanac site with the following information: Bill McGill was born on Tuesday, June 29, 1880, in Galva, Kansas. McGill was 27 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 16, 1907, with the St. Louis Browns. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats, career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items of interest are presented as: "Birth name: William Jacob McGill; Nickname: Parson; born: 06/29/1880, Galva, KS; Died: 08/07/1959, Alva, OK; College: Friends University; Bats: Right; Throws: Right (this may be wrong, because Grandpa was a southpaw); Height: 6-02; Weight: 185-198; First Game: 09/16/1907; Last Game: 09/27/1907; Draft: Not Applicable.
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Digital Archive Periodicals and Series

David says, "The LA84 Foundation Library is engaged in an ambitious project to convert selected scholarly journals, proceedings and series publications, as well as non-scholarly sports magazines and reviews from paper to digital format. To find specific articles, use the LA84 Foundation Search page. All articles are stored as Portable Document Format (PDF) files. If you cannot read PDF, please download Adobe Acrobat Reader, at no cost. -- LA84 Foundation Library
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Will McGill 1907 Baseball Legacy

We found these Sporting Life articles (pdf/text version) online where you could search for a particular name or keyword. I typed in "mcgill" and came up with quite a few "Will," "Willie," and other McGill's. I have included those below that pertain only to my Grandpa W. J. "Will" McGill.

AMERICAN LEAGUE NOTES -- "Think of Billy Keeler hitting for .237 in 100 games. The Boston Club last week had 26 players put for practice each day. The White Sox took IE Washingtons this season. out of 21 games from the Now Niles batted .400 at one time this year, his average is plain .284. Detroit has the champion trio of run-getters in Jones, Cobb and Crawford. Tyrus Cobb, the Detroit outflelder, is the bat ting sensation of the year. Egan, ths new umpire, seems to be all that President Ban Johnson claims. During the present season American League clubs have tried out sixty-two pitchers. It is believed that Jack Sheridan will be the American League umpire in the Worldn't s Series. McGill, the new Texas pitcher of the Browns, is studying for the ministry and won't play base ball on Sunday....."

[PDF] HANLON©S HOPE Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 50 Number 4. ... Money won©t figure in any other »ttempt at success if I make one." ) BROWNS© ESCAPE. Stone, Powell, O©Connor and McGill in Auto Mix-Up. ... Brown's Escape Death In Auto Mix-Up - Text Version

BROWNS ESCAPE. - Stone, Powell, O'Connor and McGill in Auto Mix-Up. Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 19. George Stone, Jack Powell, Old Jack O'Connor and McGill, McAleer's latest pitching recruit, were near death this afternoon when an into in which they were being taken to the Cleveland Base Ball Club's grounds to play in St. Louis-Cleveland American League game was hit by a street car. The machine's axle was broken, a side crashed in and it was thrown nearly over, just righting itself and settling on its broken gear in time to save McGill from being pinned under it. Stone landed on his feet, springing as he was hurled from his seat. O'Con nor and Powell could not spring and were thrown flat. They bore away with them marks of the mishap."

[PDF] OFFICIAL LIST FOR GUIDANCE OF THE MAGNATES. Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 50 Number 7.n... Louis E. Heidrick, E. Spencer, W. J. McGilL Graham, G. F. Farris, J. Powell, W. Dineen, H. Niles, Benson, Hartzell, Swayne, C. Hemphill, J. O©Connor, Blue, W ... Sporting LIfe vol. 50, no. 7

"American League -- St. Louis E. Heidrick, E. Spencer, W. J. McGill, Graham, G. F. Farris, J. Powell, W. Dineen, H. Niles, Benson, Hartzell, Swayne, C. Hemphill, J. O'Connor, Blue, W. Bailey, C. A. Keith, D. Criss, F. Glade, T. Jones, Gardner, W. E. Butler, Clark, O. Pickering, Jas. Stephens, Wells, Sutor, T. C. Fisher, Jr., B. Pelty, H. Howell, Rowan, R. Wallace, J. Yeager, Switzer, G. Stone. Detroit Hugh Jennings, F."

OCTOBER 5, 1907 - Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 50 Number 4 - ... Bemhard, Cleveland . . McGill. St. ... McGill, the new Texas pitcher of the Browns, is studying for the ministry and won't play base ball on Sunday. ... PDF File - Oct. 5, 1907 -- Text Version

[PDF] American League Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 50 Number 4. ... Jones. Ib.. 3 0 212 n 1 1 Blair, c. . . S 1; McGill, p. 5 0 0 I 2 0 Newton, p. 2 0 1 Dineen, p. 0 0 0 0 0 0 Doyle, p. . . 0 0 0 9 ... American League Sep. 27, 1907

NEW YORK VS. ST. LOUIS AT NEW YORK - SEPT. 27 (1907)—With the score 5 to 4 against them in the ninth inning the St. Louis players, who all along had found Newton comparatively easy, fell on his curves, and with a succession of hits, drove in three runs. Doyle replaced Newton, but the game was lost, for the locals could make but one run in their final turn at bat."

[PDF] ST. LOUIS* HEAD - Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 50 Number 2. ... Paul; Graham and Fisher, of Shreveport; Keith, of Little Rock (all Class A material) ; Bailey and McGill, Texas League stars, and third baseman Benson, ... St. Louis Head - Text Version

"M'ALEER'S YOUNGSTERS. -- There will be no change in the status of the Browns. McAleer will again manage the team next year and he and President Hedges will exert every effort to strengthen the team and produce better results. No expense will be spared to brace up the present team and with that in view a lot of new material has been secured. The Browns' recruits are pitchers Farris and Criss, of St. Paul; Graham and Fisher, of Shreveport; Keith, of Little Rock (all Class A material) ; Bailey and McGill, Texas League stars, and third baseman Benson, of Shreveport, who starred in the League in 1906. McAleer's selections are: Blue, the Columbus crack, much sought after by major league clubs, and Weeks, of Nashville, Class A catchers; third base man Clark, of Milwaukee; outfielders Swayne, of Utica, and Switzer, of Newark, O.; second baseman Gardner, of Austin, Texas, and first baseman Rowan, of Spokane. A grand total 6 fourteen youngsters, five of whom were bought, two were called and the others drafted."

[PDF] MINOR LEAGUES. - Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 49 Number 4. ... Bonno. of Norfolk, by Washington, $500. McGill, of Austin, Tex., by St. Louis (A. L.), $500. Ferris, of Dallas, by St. Louis (A. L.), $500. ... Minor Leagues SOLD - Text Version

[PDF] OCTOBER 12, 1907 Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 50 Number 5. ... McCully, Wm. Alexander, Brooks Gordon, Harry Sutor, Earl Gardner, John McCall, Bill Baley, Harvey Short, W. J. McGill. i Pallas ... Sporting Life - Oct. 12, 1907

[PDF] INTER-STATE Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 49 Number 23. "McGill, of Austin, is easily the best pitcher in this league. He has "everything," speed, curves, raise ball, spitter and change of pace. It is understood that McAleer has this man under cover." Sporting Life 1907, Vol. 49, No. 23 - Text Version

[PDF] JULY 27, 1907. Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 49 Number 20. ... The Leavenworth Club filed an agreement for the release of services of players Wakly, Allison and McGill to the Dubuque Club in consideration of the right ... Sporting Life July 27, 1907 - Text Version

"PLAYER DEALS. Official Notice of Transfers and Options on Future Services. Auburn, N. .7., July 20. Secretary J. H. Farrell, of the National Association has is used the following bulletin of agreements for the future transfer of players: ...... The Leavenworth Club filed an agreement for the release of services of players Wakly, Allison and McGill to the Dubuque Club in consideration of the right of selection of a player of the Dubuque Club."

[PDF] NOVEMBER 9, 1907. Sporting Life, 1907, Volume 50 Number 9. ... 26 34 13 Barlow,Dubuciue.CR 11 19 42 Madden, Dubuque .. 10 10 11 McGill, Dubnque ... 71 101 16 13 Johnson, Dubuque ..12 16 22 Webber, Clin., Dub. ... Sporting Life Nov. 9, 1907 - Text Version
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Nowata, OK Paranormal Mystery

Julie says, "In Nowata, OK, people in a house , in the 200 block on North Pecan are experiencing paranormal activity. I am on a team that has investigated the house and we got a lot of data. The landlord won't go in the house and the neighbors won't talk to them. The house has had a hard time keeping occupants. I was just wondering if anything like a murder or strange events occured in the home or the land where the home is located - 200 block on North Pecan."

"Is there anyone out there in Southern Oklahoma or near Nowata that might know of any past murders or strange events that occurred in the home or land in the vicinity of the 200 block on North Pecan, in Nowata, Oklahoma? If so, please comment and/or email and help us out. Thanks for your help!"
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1893 Great Race For Homes

The photo on the left is a picture of Alva, Oklahoma Territory, businesses around the downtown government square in its early years after the Run of 1893.

The Run: On Saturday, Sept. 16th, 1893, "The Alva Pioneer" reported on January 1, 1904 that the first thing that happened was the Great Race for homes, saturday, September 16th, 1893.

The "Pioneer" goes on to state, "The line-up was 168 miles long on the north line of the Cherokee strip, (and south line of Kansas) extending from the Arkansas river near Arkansas City, Kansas, west to the west line of what is now Woodward County, Okla., and 159 miles along the south line of the strip, from the east line of Logan county, Okla., west to the Texas line. It has been variously estimated that 300,000 to 500,000 people made the race on that day; and the thrilling incidents and accidents of the day and for a few weeks thereafter, would make a larger book than has ever yet been published. The progress of the people in developing the country and building of towns and cities since the opening is more strange than even Aladin would have been capable of dreaming."

The "Souvenir Edition" of "The Alva Pioneer" dated Friday, January 1, 1904 was published by W. F. Hatfield, Alva, Woods County, Oklahoma. It gives historical facts leading up to the opening to settlement and a brief sketch of the agitation during the years 1879 to 1889, mentioning the chief and pioneer agitator -- Captain David L. Payne.

As the weeks pass by I will add little bits of stories about the pioneers that settled in NW Oklahoma and some pictures depicting the birth of this fast growing community and the people who pushed and pulled it along back in 1904."
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Remember Penny Postcards

Kathy says, "What did your town look like according to Penny Postcards? Check out your old stomping grounds during the times of the penny postcard. By the way, very few of us were alive when postcards only cost two for one cent. Click on the State and then on the county name to see old penny postcards from that area ... pretty neat. Penny postcards"
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

LaPlata Co., Durango CO Penny Postcards

Here are some Penny Postcard views of Durango and LaPlatta county in SW Colorado. Penny Postcards - Durango, LaPlata Co., CO
View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Waynoka Depot Being Restored

Sandie says, "Good morning! The link below should take you to a story in the Enid Morning News about Preservation Oklahoma. The latter part of the story tells about our depot restoration project as a success story of preservation in Oklahoma. On the right, there is a photo that you may enlarge by clicking on it. The photo was taken a few weeks ago. The windows are all in place now, with finish work in progress. The baggage room doors will also be replaced. Thank you for your support of the project. --  Enid News - Preservation Oklahoma
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Presbyterian Church & Cole Bros. of Alva

Kathy says, "Do you by any chance know the web addy for The First Presbyterian Church in Alva?   All I can come up with is general stuff...where it's located ... etc.  I know they had one several years ago .... but can't remember the addy....

Wish I could help with information about the Cole Bros. from Alva.  I know where that building is.  Do not ever remember my grandparents or parents mentioning the name though. Mother was a great historian and knew all kinds of stuff about early Alva. My great-grandparents, Joseph and Emelia Miller lived across the street from the Cole Bros. building (think their address was 519 Choctaw, but the house isn't there any more .. torn down years ago ... probably when the new Red Bud grocery store was built ... now the Bouziden(?) building).

Here's a bit of nostalgia for you.  You know where the O'Reily Parts building is?  Well, a lady named Mrs. Eutsler use to live in the big white house on the corner...had a humongus Lilac bush in the front yard.  The house was still there when you and I were in high school.  I knew the lady.  The house was torn down when O''Reily Parts was put in (Mrs. Eutsler had passed years before ... she was a friend of my grandparents, the Louis Millers' .) 

 Let me know if you come up with something for the Presbyterian Church.
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Name Ridge of Hills West of Alva?

Kathy Earnst says, "Do you know  the name of the ridge of hills west of Alva?  I know we call it hilltop when we drive out of the plain onto the pasture land but I cannot find out the name of the ridge.  It extends from the red hills/plateaus south to the more rolling hills north. The ridge I'm talking about is the ridge at Hilltop west of Alva.  When I'm walking the trail by the Rec park, I can look west and see the hills. I've asked Mr. Barker at the newspaper and he didn't seem to know. Most people seem to just know about Hilltop but don't know if the formation has a name. Thanks for the information if you know!"
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Answer Is Blowing in the Winds

I love this song, especially sung by Peter, Paul & Mary in the 1960s. AND ... the particular lines in the verse that read: "How many years can a mountain exist before it's washed to the sea. How many years must some people exist before they're allowed to be free ..... The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind.

How many roads must a man walk down
Before they call him a man
How many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand
How many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they are forever banned
The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea
How many years must some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free
How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn't see
(The answer)
The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

How many times can man a look up
Before he sees the sky
How many ears must one person have
Before he can hear people cry
And how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died
The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind

Oh, the answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Fort Breckenridge, VA

Fort Breckenridge in the Virginias, was also called Fort Mann. It stood three miles west at the mouth of Falling Spring Creek. It was built by 1756 during the French and Indian War (1754-1763) as one in a series of fortifications to protect Virginia's frontier. Capt. Robert Breckenridge and his militia garrisoned the fort, which was inspected by Col. George Washington on his frontier tour in 1756. In 1763, during Pontiac's War (1763-1764), the Shawnee chief Cornstalk led a force against the fort but was defeated in a hard fought engagement.
View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe