Duchess Domain: Melting Into Spring

While some of you in Oklahoma were getting snowed upon the last few days, it has been chilly, but sunny here in southwest Colorado. Our snow accumulations continue to melt with the coming of Spring. This Duchess Pug can now sit out in her driveway and on her patio in the sunshine without sitting in the cold snow. What a relief!

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, this Spring/Winter weather refused to yield during the first weekend of spring in Tulsa as another round of snowfall pushed the total to more than 20 inches since the start of winter.

Max, the neighbor Pug, came over this last week for a visit with Sadie and myself, Duchess. That is him, the darker fawn, male Pug, in the video below:


As to inquiries … Monet Lion asks, "Linda, did you know Tom Vincent? I've just learned he may have retired to St. George, UT and I'd like to get in touch with him --I'm going to move to that area myself. How about a query in the ezine?"

Another inquiry we received was from a PARIS descendant concerning James F. Paris. Mary says, "James married my 3rd great grandmother, Caroline Niederer-Dickinson. If you have any info on his first wife Almeda, I would appreciate it. Thank you!"

Rod asks us on Facebook if we had some pics of the Castle on the Hill that we could share digitally. So … If you go to NW Okie's Facebook photos you can view a few of those Castle on the Hill pictures showing it in 1901 and in 1935 when it was only a burned shell of itself.

Happy Spring To All … after some of you Eastern Oklahoman's shovel through your Spring snow! -- Good Night and Good Luck!
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Dodson's Cafe of Waynoka, OK

Sandie Olson with the Waynoka Historical Society has a question concerning the Dodson Cafe in Waynoka during WWII. Also, was there a Dodson's Cafe in Alva, Oklahoma?

Sandie asks, "A writer is asking about Dodson's Cafe in Waynoka during WWII. The couple's names were Benjamin (Ben) D. Dodson and Ruby Lee Dodson. I have not found any information, though one or two people have told me about Dodson's in Alva. I hope you or your readers can help. Thanks very much."
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Winter In NE Kansas - Westmoreland

James says, "We have had an unusual winter here in NE Kansas. Some say that it is the worst in their memory. For some that goes back a few years, like maybe 60-70 years. Cheers!"
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Paris Family Inquiry

Rebecca Paris Forest (Email: rtucker4@mac.com) says, "Looking for more information on the father of James PARIS who married Sally Pindleton. Thank you."
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John Kachel Ancestry

Ray Kachel (Email: rkachell@aol.com) says, "My grandfather was Albert Vernon Kachel son of John Kachel died 1909. My grandmother was Merle McMaster. My dads name was Vernon Kachel, married Vivian J. Howell of Oklahoma. Three children Leslie Ray Kachel, Donald L. Kachel, Linda Gail Kachel. I don't know if you needed this, but its for your record. Thanks!"
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1906 San Francisco Street Car Film

Ellis sent us this youtube movie of a 1906 San Francisco Street Car that was "lost" for many years. It was the first 35mm film ever. It was taken by camera mounted on the front of a cable car. The amount of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing! The clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero wharf is still there. (I'm also wondering ... how many "street cleaning" people were employed to pick up after the horses? Talk about going green!) Great historical film worth watching.



This film, was originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum figured out exactly when it was shot. From New York trade papers announcing the film showing to the wet streets from recent heavy rainfall & shadows indicating time of year & actual weather and conditions on historical record, even when the cars were registered (he even knows who owned them and when the plates were issued!).. It was filmed only four days before the quake and shipped by train to New York for processing. Amazing but true!
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Oklahoma Weather - Not Fair

Roy says, "It's just not fair! We had two beautiful sunny, 70 degree, days in a row, and I even mowed the west lot at my antique mall yesterday. Then came home and found that my little grape hyacinths had begun blooming (several weeks early I believe) and all the weather folks are saying that we will have anywhere from 4 to 12 inches of SNOW tomorrow, Saturday, March 20th. That's just not fair. Also yesterday, Conoco dropped it's prices for regular back down to $2.699!

March 20th … "It began snowing little tiny flakes before daybreak today and seems to have quit a few minutes ago at just slightly more than 7 inches at my house here in Perry, Oklahoma. Also, I received a phone call about thirty minutes ago advising me that our church services for tomorrow have been called off. I don't think that it's because of the snow, but it will freeze tonight and the icy conditions will make the roads treacherous. Our streets and the asphalt parking lots remained clear all day because the snow melted as soon as it hit."
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Another Relative of Mark Elbert Eis

Lorie Fuchs/Mitchell (Email: clmitchell@falconbroadband.net) says, "Mark, Elbert Eis is also my great-grandfather. I am also searching for information on Gerda Turner is wife. Elbert's son Everett Eis is my grandfather. We live in Colorado. My mother is Carol Eis/Fuchs."
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Teamster In the Logwoods

H. J. Browning asks, "My Grandad died in Zoe, Oklahoma. He worked as a teamster in the logwoods. I'd like to know about both."

Is there anyone out there that can educate us on the teamsters in the logwoods? I have never heard of this. Thanks ahead of time for your help in educating us all!
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Beegle Brothers Drugstore

Janis (Email: jsy@nettrax.com) says, "I was quite interested in the Beegle Bros. Drugstore. By any chance were the Beegle ancestors from the Pennsylvania/Ohio area of the country?"
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Historic Fort Reno

Robert Warren (bwarren@fortreno.org), From Historic Fort Reno, Inc., visitor center/museum, is questioning some data: "The dates and routing of first telegraph and telephone are questionable. Expert is Towana Spivey of Fort Sill Museum: He is at towana.spivey@conus.army.mil. We have been searching for proof that any Lipizzaner horses were rescued to Fort Reno during WWII. All we have found so far is that a Lipizzaner named WITEZ II was at Fort Reno in April 1949."
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A Legacy of Civil Rights For ALL

What kind of Country are we? What kind of Country will we be? That was the question asked Sunday night in Washington DC.

What kind of Country and Nation are we … that we allow deplorable, disgraceful, disrespectful, disgusting and derogatory statements like what happened this Saturday, March 20, 2010, with certain members of Congress being called the "N" and "F" names and being spat upon by protesters.

I truly thought we as Americans were above that kind of derogatory treatment. I know I am taking a chance, but sometimes you need to take a chance and stand up! This is something I feel strongly -- something that I feel needs to be said against those who spur, play upon the hatred, fear of others. This may offend some out there and that is not my intent, at all. I am merely stating and standing up for what I believe. I expect and respect others to do the same. You may leave your civil comments below!

I have a few questions for us ALL! Why is it we are still struggling with hatred, fear for those different in appearances and beliefs than ourselves? How long will this continue? Will we continue to let the red-neck mentality control the fear, hatred in our lives? By the way … Who fuels the hatred of these Red-neckers? Will the Right-wingers screw up our Country's Unity?

As I see it … You only have to look as far as Murdock's Fox News, Limbaugh, Beck, Cheney, Palin and the Right-extremists. Isn't it about time for the REAL, decent Republicans to take back their party from the Right-extremists who spur on these hate, fear-mongers whose talking points are built on lies, fear and hatred?

The racism and sexism shown by this Saturday's protesters in Washington DC was sick disporable, disgusting and an embarrassment to ALL Americans. Those responsible should be ashamed of themselves, and I hope they are not representative of the majority of those engaged in this important social debate. It is pure ignorance on their part. I would like to believe we had ALL grown over the last four decades or so when it comes to our "Legacy of Civil Rights for ALL."

It is truly discouraging to be reminded that we, as a civilization, have not learned the fundamentals of our own preached moral ethics. I do not consider myself naive, or ignorant, but it mortifies me to know that my fellow caucasian Americans can willfully and publicly abuse a fellow human being, based on something that cannot nor should not change. If that is all there is left of one's intellect, we have surely arrived at the doorstep of pathetic!

As they say, "Variety is the spice of life." I believe human beings are no exception to this cliche. Maybe if we shared a bit of kindness and respect, people from our own and other parts of the world would see this, a few less guns would get fired.

I, for one, am so sorry that some good people had to suffer the emotional aftershocks of discriminatory, derogatory comments, especially the "N" and "F" names and being spat at.

I believe Health care in the United States of America has NOTHING to do with what these protesters had on their agenda!

It is in a few words … Disgusting! Deplorable! Disrepectful! Perhaps those Right-wing red-neckers should clean up their own back yard before they climb the fence to insult those with beliefs, appearances different from themselves! AND … It's my guess that the name callers, finger pointers would be kept busy for some time to come if they did just that!

An educated person made the following comment on a CNN Blog Sunday, March 21, 2010, that I believe rings quite true, "This just tends to show the true colors, bigotry, of many individuals – presumably some Republicans.

"Most of the major positive changes in history were pushed and passed by many of the ideals represented in the Democratic party with similar resistance. Ironically, most of these changes came after numerous do-nothing administrations controlled by Republican ideals. FDR and Lincoln come to mind … ironically Lincoln represented the Republican party (radicals as they were) which embodied the current Democratic ideals.

"The obstructionists have demonstrated a policy of tax cuts for the wealthy (which is the same as spending) and put their heads in the sand on healthcare. They point the finger when their opposition comes in to clean up the mess – a consistent historical pattern of the political blame game.

"Contrary to the typical Republican rhetoric of “having this shoved down our throat” there is a great deal of the populous that wants and needs this – and they are not necessarily social welfare parasites. The majority of businesses can not afford or refuse to provide health insurance and that has only been getting worse. How many employees or contractors have seen health insurance situation improve in the last two decades?"

As I see it … It appears that the right-wing political faction has created a reputation as closed minded, belligerent and it shows their ignorance. They are so caught up in their material lives that they dilute themselves from the real one.

What is worse is that their leadership not only teaches them and encourages them, but they participate by fueling the hatred and deceit. You do not have to look far to see who those leaders are who spur on and feed the Right-wing radicals (i.e. Beck, Limbaugh, Palin, Cheney, Buchanan, Gingrich and Murdock's Fox News). When will American citizens stand up against the fear mongers and say, “Enough is Enough!”?

I firmly support the President in reforming Healthcare and regulating the Insurance industry. I supported the Public Option. For over four decades and maybe more we have made enough concessions to these greedy right-wing extremists who have made no concessions and still vote “NO” on everything as the other side tries to clean up their mess.

I would like to believe we have ALL grown over the last four decades when it comes to our "Legacy of Civil Rights for ALL. "Healthcare is not only a Civil Right, but a moral issue! What kind of Nation are we? What kind of Nation would turn their back on the rights for affordable healthcare for ALL? This Historic Sunday, March 21, 2010, is for the Honorable Senator Teddy Kennedy, wherever he is now, who fought hard for the civil rights of healthcare for all!
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