Duchess Dozing Domain

Bayfield, Colorado - NW Okie planted several different variety of tomatoes in pots inside a portable greenhouse to protect them from the wildlife, such as raccoons, squirrels and bears.

Our "tumbler tomatoes" have begun to ripen. As seen above. NW Okie picked the first one this afternoon. The Tumbler tomatoes are about the size of what some call the "cherry tomatoes." We also have a Beefmaster, Big Boy, Park's Whopper and Sweet 100's. They have little green tomatoes growing bigger each day, but have not started ripening yet. Seems like our Southwest Colorado tomatoes start ripening around August. How is your vegetable gardens growing?

Our Stringbeans are climbing high, but haven't reached the height of Jack's beanstalk. We also have some herbs, garlic and pickling cucumbers growing, but they got started late and have not blossomed into anything eatable yet.

Young Bear Bends Bird Feeder

Was this bent bird feeder bent by a young bear late Sunday evening? We believe it was! They have not tangled with our portable greenhouse, though!

Now we have to take our bird feeder in at night so as not to attract any more young bear bending bird feeder hangers. It is that time of year that the mama bear kicks the two year bears out on their own. It happened to us last year in Forest Lakes about this same time.

Now the Grosbeaks, a finch or related songbird with a stout conical bill and brightly colored plumage, sets on top of the empty feeder pole wondering what the heck!

Good Night and Good Luck! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NW Okie's Ramblings

Bayfield, Colorado - I have been spending the last eleven days sculpturing (learning to wood sculpture) the NW Okie's Eagle Totem. From last week's beginning we have come along way since then. As you can see by the two images above, left and right.

Some have told me that I may have found my calling, wondering when I am going to be done, because they have something for me to carve. You can see my progress since Day 1 through Day 11 over at NW Okie's Facebook site.

SW Colorado Hummingbirds

This movie of our Southwest Colorado Hummers were caught by our Nikkon digital movie camera. We took this while the hummingbirds were feeding in the late afternoon. They go through this particular feeder twice a day. In other words, we refill it twice a day and have seen up to a dozen or so hummers feeding or standing in line to feed. Especially the Rufus Hummer!



After Wednesday of this week David and I will be on the road to Northwest Oklahoma and on towards Texas. We are moving our oldest son to his new job. Some of our favorite Northwest Oklahomans will probably see more of us on our return from Texas next week.

Jessica, I will be trying out our fishing hole at Fairvalley to make sure your fish story is for real! But do I have to catch a dove to bait my fishing line, though? View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

More Info On Liberty 35 School

Oklahoma Territ - I did another search of our database and found some more information concerning the Liberty School 35 School that was in the Valley Township South of the Alva community a few miles.

This is information that we received from Alice Benningfield and was published a few years back. Alice compared it with a photo that she had and said, "I looked at the photos together (mine and yours). I cannot tell who is Ethel and Eva. However, I can say that the second boy in from the left on the first row with blondish hair dark pants and jacket and white shirt is Ernest (Ernie) and the tiniest blond boy dressed all in dark clothes on the front row is Earl.

"In fact the writing goes in order on them but the names are switched. Hope this helps with that picture.

"Please keep me in mind if you get any other Benningfield photos from anyone. I am very interested in the early Oklahoma stuff. Thanks again this has been very helpful. I really enjoy looking at all these old pictures." -- Alice - E-mail: benningfield@cox.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Oklahoma Settlement Patterns

Oklahoma Territ - "When Oklahoma became the forty-sixth state in 1907, it could have been described as a patchwork quilt of destroyed Indian reservations. Its citizenry consisted of southern cotton farmers, midwestern wheat farmers, and western cattlemen, with minorities of American Indians, African Americans, and ethnic Europeans. The twentieth century brought new urban "settlers" from Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, making Oklahoma a state of many and varied cultural traditions. " -- Oklahoma Historical Society's - Settlement Patterns in Oklahoma View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Fairvalley Fish Story

Fairvalley, Oklahoma - Whoever thought that the little pond at Fairvalley, in Northwest Oklahoma would have such big bass living and surviving in it.

Jessica Hanks, granddaughter of Everette and Louise Whitney, daughter of Angie & Dennis Pearson, has proven that you can catch some pretty good sized Bass in this private farm pond at Fairvalley.

Jessica also says, "I had fun catching them! There are still lots of fish in the Fairvalley pond."

Jessica goes on to tell us, "I didn't even think there were fish in there. We were actually supposed to be dove hunting, but I brought my pole to pull in the dove that landed in the water and ended up catching fish."

Is this just another "fish story?" What was Jessica using to bait these big bass? A dove? Did Jessica accidentally snag a bass when trolling for a fallen dove? Will we ever know the real fish story? Stay Tuned.

If you are in Northwest Oklahoma and see Jessica Hanks, ask her what she really used to catch the fish at McGill Sisters private Fairvalley pond.

Jessica did say that she left some fish in the little pond for the next time this NW Okie gets down to Fairvalley, Oklahoma. Hey, Jessica, thanks for saving some of those fish for me and my family! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Orphanage Association of Oklahoma McAlester - 1920s

McAlester, Oklahoma - According to a pdf file that I found online, McAlester, Pittsburg county, Oklahoma had an Orphanage Association of Oklahoma. In 1923 census: the Orphanage Assn. of Oklahoma, no address, no statistics; a private corporation Inc., in 1922. After May 1, 1923 (IT) it would function with the Whitaker State Orphans Home at Pryor.

Lynda asks, "Do you know anything about the Orphanage Association of Oklahoma, in McAlester, in 1920s? Apparently my dad was there as an infant and was adopted by a McAlester couple when he was a few months old. He was born 6/10/1928. I have a copy of the adoption papers, but certainly interested in finding out who his birth parents were. Thanks." -- Lynda Hardwick View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Chaney & Carmen IOOF Children's Orphanage

Carmen, Oklahoma - Lisa Smith, Granddaughter of Maurine A. Chaney Born 1915 died 1992, says, "Hello, Linda! I ran across your site when looking for information on my grandmother who was in the IOOF home in Carmen. She was placed there at the age of 8 years, then returned to the IOOF Home in Chacotah in 1928. I was wondering if you have any photos or information on the home. I am really looking for pic's of what they would call Open House each year. It was when the children would be pictured. Please let me know if you have any information. Thank you so much in advance." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

IOOF Carmen Children Home

Carmen, Oklahoma - We found the following information on Ancestry.com Messageboard, concerning Odd Fellows Orphanage, Carmen, Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. The lady, Patricia Mills, who posted it gave a phone number for those wishing to records from the Grand masters office in Perry, Oklahoma.

Patricia says, "My mother, her sister and brother were in the home in Oct. 1938. The children placed there had to have a family member belonging to the IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows). The records were sent to the Grand Masters office in Perry, OK. The phone no is 580-336-4076. I was able to receive a copy of the original application of my mother and aunt before they were placed in the home. Good luck."

The OKGenWeb Project shows a Roster of Residents, Carmen Home Carmen, Alfalfa County, Oklahoma That dates back to 1939, shows the following report for the year ending August 31, 1939 and is the 32nd annual report of this Home.

Roster Of Residents Name - (Age, Admitted, Town/Lodge)
Georgia ADKINS; 16; June 12, 1933;Enid #31
Joe ALLEN;16; Feb. 12, 1928; Charity #47 Marshall
Ardelle ALLEN; 14; Feb. 12, 1928; Charity #47 Marshall
Kathrine BROHAMMER; 15; Nov.19, 1934; Cement #272
Alice BROHAMMER; 13; Nov. 19, 1934; Cement#272
Helen BROHAMMER; 11; Nov. 19, 1934; Cement#272
Eva Lee BROHAMMER; 8; Nov. 19, 1934; Cement#272
Melvin BURRIS; 13; July 7, 1931; Queen City#197 OKC
Leo BURRIS; 10; July 7, 1931; Queen City#197 OKC
Mary CALDWELL; 16; July 21, 1932; Mooreland#160
Lillie CALDWELL; 15; July 21, 1932; Mooreland#160
Dorcel CARPENTER; 11; Mar. 12, 1929; Lambert #123
Doris CARPENTER; 11; Mar. 12, 1929; Lambert #123
James COFFMAN; 14; Feb.4, 1939; Tonkawa #82
Douglas COFFMAN; 12; Feb.4, 1939; Tonkawa #82
Betty Rose COFFMAN; 9; Feb.4, 1939; Tonkawa #82
Martha COFFMAN; 3; Feb.4, 1939; Tonkawa #82
Raymond DALLAM; 16; May 3, 1928; Blanchard #481
Alma Jo EMBERTON; 10; Aug.7, 1938; Altus #134
Treva Nell EMBERTON; 8; Aug.7, 1938; Altus #134
Liga Mae EMBERTION; 4; Aug.7, 1938; Altus #134
Emmit INGRAM; 16; Nov. 27, 1930; Choctaw #28
Alma MCCANN; 17; Oct. 20, 1938; Wetumka #189
Velma MCCANN; 16; Oct. 20, 1938; Wetumka #189
Eugene MCCANN; 12; Oct. 20, 1938; Wetumka #189
Wanda MCCLURE; 16; Sept. 16, 1934; Cushing #66
Davis MCCLURE; 15; Sept. 16, 1934; Cushing #66
Jack MCCLURE; 12; Sept. 16, 1934; Cushing #66
Jonny MCCLURE; 7; Sept. 16, 1934; Cushing #66
Helen PETTIT; 16; Aug. 3, 1929; Hugo #615
Bobby PORTER; 11; Aug. 5, 1939; Enid #1
Charlene RAY; 16; Feb. 19, 1929; Caddo #1
Lora Jane ROBINSON; 10; Aug. 5, 1939; Washita #618 Chickasha
Lorene STANFORD; 16; Nov. 27, 1930; Healdton #491
Pauline STANFORD; 12; Nov. 27, 1930; Healdton #491
Ruth SUMMERS; 16; Sept. 5, 1938; Gracemont # 404
Eunice Faye SUMMERS; 14; Sept. 5, 1938; Gracemont # 404
Glen TEDDER; 17; May 5, 1929; Pioneer ##285 Beaver
Clarence TEDDER; 14; May 5, 1929; Pioneer ##285 Beaver
Dorothy WHITNEY; 15; April 15,1939; Guymon #241
Laura Mae WHITNEY; 12; April 15,1939; Guymon #241
Madean WHITNEY; 11; April 15,1939; Guymon #241
Bobby WHITNEY; 8; April 15,1939; Guymon #241
Mildred WHITNEY; 7; April 15,1939; Guymon #241
Kenneth WHITNEY; 4; April 15,1939; Guymon #241
Juanita YOUNG; 16; Nov. 5, 1924; Oilton # 436

Discharged From Carmen Home (Name, Date, In Care Of)
Ireta NICAR; May 27, 1939; Mother
Billie NICAR; May 27, 1939; Mother
John CHURCH; June 15, 1939; Sister

Follow this link to the Matron Checotah Home Roster of Residents. Here is another link concerning Oklahoma IOOF Archives of information for Oklahoma IOOF Information. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Carmen IOOF Home Old Photo

Carmen, Oklahoma - Some one requested some information and photos of the Carmen IOOF Children Home, that was located just North of Carmen, Alfalfa county, Oklahoma. So we did a search of our OkieLegacy database and found the following information.

Clyde Stevenson (Email: clydedean@bigplant.com) sent us some photos awhile back with the following information and stated, "My dad (Edmund Stevenson) was at IOOF home in Carmen, date of admission December 25, 1907.

He had three sisters and one brother in Carmen. Chole Stevenson buried at the (IOOF) Cemetery is my Aunt (Chole Nellie Stevenson). clyde also has pictures of this Home in a booklet that they made. Some taken inside with the childern and the people that run the home.

Here is a photo (shown above, left) that Clyde sent us of the Stevenson children when they were taken into the Carmen IOOF Home, North of Carmen, Oklahoma. They are listed left to right: Gertrude, Chole, Betsy, Earl and Edmond Stevenson.

Here are more photos at the Carmen IOOF Children Home: old cook stove photo that Clyde sent us awhile back. Clyde says, "There are no names in the book and my dad passed away in 1970."

More Photos at the Carmen Orphanage North of Carmen, Oklahoma: Dining at Carmen Home/a> - Children at the Carmen Home/a - Lady in Charge - More children at Carmen Home - Children posing on stairs at Carmen Orphanage - Children on the front porch - Lady in Carmen office.

Notice the hemlines of the ladies in charge. They were dark skirts that reached to the floor; the puffy, long-sleeved blouses that were buttoned up to the neck. If I am correct, I would date these ladies garments back to the late teens before or around the first world war. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1918-1929 Fashions

After the War in 1918 the Suffragettes finally won the vote in the UK, and in America voting for women was won in 1920. Fashion trends towards a more casual look continued in the 1920's. In the aftermath of the war, people questioned the values of the older generation that had led to the conflict. To a great extent people believed that those values were discredited, along with the generation that spawned it.

American culture in particular became very youth oriented, and fashion began to look towards teen and college-age kids for it's inspiration. The "College Man" and "The Flapper" became the new icons of all that was young and fashionable. Women in particular began dieting to mold their bodies into a slimmer, flatter teenage shape and dress waistlines dipped to hip length to minimize the appearance of adult curves. The Brassiere, in breast flattening styles, replaced corsets almost completely.

What People Wore Back in 1920's

The 1920s a Cloche and Flapper decade and More -- Their were two of the fashions that are often associated with the 1920s. The cloche hat and the flapper dress. The cloche hat of the 1920s evolved from the wider-brimmed hats of the decade before, and continued to evolve up until the 1930s and beyond.

The basic description of the Cloche is that it was a very snug-fit hat that was often worn tilted, covering the forehead, allowing room for vision. The hair was often cut short and styled flat to fit under these types of hats. Cloches were often covered the ears as well, and even sometimes the ends of women's short haircuts of the time. Often the flapper and the cloche were worn together, especially during the latter half of the 1920s.

The flapper dress was actually more of a representation of a total style than just the actual dress. One distinction of this type of dress was that it was basically a straight and loose style of dress.

Throughout the 1920s decade the length of the flapper dress varied a little. In the early 1920s the length of dresses and skirts were about calf length, with some a little longer and some a bit shorter.

From approximately the years 1926 to 1928 the hem lines of dresses were the shortest, and this is what most people remember when they talk of the 1920s flapper dress. During this short period of time dress hem lines where up to the knees (approximately).

During part of this decade the waist line of dresses dropped to the hip to promote more of a boyish look. By the early 1930s the waist line of dresses rose back up to its normal waist line position. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Carmen Children Home Memories

Carmen, Oklahoma - Phyllis Lund (Email: phyllisnsf@aol.com) "My mother and her siblings were in the Carmen IOOF Home you featured on your web site. They were Hattie, Irene, Milton and Ernest Cox. They would have lived there for several years, beginning in the early 1920s. Any info from anyone who would remember or have any connection would be great. Hattie and Ernest are still alive and always wanted to come back to visit. Hattie (84) and in great spirits and health. Mother speaks of carrying lunch to school in a lard bucket and being called the home kids. Also, getting hard candy at Christmas. She has lots more memories if anyone "My daughter in law is into genealogy and has discovered the Home my mother and her siblings were in was in Carmen, Oklahoma. It is on the net, under OkieLegacy - Carmen Odd Fellowage Orphanage.

"I had hoped to possibly reach others who had lived there (or their progeny). I know my mother, who is 84 but very bright and alert, would love to hear from anyone. My grandmother took the children out of the home when she remarried and they all moved to California. My mother married my dad and were married for 60 years, had a busy life as a navy wife. As I mentioned, mother would love to go back and visit the home, but with times so uncertain, I am not sure that will happen."

Patricia Mills (Email: bettyboop_1956@hotmail.com)"My mother (Velma McCann), her sister (Alma McCann) and their brother (Eugene McCann) were placed in the IOOF Carmen Children Home in 1938. If there are any living people who were there when they were, I would like to hear from them. I am doing a family genealogy on my family. I would like to know more about the Carmen Children's Home as I am a member of the IOOF Rebekah's in Kansas and need the history of it. Also, the Checotah IOOF Home where Eugene went when the Carmen Children's Home closed. Thanks very much."

Jim Wilkinson (E-mail: runningman@pldi.net) "Real interesting about the Carmen Home. As I grew up in Carmen in the 1950s. It was run by a family named Mahoney. I do not recall the church sponsor though. My grandpa was in the IOOF and lived out there as caretaker when the tornado destroyed the dairy barn. Later Rev. Lemmon administered it as a nursing home until its close."

Nathan Wallin (Email: nwallin@saber.net) said, "My Grandfather and his brothers were put in the home a few times, due to family hardships at the time. Would love to add more things to my genealogy of the home."

Emil M. Bergquist (Email: werblsd@afo.net) said, "My mother and her 4 siblings were at the Carmen Home for some time in the early 1920s. Time was split between the Checotah Home and this one. She and her younger sister were in Odd Fellows homes until the last half of the 1930s." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

One Ball: Dog vs. Deer

Homer sent us this video of a Dog vs. deer video. The black lab is either trying to get the young deer to play ball, or is playing keep away from the deer. Cute Animal Video! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Remembering Phantom Empire Serial

Oklahoma - Roy submitted this information concerning a serial, The Phantom Empire, that Gene Autry made using his real name. I had watched this serial at Putnam City Elementary school when I was in the 5th grade. They played a chapter each week, in addition to a classic feature such as: "Young Tom Edison", "Alexander Graham Bell", etc. and charged each child 5 cents to see the films.

"It is the only serial that Gene Autry ever made, and he went by his own name in it. I had forgotten that Smiley Burnett was in it too. Did you know that both of Smiley's parents were Christian Church preachers? I have a book of songs that he published and it shows him and his wife on his motor scooter at their small ranch in California. He'd already written and performed over a hundred songs at that time. Later I heard him telling the story (on a live show that we did at Channel Nine, KWTV) about how he was strumming his guitar (he played dozens of instruments) while riding in the back of Gene Autry's convertible and he asked Gene if he'd like to buy a song for just a dollar? Of course Gene said yes and the song was "Riding Along In A Canyon", another of Gene's hits.

"I would love to have a copy of this serial to add to my collection. I have several serials (on VHS tape and DVDs) of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s in my collection. Many of them are copies of the ones we played at the Britton Theatre."

The Phanton Empire was a 1935 serial with 12 chapters, directed by Otto Brower, B. Reeves Eason; Music by Arthur Kay, director; Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette singing the songs.



It Starred Gene Autry as himself; Frankie Darro as Frankie Baxter; Betsy King Ross as Betsy Baxter; Dorothy Christie as Queen Tika; Wheeler Oakman as Lord Argo; Lester "Smiley" Burnette as Oscar.

As the stroyline goes, Cowboy Gene Autry has no idea what's in store for him as he sings "Uncle Noah's Ark" cheerfully on his daily Radio Ranch program broadcast -- he and his young friends Frankie and Betsy are about to embark on some of the most amazing adventures in serialdom.

You see, not only do some crooked scientists plan to run him off the property to gain the rich radium deposits on the ranch, there's a whole underground civilization that's ticked about getting awakened in the middle of the afternoon by his singing -- and determined that no "surface people" discover the secret cave entrance to their "scientific city."

Frankie and Betsy have seen the mysterious helmeted "Thunder Riders" with their own eyes, and heard the ominous rumble of their horses, and decided to create their own national Junior Thunder Riders' Club in their honor. The gesture isn't appreciated, though, as Gene, Frankie, and Betsy are mistreated again and again by Queen Tika and her men, who detest the selfish, violent ways of the surface people.

Finally, all three must escape imprisonment, giant ray cannons and even execution to save each other from the Queen's vengeance. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe