Duchess Mountain Domain

Bayfield, Colorado - A Silent message thru the ages
Is delivered to the races passing by,
And the wisdom of the sages
Flashes futily from the sturdy eye,
Watching Life's laughter, song and tears
Thru the eager march of onward years;
With quiet, unperturbed, mobile face
Inspires us to live with equal grace.

We wanted to start out with this Castle On The Hill poem that we found in a 1926 Ranger yearbook, from the Northwest Oklahoma area around Woods County.

NW Okie says, "I just love this bit of wisdom found in the 1926 Ranger Album! It should still ring true today! Don't you think so?"

Do you Northwestern and Northwest Oklahomans have your calendars marked for the week of September 23 through 25, 2010, when Northwestern OSU has its 2010 Homecoming, Cinderella pageant and football? Check out another article in this weeks Ezine for the schedule of events taking place in less than two weeks.

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

Home Comfort Cookbook Hints - Canning & Preserving Vegetables

America - Have you come to a time when your vegetable gardens have been producing, coming to an end with the Fall weather approaching in some areas? We have browsed through the 1934 Home Comfort Cookbook that they used with the Wrought Iron Range, to find some hints for canning and preserving some of those vegetables.

The 1934 cookbook says that you should have all jars, covers and rings in perfect condition. Examine each jar and cover to see that there are no defects in them. Inspect closely each cover and rim, making sure that they form a perfectly even contact all around and are not chipped or dented. Use only fresh, elastic rubber rings.

The next step is to properly cleanse, sterilize the jars; wash jars and covers thoroughly; rinse well and drain. You need two pans handy with some cold water in them. Put some of the jars in one, laying them on their sides and in the other pan put some of the covers.

Place the pans on the range, bring to boiling point and allow to boil at least 10 minutes before removing them just before putting in the prepared vegetables. In another pan of boiling water emerse the dipper, cup, spoon, funnel, skimmer, etc., being used, for a few minutes to sterilize them.

Methods of Canning -- In the several methods of canning in use back in the 1930's, the principle in all of them was the same. It was that of preparing the product by "cooking" or "sterilization" in such a way as to exclude or kill all spores, yeast-plants and bacteria that cause fruits and vegetables to ferment and spoil.

The Next Step -- Seal the fruits and vegetables in sterilized cans or jars absolutely airtight, so these micro-organisms cannot enter the product after it was canned. These are the simple fundamental rules upon which all canning is based.

These are a few hints for canning vegetables as found in my 1934 Home Comfort Cookbook that came with the Model B Wrought Iron Range. It states that canning vegetables, like fruit, depends entirely upon the proper selection, preparation, sterilization and sealing of the product. The fundamental object is to destroy the present bacteria and its spores and to prevent them from entering the product after sterilization. No step of the process should be overlooked.

The one most successful method, best adapted to kitchen canning of vegetables, is known as the "Sterilization Process." It has been found that the most practical jar is that of the wide-mouth glass type, fitted with glass cover held by a stout wire levitation, spring clamp which is attached to the neck. Do they still make those type of jars in the twenty-first century? I know my grandmother has lots of those jars on shelves in the basement with something fermenting in each jar. I need to donate the contents of those jars to science somewhere so I can recycle the jars.

STERILIZATION PROCESS -- Select and prepare vegetables according to the subsequent recipes given for their proper canning. Put the prepared vegetables into hot sterilized jars, filling each to within about an inch of the top. Fill up the jar to top with hot fresh water that has just been boiled, passing it through a strainer and being particular that the water penetrates through the vegetables to the bottom of the jar. Adjust the sterilized ring and cover. Then place the wire in position over the top, but do not clamp down the lever at the side. Leave it in upward position.

Place the filled jars upon the rack, or false bottom, in the steamer, being careful to separate them sufficiently to prevent them from touching or hitting together when the water boils. Pour into the steamer enough hot water to extend about half-way the height of the jars. Adjust the cover of the boiler and set to boil. Boil steadily and gently for 1 hour, keeping the boiler cover in place during the period. Then set boiler back on range, remove cover and allow steam to escape. When cool enough, lift out the jars, press down the spring clamp to tighten, wipe, and set aside to cool away from wind or draft.

The Following Day -- Put the jars back into the steamer with cold water instead of hot, release the clamp lever, bring to boiling point; boil 1 hour as before, tighten the clamps while hot, wipe, and set aside as before. On the third day - Repeat the process; wipe, cool, label and set aside.

In a day or two, the jars should be tested. To do this, release the clamp and move wire from over top. Now, carefully lift up each jar by the glass lid or cover alone. If the top comes off, the sterilization is not complete and fermentation or decomposition has set in. But, if the weight of the jar may be lifted by the top, tighten down the clamp and store as perfectly sealed.

Here are a few recipes for canning your home grown vegetables:
BEANS -- Lima, kidney and similar varieties of shelled, beans should be gathered in the early morning and kept in a freshened state until shelled. After shelling, they should be immediately placed in the jars and carried through the sterilization process as directed. Before shelling, all pods that have begun to harden should be discarded.

Stringbeans should be gathered while the dew is still on them and canned while still crisp and fresh. Select only young tender beans, string them and break into short lengths. Pack at once into the jars, add a teaspoon of salt to each quart jar after the water has been added, and carry through the sterilization process as directed.

BEETS -- Select young beets, wash them, trim off tops, and boil them in plenty of water for about 1-1/2 hours or until well cooked. Dip them in cold water, skin and slice them. Put into jars and fill to top with the hot water in which they were boiled passed through a strainer. Cover and pass through the sterilization process as described. By using half water and half vinegar, they are converted into pickled beets, to which a little sugar and spices or herbs may also be added if desired.

CORN -- Select choice ears of sweet, green corn, carefully gathering those with full, well-developed grains at the stage just before they begin to harden. At this stage, the corn will be at its best in richness and sugar contents. Do not allow it to wait, since the sugar strength diminishes very rapidly after being pulled from the stalk. But, within the hour that it is gathered, have it prepared and in the jars. Husk, brush off silks with a stiff brush, and shave off the grains with a sharp knife. Pack immediately in jars and carry through the sterilization process as directed. When testing, if any jars are discarded, do not try to save them, but empty and put the jars through the process again with new corn.

OKRA -- (Gumbo) Select young, tender odds, wash them and cut them in 3 or 4 pieces. Fill jars and pass through the sterilizing as directed. For soups or stews.

TOMATOES -- Blanch or skin the tomatoes in the usual way, and cook them to our liking. However, they are best when cooked in as little water as possible. Like other fruit, the open-kettle method is best adapted to their canning. Put the boiling tomatoes into hot sterilized Mason or other jars, seal and invert until cool, using all the precaution previously given for this method. Special care should be taken not to touch the inside of cover and ring with the fingers after they are sterilized. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NW Okie's Ramblings

Alva, Oklahoma - Where has the month of September gone. I know it is only reaching mid-way, but why do the days past so quickly?

Only a little over a week plus a few days until Northwestern OSU has their Fall Homecoming 2010. How many homecoming does this make for NWOSU (a.k.a NTN, NSTC, NSC)? 1899? I have lost track, but know that I have run across the first homecoming somewhere in my notes and research. Maybe someone out there reading this could enlighten all us Northwest Oklahomans.

In less than two weeks we will be stomp, clapping to the school bands marching around the Alva downtown square. The YouTube video was taken 1 November 2008 of the marching bands.



According to our research on Northwestern, in Volume II, Issue 81, dated 21 October 2000, titled "A Homecoming Mystery Bands, Floats & Celebrations," a celebration with floats in a great parade was being planned as far back as 1 July 1899. Was this the first homecoming? July 1, 1899 -- The work on the building of the famous Castle on the Hill had so advanced that a committee began the preparations for laying the corner stone under the main tower in front. The program consisted of the usual ceremonies, led by the Masons. Governor Barnes and several other territorial officers, and Grand Master E. M. Bamford were present. President Ament introduced Governor Barnes as the first speaker. He was followed by Judge McAtee, S. L. Johnson and Hon. Temple Houston.

The following is a list of articles that were placed within the corner stone -- Roll of officers and members of the grand lodge and local lodge A. F. & A. M.; same of the Alva Commercial Club; same of the legislature 1897; copies of the Alva Pioneer, Courier, Review and Cleo Cheiftain; copy of program of the day's exercises and names of President Ament, Miss Bosworth and Mrs. DeLisle.

The day was one of general celebration, the businesses of the town being represented by floats in a great parade. The crowd present was guessed at 4000 to 6000. Some More Normal History can be found on our website at this link Northwestern Normal School, 1895-1935 - beginning & conception

Barry Kelsey remembers, "We used to call it Northwestern State Teachers College. When my Grandfather went there it was called something like Northwestern Normal School."

Monet Monfort Lion says, "Yes, I believe it started out as Northwestern Normal School. I have many photos of The Castle on the Hill and a painted plate depiction made for Monfort Drug Store's China department! Rod reminds us that, "The original title of the institution was Northwestern Territorial Normal School, founded in 1897, 10 years before Oklahoma's statehood."

Marvin Henry says, "There are probably others who remember attending NSC while still in elementary school and jr high school. During the time Washington School was being rebuilt, about 1945, my 3rd grade class was held in the upstairs, first room on the left in what was known as Horace Mann building, now the education building. Junior High, 7th & 8th grade was on the second floor of the Horace Mann building. Industrial Arts (Shop for the boys) ground floor and Home Ec (girls) second floor of the Fine Arts building."

Off the subject of NWOSU and onto our family genealogy that I have at MyHeritage.com - Wagner genealogy, the subscription runs out around October 10, 2010, and I have decided not to renew that genealogy site. BUT it will not be a loss, because I have that information over at my Ancestry.com family genealogy for the Warwick, McGill, Paris, Conover, Hurt and Wagner families.

Until November 21, 2010 our Paris-McGill-Warwick family genealogy will still be up for awhile at MyHeritage for the Paris-Conover-Hurt-Warwick-Gwin-McGill-Wagner Family. I may or may not renew this site in November, 2010, because a more updated version is over at my Ancestry.com genealogy site. We shall see!

David, the two Pugs and myself are going to try to make it back for Northwestern's Homecoming. While there we need to check out our new little 2010 filly, black and white paint horse that grazes with her momma paint horse at Clark's East Farm, in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma. I hear it is a beauty!

Happy and Best Wishes to your September and Northwestern Homecoming 2010! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Castle On The Hill & Northwestern

Alva, Oklahoma - The old photo to the left appeared in The Ranger (1926) album as the "Gang on the Warpath." It was a pep demonstration at Northwestern with the entire student body getting ready to march to town enmasse. This was the first assembly of the group in the Fall of 1925 on the occasion of the marking of the three State roads and a National highway that intersected in front of the college.

I have been searching back through all the research that I have collected on the Castle on the Hill and northwestern, looking for the first homecoming at Northwestern. Could this enmasse march from the college down sixth street (College Avenue) be the beginnings of Northwestern's parade? I know I have that information somewhere around here, but not handy at the moment I need it. So I shall keep looking!

The Castle On The Hill burned to a shell of itself 1 March 1935. I love the following poem that I found in the 1926 The Ranger yearbook.

A Silent message thru the ages
Is delivered to the races passing by,
And the wisdom of the sages
Flashes futily from the sturdy eye,
Watching Life's laughter, song and tears
Thru the eager march of onward years;
With quiet, unperturbed, mobile face
Inspires us to live with equal grace.
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Old Ranger Album Collections

Alva, Oklahoma - We have some HTML and PDF Files for the Old Ranger album collections that we have scanned. The 1917 Ranger is a HTML file, but the 1926 Ranger, 1937 Ranger and 1938 Ranger are PDF files that may require a high-speed connection for downloading and viewing.

If you have a slow internet connection or would rather view the "Old Albums" in "html" format then check out the following links:
1917 Ranger
1926 Ranger
1937 Ranger
1938 Ranger. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1935 Burning - Castle On The Hill

Alva, Oklahoma - This photo on the left was printed a few years ago from an old, worn negative that we found in our grandmothers treasures.

In the Volume 11, Issue 6, of The OkieLegacy, dated 2009-02-08, we found a news article written by Mrs. Jone Sartin, that appeared in The Oklahoman, on page 59, March 10, 1935, entitled Northwestern Prairie Folk Mourn.

The article talked about the calamity that stalked northwest Oklahoma when it faced a disastrous fire with confidence, March 1, 1935, when the Castle on the Hill building standing on the hill south edge of Alva yielded a fire that was fanned by the surly depression-type winds that lighted the country side for miles as the Castle on the Hill burned to a shell of itself.

Sartin's article also mentioned, "Alva was only a village, but the earnestness of Doctor Ament's desire inspired 80 of the pioneer business and professional men to pledge $1,000 each, on private notes, for the erection of the building (Castle on the Hill, 1897). Among these were the late Jesse J. Dunn and S. L. Johnson. Five of the signers still live in Alva. They are: J. W. Monfort, W. F. Hatfield, Anton Shafer, George Crowell, Cap Carrico."

The courage of these pioneers drew condemnation from the territorial and press. While the town and building committee were pushing for its funding and beginnings, the "Castle on the Hill" became known as a "castle from Spain" and the "prairie prince's plight." The Pioneers enterprise to build this Normal School in northwest Oklahoma was generously sneered at, but sneerers soon became cheerers. The distinctive architectural design, the richness of detail, and the perfect completeness of the building impressed the law-makers. They returned to Guthrie and passed the requested appropriation increasing it from $68,000 to $110,000.

It was a beginning of a dream of a great temple of learning. Sartin's article also mentioned, "Northwestern is pre-emiently a poor-man's college. Ten classes had graduated from Northwestern before statehood. Only one other teacher's college is older. In 1897 the territorial legislature appropriated $3,000 for the operating expenses of a school at Alva but it made no provisions for a building. For the first two years the school was held in the Congregational church. It is wrong to think of it as just another teachers' college. This school is northwestern Oklahoma's university. Students who attend Northwestern would be denied educational advantages beyond the high school except for the nearness of this great institution to their homes."

Sartin finishes with, "Institutions are more than buildings. They are the spirit interwoven in the background of a community. Boys and girls of the short-grass country are entitled to opportunities afforded youth in other parts of the state. This conviction is uppermost in the minds and hearts of builders of Oklahoma's commonwealth. Justice to these youths will not be forgotten. Their record, free from stain, is their greatest assurance." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

This Day In History

America - According to History.com, "On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 becomes America's national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." The poem, originally titled "The Defense of Fort McHenry," was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812. Key was inspired by the sight of a lone U.S. flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected in the now-famous words of the "Star-Spangled Banner": "And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Calling ALL NWOSU (NTN, NSTC, NSC) Alumni!

Alva, Oklahoma - Northwestern Oklahoma State University, NWOSU Homecoming 2010 theme is RECONNECT: From Yearbook To Facebook, Thursday through Saturday, September 23-25, 2010 Welcoming Home Northwestern Alumni with NWOSU Homecoming 2010 Button sales starting this week. Homecoming Buttons sell for $10 each and are the primary means of raising funds each year to provide all of the Homecoming activities.

The Homecoming Button will gain you admission into the Miss Cinderella Talent Show, the Miss Cinderella Pageant and the Homecoming Football game. They say it is a $26 value.

Homecoming Buttons are available in Alva at Rialto, 516 Flynn; Sights & Sounds/Radio Shack, 609 College; and the Alva Chamber of Commerce, 502 Oklahoma Blvd. Buttons also are available at the Northwestern Foundation Office in the Student Center, (580) 327-8593.

Also, buttons are available by seeing the following people: Mark Bagley, button sales chair; Bill Marshall, Todd Holder, Peggy O'Neil, Mandy Stephens, Margaret Barton, Gary Brown, Liz Smith, Johnny Jones, Marilyn Bouziden, Arlo Darr, Rick Cunningham, Steve Hannaford, Jerry and Aleta Kohlrus, Karen Koehn, Denise Reed and Monica Schmidt.

Cathy Brown, Northwestern-Alva retention coordinator and campus button sales person, (580) 327-8547; Dr. Cheryl Evans, Northwestern-Enid dean, (580) 213-3105; and Dr. Deena Fisher, Northwestern-Woodward dean, (580) 256-0049 will sell buttons at their locations.

Schedule of Events

Monday, Sept. 20, Constitution Day, 1-3 p.m., Student Center Ranger Room
Homecoming Kick Off, 6-8 p.m., Green Space
Bonfire, 9 p.m., Ranger Field parking lot

Tuesday, Sept. 21, Powder Puff game, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 22, Dodgeball Tournament, 7 p.m., Small gym

Thursday, Sept. 23, Movie and Pizza Night, 6 p.m., Ranger Perk
Miss Cinderella Talent Show, 7:30 p.m., Herod Hall Auditorium

Friday, Sept. 24, Rally 'Round the Ranger Pep Rally, Noon, Ranger Statue
Ranger Queen Reunion Dinner, 6 p.m., Champ's Restaurant
Miss Cinderella Pageant, 8 p.m., Herod Hall Auditorium, Emcee: Miss Oklahoma. (I think I read here lately in the local newspaper that the Cinderella pageant or talent show was changed to an afternoon event. Is this correct?)
Ranger Legends Reunion, 8-10 p.m., Moose Lodge
Ranger Rewind Reunion, 9-11 p.m., Nite Lite

Saturday, Sept. 25, Ranger Run, 8 a.m., Downtown Square
Alumni Cheerleading Practice, 9 a.m. East side of the Square
Delta Zeta Alumni meet to watch parade, 9 a.m., McDermott Agency, 526 Flynn
Alumni Tent, 9 a.m., North side of Square
Reception, Honorary Parade Marshal - Helen Thiesing, 9-10 a.m., Alumni Tent, North Side of Square
Special Attractions, Booths, Games, Petting Zoo, Food! 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Downtown Square
Parade, 10 a.m., Downtown Square

Mini-Concerts/Band Awards, 11:30 a.m., Downtown Square

Alumni Baseball Game, 11:30 a.m., Ranger Field
Lunch, Food prepared by the Rowdy Rangers, President's Association members eat FREE! Noon, Alumni Tent, Downtown Square, $6.00
Alumni Band Rehearsal, 1 p.m., Third Floor of Fine Arts
Nursing Alumni Reunion, 1-2 p.m., Upstairs in the Carter Hall Nursing Lab
Football Game, Rangers vs. Texas College, 3 p.m. on Ranger Field, Ranger Band Halftime Show
Alumni Band; Massed Band; Ranger Queen & King Coronations

Homecoming Dance featuring Trader-Price, 8 p.m.- midnight, Woods County Fairgrounds, Contact Dian Gourley at (580) 829-2674 or Tena Martin at (580) 829-2978 for ticket information! View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Witness To War

America - Witness To War is preserving the oral histories of combat veterans along with photos and memoirs. Do you have an oral combat veteran story that you would like to Contribute to Witness To War?

Roy says, "For those who don't know, Pug was my boss at the Ritz Theatre of Britton, Oklahoma while I was a teen-ager. I was a projectionist at both of the theatres there, and assistant manager of the "B" house, which was open only on Fridays and Saturdays. The admission price there was 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children 12 and younger. It always played black & white double features; a western and a comedy, plus a serial (to bring-em-back each week). That is where I learned to edit film by leaving out portions of a reel during the last show of the evening in order to get out early.

"During WWII, Pug had been a member of a tank crew that traveled all over chasing the German Tiger tanks. He once told me that the Germans were short of fuel and that sometimes the Tigers would run out of gas. That when the American crews came upon an abandoned Tiger, they would refuel it, jump in and go Tiger hunting in earnest because those Tigers were built so strong and had bigger guns and the only way you could really destroy one was by using another Tiger.

"When Pug first came to Britton to manage the theatres there, one of the owners told us that his nickname (Pug) was an abreviation for pugilist because he had been a boxer in his outfit and was a scrappy little fighter. It is possible that the anecdote was told to keep the local toughs from trying to pick a fight with him. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Virtual Civil War

America - Homer sent us this link to the website, Virtual Civil War. It has different links to browse the battlefields of today that you can explore. It also has a link to The Original Photos taken during the Civil War.

There is also a link to Re-enactments where you can check out photos from numerous re-enactments. Do not forget to check out the Gettysburg Remembrance Day and Point Lookout, MD.

Do not forget to scroll down and click the link Honoring Those Who Served. It is a special section dedicated to the common soldier and shows photos of Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

After the Wizard - Kingman, KS Movie

Kingman, Kansas - Rosalea says, "Please pass this good word to anyone and every one remotely connected with theatres. I saw the rough cuts tonight in Kingman (Kansas) of Hugh Gross's After the Wizard that was filmed mostly in Kingman earlier this summer. I was incredibly impressed! In fact, I was downright stunned! I thought it would be home made! Was I ever wrong!

"It is going to be a great family movie that will do Kansas proud! You must share this great news and encourage all theatres to book it! Hugh said it would be out in February.

"I am taking the liberty to have you contact him directly if you are interested in booking it or know someone who might be. His Email is Hugh@HughGross.com. After the Wizard - The Movie - Official Fan Page and The Kingman Kansas "After the Wizard" Experience on Facebook.

"When I see the support Kingman (Kansas) gives him, I am so thankful I had sense enough to send him there, not to Harper where he surely would have been destroyed." View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Bathing Colorado Bear

Colorado Springs, Colorado - Ann who lives on the Eastern side of Colorado, forwarded us this bear caught bathing near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Ann says, "People living in Colorado Springs wondered why their water barrel was almost empty every day. They set up a camera and caught a bear bathing.

"Big Al came for his weekly bath again this week. He really looks like he enjoys the experience. He needs a bigger tub; we will think about that for next year."

[EDIOTRs NOTE: Do NOT encourage strange, dirty bears to bath in your water tub! This could be hazardous to your health as well as the bears existence!] View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe