Weather Dog Report...

"Wait three days and the weather will eventually change. That is what it did this week. AND... we have been having our April Showers plus our sunny days. It was a beautiful Monday afternoon for the Alva Mural Society's hamburger fry & ice cream social last Monday, April 26th, 2004.

Yes!... You all can view all the photos that I managed to snap of those who came out to watch the artist, Don Gray, paint on Alva's new mural on the Professional building. We have placed those snapshots on our NW OkieLegacy webshots. Just click on "Share Bros. Mural - Profession bldg." Check it out and glimpse of few of those helping out and those that stopped by to taste the goodies and view the artist at work. Want to see it as a Slideshow? You might catch a glimpse of Fred Neuman, Jim Richey, Don Gray, Dan Shorter, Jack Moore, and many other Alva citizens. There are also some pictures in there of the Runnymede Hotel that is in the process of being renovated. The homemade ice cream was delicious. The hamburgers looked meaty, delicious... but I passed on those.

We have been hearing more about K101 Radio morning show and the talk of the Ann Reynolds Mystery. I have not had a chance to tune in yet, but I have heard from a few people that have told me that the K101 DJ's have been talking about it for the last few days. Have you heard it yet? It sounds like they have talked to someone who was a neighbor of Ann's. They have even talked to a man whose father was undersheriff of Woods County at the time (March, 1956). What was most on their mind was... Was it Murder? What really happened that day? Don't forget some of NW Oklahoma's other Mystery - Old Opera House Murder. Strange things can happen everyday in this "neck of the Woods."

This writer would like to know if this "cold" case (Ann Reynolds murder) was a cover-up or just a flubbed investigation by officials in this NW Oklahoma county. Was there a conspiracy of some sort? I am assuming that the Statute of Limitations does not run out in a murder trial. Will it ever be solved? Will the ghost of Ann Reynolds ever be at rest... or.... will it haunt the Avard, Woods county area until the last old timers take the truth to their graves? I would like to read their memoirs!

We got out our Home Comfort Cookbook this week and scanned more of it's pages to our NW OkieLegacy Webshots. You can now read about How to Construct, Hook-up the Home Comfort Range -- read some Home Comfort Recipes that came with the book. Next week I plan to scan some Home Comfort Hints. The Home Comfort Cookbook says the secret of good cooking is to be a critical judge -- know excellent cooking from poor cooking; find a fascination in the science, and become thoroughly familiar with "what, and what not to do;" find a genuine pleasure in the practice -- mastering the basic recipes and the operation and control of your Range -- and above all, "Think."

Northwest Oklahoma & Fowitz Mortuary of 1929... Does anyone out there have any knowledge of the Fowitz Mortuary that was in the Alva area around 1929? Someone in the Mailbag Corner is looking for some funeral records of her great-grandfather, William Washington Gilbert, who died around 1929.

Cantonment Indian School...

One of our readers sent this great photo of the old Indian School in Cantonment Oklahoma. The photo is dated November 15, 1919. Cantonment was located south of Canton, Oklahoma. Click on the photo for a larger view.

I have also heard from several who wanted to know how to get a copy of The Battle of Droop Mountain written by Dallas B. Shaffer.... because someone's ancestor had fought in that battle. I will be making some copies to send to a few people. If you would like to have a copy, please email me at paristimes@earthlink.net. Thanks.

Then there is another reader from Medicine Park, Oklahoma near the Wichita wildlife refugee that is looking for information on Elmer Thomas and the name of his wife. Is there anyone out there have any answers to his question. Read his message in the Mailbag Corner.

The last I heard from Sandie Olson at the Waynoka Historical Society was that they have sold their limited supply of Woods County 1906 Atlas books with one book remaining... and that may be sold. Thanks to you all who have inquired and bought a book. They do have the 24"x30" Township Poster, showing twelve townships in the Waynoka trade area. The townships are from the 1906 Atlas.

Time does fly fast around here. We have a heck of a time trying to keep up with it. Where has April gone? Will the April Showers bring May flowers? I hear tell that NW Oklahoma received about 1-1/2 inches of rain Thursday night (April 29, 2004). Sounds like the southern part of our state had the tornado warnings, storms this Friday. It is beginning to thunder and lightening in the OKC area as I type this week's newsletter. So... Duchess and I are going to end here, send this out and turn off our computer before Mother Nature steps in and does it for us.

With the end of April... May Day is just around the corner -- this weekend. My Lilacs have bloomed and moved on already. My Iris have buds and may be blooming as we type here. The broodmares have slowly produced their 2004 crop of colts (mainly horse colts, so far). AND... next weekend we shall be remembering our mothers on Mothers Day. Y'all have a great May Day. We shall be looking forward to hearing from you and sharing more Okie Legacies.

Fowitz Mortuary Records - 1929...

"I am looking for a funeral home in Alva that may have the records of the Fowitz Mortuary that was in existence in Alva in 1929 when my great-grandfather, William Washington Gilbert died. Thanks for your help." -- Email: curreyk@pie.midco.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Land Run Lists...

"Would you send me the information you sent early this year on the names on the Land Run lists?  Our 'puter went down in March trying to install a digital camera and I lost all the info. My great-grandfather is on the list. Thanks." -- Sherry - Email: jl-sl@nts-online.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Joseph & Anna Hurt...

"Hi, I received Joseph Hurt's Naturalization Record in the mail today. Read the year wrong in the census. He was naturalized on 24 Sept. 1890 at St. Paul, NE. That was the only record in his file. I am going to see if they have his First Papers in New York. He signed his name Josef Hurt. Just wanted to let you know in the 1900 census Bishop Twp, Woods Co. OK, Sheet 4A line 13-21 is enumerated the following:

Hurt, Joseph Head W M Sept 1855 44 M 21 -- Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1876 23 NA Farmer O - yes yes yes O F F 75

wife W F Jan 1863 37 M 21 11 8 Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1876 23 NA - - yes yes yes

The children listed as living are : John, Joseph, Carrie, Matilda, Emma, Mary and Lucy. John is 19. In 1880 the children living were: Anna age 1 and Joseph age 6 mo. So it is my conclusion that Anna Hurt age 1 in 1880 would be 21 in 1900 and married. The Joseph 6 mo. in 1880 probably died as they had another child name Joseph. There still remains two children that Anna gave birth to who were born and died between 1880 and 1900. Anna (the daughter) may have married in Nebraska and never came to Kansas. I can recall that I was told that my great-grandma Emma went to her sister's house in Nebraska to give birth to her first born, Annabel. Unfortunately, my grandma is no longer living so I can't ask her this sister's name.

Incidentally, in 1930 census Joseph Hurt states that he emigrated in 1874 and was NA in 1880. I have written to the Howard Co., Nebraska Clerk of the District Court requesting copies of his papers. I have not been able to find him in any ship manifest records as yet. I cannot find any Wallman families either. When I receive his papers I will let you know more on his emigration." -- Kathy - Email: gregory@giantcomm.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Cantonment Indian School & Keller-Louthan...

"Hi there. I am forwarding a picture of the old Indian School in Cantonment Oklahoma. Photo is dated November 15, 1919. Taken by Keller family who lived in Fairview/Chester, Oklahoma area. I received this photo via Dorthey Keller (Louthan), my grandmother.

Dorthey Keller married Lawrence Louthan. I would love to hear from anybody who has information about this line. To go along with the Indian School picture, I have attached a photo of my grandparents, Dorthey Fern Keller (Louthan) and Lawrence Lava Louthan on their wedding day, October 11, 1921, in Fairview Oklahoma. Thanks for your newsletter.

I look forward to seeing it in my mailbox. Happy Mother's Day! Here is the photo of my grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary, 1971, in Hermiston Oregon. " -- Cindy (Louthan) Powell - Email: CMPH20@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Medicine Park Melodramas - Elmer Thomas & wife...

"We live in Medicine Park and are putting on a mini-melodramas featuring Elmer Thomas and his wife. The only thing is we don't know his wife's name or anything about her. Can you help us here. Thanks." -- Michael & Muriel Fahrion - Big Rock Works - PO BOX 424 - Medicine Park, OK 73557 - http://www.bigrockworks.com
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Medicine Park & The Wichitas...

"Just starting to peruse your website. Our interests are Medicine Park and the Wichitas." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

K101 Radio & Ann Reynolds Mystery...

"K101 Radio broadcast this morning (4/26/2004) was very interesting. It was about the mystery of Ann Reynolds and what could have really happened to her so many years ago. They talked to a neighbor of Ann's a couple of days later. There was also here in Woodward County a young girl that was left a mystery.
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More K101 Radio Talk...

K-101 talked to a man whose father was the undersheriff in Woods County at the tiem of Ann's death. He said everyone who knew her said she was definitely murdered. At the time there were only 4 people working for the sheriff's office.  They talk about it often. The Morning show would love to hear from you, I'm sure. They are on from 6:00 until 8:30a.m., Monday thru Friday. Maybe you should give them a call at 580-256-5101. Jay Doug is the main DJ and Matt Storm is also on there." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1906 Woods County Atlas...

"Thank you again, Linda, for informing your readers about the opportunity to buy the 1906 Woods County Atlas reproduction. I believe we have only one copy left, and it will probably sell very soon! We do have the 24"x30" Township Poster, showing twelve townships in the Waynoka trade area. The townships are from the 1906 Atlas. Anyone who is interested could email me with any questions." -- Sandie - Email: sandieo@pldi.net. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

New Subscription Comments...

"I would like to subscribe to your weekly newsletter. I live in a little town called Pawnee. Actually, about 10 miles north of there. Your newsletter sounds interesting! Thanks! Best regards." -- Donna View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

WPA, CCC & Roosevelt's Tree Army...

"The WPA and CCC. This interesting site - http://www.cccalumni.org/history1.html - gives some background on "Roosevelt's Tree Army" and the section on States and Camps listings for Oklahoma shows the communities and dates where the camps operated - several at Lake Murray. " View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Mysterious Death - Grady County (1979)...

"My Cousin's name was Alan Ray Hartline. He lived out just before the curve at the Bait Shop East. The story goes, he was asleep... or in his bedroom when a man came to the door and asked his wife Sue if they could talk to Alan. When Alan got to the door, the man shot him in the chest. This I think was in 1979.. I'm not sure, but think that was the year. The man had parked his car at the highway which was a ways from the house. No one was ever caught. The drawing of the man looked just like my brother, but he was gone to bootcamp at the time. Nothing else was ever done. There were rumors it was a hit, but I can't understand that. He was one of the best friends alot of the family members had. I  pray you can have better luck than the Grady County Sheriff's Dept. By the way, I Don't remember who was sheriff at the time, but Lee Looper was sometime around then" View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Looking for VFW application...

"I am an Oklahoma veteran, having served with the 120th Engr. in Korea in '51 & '52. I would like very much to join the VFW. I especially enjoy reading the magazine every month. I would like an application to join. You can send it to the following address: Charles R. Roddy, 2200 Lancaster Dr.SE, #22B, Salem, OR 97301. Thanks." -- Charles R. Roddy - Email: crroddyjr.wmconnect.com
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