Duchess' SW Corner

Bayfield, Colorado - From wild turkeys in Freedom, Oklahoma on the 15th November to a visiting bull and bursting cattails in this SW Colorado pasture on the 19th November and 3 to 4 inches of snow the next morning (20th November) by 8:00 a.m. in this little rural valley in SW Colorado. This is just one of the many things this Pug writer experienced this week. Will any of these wild Freedom Okie turkeys find their way to the Thanksgiving table next Thursday?

Yep! Oakie rustled me out of bed this Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. to see this gorgeous white stuff falling from the sky. Attired in my little red coat and camera in tow we hurried out into the white fluffy stuff.

This sauntering Pug reluctantly went out in it and around the corner of the house, but hastily came back to the porch while Oakie was snapping a few shots.  Oakie says, "I just love the snow and the mountains!"

What's it doing up in your neck of the woods? Looks like approximately 4-inches of the white fluffy stuff fell from the sky by 8:00 a.m. before the sun broke through and started melting in the valley! They report that if you are traveling over Wolf Creek Pass this weekend, Chains are Required!"

We made it back to SW Colorado about noon, Tuesday of this week in fine shape by taking the northern route through Dodge City, KS -- through Pueblo, CO and Salido and Poncho Springs and over Wolf Creek Pass. We did get to see some snow skiers and sledders around Wolf Creek. Oakie brought back a head-cold she has nursing for the past four days. That is why this delightful Precious Pug is taking over for awhile. Oakie says, "The head is clearing and the snow is breathe taking!

Vallecito's Little Bighorn ... We had a website we want you to check out concerning a modern day Custer and hopefully his Last Stand at Vallecito's Little Bighorn. This Custer fella and developers want to ravage, rape the natural beauty of nature's wilderness and wildlife habitats. To do what? To develop condos and a golf course in the mountain wilderness at Vallecito, in SW Colorado. Who needs a golf course and 300 condos (condo built on 1/10th acre) crowded together? I hope the mountain peasants at Vallecito achieve their goal to stop Custer. These mountains are too gracious, beautiful to be ravaged raped ruins for crowded condos, golf courses. What will become of Natures REAL Wildlife?

1930 Mystery in Alva -- as anyone out there ever heard about someone being accidentally killed sometime in the 1930s? One of our OkieLegacy readers had memories of this incident while his grandfather worked on the police force of Alva. Edwards' memories can be read in the Mailbag Corner below.

Old NW Oklahoma Slideshow -- We need to find the families of these 1930s NSTC Students so we can find a home for the original photos taken at Ellis Studio in Alva and Saunders Studio in Woodward, in NW Oklahoma during the 1930s. Most of them have a firstname signed on the photo while others might have a first and lastname. BUT... there are two photos that had NO name on them - unknown male and unknown female. We hope someone out there can help us locate their descendants.

1938 NSTC Senior Play (Vanity) -- We have also come across a program for the NSTC Senior Class play - 1938 2nd page of Senior Class Play. It was a 3-act comedy, directed by Nora B. Martin, May 10, 1938. The entire action of the play takes place in the same room, being the drawing-room in Vanity's flat in London, at the present day. Vanity Fayre was played by Zelma Fisher. Zelma also played Vanity's Quaker Aunt (Miss Fry, Aunt Heppy). Other Senior class members in the play were... Ramona Baker (Vanity's Maid, Dickson); Gerna Lee Stambaugh (Vanity's Sister, Prudence Fry "Prue"); Earl Sargent (Vanity's Brother, Pilgrim Fry "Pilly"); florine Harper (Vanity's Sister, Hope Fry); John Smith (Vanity's victim, Lord Cazalet Cassy ); Max Jack (Vanity's Solicitor, Dick Broderick); Geraldine Somers (Vanity's Press Agent, Ada Kemp); Kenneth Wilson (Vanity's Fiance, Jefferson Brown); Mary Allen (who never heard of Vanity, Lady Holland); Ralph Herren (Vanity's Manager, Augustus King).

Alva Mural Society Schedules for 3 Murals -- We hear thru the local newspaper in Alva that the Alva Mural Society received a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council group for three more murals to be painted on buildings in the Alva area... Coronado's Journey thru Woods County -- Battle of Turkey Springs -- WWII POW Camp at Alva. Alva is becoming a Mural City, isn't it?

Before we head out of here for the weekend... We hope this week's ezine/newsletter makes it through to all those AOL email addresses on the mailing list... unlike last week when for some unknown reason they bounced back.

NOW... Have I left out anything that Oakie told me about this week? If I did, we will stick it in next week's ezine. As you head over the hills, mountains, rivers, fly-ways and by-ways to grandmother's house this Thanksgiving holiday, remember... Thanksgiving is a special time for family, friends getting together in peace and harmony. We wish you all the best and give thanks to all of those readers who have shared their memories and comments throughout the year -- have had patience with us as we switch from Friday send-offs to Saturday send-offs.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! See Y'all next Saturday evening with more Okie Legacies! ~~ Linda "oaKie" & Duchess ~~ View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva Memories

Alva, Oklahoma - 1930s NSTC Students Slideshow... "I have photos of NW students that I've posted on the Woods County page, but for which I have had no response.  I'll let you be the caretaker for these in case, someday, someone should want them.  You said you'd always like to have it, so I'm taking you seriously! I have a few more Alva photos that I didn't post and will send those.  I'm also including a program for the NSTC Senior Class play - 1938 (2nd page of Senior Class Play). I'll go through some more papers today and see if there's anything else I can send. Take care." -- Linda Chandler, Oklahoma City View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Memories of Alva & Edwards Family

Virginia - "I was born in Alva in 1960, as was my brother Jim in 1957; brother Jeff in 1962; and brother Bill in 1964 at Alva General Hospital.

My father is Robert Newton Edwards (1930), son of Robert William (1895) and Nora Edwards(1897).

I moved away in 1968 to Newton, KS but I still have many memories of living there. I lived on Barnes just a few houses down from Longfellow School where I went. My dad worked out at the airport with Kenneth Crisp which is where my interest in aviation started.

It made a lasting impression on me as I am still in the aviation career field. My dad used to fly a Cessna T-50 and a Howard DGA-15 out of Alva delivering the Oklahoma City newspaper to Dallas. Now that's a paper route! He was also the service manager for Sneary Motors for some time.

My grandparents also had a son Otho, a daughter Roberta, and another daughter Dorothy Lee who all grew up in Alva. My father was born in Alva, as was my Grandfather. I'm not sure if the rest of them were born in Alva or Kingfisher.

My grandfather used to tell me stories of when he was on the police force there. I was never told what or why, but something bad happened (I have heard that someone was accidentally killed) while he was on the police force and he had to retire unvoluntarily. This was in the 1930's and was a mechanic/machinist ever since.

The last time I was in Alva was in the early 1970's when Mr. Crisp passed away and my father was the executor of his estate. Kenny had a big hangar at the airport that my dad and him had built. It was packed full of complete and partial airplanes including the Howard that my dad flew in the 1950's.

We moved back to Oklahoma in 1975 to Chickasha and my grandparents moved to Kingfisher so I have never been back to Alva. I left home in 1978 and have lived on the east coast of Virginia ever since. I would like to return one day just to see what all has changed." -- Michael B. Edwards - Email: mike.b.edwards@l-3com.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Descendants of Hugh Martin, Sr. & Jr

Ireland - "This edition of your journal, Vol. IV, Iss. 34, contains a notice of Hugh Martin Jr., one-time Sheriff of Wood County. I also noted a genealogy of the family online. First things last!

My name is Adrian James Martyn, and I live in Galway City, Co. Galway, Republic of Ireland. I am, by default, the family genealogist and am always on the look-out for descendants of our family and getting in touch with them, no matter where in the world they are now.

If you could find the time, could you forward this message to a present-day member of the family, as I would be very interested not only in establishing contact with them, but to try and figure out where they fit in with the rest of us!

There are a lot of Martin's and Martyn's in Galway, and I have the wonderful task of sorting us all out! Thank you for your time. I hope to hear from you soon. Is mise le meas." -- Adrian J. Martyn - Email: fergananim@yahoo.co.uk View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Martyn of Galway, Ireland

Louisiana - "Thanks for passing on the email from the Martyn in Galway.  As I told you Hugh Martin's parents were both from Galway.  Somehow, although I know the name of Hugh of Alva's grandfather, and where in Galway he lived, I've never 'jumped the pond' in my genealogy research on this line.  Time flies - no kidding.  I will soon contact him. Incidentally, I don't seem to have received your ezine the last couple of weeks. Regards." -- Charlie View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Clovis/Cossel of Oklahoma

"Interesting sight as I begin a search of my roots (Clovis/Cossel) in Oklahoma. My mother's family is through Cossel and my father's family is Clovis. Thank you." -- Marie Clovis (Cossel) Rice - Email: marieclovis@juno.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Freedom Oklahoma Paper

"What a nice site. I particularly like Freedom, Oklahoma newspaper from long ago." -- Deb - Email: irwin2@cox.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Comments on Veterans

"I noticed recently that the anchor is finally in place at the Veteran's Memorial just south of Helena. It looks very nice there and shows many hours of work and dedication. Be sure to stop the next time you pass the Memorial and appreciate the new addition." -- Bonnie View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Your Observations About This World of Ours

"I knew there was a reason and probably a d a r n good one when I failed to receive your weekly letter last week. I just want you to know that I truly enjoy reading your observations about this world of ours. I love it when you rationalize what is happening and I marvel that this universe is still in balance. I don't know whether the earth is heating up or cooling off but I sure do like to wonder and I like it when someone such as yourself seems to wonder too, because I know you have studied these phenomena's in depth. Yet, I seem to be persuaded that no matter what man can do to himself and the world, that the sun will come up in the morning. Thanks for being there. Your friend." -- Ernest View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Ingersol, Cherokee & Shattuck, Oklahoma Memories

"During WWII, we lived in Ingersoll (Cherokee). My father, John Heer, was the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.

He did serve the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Shattuck, Oklahoma. He served the Bethel Baptist Church in Ingersoll (now in Cherokee --- if it still exists).

Dad was fluent in German (in fact he actually preached in German while serving a church in Shattuck) and I think that dad actually served as somewhat of a chaplin or perhaps performed special religious services or ceremonies for the prisoners. Dad never spoke about his service to any of our family but I wonder if there is any information about him being associated with the prison camp?" -- Harvey Heer - Email: hheer@rochester.rr.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe