Duchess Windy Corner

Looks like March went out like a "lion." Bellowing it's last few breathes of Winter Wednesday and Thursday with April on the horizon -- making it's debut on a sunny, calm Friday morning here in the valley of SW Colorado.

Thursday the news/weathermen were talking about northeastern New Mexico from Las Vegas to Trinidad along I25 being closed for awhile with blowing drifting snow that accumulated in drifts of 6 to 8 ft. They even had some blowing snow down around the Ruidosa in the southeast corner of New Mexico. Wednesday, March 30 we wokeup to about a 1/2 inch of snow here in the valley while the higher mountains received considerable more inches of new snowfall -- making the total snowfall for March, 34 inches. Our valley snow didn't last very long when the afternoon sunshine came out Wednesday.

April Fools Day... Did you trick anyone into believing that it was New Year under the Julian calendar? There weren't any April Fools around here! Back when the western world employed the Julian calendar, years began on March 25. Festivals marking the start of the New Year were celebrated on the first day of April because March 25 fell during Holy Week. The adoption of the Gregorian calendar during the 1500s moved the New Year to January 1. According to the most widely-believed origin for April Fools' Day, those who could be tricked into believing April 1 was still the proper day to celebrate the New Year earned the sobriquet (nickname) of April fools.

We would like to wish a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our friend J. L. "BUD" CLARK this weekend! We hear he is spending his birthday down at the Horse Expo Center in Shawnee, Oklahoma! If you see "BUD" this weekend, spring into a verse or two of Happy Birthday! View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Our NEW Grand Niece

March 24, 2005 we received news that our NEW grand niece made her appearance known. That's our grand-niece on David's side of the family. Erin Lillian was born 0743 EST, March 24, 2005, in Atlanta, GA, weighing in at 6lb. 14 oz., 21 inches. We hear that Mother and baby Erin are doing well. Welcome, Erin, into our family!

That has spurred this family historian to dust-off the family genealogy program and do some updating. BUT... I have had to start from scratch to rebuild the family genealogy database. Since I've changed computers over the last few years, I can't seem to find any of my "gedcom" files. I've had to print out my webpages and start inputting families in from scratch -- starting with my "Family Tree Legend" -- GenCircles.com -- MCGILL Genealogy. I'm hoping to get the WARWICK, HULL/HOHL, GWIN/GUINN/GWINN, PARIS, HURT & WAGNER families added in the coming weeks. I know there are programs (ged2html) out there that translate gedcom files to gendex.txt files to use on your webpages. BUT... is there any program out there that will translate the gendex.txt files back to gedcom files? It seems like a few years ago there was something like that. It would sure help about now in the rebuilding the family genealogy database. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

McGill Bros. Swimming Pool

For those of you have just come onboard... Bill and Jim McGill built and ran the first swimming pool in downtown Alva (Oklahoma) in the early 1900s. We are not sure when this photo was taken. It is a picture of the "McGill Bros. Swimming Pool that was located behind and to the west of McGill Bros. Furniture Store. In the background you can see an add for Central National Bank, St. Nicholas Hotel, McGill Bros. Furniture, W. W. Starr. The young boys swimming in the pool with the grownups standing in background. The white haired, tall fellow towards the back looks to be my grandfather (Wm. J. "Will" McGill). Checkout this URL for more memories of McGill's Swimming Pool in downtown Alva, in NW Oklahoma. This URL will show you a swimming ticket that was used at one time - McGill Swimming Ticket - $6.

Poem - McGill's Swimming Pool - by Wm. J. "Bill" McGill
McGill Bros Swimming Pool
At the close of sultry summer day
Join the crowds that wend their way
To plunge in water fresh and cool
At McGills' most popular Swimming Pool.
And just a few steps from the door
You'll find their Famous Furniture Store.
There, too, your needs will be supplied,
And all your tastes be satisfied.
McGill Brothers, S.W. Cor. Square

The swimming pool was not behind the furniture store. It was west of the store. It was next to the "DeGreer" building. The "Old Blue Front furniture store" that Jim first started was west of the furniture store that later followed. Bill was playing baseball and as he traveled around with the ball team he would buy furniture and ship it back to Alva. We sometimes wonder if Bill knew he was suppose to sleep in a 24 hour period. Our cousin, Jack Erskine, says that the swimming pool was the first in Alva but another person remembers swimming in a pool back of the college. When water became to high you needed to drain the pool every week. The pool was not making money. So... Jim and Bill offered it to the city of Alva to run and they said they could not afford to run it either. Gene (McGill) and Jack (Erskine) used to take turns running the swimming pool. During those times kids would slip in at night and swim and sometimes in the nude -- So... Gene and Jack would sleep over at the pool and chase them out. They also would dive off of the two story DeGeer building into the pool through electric wires which could have been really bad. We have heard stories about Gene diving from the roof of the building on the west side of the pool. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Postcards - NW Oklahoma....

We found a few old postcards for you this week. This photo postcard shows a young Woods County, Oklahoma girl dressed in a white dress, stockings and heels. We believe it is a photo of Ora F. Mosshart, because on the back of the postcard there is a message from Ora Mosshart wishing a "Merry Xmas and Happy New Year" to our Great-Grandmother, Mrs. J. R. "Signora Belle" Warwick, Alva, OK.

There are postcards taken around 1931 & 1932 in Hooker, Oklahoma - Main Street (1931) and Grade School (1932). There is also another postcard of an Unknown Young Girl we assume is from the NW Oklahoma area. Not sure the year it was taken. She is wearing a white dress, stocking and heels. Maybe someone out there might recognize her. There is nothing written on the backside of the postcard. Maybe it is my grandmother in her younger years. I am NOT sure, though. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva Graduating Class???

"As you can see this photo barely exists now. It shows what is apparently a graduating class. Note that each holds a roll that looks like a diploma. The girl in the second row from the back, in the middle is my grandmother Hazel Martin McCary. She is, of course, the daughter of Woods County's first sheriff, Hugh Martin. Hazel was born at Alva in 1895. Is this a high school graduating class? I was told that my grandmother attended the Normal School, -- studied, among other things, German language and music. It's been years and I don't know the details any longer. Does anyone know anything about women students there in those days? Although the condition of the photo is sad, I hope someone might know something about it." -- Charlie in Louisiana Bayou Country View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Red Hatted Eagles of Union Park

"We have our web site up but not completed. Send me news and pictures and I will make a page for other chapter news. Thanks." -- Aquila - www.redhattedeagle.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NWOSU Foundation & Alumni

"Just a note to say that the NWOSU Spring Reunion will be held on April 29-30, 2005. It should be noted also that the long-time Director of the Alumni Association and Executive Director of the NWOSU Foundation, Jane McDermott, will be leaving these positions to go into the insurance business with her husband, Max. Jane will be missed and all wish her well in her new endeavor." -- James Bradley, Class of 1959, NWOSU - Visit the KANZA Chapter or National OCTA View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

William Carter & Jim Dalton Memories

"My father William C. Carter was Jim Dalton's nephew. He spent several summers working at his Uncle's ranch. Dad said that he was probably the best Cutting Horse Trainer of that era. Dad later went on to graduate from Oklhoma State University's first class of Veterinary Medicine in 1951. He has many fond memories of Jim Dalton because he was like the father that he didn't have. I have been to the monument as well as many members of my family. We have also seen Jim's picture and story in The Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. We wound up living in New Jersey -- Mom and Dad will be married 60 years in October 2005." -- Randy Carter - Email: RCa2518410@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

EERIE OKLAHOMA

"Was just going to let you know, I have added your link to my site at Eerie Oklahoma - Paranormal Investigations of Northwest Oklahoma. I have used your site for lots of research and I love it! I conducted a ghost town tour of Garfield, Grant, Alfalfa and Woods counties in October and will be doing another one soon -- you had great information. I made a booklet for the tour. I made sure to include your site in the bibliography. We do a lot of historical research as well. I really enjoy your site." -- Tammy Wilson, Eerie Oklahoma View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

WARFILED & HELT of Alfalfa County

"I am actively researching the WARFILED and HELT lines of Alfalfa County." -- Kathleen Burnett - Emial: kathleenburnett@earthlink.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Looking for Ancestors in Hobart OK

"I have enjoyed surfing around your very informative website. How do I go about finding information about my ancestors who lived in Hobart? I bear the same name as my grandfather. Thanks." -- Everett L. Stewart - Email: stewartel@earthlink.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

MORE Burma Shave Signs

Those Grand Old Burma Shave Road Signs... Are they becoming a thing of the past? Someone went us this "gif" of a Burma Shave Sign: Hardly A Driver Is Now Alive Who Passed On Hills At 75 Burma Shave. Enjoy! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Origins of April Fools Day

Have you ever wondered "Why" there is an "April Fools Day?" We went searchin online for April Fools' Day Origins and found the following over at Snopes.com - April Fools' Day Origins:

"When the western world employed the Julian calendar, years began on March 25. Festivals marking the start of the New Year were celebrated on the first day of April because March 25 fell during Holy Week. The adoption of the Gregorian calendar during the 1500s moved the New Year to January 1. According to the most widely-believed origin for April Fools' Day, those who could be tricked into believing April 1 was still the proper day to celebrate the New Year earned the sobriquet of April fools. To this end, French peasants would unexpectedly drop in on neighbors on that day in a effort to confuse them into thinking they were receiving a New Year's call. Out of that one jape supposedly grew the tradition of testing the patience of family and friends......" View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

McGill Swimming Pool Memories

"I think the pool was almost behind Bill Brands pool hall. I played lots of dominos there. Nothing but soda to drink. When I went out the back door, I seem to remember going around the edge of the pool. Never remember it having been used. This would have been around '54 or '55. Wow, has it really been that long ago? How time flys when you're having fun! Hope you are too!" -- Steve

"I remember the swimming pool, used it often in the 30's. Can't remember it being open in the 40's, but there was a pool room either right or left of where the pool entrance was. It didn't sell beer and was a hangout for the teen-agers. I can't remember the name of the guy who owned it. I and several of my close friends hung out there during the summer of about 1940 or so. Max McAlister, Jimmy Appleman and I. Those were the days!!" -- Max

"That swimming pool behind the south side of Barnes Avenue was still there in the 60's, but it was full of weeds and hadn't been used in years. My mom used to tell me that she swam there in her youth." -- Scott

"The street was Barnes Avenue, of course. As I recall, Bob Shorts Dad had a store there and next door was a barber shop. You walked between the stores, by the old pool, to the alley. Across the alley was the Doctors offices and clinic." -- Richard View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

PARIS - Edward & Moses

"I am possibly a direct descendent of Edward PARIS, who married Susannah MOLTON in Kent County, Delaware on May 6, 1719. His son Moses PARIS, Sr. was born Feb 18, 1722. His son Moses PARIS, Jr. was born in 1747. These two lived in Rowan County, NC in the 1760s. They lived in Fayette County and Madison County. KY after 1789. Moses possibly had a youngest son James C. PARIS in 1784, along with other children Moses, Mary, Betsy, William. James C. Paris lived in Highland County and Clark County, KY. Here there is a difference in date and location:

History of April Fools' Day

"The origins of April Fool's Day are unknown, although various theories have been proposed. It is considered to be related to the festival of the vernal equinox, which occurs on March 21. Prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, it was observed as New Year's Day by cultures as far apart as ancient Rome and India. New Year was originally celebrated from March 25 to April 1, before the Gregorian reforms moved it back to January 1.

The English first celebrated the day on a widespread basis only as late as the 18th century, though it appears to have reached England probably from Germany in the mid-17th century. Its first known description in English originates with John Aubrey, who noted in 1686: 'Fooles holy day. We observe it on the first of April. And so it is kept in Germany everywhere.'

Some Dutch people believe it may have originated due to the liberation of Den Briel during the Spanish occupation of The Netherlands in 1572, when the geuzen fooled the Spanish lord Alva and were thus able to liberate Den Briel, and the latter supposedly lost his glasses (Dutch: bril).

The custom of playing practical jokes on April Fool's Day is also very widespread and of uncertain origins. The victim of a joke is known in English as an April Fool; in Scots as a gowk (cuckoo or fool); and an "April Fish" in both French (poisson d'avril) and Italian (Pesce d'Aprile). It has been suggested the custom may have had something to do with the move of the New Year's date, when people who forgot or didn't accept the new date system were given invitations to nonexistent parties, funny gifts, etc. Originally, April Fool's Day jokes concentrated on individuals (sending someone on an absurd errand such as seeking pigeon's milk) but in the 20th century it became common for the media to perpetrate hoaxes on the general population...." -- April Fools Day - Wikipedia, Free Encyclopedia View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe