NW Okie's Corner

Yep!... Another week of Spring weather is upon us this week. We hear tell that some of you eastern, northeastern Oklahomans had some tornadic weather this week that moved on into Kansas, Tennessee and beyond. It is that time of year! It is also that time of year for an onset of "Spring Fever." Has it hit you yet?

AND... We just found out that the Alva High School Classes of '64, '65 and '66 will be having their 40th Reunion this Summer, July 1-2, 2005, in Alva, Oklahoma. Hopefully we can make it back to Oklahoma this Summer.

Here are just a few of the old penny postcards that we have scanned to share with you all. This time it takes us to a view of the "Head of Bright Angel Trail" at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The picture showing here of "Eagle Nest Dam" near Raton, New Mexico was found on an August, 1931 penny postcard that Uncle Bob McGill had sent to his brother. We've been through Raton, NM many times, but never noticed the Eagle Nest Dam. BUT... maybe because it was night, dark out. I suppose it has changed a bit from this 1931 postcard view, huh?

We gave Duchess the weekend off this week. She is relaxing in the calm, mountain sunshine, and in the shade of the old pickup... just in case I decide to pack up and head out for somewhere, I guess. She is a "GO DOG!" She loves to go. Besides that, she loves laying outside and keeping track of the wildlife that passes through our pastures. We have been seeing the usuall herds of deer and elk towards the evening hours around here. The deer come a bit closer to the house and yard than do the elk, though. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Our Family Genealogy Database...

This Genealogy & Family Tree stuff is like "A Neverending Story" ... There is NEVER a Finishing point. Meanwhile our work on updating our genealogy files to our family database is progressing rapidly on our MCGILL / PARIS / WAGNER Family Tree. We spent the week inputting our PARIS/CONOVER (our mother's side of the family) into the database. We still need to input our HURT family. There are CONOVER / COUWENHOVEN / KOUWENHOVEN / VAN KOUWENHOVEN ancestors that date back to the mid-1500s, in Holland (Netherlands). Our PARIS family tree has over 1500 persons so far. Stay Tuned for Updates in the next few weeks! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Santa Fe Trail - New Franklin, Missouri...

We found this great postcard concerning the "Franklin, MO - Cradle of the Santa Fe Trail -1821" that we thought you might enjoy. The inscription on the front of the penny postcard reads: "Captain William Becknell of Franklin "Father of the Santa Fe Trail" with four companions, led the first organized trade expedition to Santa Fe, September 1s, 1821 - Franklin - Cradle of the Santa Fe Trail - 1821 - This trail one of the great highways of the world stretched nearly one thousand miles from Franklin, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. - "From Civilization to Sundown" - Marked by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the State of Missouri 1909. It was copyrighted, 1913. John Williams Bronze Foundry, New York. Designed by John Van Brunt, Archt., and Elizabeth Butler Gentry, Kansas City. It says it is a Bronze Tablet on Granite Boulder with the notation: New Franklin, Missouri. Dedicated May 17, 1913." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Calling ALL AHS Goldbug Classes of '64, '65 & '66

There's going to be an Alva High School (AHS) 40th Reunion for Classes of '64, '65 and '66 in Alva High School (Alva, OKlahoma) this Summer, July 1-2, 2005. I just received my (Class of 66) notice of our 40th Class Reunion. I might have to juggle a few things and see if I make it back to Oklahoma this Summer. Will YOU be there?

July 1st, Friday night -- the 40th Class Reunion will start off with a mixer from 8:00p.m. to 2:00a.m. at Champs Bar & Grill, located on College Blvd. You know... next door North of Community National Bank and south of Lake Evelyn out by Murray Drive. Come and sign in and get reacquainted with your classmates... some you haven't seen for 40 some years. The Reunion notice said there will be cash bar and food available. AND... you'll be responsible for your indulgences.

Saturday evening, July 2nd, 8:00p.m. to 2:00a.m. -- There will be more visiting at Champs with a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres will be furnished.

Contact your classmates, friends and join ALL for a 40th Reunion and great time. Help the Goldbugs locate everyone by calling your friends and reminding them about these dates -- July 1-2, 2005, in Alva, Oklahoma. The price for this reunion is $20 per person to help cover the cost. Notify in advance and you can pay at the door.

Here's a list of Alva Motels for those traveling from other places:

• Alva Red Bud Inn Best Western, 800 E. Oklahoma Blvd., (580)327-1111, 1-800-528-1234;
• Western Motel, 608 E. Oklahoma Blvd, (580) 327-1363;
• Ranger Inn, 420 E. Oklahoma Blvd., (580) 327-1981, 1-800-814-7402;
• Holiday Motel, 701 E. Oklahoma Blvd, (580) 327-3333

• Class of '64 Representative: Johnny Jones, 101 E. Barnes, Alva, OK 73717 - Email: rialtovideo@cneconnect.com
• Class of '65 Representative: Susan Ferguson, 824 Apache Dr., Alva, OK 73717 - Email: sbf73717@hotmail.com
• Class of '66 Representative: Stan Kline, PO Box 391, Alva, OK 73717 - Email: sk396@itlnet.net

Montezuma College, Las Vegas, New Mexico...

Montezuma was opened in 1882 by the Santa Fe Railroad as a luxury hotel and spa. A branch railroad line connected it to the main line at Las Vegas. It was generally considered to be the first luxury resort in the Southwest. Fred Harvey operated the Montezuma from 1882 to 1902. Information from "The Harvey House Cookbook". I have read that many of the the Harvey employees were transferred to the El Tovar at the Grand Canyon when the Montezuma closed. At some point, the Montezuma became Armond Hammer's World College. My sister toured it in connection with a preservation conference in Santa Fe several years ago." -- Sandie sandieo@pldi.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alfalfa County Website...

"This is a great Web Site - Alfalfa County, OK - with a link to Woods County. Check out Woods County. lots of information, but you probably all ready have this information. Was sent to me from Marty Myers, formerly of Lookout (Freedom ) area, then Alva and Cherokee." -- Francis R. Melkus Amarillo, Texas View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Joseph PARIS of Virginia & North Carolina...

"I like your web page. Does anyone there Have and moved to Mecklenburg, North Carolina. His wife's name is Mary. They moved to North Carolina before 1850." -- James PARIS - Email: jrjparis@wmconnect.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Wilson Creek & Hoxbar...

"I grew up in the Wilson Creek area. Two buildings are still standing, one is located on my parents property. It is a very old rundown home. My mother used to live in this house when she was a little girl. The other is an old barn. If you're ever back in our neck of the woods let me know. I forgot to tell you that while you were driving to Wilson Creek, you went through another ghost town of Hoxbar." -- Jack Jones, II - Email: jack_angie_jones@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Charles C. Castle & Descendants of Coldwater, KS...

Message Board Post: RootsWeb Message Board - Woods County, OK -- "Enoch George Castle was born 1841 and died in 1913 in Woods County, OK. His obit is in the "Western Star" of Coldwater(Comanche County) Kansas. He was at his home near Lookout, OK, when he passed away. His wife was Sarah(Harmon) Castle. Their children were: Two sons and three daughters. One of their sons was Charles C. Castle of Coldwater, KS. One of their daughters was Imogene Harbaugh. Charles may have been a grocery salesman. If you know anything about Charles and his descendants, please contact me as soon as possible. Sarah was aborn about 1852 in Missouri to George and Catherine Hale. Sarah married George E. Castle and they moved to Woods CO.,OK. They appeared in the 1900 and 1910 census. George died in 1913. I do not know when Sarah died. Could someone tell me when whe died? Are any of her descedants still around? If you know anything about this family, please contact me. Thanks brian in springfield missouri." -- Brian in Springfield, MO - Email: lee953go@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva's Old Golf Course...

"As I am planning on attending a function at the Alva Country Club next month, it occured to me that there was another golf course in Alva that predated the present location north of town. I can vaguely remember it, but not the location. Was it in the west end of town or has my imagination gotten the best of me?" - Terry View/Write Comments (count 4)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Ben Harrover in Vada's '38 Diary...

"My name is Susie Mullins, but my maiden name was HARROVER. My father, Ben Harrover, is mentioned as Vada's Diary - Friday, March 11, 1938. She said she had a swell time, and that doesn't surprise me. My father was a charmer. I got a chuckle from her mention of Dad. If you're at all interested in contacting me, please do so at Email: xoxojsm@hotmail.com." -- Susie View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Jane McCrea, Sarah McNeil exhumed...

Jane McCrea, Sarah McNeil exhumed - By BRENDAN McGARRY and SCOTT DONNELLY - FORT EDWARD -- "For the second time in as many years, the remains of local Revolutionary War legends Jane McCrea and Sarah McNeil were unearthed Friday to provide the heroines with separate, proper graves..... The story of McCrea and McNeil began in 1777, when, according to legend, the young, beautiful McCrea was murdered after she and McNeil were captured by Indian scouts hired by the British Crown. McNeil survived, but McCrea's death ignited outrage among colonists that led to British defeat in the Battle of Saratoga. It is still unclear how McCrea and McNeil's bones were commingled in the first place, though one theory states some of McNeil's remains were placed in McCrea's grave to cover up the theft of McCrea's bones by souvenir hunters who participated in previous exhumations of McCrea. She has been moved twice and dug up four times since her death, including Friday's excavation." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Randy Murrow Info...

A Request for Readers -- I'm trying to gather as much information about my brother as I possibly can and would deeply appreciate it if any of his friends from high school or college would care to write of some special memories of Randy. If you have any photos, I surely would like a copy of them (saved to JPG format would be great ... or burned to a CD, the highest resolution possible). You can email me as follows: (no spaces) [rod murrow @ ya hoo "dot" com]. I hate to print it the REAL way, just to help keep SPAM down a little." -- Rod View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Last Week's Comments - Randy Murrow...

You can read last week's "Comments" left by others concerning memories of Randy Murrow - CLICK HERE View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

From Nowhere to Somewhere...

"Now we know where the picture (Nowhere, OK) came from. I had expected it to be an oilfield storage tank. I still contend that there are a lot of Nowheres in Oklahoma. I'm from one of them. Oklahoma Nowheres are the best Somewheres in the world to be from. I am an Okie and very very proud of it." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva High Class of '87...

"I am a graduate from the class of 1987 (Alva High). Some of us are starting to gather addresses from classmates to prepare for our 20th Reunion. (Are we that old?) If you stumble onto this website please email me. There are several of us still in town. Tony and I have never left and we still very much enjoy Alva. We have 4 children, Lauren 17, Anthony 14, Tanner and Trevor 6." -- Denise Reed - Email: niserk69@hotmail.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Montezuma Castle of New Mexico...

"Here are a couple of links that will tell a bit more about the Montezuma Castle in Las Vegas, New Mexico. It is now a part of the United World College system." -- Marvin

dupontcastle.com/castles/montezum.htm
AND... away.com/primedia/pol_soc/vegas_tp.html View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe