The Doggy 300...

Where is that Oakie? She left me in the cool mountains of Colorado while she traveled back to the heat, humidity of NW Oklahoma on personal business. I know she misses me, but if you see Oakie, tell her I am keeping my temporary keeper cracked up and laughing. I have my friend "Ruff" & "Daisy" to run the "Doggy 300" all over the house. BUT... Boy! Do those stone floors cause us to do a bit of slipping and sliding when we put on our brakes.

IF some of you NW Oklahomans out there see my NW Okie human, tell her I get played with, talked to, picked on, rubbed, petted, fed, walked and wrestled with all day (and half the night). Me and my doggy friends have all been out running all over the yard. Ruff and Daisy are staked out in the sun; I have had my breakfast, and have gone back to bed. I make my temporary human help me every night get up on the bed because it seems Soooooooooo.... high to jump on at night. But, it is a lot easier to jump on it in the morning .... after me and my doggy friends have lowered, mashed it down all night long.

Oakie told me that some of my "Fan Club" have been asking about me up there in NW Oklahoma. I wish I could have come back with Oakie, BUT... she wouldn't let me come back to that heat with this short snout! If you see Oakie in NW Oklahoma, tell her I'm doing fine! BUT... I miss her, also! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Oakie's Albums - Webshots..

We were looking at our summary of our " Oakie's Webshots Albums" at Webshots.com to see what albums most viewers were checking out. The top albums seem to be: (The numbers after each are the Total views.)

• Political Legacies 1960s (5,363)
• Windmills of Oklahoma (3,419)
• Freedom Rodeo 2001 (3,138)
• Old Postcards II - Oklahoma (2,973)
• Grandpa's Baseball Days (2,468)
• Alva - Old Studio Photos I (2,241)
• Old Postcards I - California & WWI (2,210)
• West Virginia & Virginia Family - 1930s (1,905)
• McCarrick's Alva Memories - (1944)
• Freedom Rodeo 2003 (1,971)
• Old Postcards III - Oklahoma (1,854)
• Old Postcards IV - Virginia (1,823),/li>
• 1909 - Old Family Vacation Photos (1,781)
• Alva Downtown Square 2002 (1,540)
• Seiling, Oklahoma & Murals (1,483)
• Paris-Hurt Photos (1,209)

The Golden Filly of June 2005...

I believe Oakie told you about her NEW little colt that was born on Memorial Weekend. AND... the other young mare that had a colt on the same day. Well! here is a picture Oakie sent me by way of email a few days ago.

I also believe that last week Oakie mentioned it was a horse colt. After getting a close-up view for herself and getting a photo opportunity, Oakie discovered it was a pretty little filly. I understand that Oakie's mare (Cindy) is about 8 years old now and has given Oakie five colts, starting in 2000 with a black horse colt named Moon. Every other year has been a horse colt. (Moon 2000, deceased; Kassie 2001 filly; George 2002 gelding; Lilly 2003 filly; 2004 horse colt, deceased; Golden 2005 filly).

Oakie still has her two-year-old paint mare called Doquoti (translated from Cherokee to English it is Dorthy). AND... another couple of geldings. Cherokee is the 2-year-old gelding that Oakie nursed for bad cuts on the right front shoulder. Then last but not least is Trigger (a.k.a. Nugget), another 2-year-old palomino gelding, registered quarterhorse. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

We Need Your Memories & Research Help...

We need to jog some of those NW Oklahoma memories out there!

We have someone in our mailbag Corner that would love to learn more about the Walnut Grove Rural School in NW Oklahoma.

Does anyone out there have any memories to share about R. I. DeGeer's General Store (1927) that may have been on the south side of the downtown square in Alva, Oklahoma? Check the Mailbag Corner for an inside shot. At first glance we thought the screen door in the background was looking towards the front. BUT... after several intense viewings of the old photo, it seems to be the back door. We also thought that the old courthouse showed through the upper windows, but those may be boxes, supplies stacked on the upper deck, floor in front of the windows at the back of the store. We would love to learn more about the DeGeer photo below in the Mailbag Corner. Oakie intends to check out the platte maps of 1927 and deed books at the county courthouse while she is in NW Oklahoma.

There was also Josie James DeGeer that lived in the 600 block of Barnes Avenue (631 1/2 Barnes Ave.) perhaps during the 1940's. Would that be across from Del Brunsteter's "Alva Body & Fender Works at 630 Barnes Avenue? We don't suppose Josie James DeGeer's residence is still there, but would that have been an upstairs apartment over or behind one of the business in the 600 block of Barnes? Would that put it about where the NEW Library is now standing? Hope someone can help us on finding the location and fill us in with an old photo to share with the DeGeer/Lippincott/Kent family.

Another person share in last week's comments about the B & B Restaurant at 312 College Avenue, Alva, OK... that it was later known as the steakhouse. Any other memories come to mind out there?

Do not forget to click on the PDF file that Rod Murrow sent in concerning an April 20, 1939 newspaper, The Dacoma Herald, published every Thursday, in Dacoma, Woods County, OK, by Ralph W. & Susie E. Hubbard. Back then you only had to pay one dollar per year for a subscription. There is an interesting story about the Capron, Oklahoma Tornado of '39. You can check out that link, also, in the Mailbag Corner.

There are mentions of Class Reunions, Alumni Reunions, and WWII stories sent in from others to share this week. Have you AHS Goldbug Class of '64, '65 & '66 made your plans to comeback to Alva, Oklahoma for your 40th reunion, July 1 & 2, 2005? View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Walnut Grove Rural School...

"I have a question for the readers of the OKIE LEGACY. My grandfather, A. L. "Lute" Murrow, who served as our state representatives for 10 years in the 1950's and 1960's (preceded Lewis Kamas in that position), went to school in the WALNUT GROVE rural school. He was born in November 1894, so I assume he would have been in attendance at least by 1900. I have only heard of that school/community, but have never had the opportunity to learn more about it.

• Is there anything left of the school?
• Where was it located?
• How long did it operate?
• Who were the teachers?
• Who were some of the students?
• Does anyone have any photographs to share of that school?

Capron (OK) Tornado of 1939...

Thanks to Rod Murrow for sending this PDF file of the The Dacoma Herald, Vol. 16, No. 45, Thursday, April 20, 1939, published very Thursday, Dacoma, Woods County, Oklahoma, by Ralph W. & Susie E. Hubbard's. The subscription rate, yearly was $1. Some of the articles you might read in it include:

• Tornado Hits Woods County
• The Tumbleweed
• Editorial
• Who's Who
• The March of Sports
• Junior High News
• Intermediate News
• Primary News
• Charles Brown Observed 79th Birthday
• Mrs. Malcolm Lewis Post-Nuptially Honored
• Businesses Advertising

DeGeer General Store - Alva, OK (1927)...

"We made it home safely to 75 degree weather that is turning into Oklahoma type weather. We are expecting rain for the next 3 days. I hope this file isn't too big to open. I have it saved in smaller files but those ones are a little grainy. On our next visit to Alva, OK I hope to find and photograph the location of where the Renfrew I. DeGeer Grocery Store was back in 1927. We also hope to photograph what is left of 631 1/2 Barnes Avenue in Alva, OK, which is where Josie James DeGeer lived. I don't have dates though. I think maybe in the 1940's. We do know that both Josie James DeGeer and Renfrew I. DeGeer are buried in the Preston Hill Cemetary in Freedom, OK. Thanks for all your help." -- Terry - EMAIL: terrykent@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Waynoka Alumni Reunion...

"The Waynoka Alumni Association is having a big reunion on Labor Day week-end, with most events on Friday and Saturday. We meet every five years. It's always fantastic! Anyone who attended school in Waynoka is encouraged to come, as well as those who taught in Waynoka or worked at the school in another capacity. For further information, contact the alumni secretary, Judy Ferguson - EMAIL: threelazyf@pldi.net or call her at 580.824.1974." -- Sandie View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Williams & POW Camp Memories of WWII...

"My grandfather, Abner Williams (1907-1984), had a farm just south of the POW camp. My father, Monty Williams (1936-2005) and his brother, Pat Williams (1940-2004)had a 'foxhole' next to the road and when the Germans walked by on their exercise walks, my dad and uncle used to 'shoot' at them with their toy guns. The soldiers would play with them by shooting back. My grand-dad had some stools that the POWs made at the camp, that he got when the camp was closed. I wish I could have gotten one of them when he died in 1984. I never thought about them though. I remember driving by that smokestack all the time on the way into town. My dad had quite a few stories from those days." -- Jim Williams - EMAIL: jimw@ou.edu View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

BLISS Reunion Held In Freedom, OK...

"The BLISS REUNION Was held June 5, 2005 at the American Legion Hall in Freedom, OK. There Were 39 family members and friends present for the covered dish lunch. A brief business meeting followed with president Jerry BLISS presiding, after which, various door prizes and gifts were awarded to a fortunate few. Childrens gifts were won by Austin BRADT, Ian WALKER, Candy PORTER and baby Andrew SMITH. Award for the best candy guesser was taken by Annie PORTER. The remainder of the afternoon was spent with our fine auctioneers, Floyd THOMPSON, Marvin CHEYNET and Jerry BLISS in excellent form. Members traveling fartherest FARTHEREST were: Roger JOHNSON of Fresno, CA; Janice McGARY of Snowflake, AZ; and Wayne & Mary Catherine BLISS from Las Vegas, NV. Kansans among us were Betty MALONE & June KELLER from Kingman, AND Martha LAMB, Roberta MALONE & Vi BLISS of Coldwarer. Freedomites were Bill & Sandy WIMMER and Floyd & Ruby THOMPSON. Other Okies present were Victor DARNELL of Paoli, Spencer, Ann Marie & Austin of Woodward, Wynn WADE of Alva, Sharon HOLSTEN & Ruth Annett ISBELL of Oklahoma City, Marvin & Shirley Cyenet of Edmond, Staci BLISS of Granite, Alberta BLISS of Carmen, Tonya PORTER of Lahoma, and Carroll, Vicki, Conner and Ian Walker, Jerry & Gerry Lou BLISS, Randy, Annie and Candy PORTER and Doris DETWILER, all of Enid. The 38th BLISS REUNION will be held June 4th, 2006 at the American Legion Hall in FREEDOM, OKLAHOMA....YA ALL COME." -- Doris Detwiler - EMAIL: deeadet51@hotmail.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva High - Class of '90 Reunion...

"Class of 1990, come join us for our 15 year Reunion on July 9th, Noon at hatfield park with the families and then later in the evening cookout at the Elks Lodge Building. $5 per person to cover the cost of food provided. BYOB. There will also be music playing so lets have some fun and remember the old times." -- Leisa Engelken EMAIL: u2tinkerwit@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

D. C. "Pat" Oates...

"I enjoyed your website! I did notice one small problem. On page Vol. 5, Iss. 28, Sheriff D.C. "Pat" OaTes is mis-identified as D.C. Pat OaKes." -- Charles L. "Chuck" Oates - Email: cloates@cox.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Balloon Bombs of WWII...

"Great site - when I was stationed at HQ Pacific Command in Vancouver, B.C. Canada we had a 4 x 8 foot panel with a map showing where all the Balloon Bombs landed and what the outcome was - some fires - some deaths from people not knowing what the things were, very little public info was released. Wish now I had looked closer at the map - it was still classified at that time too." -- Frank McKERRY, C.D.- EMAIL: fmckerry@shaw.ca View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Silver Star in the Dark of Dawn (WWII)...

"Of interest to what your taste is a newpaper article on my father concerning his actions while with the Third. What maybe of more interest is a book my sister wrote on his life. Some of your followers may find it of interest of a different life and time of a boy to man story before, during and after WW-2. It is called: An Oklahoma Soldier - A Ride In One Sans saddle - by Barbara L. Nielsen. Available thru www.iuniverse.com - 1-800-288-4677, ISBN 0-595-35044-5 51295. If you could post this so we can get the history out it would be appreciated." -- B K Brooks

This WWII stories starts in the dark, before dawn, on Jnauary 30, somewhere during WWII. Sgt. Bert Brooks, Jr. moved up the dim, snowy street of a strategic little town in France. Thus, as a one-man assault troop, Bert Brooks of Oklahoma City opened the way for the advance of battering American forces pushing toward victory. And for this 'gallantry in action' he was awarded the Silver Star. He returned to the states, 4 days after Pearl Harvor.
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Kent's Visit Freedom, Oklahoma...

"We had a wonderful time in Freedom, OK. The first 2 nights we stayed at the Cedar Canyon Lodge. The second 2 nights we stayed at the Sage and Saddle Bed and Breakfast. The B&B is the nicest accomodations I've ever had in my entire life of 45 years. Jeanne Hepner deserves a Freedom, OK Hospitality Award!!! The entire town made us feel welcome and at home. I didn't get all the names of the people that work the only Cafe in Freedom. However, this is where we met almost all of the following people:

• Alan and Lana Burkhart - Tour of Alabaster business & gifts for the girls
• Jeanne Hepner - The best B&B in the world, wonderful breakfasts, wheat harvesting tour, welcomed us in her home and let our girls play her player piano, etc.
• Ed Stewart - introduced us to everyone
• Melvin and Dee Shepard - showed us all around the town & gave us geneology research
• Pat James - shared family info, pictures and geneology research & helped fill in family tree.
• Nancy Harger - Pats step-daughter moving to Freedom with husband & helped fill in family tree.
• Melissa Berger - helping her mother move to Freedom & helped fill in family tree.
• Rocky and Donna Hodgson - helped us find the info we needed the museum via the Freedom Express and Freedom Call. Put us in touch with the people and places we wanted to see.
• Sharon Walker & all the ladies at the bank - gave us Freedom, OK video, "I love Freedom" mini stuffed ponies, etc. and let us borrow books from the library to keep our youngest daughter entertained.