Where's That NW Okie...

I have been wandering and wondering out here in the SW Colorado pastures... Looking for my NW Okie! It has been almost two long weeks since I have laid these pug-eyes on her. I hope she misses me as much as I miss her. I hope she is NOT melting back there in that NW Oklahoma Summer heat and humidity.

Contrary to what some might say... please let Oakie know that I don't believe what they are saying, "That her owner abandoned her to the uncaring, dog starving, evilwickedmeanandnasties because she (the owner) just couldn't be bothered any longer. Nobody will touch the pug or talk to her or pet on her or anything that would even have the appearance of being loving and nurturing. There's no reason for her to have any hope that life will be wonderful and comfortable for her. She's just another pathetically pugnacious pup. She definitely has gotten just what she had coming and good riddance."

As far as I know that NW Okie (a.k.a. Oakie) is still up in the NW parts of Oklahoma helping friends with their horses and getting Oakie's horses ready to bring to SW Colorado.

Remember last weekend... that POW Camp we talked about was south of the Alva POW camp. That was Jim William's grandfather's farm just south of the prison camp and the road the Germans walked down for exercise ran right by their farm. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

600 Block of Barnes Avenue - Alva, OK...

We have been reading in our Footprints Across Woods County history book -- looking for information on the Pribble Hotel, DeGeers Grocery Store, Illinois Cigar Store and Alva Body & Fender Works.

We didn't find anything yet about DeGeers Grocery store, but did find some information about Charles Frazer Grocery Store that was located on the North side of the square at 506 Flynn, in Alva, Oklahoma.

As to the Alva Body & Fender Works... In 1937 it was owned and operated by Harry & Del Brunsteter at 630 Barnes Avenue. In 1946 the Packard contract was accepted and created a need for more space -- so a new building was constructed at 401 Barnes and by December 6, 1946 the move was made. In May 1961, Del Brunsteter sold the business to Raymond Rhodes.

Remember Brunsteter's Illinois Cigar Store? In 1918 it was owned and operated by W.E. "Earl" Brunsteter as an oasis for recreation and noted for its carpeting, marble fixtures, polished spitoons, and respectability. In 1926 Earl sold the cigar store to Bill Brand who operated and maintained it through the 1950s.

Someone told me the beginning of this week that the DeGeer General Store might have been in the 600 block of Barnes Avenue about two doors west of the old McGill Brothers swimming pool. The old swimming pool has since been filled, AND... the building two doors or so west of it may still be there. BUT... which building was Brand's Cigar Store? If there is anyone else out there that could enlighten us concerning the DeGeer Grocery Store, don't be shy. Leave us a comment here or email Linda at EMAIL: mcwagner.lk@gmail.com. Thanks! Here is a link to NW OkieLegacy Webshots - 600 Block of Barnes Ave, Alva. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

A Family Political Story...

Kalyn Free who ran for a congressional seat in Eastern Oklahoma said, "I am honored to have the Daily Oklahoman opposed to me, if they supported me I would have to check my moral compass!"

That quote reminded us about a family political story concerning The Daily Oklahoman.

We were brought up to believe that an Oklahoman editorial in opposition to something or someone simply reinforces within us the knowledge of the rightness of our position in favor of that something or someone.

Our father, Gene McGill (former Chair of State Democratic Party 1960's), was on the campaign trail sometime in the early 50's, jumped up on a flat bed trailer parked on a street in Waynoka, Woods County, Oklahoma, and made the following confession to everyone gathered there:

"I get up every morning and poison myself three times before I leave the house. I light a cigarette, drink a cup of coffee, and read the Daily Oklahoman."

We are reminded that his message must have rung true to many in the crowd that day because we heard that story repeatedly wherever we went in the western part of the state. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Pasture Nursemaid...

Our eight (8) year old mare, Cindy, is shown here nursing two 2005 colts. The little bay horse colt belongs to the young bay mare that Cindy has taken under her wing. The light cream colored, golden filly with the long legs is our Cindy's 2005 colt. The young bay mare is now accepting the new little colt, but does not have enough milk... So Cindy has stepped up as the pasture nursemaid. We suppose that makes her a very valuable mare. Also... Cindy has been very protective of this young mare and colt. She pins her ears back and shows her teeth when another mare comes around to bother them. We could understand this strange occurance a little better if Cindy and the Young bay mare were related, but they are not! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Ferguson of NW Oklahoma...

"I was hoping that maybe someone out there could help me. I'm from beaver but i had to move in 92' when my dad died (james ferguson). Im looking for my family and i was hoping that there would still be some realatives in the area. Hoovers and Fergusons are my realatives that i know that would be there. If you can help me please e-mail me, thank you and i would apperciate it." -- annie helmers (ferguson) - Email: drea222003@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

POW Deaths In Oklahoma...

"Approximately five miles west of El Reno, OK is the Old Fort Reno Military Cemetery. Located on the rolling plains, not far off the nearby highway, this gravesite commerates the years when Fort Reno served as a remount station and sometimes headquarters to Lt. General Philip Sheridan. Seventy officers and enlisted men are there. Discreetly, to the back of the cemetery away from the American soldiers, lie the graves that form a page of Oklahoma and World War II history. Fort Reno was one of the sites chosen by the government in 1943, to confine Axis enemy soldiers. This was one of over 400 prisoner of war camps located across the country. The enemy soldiers buried here are from camps all over the country, not just Oklahoma....." -- POW Deaths in OK View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Walnut Grove Rural School...

"I have quite a bit of history of Walnut Grove School. My grandmother, Mary Barker, was the second teacher at the school, and my father, Fred Barker, born in 1909, attended Walnut Grove. The building burned in 1997. The school was in operation from 1895 till 1949. The Waynoka Historical Society owns the stage curtain from Walnut Grove, as well as a sign with "Walnut Grove" spelled with walnut halves. The Society also has a large wooden board with cattle brands from the community's cattlemen about fifty years ago. A two-part history was published several years ago. I would be happy to send you a copy." -- Sandie Olson @ sandieo@pldi.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pribble Hotel - NOW Public Library (Alva, OK,)...

"I remember in the 1950's the old Pribble Hotel still standing where the (Alva) Public Library is today. This may have been the 631-1/2 Barnes address. Also, I believe two doors east of the old Ritz theatre building (where the fire was) is a possibility for the location of DeGeer's Grocery. Through the trees on the brick on the west side of the building... if you look closely you can see the faint Groceries sign. I enjoy studying the history of the square." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Another 5-Year Alva High Reunion...

"Class of '82 rules!... I've been talking to several bugs from the past, and after the reunion 2000 the subject has been about an all class reunion every 5-years. The Reunion 2000 was a great turnout and we think if we can create a buzz we can start planning an all class reunion starting Summer 2006. No better time to start planning than now. All of you that are interested, and feel like we do, Peter Frampton reply here, let us know what you think, or directly to the Nite Lite website forum. www.niteliteparty.com. We were thinking of daily activities then an outdoor event at the Nite Lite outside. Live retro band? Water slides? Hey we're still young at heart! Take care." -- Mark Bellah E-mail: support@niteliteparty.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Candy Bob...

"Most people know that Colonel Bob (Candy Bob) Kirkbride made candy for the kids at Christmas time, and I found the following passage in a small paperback book that I thought you might like to use.

Muleshoe Ballads of Oklahoma Bob by Marjorie Sawyer Munson in collaboration with Colonel Bob Kirkbride, pp. 30-34, Maxwell Printing Company, Alva, Oklahoma, 1944 -- CANDY BOB

To the Old-Timers I'm still "Candy Bob,"...
For I've made a heap o' taffy in my time
And peanut brittle 'nough to bog a mule
In quicksand.

Yep, forty years I've been catering to sweet teeth,
Ever since I learned the gentle art
Of candy-makin'!
Learned it at Custer City, Oklahoma,
From an old man in a carnival
That I seed throwin' taffy around a hook
With kids all around him.
He told me how he learned the trade
Back in the nineties:

A little homeless waif he was
In New York City. His first recollection
Was sleepin' in a barrel and eatin'
At a near-by chapel. Didn't know no name,
So named himself "Bill Chapel."
Only thing he knowed
Was how to pick a pocket:
Used to pick mine every day
Just to show he could.

Well one day Bill
Picked the wrong guy's pockets -
A millionaire's, to be exact.
And the old boy took the kid
And made a man of him.
Through him they pinched a whole pick-pocket ring
And busted up the gang:
And the millionaire sent this kid to Italy,
Where he learned the candy business;
And I learned how from him.

I came to Alva in 1908
And went to a rodeo picnic at Divers' Ranch
When Jim Sullivan and Roy Moyer
Won the ropin' contest:
They sure could do the stunts,
But it hadn't got to the movies then.

That day I had my kettle full
With ten pounds of sugar sirip.
Had it cooked just right
And poured it out onto a marble slab
With all the kids around -
For where there's candy, there is kids -
And I'd put my hook in a locust limb
When a cowboy Mike came sauntering along.

"What's that?" he asks,
Pointin' to the ten-pound chunk.
"That's That's sweetness long drawn out."

"Huh!" he counters. "You can't draw that far.
Why don't you leave that to the women
And come rope a steer?"

"Could do that, too," I answers, and picks up
My coolin'... chunk of sweets,
And puts it on the hook
Ready for the pull.

"Throwin'... it, eh? I'd like to see you
Throw a rope! Why don't you do some bull-doggin'
Or some real ropin'? You can't pull that ten feet!"

By now the candy was growin' white,
And I was standin' back about five feet;
And I give the candy another hitch
Around the hook,
And offers, "What you bet?"

He looked a little scared,
For the batch was lengthenin' out.

"Twenty feet!" he says, "I bet you can't!
Ten dollars I bet you Candy Bob -
Ten good sweet plunkers, Candy Bob!"

"That's good with me," says I.
"And if you mean just what you say,
Call the champion to hold the stakes!"

So they all yelled, "Moyer!"... and over he come,
Just having won the ropers' contest;
And each of us planted him with a ten-dollar bill,
And then I started on my project.

The candy was gettin' airy and light by then,
And never did stick to my hands
Same as I've seen sometimes;
And the crowd sure gathered 'round,
And the stuff began to stretch and stretch
Long and slim from the locust limb.

By now I was standin' full ten feet back
Showin' what I could do with a candy rope:
Curled it right, and curled it left.
I sent it in waves, in ringlets, in twirls.
I coulda done the Great Crinoline, like Will Rogers,
If after all it hadn't been sticky stuff;
And all the time I was steppin' back,
Farther and farther from the tree,
With all the kids yellin' fit to kill.

And now I had to work fast as a termite
For fear the stuff would cool on me;
And when I made the twenty feet
Everybody cheered as loud as the siren.
But I knowed I could throw that far;
I was bettin' on a sure thing -
But I didn't know how much farther.

Thinner and thinner spun the rope,
Now as white as snow.
And farther and farther I steps back,
With my candy rope draggin' as though'twould break.
And finally, when I didn't dare to make it thinner,
I called a halt.
And Moyer brought his tape-line out,
And there it was, away from the tree,
Twenty-seven feet and two inches over!
And I had won my bet.

Then I threw on the marble slab
The whole shootin' works.
And I folded Mike's ten-dollar bill
Inside my purse, and said,
"Ten dollars was all I wanted for it, anyhow;
Kids, I'll be Santa Claus,
And here's your candy!"

And I've been Candy Bob
Forever after."

Red Hat Chicks of Louisiana...

"I noticed that the Red Hat Ladies have been featured on these pages several times. Here is the image of a quilt, with an individual block shown, that my wife Martha recently put together in a class she teaches for beginning quilters. It is named "Red Hat Chicks." Note that this is all viewed through chicken wire. One of the local chapters here in Houma, Louisiana calls itself the "Red Hot and Spicy Red Hatters," showing the Cajun food influence. SEE ALSO: redhotchicks-quilt2.jpg" -- Charlie Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

BlogOklahoma.us...

"I was looking for Oklahoma history sites when I found your Okie Legacy web sites. You have some real interesting Oklahoma genealogy and history articles. This last May a couple of us here in Western Oklahoma started a blog called BlogOklahoma.us. BlogOklahoma.us is about Oklahoma in the form of a travel/history blog and a historic places database. If you don't mind I would like to place a link to your web sites/newsletter on our site. Please look us over and let us know what you think of it." -- Kevin Latham - www.BlogOklahoma.us - View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe