We caught another Southwest Colorado sunset to share with Y'all this week!

We heard this week that a couple of ski runs were open at Wolf Creek Ski Resort. New Mexico's ski resorts were running behind -- praying for snow by the time the Thanksgiving holidays begin, but it's not looking favorably for that, though.

We heard from Texas ($2.299), Georgia ($2.159 - $2.119) and Kansas ($2.05-$2.15) as to their unleaded (regular) gas prices. This weekend around Bayfield & Durango Colorado our gas prices dropped mid-week to $2.639 at Bayfield (Wednesday) and Durango's Gas prices ranged from $2.499-$2.539. On Thursday Bayfield's (Colorado) gas prices had dropped another 10-cents ($2.539).

We heard from a former northwestern Oklahoman about "DoubleO Grocery" using buffalo meat during WWII when meat was scarce and rationed. "DoubleO" butchered a couple of buffalo from their ranch and the town feasted for a week on the big thick steaks and roasts that had not been seen since the beginning of WWII.

We also found out this week that USPS postal rates will be incrreasing 5.4% January 8, 2006 making first class letter postage for a 1-oz letter 39-cents.

Rosalea Hostetler mentioned in last week's comment section those businesses in Amorita, Dacoma (Oklahoma)that were gone now. Such as, the Frey Bros. drugstore in Amorita; Whittet's Grocery & Cowboy Grill in Dacoma. Rosalea also mentioned that the Balmer Fund, Inc. of Harper, Kansas purchased the old Dairy Mart (Old Valentine Diner) from Cherokee, Oklahoma via Nescatunga. The Balmer Fund, Inc. is looking for donations from those who would like to help preserve a piece of that past. View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Sadie' Low Bush Deer Berries...

Have you ever heard of "low-bush Deer Berries?" What about low-bush and high-bush cranberries?

What brought this low-bush berries story to mind was the family Summer vacation to Alaska in the mid-1950's when this NW Okie and her sisters learned about harvesting low-bush and high-bush cranberries. That's another story, though!

BUT... Back to the present. Sadie, the tenacious pug, and her NW Okie were taking a little walk through the pasture here in southwest Colorado a few days ago. On their walks Sadie is somewhat faster on her puppy paws than this aging NW Okie human being. With more than enough energy bounding through her little puppy body, Sadie prances out ahead sniffing here, there, everywhere and everything. Lately, Sadie seems to be gravitating to these little piles of black, round-shaped berries laying throughout the pasture -- NW Okie lingers a few feet behind. By the time this NW Okie catches up with this tenacious Pug, Sadie has already nibbled on a few of these "low-lying berries" under bushes, trees and sometimes out in the open pasture.

You can expect Sadie to find all sorts of things to harvest in these SW Colorado pastures. Especially, those perfectly little piles of black, round-shaped berries that we shall call "low-bush deer berries" scattered throughout the pasture.

Have you figured out what these berries are yet? I am wondering the fat, protein and nutrition content in these deer berries. Sadie seems healthy with no ill-effects! BUT... Really! Deer Berries for a snack? Yuck! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

52 Towns In Alfalfa County...

Cherokee, Oklahoma - My sister-in-law Mary Erskine had collected some information on the towns in Alfalfa County in her research for the Woods County Genealogists. On her retirement she gave me the material. I decided to organize it and have been adding to it. I have started a book about The 52 Towns in Alfalfa County. I found in the Town and Place Locations book by Oklahoma Department of Highways, 52 towns in the county. Some had several names over the years but I am trying to complete this thanks to newspaper articles and other resources. The definition I find is that anywhere there was a a postoffice it was considered a town. Most postoffices were in general stores in the early days. Towns seem to survive wherever there was a railroad. I will be glad to send information to you or anyone else that is looking for towns. I found several towns with different names at some time in history.

The same is true of cemeteries. The Alfalfa County Cemetery book has the different names listed on each cemetery page but not in the index. So I have put all the names in the index and this makes it easier to find when someone is looking for a cemetery with another name. An example is the Cherokee cemetery is also Woodman Cemetery, Cherokee Cemetery and Cherokee Catholic cemetery. I recently had a lady looking for Clay Cemetery which is now known as the Maple Grove cemetery and also Prairie Valley Cemetery." -- Ila Wessels, Cherokee, OK 73728-9612 - Email: gwessels@akslc.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Goltry, OK - Alfalfa County...

The town of Goltry, located 26 miles southeast of Cherokee on the Frisco Railroad, was platted in 1903 by the Goltry Brothers of Enid. The town was named in honor of these men. (A. E. Mosely, Cherokee; Cherokee Republican, June 18, 1909.) Goltry is a town in Alfalfa County, Section 27-24N-9WIM. It is in the Karoma school district. Platted by Goltry brothers of Enid, Oklahoma in 1903. When the Frisco Railroad was built in 1903; it went through Goltry but missed Alvaretta and Karoma. Both towns when moved to Goltry. Churches inAlvaretta and Karoma united into the Congregational Church in Goltry. School was organized on 31 May 1905. Postoffice established 27 Jan. 1904-now. First postmaster was James H. Hagermeier. The town was named for Charles Goltry, local man. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

A History of Alfalfa County - Goltry, OK...

[The following was extracted from "A History of Alfalfa County," submitted in part fulfillment of requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by David W. Pierce, 1926, University of Oklahoma.] -- "The town of Goltry, located 26 miles southeast of Cherokee on the Frisco Railroad, was platted in 1903 by the Goltry Brothers of Enid. The town was named in honor of these men.

Alvaretta and Karoma, two inland towns which were near the present town of Goltry, moved to Goltry when the Frisco Railroad was built in 1903.

"A large store, owned by Matthew L. Wrigley, was located at Alvaretta in 1894. His son-in-law, Charles H. Cutler, later operated a lumber yard there. Jack O'Connor was the village blacksmith. The first postmaster was Mr. Wrigley. Later, he was succeeded by Mrs. Grace Trask who served for several years.

"Karoma was even smaller than Alvaretta. Kasper Streich operated a store and blacksmith shop there.

Some of the early residents of Goltry were J. R. Constant, Seward Muttersbaugh, Abe Buller, 'Red" Martin, Lew Cornwell, Joe Madison, William Malone, Ed Moran, Floyd Boyer, Will Maxwell, and Dr. T. A. Rhodes.

"A petition for incorporation was filed with the Board of County Commissioners on December 17, 1903. The election was held in Gentry's Lumber Comapny office on December 17, 1903, and the town was declared incorporated on January 4, 1907.

"Goltry has had several newspapers of different names. The first one was 'The Goltry Leader,' which is still printed.

"The Masonic Lodge was organized at old Alvaretta in 1896. The first master was Mr. Bauer. The IOOF Lodge was established at Alvaretta and Karoma united to form the Congregational Church of Goltry. The Christian Church was organized and a building erected soon after the establishing of the town. The Mennonites also have a church in the town. The Catholic Church was destroyed by fire on May 31, 1926.

"The first school building was a sod house. Mae Motter was the first teacher. Later a frame building was constructed, which was later replaced by a brick building. Goltry is the only town in Alfalfa County that does not have a practically new brick building. In 1924-1925, the school had 122 in the grades, 60 in the high school, and 8 teachers. The property valuation as $513,087.00, and the annual approved estimate was $11,877.44.

"The present bank of Goltry was the first bank organized in the town. In 1910 the Goltry State Bank came into existence. It was sold to the Bank of Goltry in 1913, and A. E. Moseley liquidated it.

The first store in the town was general store, owned by Seward Muttersbaugh, W. C. Melton operated the first furniture store.

"The town has never had a saloon.

"William S. Ross, who proved up a claim near the town, was at one time County Clerk of old Woods County.

"Some of the early settlers living on their claims are as follows: Volney Trask, A. L. Augustine, Elmer McIntyre, William B. Vance, William Hittle, Charles M. Hulsey, Christopher C. Conner, Z. J. Brewster, L. S. Couch, William S. Swinton, Mark Swinton, Elmer Porter, Gene Sweatt, B. F. Strange, Mattie Hotaling, Jessie T. Gilbert, W. H. Hartman, W. R. Pugh, E. W. Page, Mrs. Thomas Selley, C. E. Thornburg, John Castor, Walter Hughes, C. Chadd, Edward L. Huyck, Eliza J. Malaby, Charles F. Preston, C. E. Kishing, Antone Plisek, John Streich, Frank Pecha, Fred Pekrul, Henry Pekrul, Will Wright, Bill Switzer, Chester Hungerford, William Hungerford, and Mr. Bowen.
"A partial list of old settlers who died on their claims follows: Joseph Pennock, Jerome W. Vance, Michael Quinn, Otis Whitman, Byron T. Gilbert, Jacob P. Buller, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Barber, and Mr. Moseley.

"The population of the town is given below: (U.S. Census reports for 1907, 1910, 1920)

Goltry's Catholic Church...

[news article from Enid News & Eagle, by Helen CArnell, staff writer.] -- Rising from the flat wheatlands of Northwestern Oklahoma, the tall spire of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Goltry cuts through the glimmering landscape in a clean sweep skyward.

The church is a solid landmark in a small town located in the southwestern part of Alfalfa County. But the original structure was more in keeping with the pioneer look which came from newly erected structures standing bleak and bare of ___tening shrubs of trees.

When the land-hungry horde swept into the Cherokee Outlet at the opening of the so-called Strip, first of the people were looking for homes, for farms and for security, which they hoped to wrest from the prairies. And they also built churchs. Like St. Michael's.

The history of this church began with Cherokee Strip opening Sept. 16, 1893, and the rush for land.

Those racing for the Goltry area started from the Hennessey line, when gunshots set off the largest land race in history.

When the dust settled, a small group of settlers clustered together on farms which had sprung up four miles south of the present location of Goltry.

A lot of the farmers were Catholics, some immigrants to this land, and they felt a need for a place to worship, a solid church which could become the central focus of the community.

One such farmer felt so strongly about it that he gave a corner of his farm for the site of the new church. He had also contributed enough land to provide for a church cemetery, which was originally called Alvaretta. But today, it is called St. Michael's.

To care for the cemetery, the group formed a cemetery association on July 10, 1901. St. Michael's Church was the center of the community. It was a mission of the Enid church from 1903 until 1912, with the Rev. G. Depreiters serving as its minister.

But a decade after the settlement, people who had made up the little farming community were caught up in the sweep of changing times.

So in 1904, the settlement that sprung up as Karoma decided to change its name. They chose the name of Goltry, in honor of Charles Goltry, who was a business and civic leader int he community.

However, the town's cemetery where many of those first settlers rest, is still called Karoma Cemetery.

As a part of the progress being made in the town, the parish members felt the need to build another church and in 1907, a frame building arose on the present site of St. Michael's. It, too, was replaced.

The imposing brick and stone structure which stands today in Goltry was built to replace the frame building. The new St. Michael's was dedicated in special ceremonies Oct. 28, 1927.

But more than 40 years later, the people of St. Michael's put the golden topping on the church, so to speak, when they replaced the original spire.

The one-piece steeple was made of fiberglass and weighed only 250 pounds, as compared to steeples made of conventional material, usually weighing more than a ton. Made by a Carmen firm, the sleek steeple soars 18 feet tal, topped by a cross.

The golden steeple had the color poured into the fiberglass, so that its luster may dim, but never fade, making a gleaming beacon that shines across the rolling green prairies. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Karoma, Oklahoma...

Karoma was a town 1 mile southeast of Goltry in SEction 27-24N-9WIM. Karoma was the name of the school district #116 in this area. Business: Store; Blacksmith Shop-Kasper Streich, operator; School organized 28 May 1894; and Postoffice - 26 May 1894-1927, Jan. 1904, postmaster Joseph Fitzpatrick. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alvaretta, Oklahoma...

Alvaretta was a town in Section 10-23N-9WIM. It was 3 miles south of Goltry. In 1894 a large store was owned by Matthew W. Wrigley and the town was named for his daughter, Alvaretta Wrigley. The lumberyard owner was Charles Coulter (Wrigley's son-in-law). The postoffice was organized 22 March 1894 with postmaster Matthew Wrigley and closed on 29 Sept. 1904. There was a Masonic Lodge organized in 1896 there. The Blacksmith shop was run by Jack O'Connor. There were churches inAlvaretta and Karoma which united with the Congregational Church of Goltry when the town mvoed to Goltry. When the Frisco Railroad was built in 1903 it went through Goltry and so Alvaretta and Karoma oved to Goltry.

Alvaretta and Karoma, two inland towns which were near the present town of Goltry, moved to Goltry when the Frisco Railroad was built in 1903. The first postmaster was Mr. Wrigley. Later he was succeeded by Mrs. Grace Trask who served several years. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

DoubleO's Buffalo Meat During WWII...

"During WWII when meat was scarce OO found out buffalo wasn't rationed. He butchered a couple of buffalo he had on his ranch and the town feasted for about a week. I remember going in the store at that time and marveling at the big thick steaks and roasts that hadn't been seen since the beginning of the war." -- Bill Barker @ billb11@alltel.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pine Valley & Dierk's Mill...

"Good Morning! My sister, Mary Hamilton, just sent me your wonderful page about Pine Valley and the Dierk's lumber mill. She posted a message in your guest book to say that we are the granddaughters of H. J. McAdams, the mill's super, and the nieces of Prater and Ray McAdams. It was absolutely wonderful to read about life there and some about our family! My mother passed away quite a while ago, as have most of our aunts and uncles, so we cannot ask them about it anymore. We are most interested in speaking to anyone that knew them and wondered if that would be possible? Our grandfather passed away before I was born, so would love to hear anything about him or my uncles. My mother, of course, told us about him and life in Pine Valley, but it's been so many years ago that my memories are vague. We did drive to Pine Valley, or what was left of it, over 30 years ago and all I remember were the concrete steps of her home were still there. Any help you may give us would be greatly appreciated. I may be contacted either by email or in Hot Springs, AR at: 501-760-4940. Thank you!" -- Clarice Warren View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Postal Rates Increase 5.4% January 8, 2005...

[From the Multichannel Merchant Weekly newsletter.] - "News Flash: Postal Governors Approve Rate Hike, written by John Fischer -- It's official: Postal rates will increase 5.4%, effective Jan. 8.

The governors of the U.S. Postal Service agreed on Nov. 14 to officially accept the Postal Rate Commission's Nov. 1 recommended increases.

Though this increase is the first since 2002, it's unlikely that another four years will pass without another rate hike. The Postal Service is said to already be planning to file for another increase, to be implemented in 2007.

"The decision, although it was clearly expected, may be the first in a series of annual postal rate increases," says Bob McLean, executive director of the Arlington, VA-based Mailers Council. "If Congress does not enact postal reform, these increases could go on for years to come." McLean expects the USPS to file its next rate case as early as March 2006, with another mid-single-digit increase almost certain to be approved. The General Accountability Office (GAO) has warned the mailing community that this continued spiral of postal rate increases is likely to continue if reform is not enacted, he adds.

Among the rate hikes:
First-Class Letter (1 oz.): from $0.37 to $0.39
First-Class Letter (2 oz.): from $0.60 to $0.63
Priority Mail (1 lb.); from $3.85 to $4.05
Express Mail (0.5 lb.): from $13.65 to $14.40
Express Mail (2 lb.): from $17.85 to $18.80
"Targeted" Bulk Mail (five-digit presort, 9-oz. flat): from $0.54 to $0.57" View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Towns in Old Dewey County, O.T...

These are a list of towns in Old Dewey County, Oklahoma Territory (before statehood 1907), in northwest Oklahoma Territory: Vassar, Vici, Strain, Sparta, Rollan, Bloomfield, Lenora, Camargo, Beement, Cestos, Ingleton, Seiling, Taloga (county seat), Munice, Galva, Fountain, Glenwood, Fonda, Harper, Hurley, Oakwood, Oakley, Stineton, Butte, Jacks, Fay, Roseland, Putnam, Raymond, Webb, Burman, Rhea, Deltis, Paul, Trail, Leedey. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Towns in Old Custer County, O. T...

These are some of the towns of Old Custer County, Oklahoma Territory before statehood: Bele, Coldwel, Ososola, Elm, Anthon, Independence, Leota, Thomas, Hammon, Veak, Gip, Foley, Swan, Carpenter, Edwardsville, Rathbone, Arapaho (county seat), Bellview, Indianapolis, Claude. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Day County, Oklahoma Territory...

These are some of the towns in old Day County, in Oklahoma Territory before statehood: Goodwin, Loewen, Lily, Craft, Arnett, Providence, Parkman, Bridgewater, Allmon, Reason, Stone, Little Robe, Grand (County seat), Pinkston, Ioland, Shirley, Lonebell, Grow, Clifford, Durham, Streeter, Angora, Brantley, Antelope, Cuthbert, Crawford, Downey, Rome, Texmo, Roll, Creeton, Hamburg. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Blaine County, Oklahoma Territory...

These are just some of the towns found in old Blaine County, Oklahoma Territory before statehood in 1907: Homestead, Longdale, Bond, Darrow, Okeene, Southard, Canton, Cantonment, Carlton, Ferguson, Seay, Bickford, Cooper, Hitchcock, Dillon postoffice (Eagle City), Roman Nose, Winnview, Watonga (county seat), Udora, Emanuel, Greenfield, Etna, Judson, Geary. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Roger Mills County, Oklahoma Territory...

These are some of the towns you might have run across in old Roger Mills County, in Oklahoma Territory before statehood, September, 1907: Redmoon, MacArthur, Rankin, Cheyenne (county seat), Sedalia, Larned, Harrington, Dempsey, Pilot, Grimes, Berlin, Busch P.O. (Elk City), Sweetwater, Olllie, Wingo, Prentiss, Mayfield, Merritt, Doxey, Sayre, Ural, Peaster, Wash Poarch, Carter, London, Trammell. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Washita County, Oklahoma Territory...

These are some of the towns you might have come across in Old Washita County, Oklahoma Territory, before statehood (1907): Cordell (county seat), Foss, Canute, Scheidel, hefner, Moonam, Port, Wood, Sentinel, Rocky, Rainy, Redwood, Cloudchief, Portland, Dill, Cowden, Friendship, Colony, Shelly, Korn, Bessie, Auxier. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Oklahoma Gas Prices...

"I almost forgot to tell you that gasoline prices here in Perry, Oklahoma dropped to $1.97.9 today! Perhaps they'll continue to drop for the holidays." -- Roy Kendrick View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe