Weather Dog On Winter Watch...

This weather dog (and her sidekick, Sadie) are keeping their eyes and ears peeled to the weather here in SW Colorado, South of Bayfield.

Last Sunday morning we got that NW Okie out of bed just in time to see the light snow falling here in the valley of SW Colorado. BUT... by the afternoon the the clouds had parted for the sun. The snow was gone as quick as it came.

Thursday morning we again awoke to cool, cloudy conditions here is SW Colorado. You couldn't see the mountains in the the background. AND... it did not start snowing here in the valley until about high noon (or a little after noon). Durango and Bayfield, Colorado felt the snowfall before we did south of Bayfield near Ignacio, Colorado. By 2:30 p.m., Thursday it was snowing pretty good at our place. We even heard some thunder in the background while it was snowing. Hope that means lots of moisture. Thursday's snow fall turned out to be lots more of that white stuff than we had last Sunday morning.

These Winter Weather Pugs got energized Thursday afternoon when we received a small amount of snow. After romping and playing in the 1/2-inch of snow that fell Thursday afternoon, we just felt energized. NW Okie's batteries were energized, also. When we came back inside, that Sadie Pug was ready to start something and started running circles around everyone and everything. So... this Duchess obliged and intercepted Sadie when and wherever she could! Meanwhile, we were cracking up our NW Okie.

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Thanks From The OkieLegacy Staff...

Some of our readers whose email client suppressed line spaces and breaks -- tended to reformat our "OkieLegacy" emails before it got to their email boxes.

According to our Major Guru, "What we think was happening ... it had everything running together because of the email client suppressing extra line spaces, breaks. What we did to work around this was to add a space before and after the link that was being corrupted. While this is not the browsers fault, it is not the fault of the coding. It had to do with the translation of the email on the users' computer."

Our Major Guru says, "It seems that this problem with email clients is causing headaches around the web for those who want to automate a lot of their communication to their clients/viewers. If you all have a code or technique that will work with ALL email clients to show emails as the author designs it, please leave your thoughts and comments."

Thanks for your patience and understanding during our testing Sunday afternoon. We appreciate it!
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Runnymede Restoration & Open House...

We read in the local NW Oklahoma newspaper that the Runnymede Project is having their Open House Sunday, January 22, 2006, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., in downtown Alva, Oklahoma. Refreshments and music are planned by the Runnymede Restoration Committee.

It was the idea of the late Dale Brown (primary promoter) to acquire and renovate the hotel when she was a member of the Nescatunga Arts and Humanities Council. We understand that her husband, Dr. Kenneth Brown, retired NWOSU professor, will manage the Runnymede for the community. Read the article that was in the Alva Review Courier, January 18, 2006.
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The Prairie Connection, Balmer Fund & Old Cistern Stories...

The Balmer Fund would like to have some old cistern stories--and photos (scanned) for their March, 2006 Issue of The Prairie Connection. Almost every farm had a cistern, it seems, and there must be a multitude of memories out there that ought to be documented for posterity.

Northwestern's Oklahoma Hall (Alva, OK)...

From last week's feature & photo of NWOSU's Oklahoma Hall (which is on the corner of 8th & Oklahoma Blvd., in Alva, Oklahoma), we have jogged a few memories out there. (Read those Comments - Click Here.)

That it may have been built around 1964 or '65. We think '65 was the year it showed itself on the Northwestern campus. We believe the company that built the women's dorm was out of Enid, Oklahoma and consisted of two guys who could have been from Alva. BUT... The memories are foggy on that part. If someone out there has any other memories, we would love for you to leave your memories of NWOSU's Oklahoma Hall in the "Comment" section under this feature.

We also found out that there are NO specific plans for the spot that once was occupied by the tennis courts before it was occupied by Northwestern's Womens dormitory (Oklahoma Hall). Perhaps it will be another green space.

You guys that went to Northwestern in the mid-1960's might remember kissing your girl good-night after dropping her off at her dorm (Oklahoma Hall).

There are rumors that the cause of tearing down Oklahoma Hall was problems of Asbestos. Whatever the reasons, there are lots of memories being jogged this week.

Remember your Horace Mann Elementary school memories of end of school year in the Spring when you would have a class picnic and games on the tennis courts? That was a time that Horace Mann Elementary was in operation on Northwestern's campus -- there was the time that the only two dorms on campus were Shockley & Vinson Hall.

AND... there was the time that Horace Mann also housed the Alva Junior High on the second floor until the NEW High School was built.
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Connect To Another JFK Lithograph Oil Painting...

Just a short note to let others know that we connected to another owner of the 1961 J. F. Kennedy oil painting by R. V. Goetz in 1961, printed in Oklahoma City.

So... Now we have found three of the 550 numbered lithograph oil paintings: #1 belonging to us; #391 belonging to Laura; and #23 belonging to John Cox.

Just 447 numbered prints to go! We are also searching for a value of these prints. If you can help, please leave your comments below... OR ... email Linda - EMAIL: paristimes@earthlink.net.

Thanks in advance for your help in our search of the other numbered prints and value. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

'44 Aircadets At Northwestern - Alva...

"Volume 8, issue 2 came through to me with no difficulty of reception. It was just as well done as all your previous issues -- I'm happy to report to you.

The dormitory article (Oklahoma Hall) at Northwestern was interesting to me. It looked very similar in construction to the dorm that we lived in back in 1944, when I was in Alva with the 92nd training detachment of the Army Air Corp.

We lived on campus from February, 1944 to July of the same year. However, according to your paragraph the 'women's dorm' rarely used was built sometime after we Air Cadets left town. How time flys!!! We must have been assigned to an older dorm on some other part of the campus.

It hardly seems possible that a dorm was built and is now being destroyed all after we were there in 1944. WOW!! I'd better start taking vitamin pills.

I appreciate your keeping my Okie Website, page 2, McCarrick's Alva memories, in each issue. I've had a few 'hits' on it. I guess the fact of the matter is that there aren't that many people still around to be remembering the year 1944. I was there at the age of 18 and loved every minute of it... even met a girlfriend, Mary Holten, whom I've heard is over in Denver these days. Just turned 80 in 2005, which probably explains why I don't get an avalanche of hits' to my Okie Webshots.

Keep up the good work. I really look forward to your weekly mailings." -- Tom McCarrick
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Another JFKennedy Lithograph Oil Painting Found...

Saw your mention of the J. F. Kennedy Lithograph Oil Painting by R. V. Goetz in 1961 -- printed in Oklahoma City, while doing some research on the internet, which led me to the August 2003 edition of The "Okie Legacy." I am curious, too... as to the possible value of these. Mine is number 23, framed and in excellent condition. Have either of you two heard anything more about the value of these paintings? Thanks." -- John Cox - EMAIL: jocox2001@yahoo.com
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1930 Home Comfort Range...

"I just bought a house and in our basement we have a 1930 comfort stove made by Wright Iron Rnge Company in St., Louis, MO, model #b30. Can you help me with this? I can not find out anything about this stove. Thanks." -- Mary Beard - EMAIL: cwkmp1@aol.com
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Lead On Syreanen Store...

"I have a lead on the Syreanen store - or however it is actually spelled. One of my mother's cousins thinks she can probably drive right to the place where it stood. Whenever we can find time to drive down there, we'll snap a few pictures to share... but I use film, so it will be awhile." -- Rod
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Need Old Cistern Stories...

"You have created an amazing, wonderful network of good people who treasure our prairie heritage. I can't think you enough for the help we have received via your network.

Now! Another interesting request. For the March 2006, Prairie Connection... we'd like to have some old cistern stories -- photos (scanned). Almost every farm had a cistern, it seems, and there must be a multitude of memories out there that ought to be documented for posterity.

I don't know if I've mentioned before, but The Blamer Fund has a rather large collection of written materials in Special Collections at Pittsburg State University, in Pittsburg, KS. We save practically everything that comes thru the mail slot or via email, except spam and junk mail, and maybe even some of that ought to be saved in order to document our life 100 years from now! (email is run off on acid-free paper for their storage facility).

We never drank the water from our cistern, but it was the best soft water for washing clothes and hair. Dad even installed a hand pump in the men's wash-up room so they could use it when they came in from the fields. I wonder what ever happened to the chain of cistern cups that pulled the water up? So many things were thrown away when they became obsolete. We never dreamed they would be of value again, both monetary and nostalgia-wise.

I don't need anything until the first week in February on the cisterns. I will be out of town several days for the Independent Press Association convention in San Francisco, so there's time to get some good stories written down!

Did anyone ever fall in? What did you do to keep the skunks, rabbits, etc., out? What uses did you have for the water: garden? livestock? household?

Most young people today have no clue as to what a cistern is, so we need to explain things in great detail for this now generation! Thank you for your wonderful help!" -- Rosalea Hostetler - EMAIL: wepreserve@balmerfund.org - The Balmer Fund/Prairie Connection, Harper, KS
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Encoding Your Browser...

My Gmail (webmail collected through the IE browser, on PC computer) was suppressing the line breaks in the OkieLegacy email. I did some searching in Gmail's Help section and find the following information:

Love Your Dog Stories...

"Too complicated for my non-tech mind! Glad you found it and fixed it! I love your dog stories! I have three dogs myself, had four but Ratty died of cancer about two years ago and I still miss him. I rescued him from a storm sewer when I lived in Kansas City...what a pal."
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Oklahoma Gas Prices...

"Gasoline prices have gone back up by 2 cents to $2.18.9 per gallon here in Perry, Oklahoma. We may catch up to you folks in Colorado yet. Probably not though because they'll just raise yours too. It's cooled off a little here and the winds have died back down so perhaps the fires will quit for awhile, but we have a "burn ban alert" for all 77 counties and don't expect that to be released until we get some REAL rain or snow. More houses have been lost this past week because they were in the paths of some of the wild fires. We all need more moisture of some sort soon."
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No Problems Receiving OkieLegacy Ezine...

"Have had no "scrunched up" problems with OkieLegacy -- ever! Especially, this week when I received three copies of Vol. 8, issue 2 and one copy of Vol. 8, Issue 1. However, I'm not bothered by multiple copies. Your 'Legacy' is outstanding -- keep up the good work." -- John Beegle
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OkieLegacy Problem Fixed Last Weekend...

"For the last two issues we had a problem as we could not get it to open up. Whatever you did fixed it as today (Sunday) we got three Okie Journals and they were all the same." John, way out in Oregon.
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OkieLegacy Ezine...

"I received 5 emails today (last Sunday) of the newsletter. The one timed at 1:30 pm is the only one that I can click on to get the newsletter. I think it was the last one sent. Please don't give up -- I would sure miss getting the newsletter, which I always look forward to receiving every week!" -- Jan
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No Problems Receiving OkieLegacy In Texas...

"Guess I was one of the luck one's as I have had no trouble receiving or viewing you FABULOUS web site, newletter, e-zine keep up the excellent work." -- Francis, A TEXAS -- OKIE, or misplaced Okie
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John Gerber of Driftwood, Oklahoma...

Lynn E. "Jerry" Gerber, 86, a veteran of World War II, served with the 45th Infantry Division and was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner of war. Gerber has been a resident at Golden Oaks for 13 years. Ex-POW recalls his World War II experiences in his 77-page book.

The Enid News and Eagle article by Jeff Mullin, Senior Writer -- reads as follows:

"In September 1940, the 45th National Guard was mobilized and sent to Fort Sill for training. Driftwood native Lynn E. "Jerry" Gerber knew a number of the men who were mobilized with the 45th.

'They begged me to go with them,' said Gerber.' I said, 'I'm not going to do it, I don't want to go.'

Just a few months later, however, Gerber was among the first young men drafted from Alfalfa County and was immediately shipped to Fort Sill.

Thus began a short, eventful military career later chronicled in a 77-page book titled Before You Came Along. The book was written with the help of his son, Larry, then a correspondent with The Associated Press and now a freelance journalism trainer....." CLICK this URL (Link) for the rest of the story: Jerry Gerber as published, Dec. 7, 2005, Enid News & Eagle.
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Oklahoma Hall (NWOSU) Built In 1964 or '65...

"IF... my memory remembers correctly it was 1965, but I may be wrong and it might have been '64. I am almost positive it was '65, though. I think I left that job of helping hang the ceiling and went into the Air Force. The company I worked for was out of Enid and consisted of two guys who could have been from Alva." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

La Nina & El Nino. - What Is It..

"La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, compared to El Nino, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific." -- www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/la-nina-story.html

The La Nina... The Durango-Herald mentioned that we are experiencing a "La Nina" that is pushing moisture to the North and leaving Southern and Southwest Colorado in a dry condition this Winter. AND... The recent balmy weather may have contributed to at least three bears leaving hibernation across the state. Don't tell NW Okie! She won't let these Pugs stay outdoors by themselves for too long of time.

You can read more of the Durango-Herald weather/news article (dated Jan. 18, 2006) - La Nina pushes moisture to North, by Associated press Writer, Robert Weller.

This weather pattern is expected to keep southern Colorado dry for months. They say, "Southern and Southwest Colorado mountains have between 34 percent and 47 percent of their average snowfall and are unlikely to catch up."
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