Pugster's Report...

by - Duchess & Sadie, Pugsters

Ooops!... This Sadie Pugsters got caught letting NW Okie's age & birthday out of the bag last weekend. BUT... no harm was done. Thank goodness! She (NW Okie) still scratches us behind the ears, rubs our bellies and lets us be her lapdogs. So... these pugsters are taking over this weekend while NW Okie is taking this birthday weekend off. HAPPY 58th BIRTHDAY to that NW Okie!

We found some more WWII German POW artwork & murals this week lingering in our archives and webpages. One wood carving of "Afrika" came in from a reader this week. AND... we are hot on the trail of some more Alva WWII camp barracks that were moved to other towns around NW Oklahoma. If you have any information about recycled WWII POW barracks in your neck of the woods, let us know -- if they are still standing, get a photo of it.

AND... we have heard from the Rialto projectionist the truth about the twin booths of Alva (Oklahoma). It was NOT the "Ranger" theatre, but the "Pix" Theatre that had the twin booths in this NW Oklahoma community long ago. This is the 1950 photo that the Rialto owners supplied us that shows the twin booths of the Pix Theatre. Notice the Jetts building on the right and what we presume is the Huff building on the left of the Pix, on the west side of the square, College Avenue (6th Street), in the middle of the block. Today an Antique store occupies the spot that once housed the Pix and later the Faires Cafe. Just north of the Pix Theatre was the Jett building where an attorney (Rick Cunningham) has his law office today. AND... The Pix was never owned by the Jones Amusement Co. (Rialto) until they purchased the Drive-In -- The Pix theatre was thrown into the deal for the Drive-In.

Have you ever heard of a little cafe that used to be operational in Freedom, Oklahoma. It went by the name of "Ma South Cafe." We learned about the name of this cafe this week. It was owned by the South family that settled near the Freedom area in NW Oklahoma. Henry "Ed" South was night watchman for the town of Freedom, Oklahoma in the late teens and early 1920's, and his wife, Alice Tyler "Allie" South, ran Ma South Cafe. Does anyone out there have an old photos of "Ma South's cafe?" Where in Freedom was it located?

In last week's comments one of our readers mentioned that the Golden Krust Bakery was located in the building just east of the Old Surety building around 1940. These are two pictures of the bakery of Golden Krust Bakery that the Henry's loaned us from Marvin Henry's website.

As to the Old Surety Life building... back in 1910 we know that the NW corner of 5th & Flynn Avenue housed the "Woods County Bank" downstairs with the "Republican Headquarters" upstairs.

The Cigar Store (pool hall) building on the NE corner was "Snyders Cigar Store." There was a grocery store just to the west of the cigar store, but we are not sure of the name at present. If you traveled about a half-block north of Snyders Cigar store you might have seen the "Mistletoe Express" office. The Mistletoe Express was where the Oklahoma City paper was dropped off about 5:30a.m. every morning for local paperboys to pick up and deliver around town ... after they went to the back door of the bakery and got a fresh, HOT donut, of course.

In the middle of the 500 block of Flynn Avenue was the Beegle Bros. Drugstore. We found this 2002 snapshot of the the 500 block of Flynn Avenue showing the Rialto building in the center. Beegle's drugstore must have been next to it or just west of it at one point in time.
View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Beegle Bros. Drugstore - Alva, OK...

photographs courtesy of - John "Monty" Beegle

In the old days... If you were taken a Sunday, afternoon stroll around the downtown square, as you passed the 500 block of Flynn Avenue you would have passed the Beegle Drugstore, in the middle of the block (between 5th & 6th street, on Flynn Avenue).

It all began around 1907 when Andy and Bert Beegle bought the "Hess & Gamble drugstore" on the south side of the square. The Beegle Brothers Drug Store operated under the name of the "Owl Drug Store" for a time but changed the name to "Beegle's Drug Store" when they moved to the north side of the square. That drugstore was located in the 500 block, north side of Flynn Avenue, across from the downtown square and courthouse. Flynn Avenue formed the North border of Alva's downtown square. Beegle's Bros. Drugstore was located just a little west of the center of the 500 block. The downtown square is bordered by College Avenue (6th Street) on the West; Flynn Avenue on the North; Barnes Avenue on the South; 4th Street on the East; and with Government street cutting through and dividing the square in half.

John "Monty" Beegle uncovered these Alva photos of yesteryear. The oldest was taken at the Beegle Brothers Drug Store with J. H. "Bert" Beegle (John's grandfather) on the left. Unidentified in the background is a soda fountain customer awaiting her order being carried by an employee at the end of the soda fountain.

Also... unidentified behind the soda fountain is the soda jerk (on the right side of photo). He is standing next to what appears to be a huge tiffany lamp that one would likely find in one's attic today. Notice the large doll standing on the end of the sofa fountain? AND... what about those old bar stools. Don't see those anymore, do you?

In this photo John's grandfather is the gentlemen on the left, and looks to be about 45 years old which would probably date the photo back to about 1911.

This photo is mounted on a heavy stock containing an embossed logo from "Ross Studio" in Alva, Oklahoma. Perhaps this information could help date the picture.

In this 1941 Beegle family photo shot taken during the Christmas season of 1941 is John's grandmother (the former, S. Bell Hiatt); his brother Ralph A. "Skip" Beegle (center); his grandfather Bert Beegle (lower left) and John "Monty" Beegle (next to his grandfather). The Beegle family shot was taken at John "Monty" Beegle's grandparents house on Locust Street, in Alva, Oklahoma. The last time "Monty" was in Alva (about 30 years ago) the house was associated with a college there and/or was being utilized as a dormitory or sorority house. Anyone out there no if it is still standing today?
View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

WWI I - POW's Murals & Artwork...

We have decided to insert here a few of the WWII German POW murals and artwork left behind by those who were held at the WWII Alva POW Camp, in Alva, Oklahoma after 1945 (end of WWII).

Monte & Rosalind Lopshine bought ten lots and two old ramshackle apartment buildings August, 1981. When they were remodeling in May, 1982 they found 24 paintings painted by a German prisoner of war that resemble tour posters with scenes of Austria and the Berlin area. The paintings were found between the studs of one of the old buildings. The two apartment buildings were originally one long barrack for the POWs held at the Alva Camp during WWII. C. E. Buckner bought one of the barracks, chopped it in half and moved it to Waynoka back in 1945. The property changed hands a few times before the Lopshires bought it in 1981.

The article stated... "Buckner set the the building halves on two separate foundations, added a floor and ceiling and converted the edifice into four apartments. He knew the paintings were there 30 years ago, but he covered them with sheetrock. Buckner said he never thought to mention it when the building changed owners through the years... At the time, we were not impressed with pictures of Germany. We were tired of the war." Most of the paintings were found in perfect condition with only a few shows of water-stained reminders of a leaking roof and cracked paint on another.

The paintings measured about 19 by 34 inches and were painted on masonite between the wall studs using three colors of oil (burnt sienna, cobalt blue, and white). The article quoted Mrs. Lopshires, "There is one older man who lived around here that said he helped tear the camp down. He said there were some whole-wall murals, but when he tried to save them the supervisor told him there was not time for that. They were just working by the hour and had to get it done, so those were destroyed."

Millard Curtis was quoted as saying, "I haven't thought about it for ages, but I remember the paintings. They were in the work building, I think it was." The article stated, "The Lopshires, who recently converted one of the uildings into a beer tavern, have plans to turn the old barracks into a German beer garden with an outdoor restaurant adjoining.

Some other art work (sculptures) that the German POWs did was a six-foot, walnut eagle carved from packing crates and stood in the German Officers POW compound during WWII. It now has a home in the Cherokee Strip Museum at Alva, Oklahoma along with other artifacts of Alva's POW Camp during World War II.

This German, medieval castle was hand-carved from scraps of wood by one of the German POWs from his memory of his homeland. These art collections were created under difficult circumstances and have had a spiritually and romantically value placed on them. None of the paintings were ever signed. The Lopshires and a lot of Woods Countians in NW Oklahoma would love to discover the artist after all these years to fill in the blanks of what is not there anymore.

Rod Murrow found this next POW artwork on Ebay. This shows the front and back sides of a POW piece of art from Camp Alva that he found on eBay, with the desire to donate it to the Cherokee Strip Museum in Alva - which I have not yet done. I'm curious to know if this fellow, or any of his family members, may still be living and if it might be possible to return this artwork to him/them. His name is WILLI EMMERT and the date is 1944.

Werner's father, Friedrich Wilhelm Rohrlack, born 1918, was a prisoner at Camp Alva 1943-1945. He was also an artist, mostly landscapes and scenery and he was from Berlin. Werner was sent copies of the wall paintings and they could have been painted by his father. One other note: While his father was at the Alva Camp he painted a portrait of a teenage blond girl who was the daughter of one of the prisoners. Werner's father, before he died, asked that Werner try to find who this person is and send the portrait to her. Werner had tried to get this organized a few years ago, but his mother, who had Alzheimer's, stopped him from following through. The last that he remember is that the picture was painted from a photograph of the daughter of a German prisoner. Werner's father's request was that he try to find the person in this picture, somehow, and Werner would then forward it to them. To, however, ensure that he has the right person, he covered up the neck as this girl was wearing a rather unusual necklace. The person that claims this picture should therefore be able to describe this necklace in detail or provide a photograph that would show who this person is. The actual painting is 21" X 27", plus matting and frame. The other matter... Werner would like to pursue, is the inner wall paintings found in the huts. My father was a very good artist, mostly scenery and mostly from German themes. I should note that he was a Berliner, and he understand that some of the art work was from Berlin. His father's name was Friedrich Wilhelm Rohrlack born 1918, died 1995. Werner knows this could be a long shot, but he would very much like to succeed in this endeavor. Thanks from Werner Rohrlack - Email: w.r.accounting@shaw.ca
View/Write Comments (count 3)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Back Issue Comments...

If you haven't already noticed, when you leave a comment under a feature of the OkieLegacy newsletter -- sign your name and use your own email -- you will automatically get an email from us when someone else leaves a comment under the same feature article. Just another way that you can stay in touch with other subscribers out there. We have made it possible for You to unsubscribe at any time.

AND... your email is protected from outside sources and is NOT sold to any mailing lists out there. As you may have noticed, your email does NOT even appear in the comment under the article unless you place it yourself in the body of the comment.

Back Issues Comments:

Termination of WWII POW Camps

NWOSU's Oklahoma Hall Demolition

Green Valley School - December 22, 1896

Weather Dog Report

Training Pilots at Northwestern State College (NWOSU)

Alva, OK - Downtown History

WWII - Alva Camp Barracks
View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

WWII Alva Barrack In Dacoma, OK...

"Three photos attached - one is the home in Dacoma that was formerly my grandparent's home (Lute & Mildred Murrow). Photo is taken from the street corner (Arapaho Ave.) looking to the northwest. The little closed porch and the family room at the west end of the house was added on to the original structure. I'm not certain who lives there now. Exterior of the home is stucco, I believe. The other photos are the front and back sides of a POW piece of art from Camp Alva that I found on eBay, with the desire to donate it to the Cherokee Strip Museum in Alva - which I have not yet done. I'm curious to know if this fellow, or any of his family members, may still be living and if it might be possible to return this artwork to him/them. His name is WILLI EMMERT and the date is 1944. I'm not sure what is the best way to try to contact this family, given the distance, etc. Somewhere in my archives, I also have a few pictures of the Freedom UMC (two POW buildings joined together)." -- Rod Murrow View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Henderson's of Freedom, Oklahoma...

"My Great Grandfather (Henry South "Ed") was night watchman for the town of Freedom, Oklahoma in the late teens and early 1920's, and my Great Grandmother (Alice Tyler South "Allie"), ran Ma South Cafe. My Grandparents, Glenn & Effie Henderson, farmed in the area for 20 years or so. My Father, Dale Corwin Henderson was born there in 1922. We will soon be visiting Freedom, Oklahoma and desire to see the museum." -- Diana Henderson Havens Email: look2me@swbell.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Pix Theatre - Alva's Old Twin Booths...

"I work at the Rialto Theatre in Alva, OK for Johnny Jones. Upon a recent search I did on your site I found some questions in an article pertaining to a theatre having two ticket booths. The author's comment was she couldn't remember whether it was the Ritz or the Pix. A man that was actually in Johnny Jones' Class in at AHS posted a comment somewhere (I think it was on a different page) saying it was the Ranger. The information is WRONG. It was indeed the Pix Theatre that had two ticket windows. I have a picture here that I got from the boss actually taken of the building in 1950. I drew lines on it with a photo editor and typed the date on it. This theatre was not owned by Homer C. Jones, but was later purchased by him in a combo deal when he wanted to buy the drive-in. I have every photo that Johnny C. Jones, son of Homer C. Jones, current owner of Rialto Theatre, the last remaining theatre in the Jones Amusement Co. could find at the moment including original photos of all the theatres he had in Alva. If you would like any of these photos for the site I'm sure I can talk to the boss and get permission." -- Derek Washington, Rialto Theatre Projectionist View/Write Comments (count 8)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Jesse Garrison & Postage Stamp Art...

"Our Great-Grandfather, Jesse GARRISON (Mom's grandfather) drove cattle on the Chisholm trail from the late 1860's to the 1880's. He use to tell mom and her siblings stories of rustlers, indians, stampedes and such. We are so proud to be a part of Oklahoma history. Many years ago I created a new avenue of artistic expression that I call postage stamp art. I am currently building some stamp collages to document Oklahoma's portion of the Chisholm Trail. I am also creating some collages to document Oklahoma's statehood centennial. GOD BLESS AND SEMPER FI." -- MARK GUNTER - Email: postagestampart@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 3)   |   Receive updates (1 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Dogs Make Our Lives Whole...

"Dear Linda - It is about time to tell you that I enjoy the Okie Legacy so much. And give you an idea about who and what we are. I, Bette Wilson, have been married to Ben Wilson, for almost 60 years. I was born and raised in Woodward County. Ben was born in the Galena area, Woods county, the son of Mabel Armour Wilson and Orla Wilson. They moved to Waynoka about 1939. Ben was the grandson of Robert Armour, a Woods County commissioner, many years ago. Probably before WWI. There was a Lewis (or Louis) Bynum who sold hamburgers in Alva during the 1930's. He was an uncle to my half brothers. I used to hear many people say that uncle Lewis made very good hamburgers. He left Alva and moved back to Cedar Co., Missouri, where he died. And I want to wish you a very happy birthday. Sadie told on you. I love to hear about your dogs. We are the proud parents of three. Two poodles and a schipperke. As I have heard said, they are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. Keep up the good work. Best wishes from Amarillo." -- Bette Wilson View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva's (Oklahoma) 1940s Cadets...

"My husband, Bill Guntrum, was stationed at NWSTC as a cadet. That is where we met in June 1944. His group was shipped out a few months later and we are sure that was the last group to be stationed there. His flight instructor was Jack Hamel who was married to Ludella Kamas of Freedom. She and I drove to San Antonio in December l944 as they were both stationed at SAAC Air Corps Base. Bill and I were married there and Jack 'gave me away'. Bill and I celebrated our 61st anniversary in December 2005. My first job was at Southwestern Bell in Alva and it is true that Shirley Temple's boyfriend at the time was stationed there." -- Doris Whittet Guntrum View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Oklahoma Gas Prices & Snow...

"White stuff at last (but not much lst weekend). We too got some of those tiny flakes you talked about and they probably added up to about 3/4-inch on the ground in my yard. Not nearly enough but still welcome. My little dog (Miniature Pinscher) bounced out to get her feet cold and taste the snow but decided she didn't need to stay very long. She did surprise a couple of crows that had taken shelter in her dog house though. Our lower gas prices may be due to the fact that a major refinery (Conoco-Phillips) is just to our north in Ponca City which means a much lower delivery cost. Our state also has the pipe-line crossroads of the United States at Cushing (check it out in Butch's T&T this week) which is just to our southeast, and there's talk of either reopening a refinery there or building a new one." -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Gower of Stringtown / Atoka, Oklahoma...

"My names is Stephen M. Gower. The reason I'm writing is to find out if your knowledge of Oklahoma history might be able to help me answer some questions in regards to my family tree. A lot of GOWER's were born in the 'Stringtown' area which is just a little below Coalgate in Coal County. As a matter of fact, Okie Wilson was born in Stringtown in 1920. My father, Mack, was born there in 1925. Funny, even though it was and is a small town, they never knew each other in childhood. Anyway, if you believe you might be able to help me, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you." -- Stephen M. Gower - Email: traingeek1951@surewest.net traingeek1951@surewest.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Huxtable Descendants of Oklahoma...

"I need to talk to someone about early Oklahoma history. My grandparents were married in California in 1880, but somehow ended up in Oklahoma prior to 1897, when my mother was born in "Garfield County", maybe Alva. Her brother was born in 1900 in Major, Oklahoma. Her sister, married to a SHROYER was in Alva. My mother along with her mother returned to California by the 1910 census were back in Sonoma County, where a lot of my ancestors were located. My mother was orphaned in 1914 and returned to Oklahoma to live with her sisters family. These are the family members and what I know from Census info, etc...

Charles Bruncley Nelson ; Virginia Catherine Smith (Nelson)b: 1860, IL m: Charles Nelson 1880 in CA (Charles & Virginia are my maternal grandparents), 1900 census had family in Crowlly, Woods, OK with 3 children, including Ema(sic)Clarence born after census. Emma Bernice Nelson b: 14 Apr. 1897 Wilcox, Garfield Co., OK, d: Fresno, CA 1992 (MY MOTHER). Emma Bernice married Ira Floyd, maybe in Anthony, KS about 1917, They had a son Johnny in about 1918. By 1920 Emma was in Colorado, and so were the Floyd grandparents, no sign of Ira. It can be assumed that she left Johnny with grandparents and returned to California where she married George Huxtable, 7 Sept 1921. Son Born December, 1921 was probably Floyd, but raided as George Robert Huxtable. I was born 12 years later. Clarence Oscar Nelson, Brother of Emma. Henry Oscar Shroyer, Buelah Marie Nelson (Shroyer), 10 April, 1884-3 Set 1950, d: Dayville,OR. Alva, OK has also been mentioned, so I know they were there. Why? How did they get there from California? How did Emma, Clarence and their mother get back to California? So many counties were renamed that I am lost. Can you recommend a book on Oklahoma history, ca. 1897-1910? Point me in a direction, please. Land records have not helped me." -- Ferne Leslie Email: ferneleslie@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Beagley Family History...

"Presently I am writing a family history of the Beagley family, taking information from a family book written back in the 1980's. In that book they frequently mentioned The Castle On The Hill. So I went to the internet and found your web site. May I have permission to place in my Beagley family history book the two pictures of the Castle before and after the fire that were on your web site? Also the paragraph beginning with It concerns the burning of 'The Castle on the Hill'...... Also, the paragraph: ,i>[The following information is from the book Alva, Oklahoma First 100-years.... and Sleeping Students Trapped in Room..... Thank you." -- Lois Murphy Email: loismurph@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pretty Boy Floyd's Oklahoma Bank Robbery...

"The Frisco Cemetry is located in the community of old Frisco in Pontotoc county, Oklahoma which is where Stonewall was first established. The bank that Pretty Boy Floyd robbed was the Case State Bank of Stonewall, Oklahoma. My husband was a bank officer in the old building and helped select the style, furnishings, etc. when they built the new bank, 'First American', and moved into it. My husband worked at the bank in the 1980's, and Pretty Boy Floyd did rob the bank. He stayed with a couple that used to be our neighbors. Also, the Frisco cemetery is kept by having fun raisers like fish frys, etc. Daniel's and McDonald's are the families that usually handle the affair. Glen McDonald has the names of the buried and sees that the cemetery is well kept." -- Judy Hisaw Email: jhisaw@tds.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Wanting Info About Ft. Supply, OK...

"I am very interested in the history around Ft.Supply, Oklahoma. Any info concerning possible sites to run a metal detector would be greatly appreciated." -- David Arthur - Email: guitardave29@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Obituary: Kent Mauntel Johnson - 03/21/1923-02/21/2006...

Kent Mauntel, son of Grace Elizabeth (Mauntel) and Kent Wilbur Johnson was born on March 21, 1923 at Boulder, Colorado. He passed away at the Alva Beadles Nursing Home on the 21st of February at the age of 82 years and 11 months. He attended the Alva School System and graduated from high school with the class of 1939 and graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1943 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He enlisted in the Army Airforce on February 28, 1944 serving in the Asiatic pacific theater in Alaska and was discharged on June 25, 1948 at the Great Falls Airforce Base at Great Falls, Montana as a First Lieutenant. On February 25, 1944 he was married to Lorraine (Lorrie) H. Bowman in Chicago. To their marriage three children, Karen Lynn, Gwenell and Kent Mauntel Jr. were born. Following their marriage they made their home in Ft. Leavenworth. Kansas, Cheyenne, Wyoming and Great Falls, Montana. After his discharge from the Air Force, he joined his father Kent W. Johnson in the Insurance Business. He was an active Insurance Agent until his retirement in 2004. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Alva First Presbyterian Church, sang in the Choir, past President of the Alva Kiwanis Club, the past Commander of the Myer-Shiel American Legion Post # 92, Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma (IIAO), Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and active in the Act One Theater. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Schmidt on June 29, 1995, his father on August 1, 1978, his mother on August 21, 1987 and his brother, Norville on April 19, 1982. Monty is survived by his wife, Lorrie, his two children, Gwenell and Kent both of Alva, seven grandchildren and their spouses, Pam and Rick Dilbeck, Curt and Tina Schmidt, Mark and Tami Schmidt, Jeremy and Amy Burroughs, Carly Burroughs, Michael and Aimee Griffin, and Tommy and Erica Griffin. Twelve great grandchildren, two nephews Dave Johnson and his wife Louise and Chris Johnson, other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in his memory to the Alva First Presbyterian Church. -- Wharton Funeral Chapel - Online Obits View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe