Greener Pastures Coming

The horses are grazing on greener pastures this week. AND... It looks like Spring has sprung earlier this year.

They have been saying around here that this winter has been another one of those mild, short winters. It did come about a month or so early and didn't last long -- didn't drop that much snow on the mountain peaks. Is it Global Warming?

NW Okie's garden seedlings are just barely sticking their little heads above ground in the greenhouse. We would have taken some photos, but we shall wait until they get blooming taller!
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Story Telling & Book Advice

I asked one of my Okie friends how to start my book. My friend said, "I will read the book because I want it to make some kind of sense out of what happened -- from beginning to end -- it's your job to do that for me in your book. During the whole thing, here's a very important thing ... Have fun with it!! This is especially important when telling an Okie story.

My friend stated, "We are hard asses. We live in a God forsaken place where life is low income and rough as Hell. We look at life from that point of view. We're also 'holier than thou' people. This opera house story is 'our kind of story.' We can 'take it' if somebody got murdered -- we don't 'suck air' over the fact that life is hard and mysterious. You just have fun telling this story from your NATURAL BORN Okie point of view, and you will tell it just right. Don't be fake about it or try to act like anyone but yourself. You are a good, regular Okie person, so you use that 'good self' to say what you've got to say, and tell it to me (another Okie) so that I really 'get into' that story WITH you."

This same friend goes on to say, "People in small towns have certain ways. We know everyone and their families and we know their family's history. It's personal. We actually 'care' about why, when and where somebody did something."

How much of that caring is curiosity for some juicy gossip tidbits of our fellow citizens?

Anyone else have any book ideas, suggestions they would like to pass along to this first-time novelist? I would love to hear from you. Either on OkieLegacy MySpace "blog" or add your comments below. Thanks for your participation, suggestions!
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Can't Write Poetry

I wrote a poem once. It was back in my junior or senior year at Alva High ('65 or '66). I wrote it for an english class and if I remember correctly the english teacher's name was Doris Huguely. She sent it to some poem contest for me. It's been over 40 years ago since that time and my memory is a bit foggy of that poem. The title of the poem was "I Can't write Poetry."

It went something like this... "I can't write poetry to save my soul. The lines don't rhyme and the words ain't so...."

That is all this NW Okie can remember of her high school poem written some time during the 1964 or 1965 school year at Alva High. I Can't even remember what award I won, but I did get a certificate. That certificate, like the poem, is lost to the winds of time.

Besides being lost to the winds of time, my mother did not save any of my high school memorabilia.

I have always wondered if Alva High kept copies of students poems, etc... from '64 to '66!? It would probably be like finding a needle in a haystack, huh? Ain't old age horrible sometimes? LOL
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WWI Soldier - Frederick Gayland Sandy, Pvt.

"This morning (actually yesterday) March 15th, my friend Gayland Sandy brought me a complete copy of his family history dating back to 1379 in Cumberland County, England and I've glanced through it some. I hope to have some answers for Sidney Clark in Wales, UK. within a week or so.

This is one of the most fascinating family histories I've come across. He had ancestors who arrived on a ship BEFORE the Mayflower! The first child of Henry Sandy (son of Sir Edwin Sandy, Jr. who in turn was the son of Archbishop Edwin Sandy, Sr.) born in America was Henry Miles Sandy, born in 1642 in James City, Virginia Colony!!! Also mentioned in these notes is that the Mayflower was supposed to land at Jamestown but got lost in a storm and landed in Massachusetts instead! I didn't recall knowing that. I find names in this also of some folks who may be related to friends of my past in Oklahoma City." -- Roy K.

[Editor's Note: You can refresh yourselves with a List of Oklahoma WWI Soldiers by clicking this link. Thanks!]
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The Rest of the Story

Jogging More Memories... "Mr. Carpenter was the one that laid the concrete in Dacoma. Mr.Lemon was visiting in the town at the time of the shooting. Dacoma used to have a horse race track in the east part of town. I think Mr. Lemon might have followed the racing circuit, but do not know for sure. I do know there was some kind of inquest after the shooting but don't know what come out of it. Was it justified or not?"

Dacoma School District... "Currently Independent schools are those which run K-12, while Dependent schools do not support high schools. There are many dependent districts in eastern OK."

Little House on the OK Prairie... "The concrete and stone house in western Woods County is known as the shepherd's hut. Bud and Sue Martin are the experts. They know the name of the builder and the house's history. I believe there is some family connection between the builder and Sue Martin. Arden Chaffee also knows about the hut and has proposed that the Cherokee Strip Museum move and restore the hut. I do not know the status of the project."

Little House on the OK Prairie... Charlie Beard's Story & Sheepherders Shack (submitted by Francis R. Melkus) -- "This Sheepherder''s shack is located west of Alva, Oklahoma, go about 20 miles West, or One (1) mile West of old Whitehorse and Tegarden, then go One (1) mile North and it sets on the North side of the road at that intersection. From Freedom, Oklahoma go three miles North to Camp Houston turn to the right and go about five miles East, then turn North and go one (1) mile, look for the 'Rock Covered Shack' or 'Bachelor's Pad.' My father, A.C. Melkus said, 'That Charlie Beard was a very unique man. He had no children, yet he was very high on education. He served many years on the Farry School board. My father helped Arch Long bury the severed leg in the Whitehorse cemetery. This web site that I have here is from The Alva Review Courier -- tells his story."

Little House on the OK Prairie... "Becky McCray provided this link to an article by Helen Barrett in the Alva Review-Courier newspaper in 2004. It details a bit of the life of the original owner of the little hut, Mr. Beard. Here's the link: Beard Article - ARC." -- Rod
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Missouri WWII POW Camps

The Kansas city Channel.com This is an article about WWII POWs that were housed near Liberty, Missouri. Did you know that during World War II, Italian and German prisoners of war were housed all over the country, including on the Miller family farm just south of Liberty? There were about 15,000 prisoners in Missouri during WWII. -- submitted by Lois G.
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Oklahoma Weather & Gas Prices

"We've had two more increases in the price of gas here in Perry this week. I have to report 5 new gasoline prices (as of 6pm Friday, March 16th) posted on the Conoco pumps this evening. Regular unleaded was posted at $2.45.9 and the other grades were posted at $2.50.9, $2.55.9, $2.60.9, and $2.65.9. The tanker was there filling the storage tanks at that time.

Earlier in the week we had about 3/10-inch of rain and there was another tiny bit Thursday night after we had a cool breeze come through. It warmed back up today. Most of our trees are in bloom now and I see the mounds of white in the bradford pear, the dark pink of the redbuds, and the tiny light green leaves bursting in the elm trees. Spring has 'sprung'. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all." -- Roy K.
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1998 Obit - Loren Dean Riggs

OBITUARY (Alva Review-Courier, 8 Oct 1998) -- Loren Dean Riggs, 54, passed away Oct. 2, 1998, at the Veteran's Hospital in San Francisco, Calif. Loren was born in Hardtner Kan. on Sept. 2, 1944 to Mildred (Umbarger) and Dennis Riggs.

As a child, his parents moved to Kansas City, where he attended school, graduating from Turner High School in 1962. He moved to Alva where he attended Northwestern Oklahoma State Teacher's College, graduating from there and getting his master's degree at SIU in Carbondale, Ill. After graduation, he entered the Air Force as a private, entering Officer's Candidate School to become a 2nd Lieutenant.

While living in Alva, he worked several years at Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company. He taught high school drama in Chicago, Ill., for several years before moving to San Francisco in 1975 where he became a real estate appraiser in the Bay area for 18 years.

Loren was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Vera. He is survived by his sister, Ina and her husband, Bill Snyder, of Amarillo, Texas, and his brother Wilbur (Bill) Riggs of Wagoner; two nieces, Dolores (Snyder) Evers of Canyon, Texas, and Leigh (Riggs) Manlove of Tulsa; two nephews, Dennis Snyder and John Snyder of Amarillo, Texas; one aunt, Oneita Riggs of Alva, other relatives and friends.

OBITUARY (unidentified) SAN FRANCISCO -- Burial and a memorial service for Loren Dean Riggs, 54, are still pending in San Francisco.

He was born Sept. 2, 1944, at Hardtner, Kan., to Dennis and Mildred Umbarger Riggs and died Friday, Oct. 2, 1998, in San Francisco.

He graduated from Turner High School at Kansas City, Mo., in 1962. He graduated from Northwestern State Teachers College, Alva, and later worked at Panhandle Eastern. He received his master's degree from Southern Illinois University. He joined the Air Force as an enlisted man and later entered officer's candidate school.

He taught high school drama in Chicago for several years before moving to San Francisco in 1975, where he became a real estate appraiser in the Bay area for 18 years.

He is survived by his sister, Ina Snyder of Amarillo, Texas; a brother, Wilbur Riggs of Wagoner; two nieces, Dolores Evers of Canyon, Texas, Leigh Manlone [sic] of Tulsa; two nephews, Dennis Snyder, John Snyder, both of Amarillo; and one aunt, Oneita Riggs of Alva. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

Additional Note: Loren and Dottie Michaels were married in April 1963 and divorced in 1964. After his death, Loren's body was donated for medical research and was eventually cremated. His brother, Wilbur Riggs, buried the urn containing Loren's remains in the Pleasant View Cemetery near Dacoma, Woods Co., OK, between the graves of his parents, Dennis and Mildred Riggs; the burial was in January 1999. -- Rod Murrow
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Searching Photographs of Old Town Dumps, Trash Wagons

"I am working on an article for the annual report of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, tracing the history of waste management in Oklahoma. While doing a web search, I came across your webpage and thought you might be able to assist me, or steer me in the right direction.

I am seeking photographs of old town dumps (even better if they are on fire), old horse-drawn trash wagons, or other photos that depict historical waste management practices in Oklahoma. Even something as mundane as an old homestead with maybe the house's trash dump visible in the distance would be good.

I am finding it extremely difficult to find any such photos. I suppose that's because no one felt a picture of a burning dump or a wagon filled with trash was good subject matter!

If you have some photos that you might be willing to contribute to the article, I would greatly appreciate it. Naturally, proper credit would be given to the photographer and to you as the provider. I appreciate your consideration of my request." -- Jon A. Roberts - Email: trwxxa629@cox.net
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Connor's of Northwest Oklahoma

"My uncle was a white man who lived in Alva. He preached all over the middle of Oklahoma. I know he was in Wakita, Alva and other little towns, but my Mom said they lived in Alva.

His wife, my aunt Karen, went by the nickname of 'Dude' and she was full blooded Indian. The only picture I have seen of Wilma and Judy Conner, they were pretty dark skinned like Dude. They had a little sister, Kaye, born in 1954 and their dad, Uncle Odis, died in 1958. The family doesn't know if any of them are still living -- if they had children -- nothing.

It is frustrating to try finding them when we don't know what their married names were. So if you could ask around to your friends that you grew up with and see if anyone remembers them, maybe something will trigger a new place to look. Thanks for the reply, though." -- Kathy Conner Amelio
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Happy St. Patricks's Day

"May the wind at your back not be the result of the corn beef and cabbage you had for lunch." -- Joel

"Thanks for remembering me: I really don't know what breed I am but my Daddy always said that his Mother and Dad were each 1/2 Irish and therefore he figured he surely must be 100 % Irish. May God bless you Lady." -- Ernest
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Searching WARRICK/CLARK Deaths

"I am looking for the date and place of death for Mary Louisa (WARRICK) CLARK born 1829 in Beaver County, PA. Mary L and Reed CLARK (her husband) are in the 1900 Census in Hubbard Twp, Trumbull County, Ohio. Reed CLARK died in 1903 in Sharon, Mercer County, PA. Mary would have died between 1900 and 1920. I could not find her in the 1910 Census. Thank you for any information or advice." -- Carol - Email: clark3@usadatanet.net
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Proud To Be A Liberal

"....If by a liberal they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people - their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties... if that is what they mean by a liberal then I am proud to be a liberal." -- Quote by President John F. Kennedy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe