On the Road Again

It has been a long day and week on the road! We were halfway in our travels to SW Colorado from NW Oklahoma Saturday, May 19, 2007.

We spent the night in Pueblo, Colorado Saturday night. Not knowing how much longer this NW Okie could hold her eyes open to get this weekly newsletter published late Saturday evening. If it didn't get published Saturdy, we were looking for a published date of May 20, 2007, Sunday evening.

Thanks again for your patience and understanding! We finally arrived safe, sound and tired back in southwest Colorado Sunday afternoon before the afternoon spring showers blew in here. It was good to see the "Pugs" and their warm Pug greetings. They helped this NW Okie unload her suitcase from auto.
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Liggett's Political Sculptures of Mullinville, KS

Wednesday of this week on our way to Northwest Oklahoma we passed through Western kansas via highway 50 to highway 154 to Mullinville, Kansas.

What we found on the West edge of the town of Mullinville were some political sculptures that set on the north side of the highway. They are traffic stoppers! That's for sure!

The digital panorama view is a sample of M. T. Liggett's Political Sculptures that line the north side of Hwy 154, West of Mullinville, Kansas. Liggett was born into a sharecropping family in tiny Mullinville, Kansas (about 30 miles east of Dodge City) in the 1930's. Aside from some years in the military, Liggett has lived in Mullinville, Kansas all of his life.

M.T. Liggett expresses his outlook with his art. You will see hundreds of flapping, whirling, and static metal sculptures set on poles -- some are 20 feet tall -- along the fence line of Highway 154, just west of tiny Mullinville, Kansas.

There are some who do not like M.T. Liggett's art. Or, rather, they don't like some of M.T. Liggett's art. Everyone enjoys his windmills, gyros, and whirligigs, spinning and flashing in the prairie wind and Kansas sun.

In 1989, Liggett began creating metal sculptures with a plasma arc cutter and an arc welder to turn old farm equipment, car parts, road signs, and any other odd bits of iron he can lay his hands on, into fantastic characters which adorn his property, on the side of Route 400 just west of town. Most of Liggett's sculptures are brightly painted, and many have moving parts that spin and flash in the hot Kansas sun.

Here is some links to M. T. Liggett and his sculptures that we found while doing a Google search for Mullinville, Kansas: M. T. Liggett Link #1 - M. T. Liggett Link #2 - M. T. Liggett Link #3
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OkieLegacy Centennial Moment

While in Alva, Oklahoma this week NW Okie did some searching in the NWOSU college library's newspaper archives for more Centennial Moments for Oklahoma statehood. What we found for this week is taken from The Alva Pioneer, dated December 29, 1905, Alva, O.T., under the heading of "Oklahoma News."

Dec. 29, 1905 - "Statehood Bills Compared" -- "The speculation as to the conditions under which Oklahoma will get statehood this winter, if either of the bills now before the house should be passed, makes it of interest to compare the prominent features of these two bills and the Hamilton Omnibus bill passed by the last congress, but ultimately defeated on account of the Gallinger amendment. Of course, both the Hamilton bills united the fortunes of Arizona and New Mexico with those of Oklahoma and Indian Territory, but in the Oklahoma part there are radical differences between the various bills."

"In the matter of the capital location, the first Hamilton bill placed the capital at Guthrie until 1910; the present Hamilton bill until 1915, giving the legislature power to provide for its location thereafter; the McGuire bill until 1910, with provision that its location thereafter shall be decided by a majority vote of the people."

"For the expense of the constitutional convention the first Hamilton bill appropriated $75,000, as does the McGuire bill, while the present Hamilton bill provides $100,000. The increase is said by Mr. Hamilton to have been made on estimates from the secretary of Oklahoma."

"A clause for the restriction of the sale of intoxicating liquors in the Indian country for ten years appeared in the first Hamilton bill. This clause was not, however, a part of the original bill, but was inserted as an amendment, as was the Gallinger amendment, providing for prohibition for twenty-one years. The McGuire bill provides for the cession to the federal government of the power to control the sale of liquor to Indians. The new Hamilton bill makes no mention of the liquor question."

"The Suphur Springs reservation was not mentioned in the first Hamilton act and bill, as the act creating the reservation had not been passed at that time. Both the present bills cede jurisdiction over the reservation to the United States."

"Preference rights to the lessees for the purchase of school lands were not mentioned in the first Hamilton bill, but provision of that sort is made in both of the new bills. A memorial adopted by the last Oklahoma legislature asked Mr. Hamilton to make this change in his bill."

"In the disposition of school lands, the first Hamilton bill provided that they should be divided among the state university, university preparatory, normal schools, A. & M. college, the negro university, as the state legislature might provide. Both the new bills give one-third to the university and university preparatory school, one-third to the A. & M. college and the negro university."

"In public grants the first Hamilton bill gave 200,000 acres as an endowment to the state university, and 150,000 acres to the A. & M. college. Both of the present bills give 250,000 acres to each of these schools, 100,000 acres each to the preparatory school and the negro university, and the same amount to each of the three normal schools."

"In the assignment of federal court districts, the first Hamilton bill provided for two districts, with Muskogee, Guthrie and Oklahoma City as court towns. The new Hamilton bill also had two districts, with Muskogee, Vinita, South McAlester, Ardmore, Guthrie, Oklahoma City and Enid as court towns. The McGuire bill provides for three districts, with Muskogee, Tulsa, South McAlester, Ardmore, Lawton, Oklahoma City, Guthrie, Enid and Alva as court towns."

"Five congressional districts are provided in each of the Hamilton Bills, and seven in the McGuire bill. Each of the Hamilton bills provides a $5,000,000 indemnity fund for Indian Territory, to offset the school lands in Oklahoma. The McGuire bill raises this to $10,000,000."

"The McGuire bill provides for the removal of restrictions to the sale of Indian lands, and for a drainage reclamation fund, both of which are entirely absent from both of the Hamilton bills."
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Morning Star Church of Ingersol

Here's something for ALL those northwest Oklahomans out there to jog your memory cells concerning the "Morning Star Church Bell" of Ingersol, Oklahoma and later moved 10 miles North of the Waynoka, Oklahoma.

The Waynoka Historical society needs your help and knowledge about the history of the Morning Star Church of Ingersol.

The Morning Star church bell has recently been donated to the Waynoka and has a new home at the Waynoka Station near the Harvey House. If any of this jogs your memories and you have pictures and stories about this Ingersol, Oklahoma Morning Star Church Bell, please contact Sandie Olson at the Waynoka Historical Society. Thanks for your help.
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The Rest of the Story

Class of '38 NWHS... "Who is that handsome guy in row 3, 2nd from left?"

Spring View of Rockies... "Ray Potter and Janet Craybill ordered Our Alfalfa County Heritage family history books from the Alfalfa County Historical Society about 3 years ago. We have misplaced your address so if you read this or some one who knows these people please contact my email: martymyers@sbcglobal.net. We do have some extra editions of these books for anyone who is interested. please contact me." -- Marty - Email: email: martymyers@sbcglobal.net

Gas In ALVA, OK... "Welcome to Alfalfa County. I know you are going to like the area. I am sure Jet will get you involved with all kinds of activities. Be sure and come by the Alfalfa County Museum and the City County Library in Cherokee." -- Marty Myers

James Elliott... "Ellen and James were my great great grandparents." -- Linda Thiebaud - Email: thiebaudl@lisd.net
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Morning Star Church Bell

"Linda, the Morning Star Baptist Church northwest of Waynoka is no longer meeting, and they have given us their 40" bell. It is truly an amazing bell. It was brought from a church in Ingersol in about 1945 when Morning Star tore down an old church there for the materials to build their church about 10 miles northwest of Waynoka. I am hoping your readers can tell us more about the Ingersol church, and how old the bell might be. It was manufactured by the American Bell Foundry in Michigan. It is on display now at Waynoka Station near the Harvey House. Thank you for your help." -- Sandie Olson - Email: sandie.olson@gmail.com
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Perry OK Gas Prices

"May 12, 2007 -- The Perry stations raised their prices for regular unleaded another 3 cents today to $3.12.9 and that's a record high for us. I wonder where it's headed next?

May 19, 2007 -- Gasoline prices just keep increasing. Here in Perry, Conoco-Phillips prices were at $3.25.9 today and Sinclair was 5 cents higher. Who knows what they may be next week. Somebody is getting rich again while the rest of us suffer." -- Roy
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Pine Valley Oklahoma Memories

"I was facinated by the article on Pine Valley, Oklahoma. I was born in Pine Valley on July 24, 1932 to Cecil and Hazel Hinkle. My dad and grandfather worked for Dierks Lumber and Coal Company as did my mother's brothers. My grandad on my mother's side was Hugh (Pa) Harrison who served as the town marshall when I was young. I remember him letting us go inside the concrete jail house to see what it was like to be locked up. I started school at Pine Valley but our family moved to Honobia before going to Dierks, Arkansas. My dad was a logger and operated a catapillar. We lived there until 1941 when we moved to Oregon. My grandad, Pa Harrison, and Ma lived in the old post office when the town was shut down and oversaw some of the dismanteling operations. I remember some of the name listed in the article such a McAdams, Rabb, Woodell. The images of the hotel, movie theatre, Big Store, Ice Plant and Cracklin' building remain in my mind to this day. My uncle David Harrison worked in the Drug Store and my uncle Clarence Hinkle was the butcher in the meat department. Many other things and people are in my memory but I just wanted to respond." -- Eddie Hinkle - Email ehinkle1@windstream.net
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Cedar School - Oklahoma

"My sister attended a little country school named Cedar, in an area south of the Green Valley community. We would appreciate any information, especially pictures, about that school." -- Nola Wilkerson - Email: wilkerne@bluevalley.net
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1905 - Farmer at Point of Death

Dec. 29, 1905, Alva Pioneer - "Farmer at Point of Death" -- "As the result of a quarrel between George W. May and George W. Koontz, two farmers living near Ingersoll, which occurred November 7, (1905) in which it is said May struck Koontz on the head. May has been arrested pending the result of the injury, which has developed seriously. Koontz being at the point of death."
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Tulsa Race Riot of 1921

From May 30 to June 1, 1921, 35 blocks of the black Greenwood district in Tulsa burned in what many regard as America's worst race riot. A black shoe shiner stepped on the shoe of a white girl who operated an elevator in the Drexel building. Exaggerated rumors about the incident led to violence. Homes, restaurants, groceries and medical offices were destroyed. It is estimated that as many as 200-300 blacks were killed and many of the survivors left the district. Governor James Robertson called out the National Guard and declared martial law. The alleged victim did not press charges. The Tulsa Race Riot commission was created to conduct an official study to determine what actually happened. You can research Oklahoma Supreme court cases, records from the Attorney General's Office, and Governor James Robertson's administrative papers.
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1930's New Deal Programs

The Great Depression led the US government to provide work for unemployed, take care of elderly Americans, and administer welfare. To do so President Franklin Roosevelt created many programs, which he called the New Deal. You can research the State Archives for records about New Deal programs that affected Oklahoma and the nation. There are administrative files and applications from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), documents from the state's Work Progress Administration (WPA), and photographs from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Also the files of the Office of Governor contain numerous materials.
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1943 - Christmas Menu 455th MPEG Co. Camp Alva

"I ran across a Menu for Christmas Day 1943. In addition to the food, the booklet contains a list of all of the officers and men of the company. The guy sitting on the coal storage box is yours truly. I was eighteen years old then. I just turned 82 in March.

I know I sent you a Tower picture a little while ago, but this one shows one of the guard towers in the background.
" -- Ron Campbell - NW OkieLegacy webshots - 1943 Alva Camp Menu
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1905 - Carmen Again In Hard Luck

Dec. 29, 1905, Alva Pioneer - "Carmen (Oklahoma) Again in Hard Luck" -- "Fire completely destroyed the Crossfield building and the Dorn building in the heart of the business section at Carmen. The Stillwell hotel and the Carmen National Bank, on either side of the burned buildings, were slightly damaged, but were saved from serious loss."
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1905 - Woman Murderously Assaulted

Dec. 29, 1905, Alva Pioneer - "Woman Murderously Assaulted" -- "Mrs. Dave Donaldson, divorced wife of Dave Donaldson, was murderously attacked at night in her rooms in Newkirk by Bob Donaldson, brother of her former husband. She is of Indian blood and had just received $900 from the quarterly payment of tribal funds by the government."
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1905 - Sentry Now in Guard House

Dec. 29, 1905, Alva Pioneer - "Sentry Now in Guard House" -- "Sentry Charles R. Hastings, who was guarding Fred Wallace and Geo. W. Munger, military prisoners, when they escaped has been placed in the guard house of Fort Sill to await investigation as to whether or not he assisted the prisoners to free themselves. No trace of the deserters has been found."
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