We have been getting our afternoon and evening doses of monsoons here in Southwest Colorado and the temperatures are about 20-some degrees cooler than what some of you Okies and Kansans are feeling right now during the "Dog Days" of Summer.

While we wait on Hugesnet to call and align our satellite dish, I have been spending my time in the cool shade of the Rockies -- watching the Rufus hummingbirds guard their territories. The Rufus hummers showed up over a month ago and have been hoarding, scarying off the ruby-throated hummers around here.

We might see one or two Ruby-throated hummers try to drink, but the Rufus is on top-guard of everything and chases the Ruby-throated off.

The Rufus hummers have gorgeous coloring, but are the meanest, interesting hummers that I have ever watched.
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To Boycott! Or Not To Boycott!

Should I "Boycott HughesNet?" To boycott ... or ... Not to boycott! That is the question.

Here it is almost a month after we have moved. Howard Hughes has been dead for a few years now, but HughesNet satellite broadband is somewhat alive.

I am about ready to boycott HughesNet Satelllite broadband service. Here it has been almost three weeks since we put a call into HughesNet to come align our broadband dish. We have NOT even had a call from a technical person to setup a date.

We called them a couple of days ago and they seemed to have lost our work order and were even looking in the wrong state for a technician. They tried to tell us it would be another couple of weeks. That won't do!

After a lengthy telephone call, it comes down to this... They should have a technician calling us Monday of this coming week. We shall see!

I figure "HughesNet" owes me a few months free usage/credit for the poor signal strength that I have been getting this last month. That is why we are slow again this weekend.

I hope you have DSL or cable in your area. If you don't and are looking for satellite dish broadband, DO NOT USE HughesNet!
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Freedom & Fairvalley's Cimarron River Crossing

Judy Hughes Desch wrote, "My father & his family crossed the Cimmaron River around 1918 to settle south of Freedom. I wonder if they may have crossed near Fairvalley. It was before a bridge was there."

We know that Fairvalley, Oklahoma was southeast of Freedom, in northwest Oklahoma. There is an area south of Freedom where there was an old bridge that I believe pioneers used to cross the river, but I'm not sure if that is the location they used before the bridge was built.

I am asking in this week's OkieLegacy newsletter to see if anyone out there might know where that crossing of the cimarron river might have been.

If you or your family have any old stories or photos of Freedom or Fairvalley, we would love to include them in The OkieLegacy newsletter. AND... Photos and stories of where they crossed the Cimarron River near Fairvalley and Freedom, Oklahoma.

Speaking of Freedom, Oklahoma... next weekend is the Biggest Open Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion! Will you be there?
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Moolah Temple, St. Louis, MO Postcard

This old penny postcard is postmarked April 8, 1938, in a postcard message from Merle McGill to his mother, Constance McGill, at 817 Maple, Alva, Oklahoma.

It shows the Moolah Temple, in St. Louis, Missouri. Is it still standing or demolished?

Merle writes, "I am having a grand time going out to lunch, dinners and movies. Went to Shakespears play, Julius Caesar. I wish it would stop raining and the sun shine, it is very cold here. I can't realize I have been gone two weeks. Time flys. MC left a week ago. -- Merle."
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Growing up In Oklahoma & Kansas

We are in the process of taking down Kenneth Updike's stories and ramblings of "Growing Up In Oklahoma" because Kenneth asked us, "To remove all of my previous writings to you about my Ramblins. Personal stories that I told you and your readers. My Son has had all of my writings, and notes copyrighted so that we can put them in a book or booklet. His idea. I really have no objections to this, but he insists we can be viewed by more people. I leave it up to him. Thanks for your help in the past, and I still read your Okie Legacy nearly every week."

If you find some of Kenneth's Ramblings that I have missed, Please email me the link with Vol. and Iss. numbers so that this NW Okie can remove them. Thanks for your help!
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Krause/Krouse of NE Kansas

"Wanda, Here in NE Kansas (Westmoreland) there are two families with the name Krause/Krouse. Just thought you might like to know that for whatever use you might make of it." -- Jim Bradley - Email: jbrad723@bluevalley.net - OkieLegacy Comment
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WWII 6th Armored Div

"Linda, You have probably seen this before. I was a gunner in a M-4 tank in WWII with the 6th Armored Division." -- Homer Hawkins, Lawton, Ok.

[Editor's Note: Looking at our Uncle Bob's WWII timeline, we see that on 10 July 1943, Bob McGill had special orders from Headquarters 6th Armored Division, Camp Cooke, California. Others listed were Lt. Col. Joseph L. Dark, Capt. Romain B. Robinson, Capt. Robert L. McGill, and Capt. John C. Honea. See Bob's WWII Timeline for 10 July 1943.]
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Oklahoma Gas Prices

Aug. 9th ... "Conoco is now selling theirs at $3.49.9 (that's a little less that 3.50!), and Sinclair's is just about a dime more. What next I wonder? Also it's cooled down some here in Perry and now it's raining again. Not too much just a light rain but there's also some thunder." -- Roy K.
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Wineries Offering Taste of Oklahoma's Top Hospitality

"The Woods and Waters Winery and Vineyard near Anadarko is the largest vineyard in Oklahoma. It is so large, in fact, that the winery is self-sustaining.

They use only their own grapes in their wine. Guests are encouraged to sip, sigh and breathe in the surrounding 600 acres of rolling hills, trees and ponds. it is a true rural winery. They built their winery to be a tourist attraction. They don't want people to stop by for five minutes, drink their wine and go. We want people to stay and relax.

The Winery was established in 1998. Woods and Waters recently underwent major renovations, such as addition of a 2,400-square-foot meeting room for weddings and banquets. The winery also just added live music on Saturdays. It is truly a family affair, as the whole family participates in the business." -- N. Talkington
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More About Oklahoma Wineries

"A new resource is available for those who want to explore the flavors of Oklahoma's round, fleshy fruit. The Oklahoma Wineries and Vineyards brochure is the newest guide to find wineries and vineyards across the state. Packed with valuable information about more than 40 wineries, this booklet gives readers an inside look at Oklahoma's fast-growing agritourism trend.

Check out these links:
Woods and Waters Winery and Vineyard: [near Anadarko]
Grape Ranch Winery and Vineyard
Indian Creek Village Winery
For more information: Go online to TravelOK.com or call (800) 652-6552 for a free Oklahoma Wineries and Vineyards Brochure." -- N. Talkington
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Champ Clark - Tourist Camp, Louisiana, MO

This old postcard shows a state inspected, tourist camp called Champ Clark Ttourist Camp near Louisana, Missouri. It had modern home-like cottages, equipped with comfortable simmons beds, cooking facilities, city water, natural gas, electricity. Shower baths, lunch room, groceries and gas stations. It was located on US Highway 54, 1 mile West of the Mississippi River, in the picturesque country made famous by mark Twain, Champ Clark and Stark Nurseries.
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Old Penny Postcard - Masonic Temple, Enid, OK

This Penny postcard was published by the Enid Book & Stationery Co., Enid, Oklahoma, but we are not sure of the date. Check out the Model-T's (old cars)in the photo.

Perhaps there are some Enid citizens out there that could tell us if the Masonic Temple of Enid, Oklahoma is still standing ... or if it no longer exists and has another building in its place.
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Penny Postcard - Enid General Hospital & Clinic

There was no date on this old penny postcard. It shows a view of the Enid General Hospital and Enid Clinic, in Enid, Oklahoma. What part of town was the old Enid General Hospital and Clinic? South? West? East? North?

I think I have seen this building in Enid and think it is still standing, but not sure what it is used for now. Does anyone out there have any updated history of this old Enid General Hospital & Clinic?
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Kansas Gasohol & Ethanol

"For that matter Phillips and Conoco are the same company on paper. It is interesting to know that Conoco is selling gasohol while Phillips is not. Here where we live, in NE Kansas, Phillips does not sell gasohol, but Cenex (was CoOp) sells ethanol (same-same gasohol). But in a nearby town the Conoco station does not sell gasohol. Go figure." -- Jim Bradley - Email: jbrad723@bluevalley.net
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'57 Boys Choir Photo Update

"Fred Neuman has several photograph folders stretching back to 1948 that include this picture and many, many others, all taken, hand developed and enlarged by him during the 50s and 60s. He then switched to slides and has thousands of those.

If anyone has interest I will scan in this photograph to get a better copy and get all the names from Fred. However, I won't take on the project of scanning in all his photos. There are too many." -- Jim Richey - Email: j.richey@sbcglobal.net - OkieLegacy Comment
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OkieLegacy Guestbook

8/8/2008 -- My father Alvie Sander... "My father, Alvie Sanders, and his brothers Carl, Gus and Marvin were in the I.O.O.F. Orphanage in Carmen, Oklahoma, after their Father Elijah A. Sanders died in Weatherford, Oklahoma. I would like to know what years they were there and if there was any pictures of them and the home. I would like to get any information I can get for my family tree. Thanks." -- Alvie Sanders - Email: moadk@yahoo.com

8/4/2008 -- Gannon Baby... "I am looking for the birthdate of a Gannon baby in your cemetery. We are working on a scrapbook memory page for our old neighbors in Alva, Ray and Syliva Gannon. Nice website!!" -- Carol Camp - Email: carol.camp@fib.com

8/2/2008 -- Fairvalley river crossing... "My father & his family crossed the Cimarron River around 1918 to settle south of Freedom. I wonder if they may have crossed near Fairvalley. It was before a bridge was there." -- Judy Hughes Desch
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