Signs of Autumn In Colorado

Autumn has been peeking in the higher elevations around here and the cooler temperatures have been bringing in the feel of Autumn while the deer have been coming down to graze in our backyard, 6 miles north of Bayfield, Colorado.

Our gas prices have not lowered like those in Oklahoma, but they have lowered to around $3.42.9 the last time I looked in Durango, Colorado and $3.5.9 at the Conoco station in Bayfield.

If you check out our OkieLegacy You Tube site (OkieLegacy Sunday morning Deer), you can view the five deer grazing this Sunday morning in our backyard.

AND... What about those OSU Aggies beating the Missouri Tigers on Saturday. What has been billed as the Red River Rivalry (Shootout) around the college football legacies of OU Sooners and Texas Longhorns has arrived this Saturday with the Longhorns adding a lose to the Sooners lists of wins/loses. I want to know what the Oklahoma and Texas Governors wagered for this years game. The Texas Longhorns beat the Sooners (45-35) this Saturday in Dallas.

It is truly amazing that in the wealthiest country on the entire planet, there are people (voters) out there that can be controlled, influenced by the fear, scare tactics of certain political parties. This level of politics that incites anger and hatred in the voters to violence will be our nation's undoing. Tell your political candidates, "Enough is Enough! Stick to the Issues! It's the Economy, Stupid!"
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Mid-1940's Alva Grocery Fire

I am searching for information concerning a fire that occurred in the 600 block of Barnes Avenue, Alva, Oklahoma. Possibly around or after the mid-1940's. Perhaps around February 8, 1944.

This Mid-1940's fire burned a two-story building that housed a grocery store in the location of the one-story old Magnuson's grocery and where the Senior Citizen building is today. The ground level of the burned two-story buidling was a grocery store with apartments on the second floor> It may or may not have been called "Magnuson's" at that time. It may have gone under another name.

What we do know is that a young child may have crawled under a bed in one of the apartments above the grocery store and died in that fire. I have heard from one individual that the young child may have been Virgil "Buster" Erikson's son, Larry (b. 1938, d. feb. 8, 1944).

Another lady in Cherokee thought the Magnuson's grocery fire was later in the 1940's to '50's and that it was a young girl who had died when a mother went down to the grocery store below and left two young girls above.

If you have access to Northwest Oklahoma newspapers around the time of 1944 to 1949 period (especially, February 8, 1944), would you see what you can find on that fire and death of the young child in the 600 block of Barnes Avenue, Alva, Oklahoma? Thanks!
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Alva (OK) Pioneer - Francis Marion Erikson

On page 207 thru 209, of northwest Oklahoma's history book entitled Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County, had the following information about the ERIKSON family legacy:

John Dedric Erikson came to the USA from Bergen, Norway. he worked his passage over on a cattle boa landing in New York City, when he was a teenager. Jon was a cabinet maker by trade and had his apprenticeship certificate. In pursuit of opportunity he traveled west making his home in Putnam County, Missouri. Included in the accomplishments of his labors as a cabinet maker are several houses still in use there. his houses could hardly be torn down due tot he unique construction of pinning, tongue-groving and being morticed in an unusual manner.

Jon Dedric married Elizabeth A. Erikson and had three children including Plummer Jones Erikson.

Plummer married melinda Harlan and established a home in Sidney, Missouri where he was a farmer and trader. he moved to Iowa later and sponsored a show with a magic lantern, phonograph and French harp, traveling to schools to entertain the students. he spent his latter ears in Florida where he died in 1930. Plummer is buried in Blackwell, Oklahoma.

Francis Marion Erikson, born Dec. 28, 1883 in Putnam county, Missouri, was the eldest son of the Plummer Eriksons. At the age of only 15, Francis Erikson left Missouri to feed 300 head of steers for a Mr. Crumpacker in Nebraska. He undertook the total ranch operations. He cooked for himself in a dugout on the spread and was a part-time boarder with a family nearby.

Francis Marion Erikson married Myrtle Violet Moore, born in Skylar County, Mo, April 4, 1887 of English-Dutch descent. Myrtle's parents, William H. and Mathilda Moore, had come to Oklahoma in a wagon and homesteaded 28 miles northwest of Alva on the present day Eugene Moore place.

F. M. and Myrtle met on the Jim Holmes ranch when she was hired to assist Mrs. Gibson. The couple were married on Jan. 7, 1904 in the Renfrew building in Alva. For a wedding present her father gave them 12 laying hens and the couple often boasted of getting 12 eggs a day. At the time of their marriage R. M. ad acquired a herd of 50 head of cattle and several horses.

When F. M. and Myrtle were first married both worked for George Hodges north of Aetna. Francis then homesteaded a quarter section directly north of what is now the Hill Ranch house, but was then being proved up by Henry Reutlinger. Francis added to his property by buying out another homesteader. The Eriksons made their home in a dugout on the claim where their oldest daughter, Opal violet, was born. He later sold the half section to Henry Reutlinger.

Erikson later bought a homestead in the yellowstone area directly north of Faulkner, 26 miles northwest of Alva, now the Howard Erikson ranch, from his father-in-law.

Francis and Myrtle's children were: William Herbert "Buck", mabel Calre, Irene Ruth "Babe", Pearl Marie, Howard Plummer "BunK", Virgil V. "Buster", Irish, Earl Elwood "Wienie", Francis Marion Jr., Lorna Dee, and Georgia Elaine (who died Oct. 14, 1929).

Frncis & Myrtle's son, Virgil V. "Buster" Erikson, married Rosie Mayes and lived in rural Alva. They ad a son Larry, born October 11, 1938 and died February 8, 1944.

Francis Marion (F.M.) Erikson was fond of horses and at one time had a herd of 40 head. His main goal in life was for his children to get an education. Myrtle V. Erikson died March 13, 1949 and F. M. Erikson, Oct 14, 1963.
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1941 - Col. Bob Tells Alva He's Not Whipped

As it appeared in The Daily Oklahoman, dated Oct. 11, 1941, page 7, the following headlines read: "Colonel Bob Tells Alva He's Not Whipped."

This is to report to the many friends of Col. Bob Kirkbride, who helped run the rattlesnakes and coyotes out of Woods county, that he is getting along fine.

He is just a shadow of his former self, dropped from 290 to 220 pounds, but he still has that old razz-ma-tazz spirit that made his name a household word throughout Woods County.

"Tell my friends I drew a long row to hoe this time, with lots of weeds, but I'm getting the job done." he said from his bed at Wesley hospital.

That was the pioneer auctioneer's way of explaining he is recuperating from a kidney operation he underwent Monday (1941).

Good Old Alva -- "I've been sick since August, been everything wrong with me but my appetite and disposition, but I'm winning out and will be up and back in heaven on earth, Alva, before very long," Kirkbride said.

Kirkbride's speech is something like that of his good friend, Governor Phillips, whom he has known since their Custer county days. Kirkbride's speech is salty, and to the point.

Given a chance, Kirkbride, who has lived in Woods County since 1905, will go into a spiel that would make the Alva chamber of commerce blush.

Save A Duck -- "Say, tell those boys up there not to kill all those ducks, I've got to get my share for my annual Rotary club luncheon and to feed all those crippled children folks who eat with me every year." he continued.

"And say, tell all the rest of the folks that Alva is the best city in the best county in the best state in the union, and tell them to come see me some time."

Does anyone out there remember any of the stories concerning the annual Rotary duck dinner luncheon's that Col. Bob Kirkbride used to feed the crippled children who ate with him each year?
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Horace Mann - 55-56 (Alva, OK)

This is the Horace Mann School, grade 8, Section 1, 1955-56. Starting at the top row, left to right: (?), Linda Newman, Dennis Wilson, Perry McGuire, Wayne Wiersig, Ellis Raymer, (?), Rebecca Burnidge, Marletta Farley.

Second row, left to right: Don Braswell, Stanley Ashton, Jack Brown, Bob Wilkinson, (?), (?), Delbert Tolle, Donald Hood, Rodney Wilson.

Third Row Down, left to right: Linda Rhodes, Judy Arndt, Jim McGuire, Jim Cox, Harold Hada, Wesley Huffman, Evert Roach, Rose Ann Paul, Barbra Peaster.

Bottom Row, left to Right: Jimmy Stewart, Darell Holt, Dick Lenhart, Latricia Powell, Bobby Jean Ridgway, Virgie Wilks." -- Ellis Raymer
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Alva Fire of the Mid-1940's

"The only fire I can remember like that was one that happened in the late 40's or ealy 50's a little girl died in an apartment fire above a grocery store, Seems the grocery store name was Magnusens or something like that. Her mother had left the two girls asleep and ran down to the grocery store and the fire started and one of the girls did not survive. As I remember it. There may have been one in 1944 that I didn't know about. I lived there in 1944 but I can't seem to recall that." -- Marty
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Woodrow Wilson Tilghman

"For those who do NOT know: Bill Tilghman was a famous peace officer (Deputy U.S. Marshal) who helped clean up Dodge City, Kansas before coming in to the badlands of Indian Territory and then after a while was the first city marshal (police chief) of Perry, Oklahoma and then he moved on to Cromwell, Oklahoma where he was gunned down (killed) by a dishonest police officer." -- Roy
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Colorado's Autumn Aspen Color

Good Day, Linda! I was in El Paso last September 29 and 30 and returned home Tuesday, October 1, via Frontier Airlines which took me over the SE Colorado/NE New Mexico mountains. As we got close to Denver, the "hills" became splashed with yellow. Some places were many small patches other places were one large patch. We decided that this was the Aspen's turning. It was really pretty and was a different perspective on an annual event. Keep up the good work. Thanks for the newsletter." -- Jim Bradley, NWOSU Class of 1959, Westmoreland, KS
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Sheriff D. C. Oates

"Jim, I was very excited to see that you have put together a CD. I am one of six grandchildren born to Frank Willard Patterson. My Grandfather was the owner of his father, Otis Harvey Patterson's Oklahoma Claim flag. This flag was proudly displayed in my Grandparent's New Mexico cabin until he and my Great Aunt Pat Birkett donated it to the Oklahoma Historical Museums.

The flag reads: "This CLAIM TAKEN BY O.H.PATTERSON."

He and my great grandmother, Myrtle May Holder Patterson, were a huge part of settling that territory. If your CD has information about them, I would imagine my siblings and cousins would love to purchase a copy! Regardless, thank you for taking the time and great effort to document our nations tremendous history." -- Paulita Aldridge Hayes - OkieLegacy Comment
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Jukebox Site

"Sure did enjoy the site of the jukebox. Haven't played all the songs yet and none completely thru but made me feel young again to hear those songs that had some meaning to them and you can understand the words. Will go on that site again and again to play for background music while I'm working." -- Anita, KS
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Kansas City Gas Prices

"Hi, Linda! I just read your review of the Alva - SW Colorado trip Saturday. WOW, lots of snow. I have to comment about the gas prices. I bought gas on Saturday here in Kansas City for $2.87!! That was nice. It has been running about $3.24 in the suburbs and as high as $3.95 at inner city stations. They are always higher there near the poorer parts of town! - not as much choice as suburban people have. Groceries are also always higher there too! Sad...!" -- Steve
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1944 Alva, OK - Larry Erikson Death

"My memories are that the victim was very nearly my age, and I too was born in October, 1938. While I didn’t quite remember that we were so near the same age, and I don’t recall that I knew Larry (Erikson), but this was the event which I recall as teaching me that one should never crawl under a bed to get away from a fire." -- Marvin H.
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When God Made Oklahoma (Poem)

"This poem was printed in "The Duncan [Oklahoma] Banner" (date unknown) and was credited to Helen C. Coon." -- Sharon

[Editor's Note: When God Made Oklahoma click above link to see/read entire poem
When God made Oklahoma
I think he had some fun.
I think he used the leftovers
When everything else was done.

When he finished the Painted Desert
He still had lots of red
So he brush-stroked Oklahoma
Painting land and river bed.

Whe god created mountains
A pile of stones in his hand
Were stacked in Oklahoma
Making the Arbuckle and Wichita band.

When God built large, rain forests
In Arkansas and so
He had so many extra seeds
Well, where should the rest go?....."]
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Old First Congregational Church Ledger

"I have 2 very old ledgers for The First Congregational Church in Alva that I meant to take with me and donate to the museum when I was in Alva a couple of weeks ago, but I forgot them. I don't want to just mail them "blindly." I want a "name" to address the package to. Is there any way you can put me in touch with Jim Barker (Cherokee Strip Museum)? If you still have his email addy, you can send mine to him. Thanks!" -- Kathy - Email: diamondfire1947@yahoo.com
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Gandy Book Published

"Helen Blasingame Gandy, widow of Lawdis Lee Gandy, Anadarko High School Class of 1951, has finally published Lawdis' book: HANDS OF A KILLER.

It is the griping story of the brutal murder on July 18, 1979 of Lawdis' parents, Elmo and Opal Gandy.

Opal's brother Billy Gene Stout of Marlow, OK was convicted of the murder and was waiting on death row at The Oklahoma State Prison in McAlester when he died of natural causes on December 15, 1994 at the age of 67. He was buried in the prison cemetery.

HANDS OF A KILLER starts with the day the bodies were found in their Anadarko home. It goes through the trial in great detail and the long appeal process, which went on for 15 years.

The story is told by Lawdis in moving first-person style.

Lawdis was a journalism graduate from the University of Oklahoma. He was a reporter for the Stars and Stripes newspaper while stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany. Lawdis also was a reporter for the Lawton Constitution-Press and the Anadarko Daily News.

Lots of local friends and neighbors were mentioned in the 354-page softcover book. The text was set in 14-point type which makes for easy reading.

For details about pricing, mailing cost and personal autographing, contact Helen in Tuttle, OK by email: Lgandy@prodigy.net.

Helen will have a book signing from 2 to 5 pm on Sunday, October 19th at the Community Library in Anadarko." - D. Talkington
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History of Honor Flight

"Honor Flight is a non profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. We fly our heroes to Washington, DC to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – WW II survivors along with those other veterans that may be terminally ill. Honor Flight first flew in May 2005 with six small planes flying 12 WW II veterans, departing out of Springfield, Ohio. In 2006, with a waiting list of veterans expanding rapidly, we transitioned to commercial airline carriers to accommodate the maximum number of veterans as possible. Partnering with Honor Air in Hendersonville, North Carolina and Hero Flight in Provo, Utah, we formed the “Honor Flight Network.” Together, we are aggressively expanding our programs to other cities across the nation in 2008. Based on recent statistics, we are losing WW II veterans at the rate of 1200 per day. Honor Flight will continue do whatever it takes to fulfill the dreams of our veterans and, very importantly, our senior heroes travel absolutely free....." -- History of Honor Flight Inc. Link submitted by Homer
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Perry, OK Rain & Tumbling Gas Prices

"So far this month of October has brought almost six tenths of an inch of rain to Perry, Oklahoma and as of yesterday, October 9th., the gasahol price per gallon at the local Conoco station was $2.79.9! They just keep getting better.

Perry's gas prices dropped again today (Oct. 11, 2008). Conoco was at $2.63.9 Friday and dropped another 5 cents Saturday, down to $2.58.9. I can hardly wait for those 'high' prices of $1.38.9 twenty years ago to return. It could happen! Perhaps?" -- Roy of Perry
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The Lady and The Deer

"I thought you might enjoy this episode of "The Lady and The Deer. And now, a little tale from my neighbor...

You know we have a lot of deer coming through our property. What you didn’t know is Joyce and I have been practicing roping just for fun. We have horses; why not learn to be cowboys.

Last week, I had this idea that I was going to rope a deer, put it in a stall in our barn, feed it on corn for a couple of weeks, then butcher it and have venison for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The first step in this adventure was getting a deer. I figured that, since they congregate in the field next to the horse barn, and do not seem to have much fear of me when we are there (a bold one will sometimes come right up and sniff at the bags of feed while I am in the back of the truck not 4 feet away), it should not be difficult to rope one, get up to it and toss a bag over its head (to calm it down) then hog tie it and transport it home.

I fed the horses in the field and then hid down at the end wall with my rope.

The horses, having seen the roping thing before, stayed well back They were not having any of it.

After about 20 minutes, my deer showed up -- 3 of them. I picked out....a likely looking one, stepped out from the end of the wall, and threw. my rope over his head and around his neck. The deer just stood there and stared at me.

I wrapped the rope around my waist and twisted the end so I would have a good hold. The deer still just stood and stared at me, but you could tell it was mildly concerned about the whole rope situation.

I took a step towards it...it took a step away. I put a little tension on the rope and then received an education.

The first thing that I learned is that, while a deer may just stand there looking at you funny while you rope it, they are spurred to action when you start pulling on that rope.

That deer EXPLODED.

The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is a LOT stronger than a cow or a colt. A cow or a colt in that weight range I could fight down with a rope and with some dignity. A deer-- no chance.

That thing ran and bucked and twisted and pulled. There was no controlling it and certainly no getting close to it. As it jerked me off my feet and started dragging me across the ground, it occurred to me that having a deer on a rope was not nearly as good an idea as I had originally imagined.

The only up side is that they do not have as much stamina as many other animals.

A brief 10 minutes later, it was tired and not nearly as quick to jerk me off my feet and drag me when I managed to get up. It took me a few minutes to realize this, since I was mostly blinded by the blood flowing out of the big gash in my head. At that point, I had lost my taste for corn-fed venison. I just wanted to get that devil creature off the end of that rope.

I figured if I just let it go with the rope hanging around its neck, it would likely die slow and painfully somewhere.

At the time, there was no love at all between me and that deer. At that moment, I hated the thing, and I would venture a guess that the feeling was mutual.

Despite the gash in my head and the several large knots where I had cleverly arrested the deer's momentum by bracing my head against various large rocks as it dragged me across the ground, I could still think clearly enough to recognize that there was a small chance that I shared some tiny amount of responsibility for the situation we were in, so I didn't want the deer to have to suffer a slow death, so I managed to get it lined back up in between my truck and the barn - a little trap I had set before hand...kind of like a squeeze chute.

I got it to back in there and I started moving up so I could get my rope back.

Did you know that deer bite? They do! I never in a million years would have thought that a deer would bite somebody, so I was very surprised when I reached up there to grab that rope and the deer grabbed hold of my wrist.

Now, when a deer bites you, it is not like being bit by a horse where they just bite you and then let go. A deer bites you and shakes its head -- almost like a pit bull. They bite HARD and it hurts.

The proper thing to do when a deer bites you is probably to freeze and draw back slowly. I tried screaming and shaking instead. My method was ineffective.

It seems like the deer was biting and shaking for several minutes, but it was likely only several seconds.

I, being smarter than a deer (though you may be questioning that claim by now) tricked it.

While I kept it busy tearing the tendons out of my right arm, I reached up with my left hand and pulled that rope loose. That was when I got my final lesson in deer behavior for the day.

Deer will strike at you with their front feet. They rear right up on their back feet and strike right about head and shoulder level, and their hooves are surprisingly sharp.

I learned a long time ago that, when an animal -- like a horse --strikes at you with their hooves and you can't get away easily, the best thing to do is try to make a loud noise and make an aggressive move towards the animal. This will usually cause them to back down a bit so you can escape.

This was not a horse. This was a deer, so obviously, such trickery would not work. In the course of a millisecond, I devised a different strategy.

I screamed like a woman and tried to turn and run.

The reason I had always been told NOT to try to turn and run from a horse that paws at you is that there is a good chance that it will hit you in the back of the head.

Deer may not be so different from horses after all, besides being twice as strong and 3 times as evil, because the second I turned to run, it hit me right in the back of the head and knocked me down.

Now, when a deer paws at you and knocks you down, it does not immediately leave. I suspect it does not recognize that the danger has passed. What they do instead is paw your back and jump up and down on you while you are laying there crying like a little girl and covering your head.

I finally managed to crawl under the truck and the deer went away.

So now I know why when people go deer hunting they bring a rifle with a scope to sor t of even the odds. " -- Homer Hawkins, Lawton, Ok." -- Homer, Lawton, OK
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Troopergate Report: Gov. Palin Abused Power

Branchflower's report contains four findings. The first concludes that Palin violated the state's executive branch ethics act, which says that "each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust." -- Branchflower's Report: Palin Abused Power

Branchflower Report to Legislative council, page 8 of 263, Findings: "For the reasons explained in section IV of this report, I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.2.110(a) provides." That statute provides "The legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust, and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust."
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