Ice Storms Across Heartlands

The end of January 2009 passed through with ice storms across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and on eastward, leaving electrical outages along its path. The beginning of February finds us on this first Sunday of the second month of 2009 as we put our energy to publishing this week's OkieLegacy eZine.

Will the ground hog, Punxsutawney Phil, of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, come out and see his shadow?

How many times have you watched that movie on the tellie with Bill Murray playing a weatherman, who travels to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to join in the ground hog festivals as he broadcasts his weather predictions for the year over and over again? How many times did he awake to the same day -- over and over until he finally moved on in his life?

Check out these links for the official Ground Hog site and catch the long weekend of activities in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania culminating February 2nd, at Gobblers Knob, at the following website - February 2nd, Ground Hog Day - for a schedule of events, Monday, February 2nd, in Punxsutawney, PA, for the 123rd Trek to Gobbler's Knob for Phil's official prognostication. Phil will predict at daybreak (approx. 7:25 a.m.), gates open at 3:00 a.m.

You will notice over in the right column we have added a few NEW links. One of those is for those who enjoying working crossword puzzles. We found a site that lets us make crosswords of our own to use on this site. We have not activated the crossword puzzle yet. We would like to know if it would be beneficial and would anyone like to see it added to the OkieLegacy eZine site? Thanks for your input!
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Castle On the Hill - Alva OK

"The school's original primary function was to train teachers by providing two years of college-level classes. Early settlers in the area established numerous one-room schools, and the demand for teachers and better teacher training became critical.

Therefore, in 1919 Northwestern evolved into a four-year, degree-granting institution known as Northwestern State Teachers College." -- Oklahoma Historical Society's encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & culture, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, vol. pg. - Digital Library of OSU

In 1939 the facility became Northwestern State College. The institution continued to broaden and revise its programs, and its named changed to Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 1974. Branch campuses were established in Enid and in Woodward in 1996.

The annual enrollment hovered around two thousand, with the largest enrollment occurring in 1968 with 2,641 students.
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Ashley Oklahoma Territory Plat & Map

The Plat of Ashley, Oklahoma Territory has been scanned to these PDF files at the following links: Ashley, O.T. Woods Co. - pdf file - AND - PDF File - Ashley, O.T. Plat

It starts out reading: Territory of Oklahoma, Woods County ss - Before me a Notary Public in and of forsaid County and Territory on this 3 day of October, 1901, personally appeared (Henry G. Perring) to me known to be the identical person who signed the name to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged the execution thereof to be his free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein set forth.

Witness my hand and official seal the day and year last above written.
WM Bickel
My commission expires Aug. 28, 1905, Notary Public

Plat of Ashley, Woods Co., O.T. Sec's. 19 and 20, T. 27 N, R. 12W.
Scale: 1in-100ft -- Sept 23, 1901
Filed in my office this 12 day of October 1901 at 5 p.m.
C. A. Green, Register of Deeds

Territory Oklahoma - Woods County ss

This is to certify that J. A. Stine and Emma J. Stine have caused the following described lands in Woods County, Oklahoma Territory to wit. Being a part of the SouthEast quarter of Section 19, in Township 27 North of Range 12 W of the Indian Meridian and particularly bounded and described as follows to wit: commencing at a point 150 feet South of the North East corner of said quarter section, running thence South along the East line of said quarter section 614 feet; thence west parallel with the north line of said quarter section 1418 feet; thence north parallel with the east line of said quarter section, 614 feet to south line of Railroad right of way; thence east along said South line of said right of way 1418 feet to place of beginning containing 20 acres more or less:

And also a part of the South West quarter of Section 20 Township 27 Range 12 W. and bounded as follows: commencing at a point 150 feet south of the northwest corner of said quarter section running. Thence south along the west line of said quarter section 614 feet, Thence east far enough to make 10 acres adjoining the Choctaw Northern Railway on the north said plat to be 10 acres in all to be surveyed and platted as ---- ASHLEY ---- Woods County, Oklahoma Territory as shown by the plat on the margin of which this is written. That said tracts as platted are hereby dedicated to Townsite purposes and the avenues, streets and alleys thereof as public highways for the purposes of travel and traffic.

Witness our hands and seal this day of 1901. -- signed by J. A. Stine & Emma J. Stine

(The Notary of Territory Oklahoma, Woods County witnessed his hand and seal was Frank Munson.)

Territory Oklahoma, Woods County ss -- I Henry G. Perring, a civil engineer, herby certify that I have surveyed and platted the annexed map of ASHLEY Woods County, Oklahoma Territory, in tolds, blocks, streets and alleys. Said town is located upon and embraces the land described in the dedication thereof hereto attached. That this plat on the margin of which this is written, is correct as surveyed by me. All distances are estimated in feet. In witness hereof I have hereunder subscribed this 3rd day of October, 1901. -- signed by Henry G. Perring
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Logan County High School - 1903-1911

Accordiing to the Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. 37, pg 199, -- Logan County High School was the first of the five to organize, at Guthrie, where there was already a good school in the Territorial capitol city.

It was a continuation and expansion of Guthrie High School, enlarged to provide for all of Logan County and with county-wide financial support.

It was soon after the Territorial Legislature passed the county high school law, the Guthrie Commercial Club appointed a committee to work with County Superintendent W. S. Calvert to formulate plans to establish a school there.

there was an election November, 1902, voters of the county gave more than a 500 majority in favor of the proposal. Trustees Stafford and Calvert were sent to towns in Kansas and Missouri to study similar schools there and to suggest plans for building.

School opened in the fall of 1903, using the Christian Church to supplement the room provided by the guthrie High School building. The new building of 23 rooms was occupied, December 17, 1904 and dedicated February 18, 1905.

This larger structure sufficed for the county school during its eight years of existence. In 1911, Logan County High School was discontinued and the title to the building was transferred to the Guthrie District and the work of Guthrie High School resumed in it.

In 1925-26, the senior high school was moved to its new home near the masonic Temple, and what had been Logan County High School building was then used by Fogarty Junior High School. This building was i North Guthrie and just east of US Hwy 77, was later razed to give way to the more modern home for Fogarty High School.

Logan County High School actually served the entire county, not only the local area. Enrollment the first year was 316, with 390 the second year and 422 the third year, and with only 185 living in Guthrie. In 1908, it was 508 and later passed 600, with every township represented.

The first graduating class of 15 had doubled by 1906, and they continued to grow. W. S. Calvert was the first principal, and followed by Snowdon Parlette and then by Chas. H. Roberts. They were supported by staffs of able teachers, trained in good colleges. The last years the faculty exceeded 2o instructors.

The Logan County High School offered a high grade of work. Its large enrollment in the earlier years many included those who could not otherwise have secured a high school education.

The Farmers Institute of Logan county adopted a resolution in 1908, calling for repeal of the county high school law which, "taxed the whole county for the education of the children where the school was located." As the little high schools grew, more tax payers felt the burden of supporting two high school programs.

By 1911, the need of the county high school had decreased to the extent that, by agreement of those concerned, it was discontinued. In 1959 there were six high schools in Logan County with five or more teachers each, providing good facilities within easy reach of all logan county youth.
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Okfuskee County High School - 1909-1935

The Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. 37, pg 205, also mentioned -- Okfuskee County High School operated 26 years in the small town of Paden, near the wester line of the county and not near another center of white population.

During the first year of statehood, Okfuskee County voters were eagerly looking forward to participating in their first election of State and National officials, as this area was, until 1907, part of Indian Territory. Okemah was the county seat and some of the other towns felt the need of some kind of institution. A mass meeting was held at Paden in August, 1908, and a county hgih school was the topic being discussed and it was reported that one proponent stated, "Let Okemah have the county seat and Weleetka the penitentiary, but let Paden push for schools."

October 6, 1908, the Okfuskee county commissioners were presented with a petition signed by 876 voters of the county, more than the one third needed to call for a vote on the county high school proposal. The commissioners submitted the easure at the regular election, November 3, 1908, and it probably received very little attention outside the Paden community, due to interest in the general election. The proposal carried 1,196 "for" and 1,038 "against."

A majority of the precincts voted against it, including Weleetka and Boley but Okemah, for some reason, voted favorably. The Paden majority was 205, which was 47 more than the majority in the entire county. The Paden vote decided the issue.

In March, 1909, the county high school law was repealed, but with the provision that any county operating a high school or having voted to establish one as much as sixty days prior to the date when the repeal became effective would be allowed to operate a county school under the law of 1901 and the 1903 amendments to it. This enabled Okfuskee County High School to open in Paden in September, 1909, in the Paden public school building, where it operated through its 26 years.

Weleetka citizens filed an injunction questioning the legality of the election at which the measure had carried. The vote was upheld by the court in May, 1910. later the Turstees negotiated for a contract for a two-story, brick building, 104 by 68 feet, in dimension, at a contract price of $19,851. In the autumn of 1911 the voters of the county defeated, 569 to 384, a bond issue to erect a county high school building. There were two high school teachers, including the principal, the first few years and with very small enrollments, and they mostly from the Paden District. Early principals included T. A. Gross, E. E. Knack, and Luther Russell.

In its later years there were five teachers, maybe six sometimes. The principals and Paden superintendents in the last decade included Cecil E. Oakes and Gilbert L. Robinson.

Through the last two decades the school was accredited by the State Department of Education for 19 to 23 1/2 units, showing a fair range of elective courses. For a good many years, there were two units each of Latin and Spanish, the latter dropped first and Latin disappearing in the very last years. Home economics and agriculture, was well as business subjects, music and speech proved popular in latter years.

In January, 1916, the enrollment was reported as 32, with only 26 still on the roll, and the largest enrollment the school had ever had. it was not probable that the school ever drew much beyond the district boundaries and a few from neighboring districts. Its location made this inevitable.

Red Phillips, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, was instrumental in bringing about the abolishment of the Okfuskee County High School at the close of the school year 1934-35.

the records of the County Superintendent of Okfuskee County had an account of an important meeting held at Okemah, July 22, 1935. The county High school trustees invited to meet with them the county commissioners, county excise board, county attorney, and members of the board of Paden District No. 14. The chairman stated that the purpose of the meeting was to determine whether further funds could be raised for the county school. When it was explained that there were no available funds a resolution was offered and passed unanimously.

July, 1935, was the last time that Okfuskee County High School legally existed. Prior to that date Paden Schools had included grades one through eight. The Oklahoma Public School Directory for 1935-36 shows an increase in the number of Paden teachers from eight to eleven, the increase being due to absorbing the high school. Mr. Oakes stated that it continued in the same two-story red brick building, owned by the Paden District, where it had been previously operating at the expense of the entire county.
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7/24/1929 - R.I. Section Crew Is Hit By Lightning

7/24/29 article in NW Oklahoma newspaper -- This story appeared in the Alva Review Courier, July 24, 1929.

"S. M. Murphy Hurt Seriously At Ashley - S. M. Murphy, 54 years old, Rock Island railroad section hand, was in a serious condition here today after being struck by a bolt of lightning late Monday at Ashley.

The same bolt which struck Murphy rendered T. C. Brannon, 64, and Clarence Bittner, 31, unconscious. Neither was seriously injured.

Burned About Chest

Three Unconscious

Murphy Believed Dead

Rural Churches In NW Oklahoma

Ila Marlatt Wessels says, "I have completed my research and have information on about 52 rural churches and some on the churches in towns in Alfalfa county. I will be glad to share this information."
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Gold Spot Dairy Lunchroom

Al Weigand says, "Reading the Woolworth's menu brought back a memory of the Gold Spot Dairy Lunchroom in Enid.

Living in the Lambert community, we made it to Enid on occasion (starting at 6:00 AM and proceeding at 35 MPH during WWII). If we were going to a family reunion, we would stop and get fresh potato chips at a Chip factory on N. Grand on our way to Government Springs Park, where there were actual springs running with a sign announcing the mineral content of each.

If we were there to shop, we sometimes had a malted and a pimento cheese sandwich at Gold Spot. I do not know what was in that pimento cheese, but I remember it as rich, delicious and satisfying. Wish I had the recipe.

Other random Enid memories include the shoe department at Kress, with the X-ray machine to look at your feet inside the shoe, and the twin water fountains labeled "white" and "colored" on the inside wall. A burger joint on the corner East of the bank, with 15-cent sliders and perpetual bean soup (they never tossed out the soup and started over, just added to it).
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NW Okie Says...

NW Okie says, "Several of you have thanked us for listing the posting of the 1950 Menu at Woolworths. Some have printed it off to hang in their cafe. We hear that the Alva Public Library has a microfilm reader that allows you to save articles to a laptop or print them, if that is preferred. We also hear that the Woods County Enterprise (Waynoka newspaper) has some area smaller town newspapers on microfilm at the Waynoka library.

"You will notice above each feature a smiley and frowny face. It it is connected to our survey database and is also a new feature of the OkieLegacy eZine. IF ... You like a particular feature article and want to let us know, click the smiley face. IF NOT ... Click the Frowny face." Thanks for your input!
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Out East of Aline - The Book

Sandie says, "Linda, are you familiar with a book, Out East of Aline, an adoption memoir by Rex L Wilson? It was published by Uncommom Buffalo Press, Rapid City, SD.

The author was born 4 miles East of Aline, Oklahoma and about 8 miles West of Helena, Oklahoma.

His mother left him at the West Oklahoma State Home for White Children at Helena when he was about 5-1/2 years old. He was adopted by a family in the area when he was about 6-1/2 or 7 years old. He later served in the South Pacific during WWII, and after the war became an archaeologist, and enjoyed a career with the US Department of the Interior. It is a fascinating and informative book. It is out of print, but is available on Amazon.com.

Amazon.com is the only place I know. I bought mine several years ago at the Helena bank, but called there and they don't have any. It is quite a book. In the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma online, there's a photo of the orphanage - room full of perfectly-made beds for babies and older children. The orphanage has been several things. It was originally the high school, and now is inside the prison grounds. I recommend it.

I checked half.com. They have two or three copies. Ebay has a buy it now copy for less than $3 (I didn't notice the shipping cost)."
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Great Pics of Pre-1942

Frances M. says, "Here is a great set of pictures, showing life in America, before 1942, I was born in 1936 and some of it I relate to it very well. Just thought you might enjoy seeing the set of pictures." -- A Look Back In history
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Oklahoma Ice Storm

Butch says, "Monday (January 26) 6pm. No ice yet, but its all north. OKC let everyone go home right after noon today. They are expecting 1/2 to 3/4 inch of ice over the next 24 hrs. Sounds bad too me. Our ice should start arriving in the next 2 hrs."

Mike says, "Ice storm is hitting the middle of the state. Only slightly icy here in NW OK. didn't start until noon. They closed the campus in Alva, Enid, and Woodword for Tuesday. It is starting to coat the branches with a layer of ice. I have a feeling that there will be branches down tomorrow."
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Frontpages Online - Local Newspapers of Oklahoma

Roy says, "Check out the front page of today's Perry Daily Journal at www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/ and also check other papers throughout the country or even the world! Very interesting."
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Picture for Remembrance Memorial & Blog

Gary says, "Another picture arrived a few days ago from a relative that found the Remembrance Memorial and Memorial Blog webpages.

Might get another or so of the crew. The sister of Lt. William M. Lester, co-pilot (photo on left), is trying to contact relatives of the other crew members that were killed. She is 85, but seems to have her heart in it. The comment for the blog follows:

"Six B-26 Martin "Marauders" of the 585th Squadron, 394th Bombardment Group, were flying, July 12, 1943, in a loose, three element, two plane formation from MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida to Ardmore Army Air Field, Oklahoma. The 394th was in the process of moving troops and aircraft to their new assignment. Pilots and crews were flying the 33 aircraft of the 585th, 586th and 587th Squadrons to Ardmore while the support personnel were traveling to Ardmore on two troop trains.

The six aircraft were flying under “radio silence” and visual flight rules at 2,500 feet. Captain Edward B. Saxon was leading the No. 1 element.

Captain Shelton H. Pierce and Lt. William M. Lester, co-pilot, were on his left wing and Lt. William T. White, Jr. was on his right wing. Lt. George C. Pinyerd was leading the No. 3 element with Lt. Francis M. Kirby on his left wing.

The planes were to land at DeRidder Army Air Base before proceeding to Ardmore. Prior to their arrival there, Captain Pierce and Lt. Lester's aircraft, 41-34770, and Lt. Pinyerd's plane dropped out of formation. Due to radio silence, Captain Saxon physically signaled them to return to their positions. He checked a short time later and had four planes on his right, assuming they had followed his instructions. When they landed at DeRidder, it was discovered that 41-34770 was missing. The aircraft had crashed approximately 26-miles southeast of Harding Field, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. All seven crew members perished. Accident investigators could not discover the cause of the crash, declaring it "100% undetermined."

Thanks again for the time you expend in maintaining the Remembrance Memorial Park website."
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Great Memories

Memories Are Made of This -- Ellis says, "I remember all these things. I bet you will, too. AND... Thought you would enjoy this song. Well done and a great message - www.bornagainamerican.org."
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Gas Price Locator

Mike says, "This is a neat gas price locator. You can create a link for any zip code - autos.msn.com."
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Inquiry: Star Theater, Minco, OK

Linda Mills says, "Would like any info available on the Star Theater, Minco, Oklahoma.

My family (deceased father, Noah Standifer) owned this theater mid 1960s (say 61-63 possibly). My brother and I (last of family) are interested in information and especially pictures of the theater.

We would be very gratiful, as this was a happy time for a couple of teenagers.

I sold tickets and worked the concession stand with my Mom. My brother and dad ran the projectors. I remember film row, as we called it, in Oklahoma City, where we would view and purchase movies for the coming month, order calendars, buy concession supplies. It was a neat experience to learn the ins and out of show biz ... sure wish I would have kept those movie posters." -- OkieLegacy eZine Comment
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