Duchess Snowy Domain

Bayfield, CO - The last few days in SW Colorado around here have been in the mid-40s. It even got up to 50F in Durango on this Monday afternoon. BUT ... that may be the calm before the real storm that is expected the latter part of this week with more cold weather and a possibility of snow again.

Those weird shaped icicles on the left were snapped as they formed from the slowly, melting, sliding snow from the rooftop.

We discovered the snow amounts in Oklahoma last week (February 8th and 9th) from Alva's newspaper, which said they had 10 to 14 inches of snow the beginning of last week with winds and three feet snow drifts.

Roy in Perry (Feb. 9) said , "Perry measured about 12-inches while the snow was still (slightly) falling, but now the sun is shining brightly and I've looked for my sun glasses so that I can shovel my way to the car. Not that I plan to drive anywhere today, but I wanted to see if there was some more firewood in the trunk? It's very cold outside and my wood stove needs replenishing. There's supposed to be a warming trend beginning tomorrow and back into the 50s and 60s."

Before the warmer temps the last few days, Happy Valentines Day! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

This Day In History (February 14)

America - On this day in history, February 14, 1929, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre took place in a Chicago garage as seven rivals of Al Capone's gang were gunned down.

Do you remember hearing stories of the St. Valentines Massacre of 1929? Seen the movie?

The headlines on that day read: "7 Chicago Gangsters Slain by Firing Squad of Rivals, Some in Police Uniforms." Four machine gun executioners, wearing badges, made sift escape in automobile.

The first paragraph reads, "Chicago, Feb. 14 -- Chicago gangland leaders observed Valentine's Day with machine guns and a stream of bullets and as a result seven members of the George (Bugs) Moran-Dean O'Banion, North Side Gang are dead in the most cold-blooded gang massacre in the history of this city's underworld." The dead were identified as James Clark, Frank Gusenberg, Peter Gusenberg, John May, Reinhardt H. Schwimmer, John Snyder, Albert Weinshank. -- READ REST of the STORY.

On Feb. 14, 1847, Anna Howard Shaw, one of the most influential leaders of the women's suffrage movement, was born. Following her death on July 2, 1919, her obituary appeared in The Times. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NW Okie's R & R - The Good Old Days

Bayfield, CO - Remember "Old Man Davis", who we believe had a studio in Alva, Oklahoma? I just love this photo on the left of "Old Man Davis." I would love to know more about this character of the past that had a studio in northwest Oklahoma in Alva, Woods county area.

The reason for rerunning this photo from our Vol. 11, Iss 46 OkieLegacy Ezine is because recently someone saw the Old Alva Photos on a Rootsweb messageboard and was looking for more information about the John Eugene Maddox family that live around the Alva, Woods county area in the late 1880's. Is there anyone out there that could help in their search for information?

There was another comment to our Stella Friends Academy Class Roster. Terry Row writes, "Stella Academy figures prominently in my new book, Phyllis Marie, a novel based on a true story. It's the story of my parents -- Perry V. Row and Phyllis Stanton Row -- and the B-17 Bomber he named after her during World War II. It is also a family history, tracing their parents from childhood and telling some of the stories of the Row, Whitaker, Stanton and Hill families from the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, as they migrated between Kansas and Oklahoma. Three of my four grandparents attended Stella Academy: Clifton C. Row, Georgia Whitaker, and Edwin M. Stanton. Edwin M. Stanton's brother Irvin also attended, and their mother, Edith Bowles Stanton Worth, was a prominent teacher and preacher who worked there for a time as a dormitory matron. Georgia Whitaker's sister, Lena Whitaker Crow and her husband, H. Ernest Crow both attended. ~Terry Row"

Enjoy this calm winter weather while you can!

Good Night and Good Luck! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pictures From Yesteryear

Britton, OK - Roy of Perry, Oklahoma brings us these pictures from yesteryear of the Ritz Theatre in Britton, Oklahoma and the three Kendrick projectionists at a young age.

Roy says, "The photo taken in the projection booth at the Ritz Theatre shows me (age 17, probably) on the right, then my brother Ray (age 14) and Allan (age 12). All 3 were projectionists at this time. That's Larry Owens in front.

"Although Owen was a close friend, I don't think he ever worked at either of the theatres. Allan was working as relief operator at the Britton Theatre (the "B" house) but had already been trained by me in the Ritz booth, too. Ray worked in both booths as did I.

"The other operators at that time were Wayne LaBourne, Paul Ferguson, and Floyd Love. The meter on the wall above Ray and me told us what the voltage was at any given moment (it varied; especially when the big air conditioner kicked on) so that we could make rapid adjustments to the carbon arc when necessary." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Warshing Clothes Recipe

America - This washing (Warshing) clothes recipe from the past comes by way of Steve Nicholson. Steve says, "The Warshing Clothes Recipe is below. Never thought of a "washer" in this light before. What a blessing! Years ago a Bisbee grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe. This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook -- with spelling errors and all.

WARSHING CLOTHES

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one hole cake of lie soap in boilin water.

Sort things, make 3 piles. 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags.

To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water.

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch. Hang old rags on fence. Spread tea towels on grass. Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

NOW ... Paste this over your washer and dryer next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet -- those two holers used to get mighty cold! View/Write Comments (count 4)   |   Receive updates (2 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Maddox Family of Alva, Woods, OK (Late 1880's)

Alva, OK - In Vol. 11, Iss. 46, of The OkieLegacy Ezine we had a feature entitled, "Old Photos Need A Home." These were Old Photos found awhile back by the descendants of Charles Cummings of Alva, which worked as a photographer for various studios in Alva and the area. You can view the Old Alva Studio photos at our Oakiepics Webshots.

On the Rootsweb messageboard for Woods county, Oklahoma, we received this notification and inquiry from someone known as "idratherbnparis". They are looking for anyone related to the Maddox family of John Eugene Maddox and his wife Anna that lived in Alva, Woods, Oklahoma during the late 1880's.

idratherbnparis says, "I am looking for anyone related to this family of John Eugene Maddox and his wife Anna. I saw that someone had posted old photos from an Alva studio. My relationship would be with Flossie. Her siblings would be Hattie, Ora, Orrie Earl, Wilbur..etc. Flossie maybe my great grandmother but I need more information about this family Please help, I have been trying to unravel a mystery about my grandmother's origins for 50 years. I am doing this for my family." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Looking for Alva High Classmates of '39

Alva, OK - Merrill Schnitzer on Facebook.com is interested in establishing contact with any surviving members of the Alva High Class of 1939. In his comment on our Facebook feed on our OkieLegacy Ezine page Merrill says, "My list is getting very small."

Can anyone help Merrill Schnitzer contact any remaining classmates of of Alva High Classmates of 1939? View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Home Comfort Range (1934) - Pastry Recipes

America - This week we promised you some pastry recipes from our Home Comfort Cookbook of 1934.

The 1934 Home Comfort Cookbook says, "Shell pastry which is to contain a cooked filling -- as for single-curst pies and cup pastries -- is baked before the filling is placed into it. If for raw or uncooked filling such as custard, the shell and filling are cooked at the same time. The pastry is lightly place in the pan in the usual manner, but is trimmed about an inch away from the rim of the pan, and this margins folded back over the edge, and scalloped, or fluted, with the fingers, to form a rigid rim around the inside of the crust."

It is necessary, in making shell and flat pastries, to provide for the escape of excess air while baking, thus preventing bubbles; after the paste is place in the tin, puncture at regular spacing with the prongs of a fork. Top crusts of pies should always contain a few perforations with the point of a knife to allow escape of any steamer vapor.

Pies should never be allowed to set after being assembled, but should be placed in the hot oven at once. For this reason, always have the oven prepared before putting the pie together. For the same reason, the upper-crust paste should be rolled out and ready to put in place before the filling is placed in the lower crust.

Avoid undertaking of all pastry, as it will be heavy and rendered less digestible.

Plain Pastry (basic recipe)

No. 1 -- Quantity for one nine-inch pie shell; double for two shells.

1 cup sifted pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4-1/2 tablespoons shortening
cold water to moisten

No. 2 -- Quantity for one nine-inch double crust, or two lower.

2 cups sifted pastry flour
3/4 teaspoon fine salt
8 tablespoons shortening
cold water to moisten

Have all ingredients of the same temperature. Add salt to flour and resift; add shortening and cut in with two knives until mixture has appearance of coarse meal; add water, spoonful at a time while mixing with a knife or spatula into a stiff paste -- just when the paste rolls into a ball and cleans the bowl o flour and paste, enough water has been added. Lightly transfer paste to a slightly floured board; do not knead, but with floured fingers form quickly and lightly into dough; roll out lightly from the center outward, spreading into desired thickness.

If bread flour is to be used, remove 1 tablespoon from each cup called for in pastry flour recipe.

When No. 1 is to be used for extremely juicy fillings, leave out 1/2 tablespoon of shortening. All measurements are level.

When No. 2 is used, divide the dough in half and roll our each crust separately. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe