Okie's NW Corner

Another week of Spring-type weather in the 70's most of this week has found the wheat growing fast here in the Northwest parts of Oklahoma. The oats are sprouting, also. As you drive out through the countryside, your eyes are filled with green quilt patches scattered everywhere. Early Friday morning, 12:30a.m. this writer was awaken by the cracking of thunder in the northwest with about 1/8th inch of rain falling. We love that wet stuff and wish for more.

Duchess wanted to stick her 2-cents in here so you wouldn't forget her before she heads off to bed. So... here's an updated snapshot of her posing as we travel the highways & country roads between central and northwest Oklahoma. Duchess has finally made her circling and settled down on her bed beside me as I begin this week's newsletter. Duchess has had a busy week dogsitting her friend Ruff, Dudley and checking the horses. So... I gave her the weekend off.

Remembering Silk Stocking Ave...

If walls could talk, what history would these walls on Silk Stocking Avenue, in Dacoma, Oklahoma have to say? You only have to travel to Dacoma, Oklahoma -- take the North/South Main Street to Whittet's Grocery on the northwest corner of Broadway & Main -- turn west on Broadway and travel west until you finally curve north onto Silk Stocking Avenue. There on the westside of the street at Broadway & Silk Stocking Avenue sits this two-story, historical home with a white picket fence and lots of legacies/histories waiting to be told. We have heard rumors/gossip from several persons, but no substantial facts to report here so far. We do know that this house in the photo once belonged to a banker in Dacoma, Oklahoma. Was that banker's name Weaber... or what was his name? Can you help us discover what legacies these walls of this Silk Stocking Avenue home have to tell? Was Silk Stocking Avenue always gone by that name... OR did it have another name?

Old Township Maps - Old Woods (M) County, Oklahoma...

I have this "Standard Atlas of Woods County, Oklahoma" that shows townships, platte maps of towns in Woods County during 1906. One of our readers as asked me if I plan to expand those maps to include others -- besides the Dacoma Township map. The answer is, "Yes!" We will be adding some of those old township maps to our NW OkieLegacy website in the future. Meanwhile, check out Township 24N-Range 13WIM to see if any of your ancestors owned land in 1906 in and around that area. If you have a request for a certain township in old M (Woods) county, let us know and we will see what we can come up with.

Doughboys & Doughnut Girls of WWI...

Remember the "Doughboys" of WWI? What about the "Doughnut Girls?" Another reader sent us a story they found online concerning the Doughnut Girls of WWI. It seems the Doughnut Girls were a part of the Salvation Army that were sent across the ocean -- feeding, caring for the soldiers fighting in WWI. Did your father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc... ever talk about the doughnuts and the Doughnut Girls of WWI? We would love to hear about it.

Games & Memories of the Old Days...

We belong to this Oklahoma History List Server. They have been talking about their memories growing up in a time without television, computers -- about the different games that they played -- memories of living in the country. Do you remember making and walking on homemade stilts -- building tree houses -- having rotten egg fights -- painting your faces with polk berries and playing cowboy and Indians -- playing kick the can, red rover, drop the hankerchief, etc... -- saving all your gum wrappers and folding them into a long chain, jewelry -- making a phone out of two tin-cans and string (and it really working). How about exploring the countryside on stick horses (and real horses) and imagining all sorts of things. Have I left anything out? We would love to hear some of your memories of growing up in the country, city.

Well! It is that time again to bring this week's newsletter to another end and see what memories can be jogged. Before we go... What about those OSU Cowpokes (Oklahoma Basketball) traveling to East Rutherford, N.J. this weekend after advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Will they make it all the way to San Antonio, TX? GO - OSU Cowpokes! See Y'all next weekend, the first weekend in April. You may also see us next weekend at Parelli's Love - Language - Leadership, 2-Day Horsemanship Seminar, April 3-4, 2004, at the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Township Map of Dacoma - 1906...

"I just found your Township map of Dacoma in 1906, showing land owners in the area around Dacoma. I wonder if you ever plan to expand that list a bit. I am most interested in finding a similar map of the area around the present Green Valley Church - a bit more south and southwest of the map I found on your Dacoma web page. The Riggs and Sherrell families had homesteads in that area within a couple of miles of present highway 45. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Silk Stocking Ave., Dacoma, OK...

Also, I found the Platte Map of Dacoma and must assume that the locally-known Silk Stocking Street (Avenue), the farthest west street in town - a north-south street running from the far northwest corner of the town down to near the RR tracks - then turning back east at Broadway toward Main Street. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Photo of Silk Stocking Avenue...

From the online map, that street and the homes along its west side are absent, so they must have been an addition to the town. I know that the street has a real name, but the homes along it were a bit more upscale when the street was added and it became known as Silk Stocking Street (Avenue). Do you know if there is a similar map that shows that addition? More to the point, do you know the real name of that street? And what the name of the addition is? It might be the Weaber addition - not sure of spelling - due to the banker's home that was built there at the corner where it turns north from Broadway. This is an early postcard photo of that home." -- Rod Murrow Freedom, OK
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Wild West Oklahoma June 11-13, 2004...

"I just read the April 2004 issue of OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHER magazine and discovered this announcement on page 84, concerning a summer photo photography event: Wild West Oklahoma June 11-13, 2004 -- 'If you've ever dreamed of photographing the Real Wild West as it was a hundred years ago, dreams could become reality at the Selman Ranch Roundup and Cattle Drive. Covering 16,000 acres along the Cimarron River breaks in Northwestern Oklahoma, the ranch is home to some 100 Texas longhorn cattle, which are tended by cowboys the old-fashioned way, with ropers on horseback, branding irons heated on a wood fire and chow from a horse-drawn chuckwagon. Capture this rapidly disappearing lifestyle during a three-day photo session to photograph cowboys at work, a longhorn cattle drive, a roundup, windmills, prairie sunsets, and ample country wildlife. Lodging and some meals will be available in the ranch bunkhouse on a first-come, first-served basis. Rooms also are available in nearby Woodward, Okla. Local ranchers will help photographers ensure the subject matter is accessible, and culturally and historically correct. For more information, contact: Sue Selman, Selman Ranch, (580) 256-2006, www.selmanranch.com.'
     It seems to me that perhaps Freedom could benefit from this, if someone could get the word out -- certainly the Longbranch Cafe, Stables Restaurant and Cantina, the Cedar Canyon Lodge, Plainview Steakhouse, and the Sage & Saddle B&B. Some folks attending the event might even add a day or two to their trip, if they knew that great photo opportunities (meals and lodging) are available right here in Freedom. Add the state parks at Boiling Springs, Alabaster Caverns, Little Sahara, and the Great Salt Plains -- and this region becomes even MORE ATTRACTIVE to an Outdoor Photographer." -- Rod View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Story of the Doughnut Girls...

The Story of the Doughnut Girls... "This is an interesting story. My Daddy was a WWI veteran and during his lifetime would occasionily cook these doughnuts as  a special treat. We loved them!   I found it astounding that the program was set up by a William S. Barker and one of the first folks to go over was named Alva (my hometown). I guess this fits in the small world catagory." -- Bill View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Gum Wrapper Chains...

Just found a Google search for making gum wrapper chains - Gum Wrapper Chains  - Jewelry out of Gum wrappers -  for those of you who would like to start making a few.  Just typed "Gum wrapper chains" into Google and see all the links for more gum wrapper ideas. Check out this longest chain in Guinness book of Records - http://www.gumwrapper.com/ -- Gary Duschl, GUINNESS WORLD RECORD - Gum Wrapper Chain - OFFICIAL length on March 11, 2004, 44,378 feet - This chain contains 1,036,574 gum wrappers! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Avery, Oklahoma...

"I have information and pictures of what was Avery, Oklahoma and what it looks like now. Here is what Avery looks like today - this used to be the thriving downtown area. It is now a cow/goat pasture.  Those cement strips you see on the ground are whats left of the foundations.  Early History of Avery, Oklahoma was written by my G-Aunt Jeanette Hardick back in the early 1990's. This is the Avery School that was built in the mid 1930's. It is now privately owned. Also... wanted to add that several of the towns you have listed as ghost towns aren't.  Helena and Goltry, for instance.  My husband is from Helena and its still thriving as is Carmen and Jett, to name a few.  Just thought I'd tell you." -- Nancy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Krob, Cook & Paris Connection...

"Hi there... Was doing a search on Alva and ran across your page. I think we are distant cousins of some sort. It was nice to see information on my great-great-grandparents - Alfed Cook and Rebecca Hardy. I knew that their daughter Juliette (Cook) married a Paris. Do you have any more information on their daughter Fannie (Cook)? She was my great-grandmother and married John Krob." -- Deanna Krob - Email: deanna_krob@netzero.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Krob, Cook & Paris Info...

Dan Cedusky - ColonelDan@worldnet.att.net - is searching Surnames of Cook, Paris, Clift, Boyle, Conyers, Hood, Stengle. He is looking for info on Family of Alfred & Rebecca Hardy Cook. Their Children: Rebeca June Cook, John William Cook, Charles Ed Cook, James Franklin Cook, Morris Cook, Fannie Cook, Julette Cook Paris. He would like to make contact with any descendents, Vic of Alva, Dacoma OK, and ST John's Kansas. He has information on the Descendants of John Krob - Descendants of William Cook - Alfred Cook, Civil War, Union, Ohio View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Old Avard Road - Unsolved Mystery, 1956...

Old Avard Road - Unsolved Mystery, 1956... "This article about the death of Mildred Ann (Newlin) Reynolds... It's a sad, sad story and a horrible death for anyone. I saw the article online some time ago when helping a friend search for relatives. Don't think these families are related according to my friend's book on their family. I was wondering about Mildred's husband. R. D. 'Dee' Reynolds. What was his full name? Is he still living? Was this murder ever solved? Whatever you can tell me about this story would be appreciated. I hope it's been solved. Whatever happened to her nephew? Hope you can answer my questions. If not, that's ok. Thank you." -- Charlene - Email: charb@metc.net
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Civil War - Soldiers & Sailors System...

Civil War - Soldiers & Sailors System... The Civil War Sailors Database as it appears today is the product of a partnership formed in 1993 among Howard University, the Department of the Navy, and the National Park Service. A team of researchers from Howard University, Department of History, headed by Joseph P. Reidy, Professor of History and Associate Dean of the Graduate School, examined hundreds of thousands of pages of naval records housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. - Union & Confederate Histories/Records: Prisoners - Regiments - Report on the Nation's Civil War Battlefields View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Chicken with Ripe Olive and Pepper Salsa...

A friend visiting the web page of the West Texas Food Bank has asked us to forward the following recipe to you. Chicken with ripe Olive and Pepper Salsa To view the recipe, please visit: wtxfoodbank.org/agency/recipes.asp?ID=57. Please forward this email to your colleages and encourage them visit our website and Help Feed Hope -- Fight Hunger in West Texas. -- Michael Wagner, Chief Technology Architect - West Texas Food Bank View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

LASSO Horse Rescue...

Donations for the La Plata County Humane Society's Equine Relief Fund can be sent to P.O. Box 2164, Durango, CO 81302. Donations must be earmarked for the Equine Relief Fund. LASSO Horse Rescue takes donation through its Web site - http://lassohorserescue.org, or by mail at P.O. Box 2291, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. To inquire about adopting a LASSO horse, call Diann Hitchcox at 264-0095. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Go Pokes!...

  Click here: OSU Athletics - Home -- OSU (Oklahoma) Cowboy Basketball... Pokes advance to Sweet 16 -- Oklahoma State travels to East Rutherford, N.J., this weekend after advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. No. 2 seed OSU defeated No. 15 Eastern Washington, 75-56, and No. 7 Memphis, 70-53, to advance out of Kansas City. The Cowboys will face the No. 3 seed Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon at 7:27 p.m. Eastern. The Panthers defeated Central Florida, 53-44, and Wisconsin, 59-55, to advance to the regional semifinals. OSU is 29-3 overall this season and has won 19 of its last 21 games. Pitt is 31-4 overall this season and has won six of its last seven....." Cowboys Face Pittsburgh Panthers in Sweet 16 View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

National Poetry Month At Poets' Place - Piedmont...&

quot;Piedmont, Oklahoma is going all out for National Poetry Month.  The Piedmont Library is putting out the welcome mat and reserving Poets' Place for poets and poetry lovers every Tuesday night in April:

Yes, Windmill Poets Poets' Place will celebrate National Poetry Month every Tuesday  in April at 6:30   PM at the Piedmont Library, 1129 7th NW. Everyone is  invited to come and read or listen. All poetry must be appropriate for the family. . We love Piedmont and we love  poetry. We love our library it's  our place.   Come out for poems, popcorn, and a great time.  

    April 6 Poets' Place Kids Speak How much fun can kids have? Come to the  Piedmont Library and find out! Michael Stephanic, poet and famous professional magician will  entertain elementary students before they entertain us by reading  their poems and poems they like. Piedmont students who have placed in the statewide Oklahoma  Lore, 2004, poetry contest sponsored by the Poetry Society  of Oklahoma will be invited to read their winning poems. So will all the kids  who come. There'll be popcorn, cookies, and a great time for all and one thing  more we'll have a drawing for an Easter Rabbit stuffed that is. Whether you are six or sixtyish, you will go home with a memory and smile.

April 13 Poets' Place Teens' Views Teens will be invited come on out to Poets' Place at the Library to read and discuss poems they have written or like. Isaac Miller,  Piedmont High School , will  read his poems, including one which is on display at the Piedmont   D iner. We'll have plenty of popcorn, poetry and pop. Everyone is invited. Come mingle with our future leaders, and feel proud!

April 20 Poets' Place -- Windmill Poets will begin at 6:30 instead of 7:00 . The entire community is invited to read poems they have written or just enjoy. Windmill  Poets will read limericks and poems they have been challenged to write starting with the words, I Wonder. Vivian Stewart will present a new challenge, Sonnet Writing for Dummies. Everyone  who joins Windmill Poets during  April, National Poetry Month, will be a Charter Member. What do you need to do to join? Just come on out and have a good time. Everyone is welcome!

April 27 -- Poets' Place As You Like It A night of poetry reading and enrichment night especially for senior citizens and everyone who is young at heart. Clark Elliott, Windmill Poet and 2003 Poet  Laureate of the Poetry Society of Oklahoma will start off us off with some of his funniest poems. ( Clark is known as PSO's humorist.) Windmill Cowboy poet Sierra Seawright will entertain us, also . If you like to smile, bring your poems and come on out.   There'll be p lenty of coffee,  snacks, and poetry for all."
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