Duchess & Oakie's NW Corner

Bayfield, Colorado -

Northwestern -- Rediscover the Treasure -- That is what we have been doing all this week. Rediscovering and discovering the treasures of some old Northwestern yearbooks.

It all began when Okie and I made our daily trip to the post office the beginning of this week. What was waiting for us was a book box of treasures. Three old Northwestern Yearbooks from 1926, 1937 and 1938. Can't wait until Oakie gets finished scanning, transcribing them for you all.

< ahref="http://okielegacy.org/image/castleview.jpg">Yep! This Precious Pug watches the birds, eagles and other mountain creatures while Oakie has been busy cranking up the old scanner -- starting the scanning, transcribing The Ranger 1926 "Castle On The Hill" Yearbook.

Okie has been consumed and transported back in time to the 1926's in NW Oklahoma. Finding, learning more about the Castle on the Hill each day. We are updating our okielegacy.net with the following pages:
NSTC -
The Ranger 1926.

We have put the full-scanned pages of The Ranger 1926 Yearbook on our NW OkieLegacy Webshots.

Browse through both places and see what ancestors, friends and memories you might remember. Bookmark for future updates. This should keep Oakie busy for awhile, huh?

As to Rediscover the Treasure & Northwestern, You need to mark your calendars for September 30th thru October 2nd, 2004, Alva, Oklahoma. Join us and help rediscover the Treasure as the Community and the Rangers band together for another Cinderella Coronation and Homecoming celebrations at Northwestern's 2004 Homecoming. Hope to see most of you there! Yep! Okie and I will be crowding the downtown square the morning of Saturday, October 2, 2004, for the Ranger's Homecoming parade. We are looking forward to seeing Y'all there!

There has been more Interesting Emails concerning the Photo of Liberty School District. We received an interesting email from Earl Fugit this week concerning the Liberty School photo with my grandmother, Constance Warwick (McGill) as the teacher.

Earl says, "The school was Liberty School located approximately 6-miles South and 1-East of Alva, about 5-miles North and one 1-East of Hopeton. This school was about 5-miles from the Warwick homestead."

We found an answer to the question of the Hendrickson and Runnymede Hotels in Alva. Jim Richey enlightened us on the subject of the Hendrickson, Rhodes, Gunn and Runnymede Hotel. Thanks, Jim!

Here's to making America Stronger at Home - Respected in the World! Believe In America! We can do better!
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School Photograph The Pioneer Teacher.

Liberty School District, Oklahoma -

Green Valley School - What Year? Can You Name the Students?

Green Valley School, Oklahoma - "The photo is a copy of a photo that belongs to Alberta (Riggs) Bliss, who still lives on the quarter-section of land homesteaded by Charles C. 'Charley' and Sarah Riggs in the 'Run of 1893' when the Cherokee Strip was opened for settlement.

Charles's brother-in-law, Edwin Fussell Taylor, homesteaded on a quarter-section that was SW of Carmen in the Fairview community (I believe); other Riggs family members also homesteaded in the area or later bought land there.

The original site of the school was a half-mile or so East from the present location of the Green Valley Church (this photo is of that school building). Later, the site was relocated west to the current location and a 'modern' wooden structure was constructed - it was destroyed in a tornado just a few years ago and has been replaced with a new community center on the same site.

The first teacher of the school, pictured here, was the sister of Charles Riggs, Mary Jane 'Doll' Jordan.

I'm not certain of the date of this photo, but I believe that Arles Riggs is one of the students and there may be other Riggs kids as well.

Does anyone know the students in this photo or perhaps when the photo was taken?  (I need to confirm this with Alberta, but I think that Arles Riggs is the tall student at the far right on the back row)." -- Rod Murrow, Freedom, OK View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1926 Castle On The Hill - The Ranger Yearbook

Alva, Oklahoma - Fronia sent me three Northwestern State Teachers' College yearbooks dated 1926, 1937 & 1938 to scan and share with you all. I have begun scanning the 1926 Castle on the Hill Yearbook and have so far gotten some of the Activities, Sports, etc... scanned onto my NW OkieLegacy Webshots. Bookmark this page for further updates and the other yearbooks (1937 & 1938) and a 1937-38 Student Directory. Thanks! Also... Check-out our NW OkieLegacy website - The Ranger 1926 Yearbook & Ranger 1926 Slideshow. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Okie Legacies (History of Oklahoma)

Oklahoma - "A fascinating site-well done. How interesting to read about the Last Indian Raid and Reuben Bristow. I have done very little research other than to discover that Bristow is said to originate from Bristol (England). Brigstowe meaning an assembly place near the bridge. The Bridge is still called Brigstow. It is argued (Amerike-The Briton who gave America its name) that on St John the Baptist's Day, 1497, America was found by the merchants of Bristow in a ship of Bristowe called the Mathew. Who knows! Best wishes to all." -- Derek Bristow of Brampton near Huntingdon, England - Email: derekhenry@bristow47.freeserve.co.uk
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Freedom's (Oklahoma) Cowboy Cemetery

Freedom, Oklahoma - Freedom's (Oklahoma) Cowboy Cemetery ... Reuben Bristow's Grave -- "As a cousin of Reuben Bristow, I'm delighted to find the location of his grave. Reuben and Charlie Colcord were cousins, both from Bourbon County, Kentucky. I have posted a brief sketch of Reuben on my Bristow Notes website: Bristow Homepage." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Culver, Chambers & Wrought Iron Range Co

Austin, Texas - "Hi! I've been enjoying your site for months now. Thanks. I got curious about the Wrought Iron Range Co. item. I found this in the "Handbook of Texas".

Lufkin, Texas - Lufkin, the county seat of Angelina County, is at the intersection of U.S. highways 59 and 69, a few miles northwest of the  center of the county in the heart of the Piney Woods of East Texas.

Two of the city's principal industries, Southland Paper Mills (now St. Regis) and Texas Foundries, were begun as hometown companies in the late 1930s and were responsible for much of the city's industrial growth. The largest industrial employer, Lufkin Foundry and Machine Company (now Lufkin Industries), was also founded as a hometown company in 1902 and achieved worldwide fame for its oilfield pumping units.

As for Col. Cal C. Chambers, I guess he's the man referred to as the president in 1944 of the Angelina County Chamber of Commerce. And in a website from Culver Academies in Indiana, I found, referring to Culver people who served in World War I.

The highest military decoration presented to a member of the faculty was the Distinguished Service Cross (the nation's second highest award for gallantry) to Col. Cal C. Chambers '08, the Academy's executive officer. He also received the Silver Star and the French and Belgian Croix-de-Guerre. This is the same Chambers whose name is attached to the prestigious Chambers Cup, awarded annually to the outstanding Culver Military Academy student-athlete.

Meantime, I always look forward to Friday nights and another issue of Okie Legacy. It's a treasure trove. Thanks for doing it." -- Greg Olds, Okie in exile, Austin, Tx. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Inquiry - Alvina Eichstedt

"I would like information on Alvina Eichstedt to see if we were related." -- Judy Eichstedt - Email: judea777@msn.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Goldbugs

Alva, Oklahoma - "Several years ago when I was co-sponsoring Student Council at Alva HS, we came across information about other schools with Goldbug mascots.  I remember that Kensington was listed, Fowler, KS, and a school in California, in addition to Alva.  I think this information was printed in a national administrators' publication.  Would be interesting to compare mascots and stories about how each school originated the idea." -- Kathy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Let's Compare Goldbug Mascots

Oklahoma - "Let us go back to NW Oklahoma, Alva High, in Alva, Oklahoma for a few moments with memories of the 'buggettes,' a girls cheering squad for the Alva High 'Goldbugs.'

You can view the Alva Goldbug Reunions 2000 & mascot here AHS Goldbug Reunion 2000 .

I know there are other schools with the Goldbug mascots. There are the Kensington High School Goldbugs in Kansas. Also, I hear that there are some Goldbug mascots in Fowler, Kansas and a school in California. I am told that this information was printed in a 'National Administrators Publication.' As another Alva Goldbug says, 'It would be interesting to compare mascots and stories about how each school originated the idea.'

If you have a Goldbug mascot and story, please share your origin with us in the 'Comments' section under this blog. If you have a photo of your Goldbug mascot, save it to a jpg file and Email Linda - paristimes@earthlink.net. Thanks ahead of time for contributing to the OkieLegacySoapbox." -- Posted by NW Okie to OkieLegacy Soapbox View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Hendrickson & Runnymede Arms Hotel

Alva, Oklahoma - "The Runnymede building was called the Runnymede Arms Hotel in Kansas. When it was moved to Oklahoma Territory in 1893 it was opened as the Hendrickson Hotel. It changed hands several times. In 1912 it became the Rhodes Hotel and in 1918 the Gunn Hotel. Somewhere along the line it became the Runnymede Hotel and that name has stayed with it since." -- Jim Richey Post a Comment OkieLegacy Soapbox View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Company B. Posing in Front of Runnymede

Alva, Oklahoma - "I was looking at the larger view of this picture and trying to make out the building to the right... It looks like 'J. D. S.....' and maybe a Mercantile' store. Does anyone else out there see or have any clues to what that store next door to the Runnymede might be?" -- Posted by NW Okie to OkieLegacy Soapbox View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Missing OkieLegacy

Oklahoma - "Hello sweetie! For some reason, I have not been receiving my OkieLegacy.  I really miss it.   I understand that you are running things, and rightly so, so figured I would go right to the top.  If you could help me out here, I would surely appreciate it.  Thank you." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Hi From Las Vegas NV

Alva, Oklahoma - "Linda, I was reading your bio and it seems we are in the same age. I was born in Alva on April 3, '49. The second daughter of  Arthur and Betty Fisher Corbin. I attended Washington elementary school in first grade, then we moved to Las Vegas, NV.

We also listened to KOMA radio after we moved out here. It was our only link to home. On clear nights and if it was late we could pull it in. My cousin was in the navy in the early 60's and they were in Alaska. He was pulling in KOMA. He said it helped his homesickness a little.

Summer visits to my grandparents, Bill and Cleo Fisher were the only times I got back there, but it will always be home.

Both sides of my family are from Alva. My grandfather, Bill Fisher was a paper-hanger in Alva all of his life. His brothers were Bert, Charles, Gilbert, Frank who is still living there. The other side of the family is Corbin.

My grandparents were Walter and Reeta. Walter died before I was born. There are still a few members of the family still there.

Yes! I still remember the homecomimg parades. My cousin decorated her bicycle and rode it in the parade when I was very young. She won a ribbon I think. I do remember parking on the square on Saturday nights. Seems like everyone went to town and it was a place to visit. My grandparents lived at 928 Barnes so we sometimes walked to town with our friends. We weren't very old but things were different back then. Would love to hear from you to talk about memories of Alva." -- Barbara (Corbin) Atkin View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Remembering Burma Shave Signs

"Burma Shave -- For those who never saw the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930s and '40s. Before the Interstates, when everyone drove the old 2-lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields.

They were small red signs with white letters.  Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing 1 line of a 4 line couplet and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.

Burma Shave Signs - Here are more of the actual signs:

• Trains don't wander -
  all over the map -
  'cause nobody sits -
  in the engineer's lap.


• She kissed the hairbrush - by mistake - she thought it was - her husband Jake.


• Don't lose your head - to gain a minute - you need your head - your brains are in it.


• Drove too long -
  driver snoozing -
  what happened next -
  is not amusing.


• Brother speeder -
  let's rehearse -
  all together -
  good morning nurse.


• Cautious rider -
  to her reckless dear -
  Let's have less bull -
  and more steer.


• Speed was high -
  weather was not -
  tires were thin -
  X marks the spot.


• The midnight ride -
  of Paul for beer -
  led to a warmer -
  hemisphere.


• Around the curve - lickety-split -
  its a beautiful car -
  wasn't it?


• No matter the price -
  no matter how new -
  the best safety device -
  in the car is you.


• A guy who drives -
  a car wide open -
  is not thinkin' -
  he's just hopin'.


• At intersections -
  look each way -
  a harp sounds nice -
  but its hard to play.


• Both hands on the wheel - eyes on the road - that's the skillful driver's code.


• The one who drives - when he's been drinking - depends on you - to do his thinking.


• Car in ditch -
  driver in tree -
  the moon was full -
  and so was he.


• Passing school zone - take it slow - let our little shavers grow - Burma Shave."