Duchess Corner

Another week has passed! It is the last weekend of April, 2005 filled with April showers for some of us -- snow for the higher elevation mountain folks. Here in the Valley of SW Colorado things are greening up -- the birds are chirping, singing -- you can hear the gobbling of the turkeys in the early morning daylight hours.

We have had a wet week around here in the valley beginning on Monday. BUT... if you go up into the higher elevations -- mountains, you might catch a few inches of fresh snow that has melted about as fast as it accumulated this week. I am told that around 5 inches of snow had fallen in the mountains a few evenings ago -- overnight. Maybe Spring has sprung calendar-wise, BUT... not in the higher Rocky Mountains of Colorado!

Our travels this week take us back in time to 1947, NW Oklahoma via an aging, yellow newspaper dated 21 May 1947, The Alva Review-Courier. It was the Annual Graduate Edition 1947 -- listing 81 Seniors and their pictures from the Alva High School Class of '47. We have started scanning some of those photos and have a few of them put up on our OkieLegacy Photo Gallery - AHS '47.

We have more information about the Old Alva Golf & Country Club that was on the westside of Alva before the mid-1950s when the NEW Alva High school was built (1956). We know our grandpa Bill McGill played at that old golf & country club, but haven't located a picture of it yet. Maybe someone out there has a photo they would like to share with us. We also have a turn of the century cowboy photo that one of our readers sent us this week. You can see that old photo in the Mailbag Corner. AND... Yes! We have most of our PARIS / MCGILL / WAGNER Family data inputted into our family tree program. If some of our family stops by and can help us fill-in some missing/misplaced family information, we would love to hear from ALL of you. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1947 AHS (Alva High School) Seniors...

With the talk last week of AHS 40th Reunion, we are traveling back to 1947 to take a gander at Alva's Senior Class of '47. According to The Alva Review-Courier, dated Wednesday, May 21, 1947, the frontpage headlines of the Annual Graduate Edition 1947 (PDF files - frontpage AHS articles/photos):

• City's Largest Senior Class To Graduate Tonight
• 81 To Receive Diplomas At Highschool Service
• Seventy-One Finish Eighth Grade Today
  32 Boys, 39 Grils Make Up One of Largest Classes
• Record Senior Group Elected To National Honor Society
• Ross Delivers Senior Sermon

Old Alva Golf & Country Club...

Thanks to many of you who left comments in last weeks ezine/newsletter concerning the Old Golf & Country Club that was once located on the westside of Alva, Oklahoma.

Jim tells us that the present high school (14th & Flynn Avenue) sits on the land once occupied by the Alva Golf and Country Club. The Country Club purchased the land north of Alva for the new course sometime in the mid 1950's. The northeast corner of the old course was the corner of 13th and Flynn. The old course was sold to the Alva School District and the new building was ready for classes in the fall of 1956 (Jim said he was in the first class that graduated from that building in the Spring of 1957). Jim couldn't remember how far south the course ran, but thinks it must have been fairly close to the old hospital. The old country club building was used as the high school industrial arts building for several years.

We also learned from Jim that one of the holes was a par-3 that required the golfer to tee off across the canyon where the football practice field is today. The "green" (they were all sand greens) was located in the area that is used for parking on the westside of the canyon.
      How many golf balls do you suppose golfers lost in the deep grass that covered the canyon floor at that time?

Others remembered eating Sunday dinner at the clubhouse, sledding down the hill toward Flynn in the winter snow, and watching fireworks set up down in the canyon the west side of the property. Still others used to do some cadding there when they were just a lad. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Frontpage News of 1947 - Alva, OK...

Other frontpage news in the Alva Review-Courier, Alva, Oklahoma, May 21, 1947 were:

• Homing Torpedo Developed - Pittsburgh (UP) -- A new "homing" torpedo that steers itself to a target has been developed by Westinghouse Electric Corp. The firm said the torpedoes could be off-aim as much as a quarter mile and still direct themselves toward the sound of a ship.
• Students Without a Country - Berkeley, Calif. (UP) -- STudents from 66 foreign countries are included this year in the University of California's record enrollment. Also enrolled are 19 "students without a country," who because of war-time and pre-war conditions can claim no nation as their own.
• Hole in Shoe Good Alibi - Columbus, O. (UP) -- Charles Clark's hole in his shoe did him a bad turn, then a good one. Clark, driver of a truck which struck two automobiles, told Judge John Matthias he tried to stop but his shoe caught on the accelerator and made the truck go faster. Matthias suspended sentence.
• College to House Vets - Chicago (UP) -- The Illinois institute of Technology plans to build a $6,000,000 housing project for students and staff members. Construction will begin soon on a 10-story apartment building, two three-story apartment buildings and two dormitories. The five buildings, which will accommodate 208 single veterans and their families are scheduled for completion in 1947.

Duchess's Ramblings...

I have been trying to get my human to get me a playmate for awhile. I'm kind of hankering for a little black pug (or black miniature schnauzer) puppy to help my human raise. BUT... she says, "Not right now!" Guess things need to settle down here for awhile before that happens, huh? You remember that ballgame that I told your about that me and my human play (pug soccer)? My human finally gave in and bought me a smaller ball that I could get my little pug mouth around. Speaking of bones now... my human bought one of those big, beefy soup bones at the grocery store the other day -- boiled it for me. What a treat!!! WOW... NOW that's a chew toy ... and my favorite!!! You know... sometimes in the afternoon when it is time to fix me my dinner and my human gets busy at the computer, I have a heck of a time trying to herd her away from the keyboard and into the kitchen to stir me up a meal. That ain't an easy job, but this sweet, big brown-eyed Pug can get the job done. 'Cause.... she thinks the world of me -- She can't resist my cute ways -- 'cause she says I'm too cute for words. She does give good belly rubs in the mornings when we get up. Sometimes I have to stick my little, short nose under the covers to see if she is still alive and breathin'.... and ready to play. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

From One Pug To another...

"Hey Duchess - my human was googling her family and we found my human's mom on your human's website! I was quite excited to see your picture - I am quite a handsome pug myself, although I am all black. Your game with the ball sounds like fun - I prefer a sock or a rope bone - I can get my mouth around those. Anyway - my human's mom is Faith Ann Shirey in the 2/5/05 article in the NWHS class of '38, second row. (Not a real flattering picture, but you should have seen the look she gave me when I helped myself to the merengue on the lemon merengue pie she made for company when she was pug-sitting me once!) She is one of my favorite humans - always willing to share little snacks while she's cooking in the kitchen. Give your human a sneeze and a whine for me." -- Fred View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Kentucky Weather & May Events...

"In and around Louisville, KY, we had 3 tornadoes and pea sized hail on Friday evening. The weather had been beautiful leading up to this weekend. After the front moved through, cold weather set in and several nearby counties have freeze warnings out for the night. Today, Saturday, was the opening event of the KY Derby Festival. Thunder Over Louisville, the largest fireworks show in the world was held this evening despite the cloudy, windy, rainy weather. The air show commemorated our men and women fighting in Iraq. The fireworks show theme was Thunder Rocks. The show was rock and roll music choreographed with the fireworks that lasted for a solid 30 minutes. It is an awesome show. The fireworks are on barges in the Ohio River between KY and IN, with a waterfall of fireworks from the 2nd Street bridge. The interstates and the river are closed for this event. It is something else.

The tornadoes fortunately did little damage and didn't put a damper to the Kentucky Derby Festival getting under way. Many activities are going on but the real deal begins next Saturday when the Mini-Marathon/Marathon and Hot Air Balloon Race will occur bright and early in the morning. The most prominent events to follow are the Great Steamboat Race on Wednesday, the Pegasus Parade with Chubby Checker as the Grand Marshall on Thursday, the Kentucky Oaks Race on Friday, and the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, closing with the Kentucky Colonels Barbecue on Sunday, May 8th. It is a glorious time to be in Kentucky and be a Kentuckian, native or transplanted. After a great season of UofL and KY basketball, it doesn't get any better than this." -- Brenda View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

DNA Testing & Genealogy...

"Are there any males with the Warwick/Warrick... (even other spellings)... interested in DNA testing? We are trying to find enough to be tested from what we believe to be at least 3 different lines of Warwicks. We could finally get some answers on our ancestors and who is related to who. If you're interested, PLEASE get in touch with me. We haven't set it up as of yet. This is just a feeler to see how many we could get involved. If it would be worth our while. The cost of the testing would be up to each person. If we use one Lab that my Cartmill family is using right now, the cost would be about $99. We are having great success with our testing. If you are female and have a male relative with the Warwick/Warrick surname. You might consider splitting the cost with him or paying for it yourself. There is a test for females but it is much more expensive." -- Paula Hampton - Email: pmh52847@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Former Ames OK Citizen...

"My grandfather and grandmother were both from Ames (Oklahoma) and I grew up there. I still have family members living there. I live in Millstadt, Illinois with my wife. I have started my own trucking business since I have moved -- in remembrance of Tom and Carol Fielder who is deeply missed." -- Mike Fielder - Email: soonerfan1994@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Former Okie Returns to Tulsa Area...

"My Great Grandfather, James Edwin SNOW, was the Land-office Man in Woodward, Oklahoma. I believe he lived in Norman (Oklahoma) for a while and taught at the college there. He came to California with his wife Jennifer (my Great Grandmother) and my Grandfather Harry SNOW and his sisters (Beulah, Alice, ?). My Grandfather met and married my Grandmother Daisy Pearl KING and produced Robert, Veda, and Jack (my Dad). My Dad married Georgiann from Minnesota (my Mom) and they produced Jayne and Jim (me). I married Sue from Arkansas and we produced Megan, Jacklyn, and Brendan. Next month we move to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The circle is now complete. I understand I'm not the only one of Okie stock who is returning. SOUNDS LIKE WE GOT US A REVERSE DUSTBOWL!" -- James Harry Snow - Email: snowj@uci.edu View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Snow In The Mountains...

"We've had snow off and on during last night and today. It's melted or been rained away for the most part, but when it started snowing heavier this evening, it started sticking. We now have a covering of snow over everything and the trees and branches are all frosted. I thought you should know this just in case you thought spring had sprung." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Turn of Century Dapper Dakota Cowboy...

"Near as I can tell this picture was taken about the turn of the century. It was from photos I got from my mother. Possibly from the Dakotas. Wish I knew more but I don't. If I find out more I'll let you know. I was especilly intrigued by his lariet. Looks like horse hair or rawhide. Also the chaps and gloves." -- Bill
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Charles Castle - Birth, Death Info...

Evelyn Reed - Email: ereed@rh.net contributed this bit of information concerning last week's inquiry about Charles Castle: The Crown Hill Cemetery Directory, (Coldwater, KS) shows the following: Charles Castle b. 1874, d. 1932, buried in Lot 2 Block 29 E; Juanita Crites Castle b.4-23-1899, d.4-15-1951, buried in Lot 2 Block 29 E. Hope this is useful. -- View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

1913 Murder at Ashley OK...

If you haven't bought your copy of Ila Wessels' history book about Ashley-Short Springs Early Pioneers, you might drop her an email or snail-mail the the address below. Did you know that Short Springs was named for the Short brothers who were members of the "Cherokee Outlet Livestock Association"?

AND... a natural spring lies in the area south of what is now highway 64 across from the schoolhouse. It is told that this watering hole quenched the thirst of cattle driven from Texas to Kansas along the "Kiowa Trail." A Small store and post office were located at this landmark with George Young acting as the first postmaster. 24 September 1897, the post office moved to Ashley but its use was discontinued 8 April 1908.

Ila (Marlatt) Wessels
RR 2 Box 52
Cherokee, OK 73728
Phone: (580)596-2966
Email: gwessels@akslc.net

AHS Class of '87...

"I am a graduate from the class of 1987. Some of us are starting to gather addresses from classmates to prepare for our 20th Reunion. (Are we that old?) If you stumble onto this website please email me. There are several of us still in town. Tony and I have never left and we still very much enjoy Alva. We have 4 children, Lauren 17, Anthony 14, Tanner and Trevor 6." -- Denise Reed - Email: niserk69@hotmail.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe