Rainbows, Pugs & Hummingbirds...

Hope Y'all are enjoying the cool front that finally made its trek through SW Colorado on Wednesday and then headed East through Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, etc. Wednesday afternoon we had a bit of rain and sunshine that left what looks like a double rainbow over in Riddle's back-pasture South of Bayfield and East of Ignacio, Colorado. This photo was captured just after that Wednesday rain. The other end of that same rainbow showed up at our place to the north of Riddle's. Do you suppose they/we will find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

Is this the start of the Summer Monsoons in the SW Rockies? Friday evening we received about 1/2-inch at our place. The temperatures for the last few days have been in the 70's.

This Pug has been teaching the NEW puppy a few tricks this week. Such as, laying out near the shade of the pickup. AND... how to race towards the pickup when Oakie says, "Let's GO!" Sadie the pup can't quite jump into the pickup yet, but she gets a lift by way of Oakie's helping hands.

Oakie has been busy mixing and feeding the hummingbirds that have been gathering here in the valley south of Bayfield. Seems like a couple of dozen hummingbirds can sure empty a couple of 2-cup feeders in a day. We try to get pictures of the huge fluttering flock, but they just seem to scatter so quickly. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pinkerton Springs, Animas Valley & Animas City, Colorado...

We have been searching through a Colorado history book - Pioneers of the San Juan Country (a reprint of Volumes I, II, III, and IV, by Sarah Platt Decker Chapter NSDAR) for information concerning "Pinkerton (Hot) Springs," & "Pinkerton."

What brought this search on was this photo taken in the 1930s near Durango, Colorado at a place called "Pinkerton Hot Springs Resort." Our research online shows that the Colorado Timberline Academy is now in that location at 35554 on Hwy 550, about 20 miles from Durango -- according to what we found online so far. Notice the tree horse & wagon in the photo -- are they still a part of the landscape today? We need to take a jaunt out that way one of these weekends to get some recent pictures of the Old Pinkerton Hot Springs Resort. Anyone out there have any more information about Pinkerton Springs?

The Pinkerton family (Judge Pinkerton and his wife, 3 daughters, 2 sons) were the last settlers in the Fall of 1875 to locate a ranch in the upper part of the Animas Valley, including the hot springs now known as Pinkerton in the Pines, in SW Colorado. Are these Pinkerton's related to the Allan Pinkerton that established the Pinkerton Detectives?

Their eldest daughter, Nellie, married Frank Williams and was the first marriage in the Animas Valley. Their youngest daughter, Belle, married a Ptolemy. Judge Pinkerton and his family gave the first Christmas dinner and invited everyone in the Animas Valley.

The first town in valley was Animas City and was laid out in the late Summer of 1876. It was two miles North of Durango and is now the North part of Durango. The Animas Valley was a part of the Ute Reservation until it was thrown open for settlement in 1874.

Homesteads in the Animas Valley were taken up from Pinkerton Springs to a number of miles down the river, including what became the Durango townsite, in 1880. The first school in Animas Valley was taught by Lucina "Lu" Gaines in 1877, near Pinkerton Springs.

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What's Happening...

Let's see! As to what this week has brought to our Mailbag Corner... We have someone looking for a list of WWII POWs at Camp El Reno (Oklahoma).

We heard from the daughter of Lt. Ephraim Lubritz. We are assuming that Lt. Lubritz was a physian and surgeon at Camp Alva during WWII. His daughter is looking for anyone who might have information as to his tenure at Camp Alva.

We have heard this week from a lady whose great uncle was a part of the Anti Horsethief Association that was used as a posse to hunt for the Black and Yeager gangs. This same lady had great grandparents that were in the Stampede of '93. They staked a claim in some good black bottomland, but ended down around Fairview and Longdale in the red dirt country. Their ancestors are BAUM, GREEN, WINTER, LEE AND KUSCH.

Don't forget to check out the April 20, 1970 newsclipping that another person sent us of the demolition of the Dixie Sherman Hotel in Panama City, Florida.

We did hear from Reta with more information concerning the DeGeer Grocery Store, on Barnes Avenue, in Alva, Oklahoma.

If you are in search of immigation records of your ancestors, there is a NEW website - CastleGarden.org - that you can access information on over 10 million immigrants that passed through Ellis Island from 1830 thru 1892.

Our condolences goes out to the Daniel Shorter family this week. Daniel Albert Shorter died Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City at age 78. He was born May 20, 1927 in Goltry to Edna I. Mason Shorter and Wiley B. Shorter. He graduated from Northwestern State College in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He obtained his Masters in Science Degree from OSU in 1960 and received his Doctor of Philosophy from OSU in 1966. He served proudly in the United States Navy during World War II. He married Margery Jean Peck on January 13, 1946 in Goltry. After moving to Anthony, Kansas then to Stillwater, they settled in Alva in 1960. Daniel Albert Shorter, 1927-2005 - Obituary

Have you made your plans to attend the Waynoka and Freedom Rodeos coming in mid-August 2005? We understand that Vernon Bliss is Freedom's "Honored Old Cowhand" this year. Congratulations to Vernon Bliss! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

POW Camp At El Reno...

"I would really like to access records that would show who the prisoners at Fort Reno (Oklahoma) worked for. I was about 12 years old when some of them worked for my father a couple of days. I know there is a roster of names in the El Reno Depot Museum, however, I can not remember the names of the men I worked with." -- Altus O. "Al" Ayers - EMAIL: ayers-and-heirs@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

LUBRITZ & Alva 's WWII POW Camp...

"Thank you for posting the information on the WWII POW camps in Oklahoma. Your page allows me to learn more details of my family history. Your page includes the entry: November 15, 1942 - After the Army took over from the civilian contractors, the first American troops that arrived were 25 men of the Quartermaster Corps under the command of Lt. Luther Guess and Oscar B. Cruell. Six men of Medical Corps under the command of Lt. Ephraim Lubitz also arrived at that time.

Lt. Ephraim Lubitz is a misspelling. The r is left out. The correct spelling is Ephraim LUBRITZ. He was my dad. He was a physician and surgeon, graduate of LSU Medical School, from New Orleans, LA. Both he and my mother have been deceased for many years now. I was born after the war, but remember my mother telling me when I was a child, about my dad having been in charge of a prison camp hospital during the war where bad people were. My brothers were young children during the war and remember being in Oklahoma.

A friend of my brother's recently found your website, told him about it, and he told me. My brother's friend asked him if he is any relation to Lt. Ephraim Lubitz, because his name is mentioned in relation to the POW camp.

My Dad never talked to me about his time there, so if you happen to have any further info as to how long he was there, etc... I'd appreciate it. Thanks again for all the work you do to research for your website! I'll bet you helped the people that do the TV Show History Detectives. I happened to watch their show about the member of the Peterman family who wanted to know about land her family may have owned in Alva, and realized they must be talking about the same POW Camp where my Dad was stationed. I wonder if that show prompted the person who contacted my brother to surf the web and find your website. At any rate, thanks again, and thanks for correcting the spelling (LUBRITZ). Thank you for preserving this part of our country's and my family's history." -- Lana (Lubritz) Goldberg View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Doolin, Black & Yeager Gangs & Anti-Horsethief Assoc. ...

"I'd be happy to get your e-mail and subscribe to your letter. I just chanced to find you while researching the Bill Doolin Gang and some others, Black and Yeager among them. Two of my family were part of the Anti-Horsethief Association that were used as possemen to bring Black and Yeager in. They were unsucessful on the first try, and were involved in a pitched battle while the posse was trying to find cover on a bald knob in the gypsum hills near Enid (Oklahoma).

My great Uncle, who shall remain nameless, was not able to afford western boots, so he borrowed his wife's high heels (I'm not lying). During the gunfight he and another man who were both trying to hide behind a small rock on the hillside were unable to get completely behind the rock. My ancestors foot stuck out and the banditos were taking potshots at it. At least one shot took effect and the heel of one shoe was shot off. Luckily, or due to good marksmanship, my ancestor wasn't injured except for a bruise. But he was almighty upset because, What was he gonna tell his wife about how her good shoes got ruined?

My great-grandparent were in the Stampede in 93'. They staked some good black bottomland, but when they made the run, there was a squatter setting on it. He'd jumped the gun and so my grandparents took a place down between Fairview and Longdale in that old red dirt country. They fought their whole life trying to make a go of that land. Then my grandparents did the same right down the road from the old original homestead. Drought and poor soil and no crop rotation took it's toll and finally most of the family died or quit farming. I still have a cousin or two who are working at it, but like most, they are raising cattle or doing custom harvesting.

Last time I was in Oklahoma, I drove out past the old place. The man who owns it now lives elsewhere. There is a big oil pump where the house used to be.

My Oklahoma families are the BAUMs, GREENs, WINTERs, and LEEs. Most of them found greener pastures further north.

Oh! By the way... the Old Cedar Springs Church that you mentioned is where my mother and father were married. The preacher at the time was Sister Felder, a lady of the cloth. Mom and Dad attended the church there for many years. I have been there a few times long ago. My mother's family lived in Fairview. Her dad was the local Chiropractor, Dr. E.K. KUSCH. Most of the family can be found in trhe Major County Centennial history book. I guess they helped me figure out who I am. Like them, I'm just a plain old American with some kinks and oddities. I love my country and I'm pretty proud of my family. You won't find them on Wall Street. They didn't do anything of great importance. They lived and worked, loved God, raised families and died believeing that they lived in the greatest land in the world. I guess I do too.

You have my permission to print my story if you want to. If it's alright with you, I may send more from time to time. I write and it's good practice. It's fun also." -- Lauren - EMAIL: eikenbaum@hotmail.com

[EDITORS NOTE: Check out The OkieLegacy, Vol. 6, Iss. 21] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Dixie Sherman Hotel Pictures - Demolition...

"Here's the attached pictures of the Dixie Sherman Hotel Demolition (Second photo, Third photo). I think the date on the paper is April 20, 1970. I just came across the pictures I have of the Dixie Sherman Hotel being demolished. It hardly seems like it was 35 years ago. Sorry to take to long to send them to you although it seems like it was longer than 5 months since we last corresponded. Also, if you don't mind me asking, why is there an interest in the Dixie Sherman on your web site?" -- Steve View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

R. DeGeer Grocery Store...

"Store pictured on issue #24, Vol 7 on 6/18/05 was located at 631 Barnes, Ren and Josie DeGeer owned the store and lived upstairs. They were there in the '40s. They later moved some barricks in from the POW Camp and made them into Apartments at the corner of Center and 11th St. They also built a new home just north of the apartments - 516 11th. Howard Walker, shown in the picture was my Grandmother Mitchell's half-brother, Clarence Gray also named in the picture was my Dad George Gray's first cousin. I visited with Uncle Howard's daughter, Sibyl Walker Marsh in the Kiowa Manor today, she tried to tell me exactly where it was but the buildings are somewhat different now. She said McGill's Swimming Pool was in the same block, also McGill's Furniture Store. The Senior Center is 625 Barnes, so it had to be located where the (Alva) Library is now. Hope this helps somewhat to those inquiries. I'm going to see if my Aunt Lavina Mitchell Jackson can give some info at the reunion next Sunday." -- Reta Gray Jackson. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Castle Garden Database...

"CastleGarden.org offers free access to an extraordinary database of information on 10 million immigrants from 1830 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened. Over 73 million Americans can trace their ancestors to this early immigration period. Castle Garden, today known as Castle Clinton National Monument, is the major landmark within The Battery, the 23 acre waterfront park at the tip of Manhattan. From 1855 to 1890, the Castle was America's first official immigration center, a pioneering collaboration of New York State and New York City." -- http://castlegarden.org View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Castle Garden Article...

"we may now be able to find Joseph Hurt's immigration information! Read this article about tthe New Castle Garden database!" -- Kathy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Vallecito & Hummingbirds...

"For many many years I often camped in the Summer in SW Colorado. We often stayed in the campground at the northern terminus of the road that follows the river up Vallecito Valley. That's pronounced Vi-yeh-see-toe, and means little valley in Spanish. A wilderness area begins in the back of the camp ground, and the trail follows the river into the San Juan Mountains. The camp ground is almost 9000 ft. above sea level, and is much cooler than Oklahoma. Many people hung humming bird feeders on their campers. Some had one on all four corners. There were so many humming birds that the feeders looked like lights with bugs swarming around them. There were a number of different varieties of these tiny birds, and they fought like tigers to be king of their chosen feeder. I've traveled all over the country over the years, and Vallecito pulled me back again more than any other place, and just in Colorado there are a number of other places that are nothing short of wonderful." -- Charles

[SEE Vol. 7, Iss. 30 Hummingbird Comments] View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Britton Memories...

"I'm curious as to how many hours you devote to putting this ezine together because I have been considering putting together one for a town that no longer exists. Britton became a part of Oklahoma City about 1950. I am in contact with several people who grew up there and we frequently exchange memories of what used to be. My dad had a grocery store there in the late '40s early '50s and we had 3 generations that attended school there." -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pinkerton Springs & Colorado Timberline Academy...

"In reading about Durango and its surroundings I'd like to know more about the location of the Colorado Timberline Academy. I think it is located where Pinkerton Springs Park was when we were there in 1930. I have a picture of us kids taken beside a replica of a wagon and horses made from trees. There also was a building across the street that had mirrors that distorted your image. Does anyone know of this place?" -- Reta View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Blaine County Historical Background...

"OUTLAWS -- The ragged gypsum hills of Blaine County have many natural hiding places: gullies, gulches, rocks, caves, and brush. This added to scarcity of law enforcement made this area a natural haven for robbers and bandits. Many of Oklahoma's famous outlaw bands had hideouts in the area and crossed the county on their raids. In a Guide to Roman Nose State Park, Robert Fay devotes a several page section to outlaws of the area, stating that: Due to unsettled conditions during and after the Civil War period, this area became famous as the lair for notorious outlaws. These include Quantrill, James Brothers, Belle Starr, Younger brothers, Daltons, the Doolin gang, and Al Jennings. These people took advantage of the unsettled nature of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory, using places in these territories for their hideouts. During the 1890's the Dalton, Black-Yeager, Doolin, and Al Jennings gangs operated in the area. The Dalton and the Black-Yeager Gangs are reputed to have buried treasure at Roman Nose State Park, but the stories are questionable as most originated from members of the gangs while they were in jail in attempts to get jailers to release them in return for a share of the loot....." - Blaine County Historical Background View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Pinkerton Detectives...

"Allan Pinkerton was born in Scotland on August 25, 1819 in a tenement flat on the 3rd floor in one of the worst slums of Glasgow. His father was William, a weave. When Allan was eight years old his father died and his mother had to go back to work. Little Allan quit school and went to work as an apprentice in a pattern-making shop to help his mother. In March of 1842, Allan married Joan Carfrae and that same year they boarded a ship to America. They later settled in Chicago where Pinkerton did detective work and soon he became a deputy Sheriff. After solving a major crime, he became a celebrated hero in Chicago. At age 31, he started his own detective agency and hired what he believed to be honest men but one of Pinkerton's main rules -- no drinking. He wanted his men sober and alert at all times and even hired a woman. He taught his detectives how to do investigative work and showed them how to dress in disguise. His office was filled with costumes and wigs. His slogan painted on his door was an open eye with the writing "We never sleep," written underneath it. This gave Pinkerton the nickname, "Private eye." Criminals soon hated and feared the name Pinkerton. In February 1861 he and his detectives uncovered a plot to kill newly elected President Lincoln. Pinkerton, growing older with ailing health, retired to his Chicago mansion and wrote 18 books. He died on July 1, 1884 at age 65." -- http://va.essortment.com/pinkertonnation_ooz.htm View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Crime Library - Midwest Outlaws...

"Bonnie & Clyde: Romeo & Juliet in a getaway car; John Dillinger: Folk hero and bank robber meets the Lady in Red. Now with 10 additional chapters; Charles Arthur Floyd: The "Pretty Boy" from Cookson Hills; Alvin Karpis and the Barker Gang: The FBI's pursuit of the last Public Enemy Number One. The true story of Ma Barker and her sons and the capture of this dangerous group of outlaws and kidnappers; George "Machine Gun" Kelly: Bank-robbing and kidnapping desperado; Baby Face Nelson: Childlike mug with a psychopathic soul; The Wild West Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: The real story of these glamorous American outlaws who were immortalized in the Hollywood film with Newman and Redford; Wyatt Earp: Knight with a six-shooter; Jesse James: The man and the legend; Henry McCarty: The Wild West's 'Billy the Kid'." -- http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters%5Foutlaws/outlaws/ View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

James Gang & Pinkertons...

"Former Civil War guerillas-turned-gunmen Jesse and Frank James found the Pinkertons especially vexing. Their gang's greatest strength was the backing they received by their own southern Missouri populace. Well into the 1870s, many still rankled that the North had won the war and saw their Jesse as a modern-day Robin Hood fighting the wealthy Yankee bankers and rail men tooth and nail. The 'Pinks' were considered the tools of the tycoons and met with closed mouths and voodoo eyes when on the trail in those parts. Despite day-to-night manhunts -- rides in which 'Old Man Allan' Pinkerton himself often took part -- they continued to lose the James boys in the maze of Smoky Mountain foothills." -- View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Animas City, Colorado...

"In 1874, the Ute Tribe signed the Brunot Agreement, ceding a large portion of land in Southwest Colorado. The land came from a Ute reservation established in 1868. White settlers soon moved into the Animas Valley, clearing farms and fencing ranches. In the San Juan Mountains, seen to the north in this picture, mining quickly developed, and the town of Animas City, about two miles north of the future site of Durango, was platted in 1876 ..... A Denver & Rio Grande director named Alexander Hunt had just returned from a trip to the Mexican city of Durango, and that name was chosen for the new settlement. Once Durango was established, many people from Animas City picked up and moved to the new town, realizing the business the railroad would bring. What was once Animas City is now the north part of Durango." -- http://www.godurango.com/community/history.asp View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Looking For WHITMIRE's of Oklahoma...

"My son is a WHITMIRE on his paternal side, his grandfather Bill WHITMIRE; his grandmother, Gloria WOODS WHITMIRE. Both families ancestors come from Oklahoma. I would appreciate any information anyone has on these families, as I'm trying to get some genealogy information put together for my son, Curtis WHITMIRE. His great-grandfather,Grady WHITMIRE lived in Redding, California and was a carpenter and home builder." -- Beverly Shaffer - Email: cbteam_g@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe