Duchess Snowy Corner

Feb. 2005 Snow Views of Colorado Rockies... Boy! Is it wet out there on this Saturday morning here in SW Colorado. We did get some rains that made their way into SW Colorado on Tuesday with a warming trend in the 40s in between Tuesday and Friday. We wokeup Friday morning to what looked like a cloudy, dreary day with small snowflakes beginning to fall in the valley and later turned to rain and continued on into the evening hours. AND... it was still raining on this Saturday morning when we wokeup. I just looked outside around 9:30a.m. and noticed the rain had turned to snow. AND... by noon it had quit and the snow that had accumulated was gone. The photos to the above, left are from last week's snow photos that I forgot to include in last week's newsletter. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Reconnecting With the Past

This week was an interesting week for many reasons. I connected again with some old family friends from our early, younger days of youth when we lived on a farm/ranch 10 miles north of Waynoka, Oklahoma. Some of you NW Oklahomans might remember the Kelsey's from Waynoka. Do you remember Barry, Punk (Roland) and Karen Kelsey. Roland Kelsey worked for the highway department building roads around NW Oklahoma. He was a good friend of my Mom & Dads. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Another Instance of Reconnecting

We connected with a grandson of Ray Porter (WWII Commander) this week. The first Ray Porter was the commanding general of the 75th Infantry Division during WWII and signed my Uncle Bob McGill's citation for the bronze star award back in May of 1945.

It was 24 May 1945, when the General Order Number 149, dated 24 May 1945 came down from Headquarters, 75th Infantry Division, Office of the Commanding General. Citation - Under the provisions of AR 600-45, the Bronze Star Medal was awarded to Major (and Captain) Robert L. McGill, 0 389 481, Headquarters 75th Infantry Division, for meritorious service in connection with military operations against the enemy from 24 December 1944 to 9 May 1945, in Belgium, France, Holland and Germany. Uncle Bob was serving as Ground Liaison Officer, instituting policies and procedures for air-ground cooperation and impressed all divisional units in taking important objectives. Major McGill exhibited outstanding judgment and skill in the coordination of the execution of the tactical plan by which enemy resistance to our forces was overcome. Entered military service from Alva, Oklahoma. The certificate was signed by Ray E. Porter, Major General, U. S. Army, Commanding. General Order Number 149, 24 May 1945.

I was only about 5going on 6 years of age when my Uncle Bob McGill died, in February, 1954, of lung cancer. So I did not know him all that well nor did I have that many memories of him. What memories I do have are all the letters, photos, etc... that his mother (my grandmother, Constance Warwick McGill) saved in an old trunk in her basement. I love hearing from those whose paths may have crossed and connected with my family -- especially my Uncle Bob. You can read more about the Kelsey & Porter connections in the Mailbag Corner below. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

On A Request Note Now

I have a request for help for some of you Oklahomans out there. Can you help with your Oklahoma hospitality? I received an email Friday afternoon from a Napa valley California lady whose 10 year-old daughter is doing a report on Oklahoma and a famous Okie (Woody Guthrie).

The lady is Terry Kent and her daughter is Lindsay. Lindsay and her family are the descendants of the LIPPINCOTT's & DeGEER's (formerly from around NW Oklahoma). Some of you might remember Thelma DeGeer Lippincott from her earlier years of school at Northwestern State Teachers' College. Also, the DeGeer's had the Freedom Express on the Old DeGeer homestead near Freedom, Oklahoma. They also had the DeGeer General Store. Is that building still standing? If so... What has it become now?

Terry told me they also have some old trade coins that they believe are from the DeGeer General Store days and are embossed with DeGeer General Store. Terry and her family plan to make a trip to Oklahoma before June in the Spring of 2005. Does anyone out there have any suggestions as to where they should begin their Oklahoma journey? Places to stay? Places to dine? Places to see? AND... any information to help Lindsay with her report on Oklahoma? Please see their Inquiry in the Mailbag Corner below. Thanks in advance for your help and Oklahoma hospitality! View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Harvest Gypsies - by J. Steinbeck

With all this talk of Grapes of Wrath, Okie's and The Harvest Gypsies, I went browsing over at Barnes & Nobles Bookstore this week for a book on Steinbeck's articles of 1936... referred to as "The Harvest Gypsies" and printed in the San Francisco News, October 5-12, 1936. It was those articles that decided Steinbeck's next book would be "Grapes of Wrath." I found the book - Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath and other writings of 1936-1941 - I have just started reading it -- starting with the articles concerning the harvest gypsies. Very Interesting and sheds a new light on the Dust Bowl farm migrants called the "Okie's" even though some of those migrants heading west came from Nebraska, Kansas, Texas and other dust bowl states besides Oklahoma.

It was reported back then that there were 150,000 homeless migrants wandering up and down the state of California with some into Washington and Oregon -- looking for work so they could feed their starving families. Steinbeck mentioned that the migrant workers from Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and other drouth areas during the depression had made the crossing -- had seen often the death of their children on the way -- had patched the worn-out tires every few miles -- had weathered many things -- they were forced to live in squalid, filthy squatter camps working for a dollar a day or less.

The migrant workers (Harvest Gypsies) were descendants of men who crossed into the middle west, winning their lands by fighting, cultivating the prairies and stayed with them until they went back to desert. It was because of their tradition and their training, "they were not migrants by nature, but they were gypsies by force of circumstances."

Steinbeck also wrote, "In their heads, as they move wearily from harvest to harvest, there is one urge and one overwhelming need, to acquire a little land again, and to settle on it and stop their wandering. One has only to go into the squatters' camps where the families live on the ground and have no homes, no beds and no equipment; and one has only to look at the strong purposeful faces, often filled with pain and more often, when they see the corporation-held idle lands, filled with anger, to know that this new race is here to stay and that heed must be taken of it."

The names of the new migrants indicated that they were of English, German and Scandanavian descent. They were brought up in the prairies where industrialization never penetrated -- "they had jumped with no transition from the old agragian, self-containing farm where nearly everything used was raised for manufactured." They were the new slaves and peons of Americans culture back then that jumped to a system of agriculture so industrialized that the man who plants a crop does not often see, let alone harvest, the fruit of his planting. It was a time where the migrant farmer workers had no contact with the growth cycle. Where the big industrial farms held all the power and the workers were mere pawns, slaves that were deprived of their dignity, social lives and the spirit of the family was quite broken. One little boy in a squatters' camp during that time was quoted as saying, "When they need us they call us migrants, and when we've picked their crop, we're bums and we got to get out."

There were government, state surveys and studies done of large numbers of migrants. The maximum a worker could make back then was $400 a year with the average around $300 and the minimum at $150 per year. This meager yearly wage barely fed, clothed and transported families to agriculture fields for work. It reduced the health of the family and food was scarce consisting of mainly of starchy foods and no milk -- luxuries of any kind were unknown.

I have only begun to read through this book. Other Steinbeck stories in this book are... The Long Valley, The Grapes of Wrath, The Log from the Sea of Cortez. They were reprinted by the Library of America - 86. View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Elk & Deer Sightings

It was 15 Feb. 2005 that Elk sightings were grazing near Stone Mountain Retreat. It was a Wednesday evening, after 5pm. Duchess and I were looking out our front window when we glanced four deer racing through the yard from west to east. I grabbed my digital camera with telephoto lens -- walked outside... leaving Duchess inside. When I walkd out to the lower pasture, I found elk and deer grazing in the lower southeast pasture. I did get some pictures before they saw me and scooted on into the trees towards the mountains and the far east pasture. I walked on a little ways closer to see if I could get a closer shot. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Keeo Okie Memories Flowing

See Y'all next week as Oakie turns over another milestone year in her life. Keep those Okie memories, photos flowin' this way! Thanks for everything! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

of the 75th & WWII

"Just stumbled across this site. What a great job and wonderful tribute to 'Major McGill' (Robert McGill's WWII Timeline). My grandfather was with the 75th from January '45 to the end and would have known Robert. He was always so proud of the men of the 75th. I was with the 'boy' of the 75th at the WWII Memorial Dedication last Memorial Day and they are still a great group. We have so much to thank them for. Thanks for this great site." -- Ray E.Porter III - Email: porterr3@earthlink.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Lindsay's Report on Oklahoma & Famous Okie

"Hi there! Our 10 year-old daughter, Lindsay, is doing her state report on Oklahoma. We are planning to visit Oklahoma in the Spring. Her Great-Great Grandparents were Oliver B. & Anna Lippincott and Renfrew & Josie James DeGeer.

Lindsay is also required to do a report on a famous Okie. She wanted to do it on her Grandma Thelma Lippincott. However, her teacher said the person must be famous with a biography. So after a little research, she decided on Woody Guthrie, since she loves music. (She played violin & piano at age 5 and currently sings and plays flute).

We've watched & read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. We are planning a short trip to the John Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California to see the 'Grapes of Wrath' exhibit. She is reading the Biography of Woody Guthrie and we are trying to get tickets to the Napa Valley Opera House in April to see Woody Guthrie's son, Arlo Guthrie. We also have the Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County - 1893-1976 as well as a copy of a newspaper article titled Lippincott Residence of 1912. The article does not have a date or newspaper name.

We plan to visit -- Gage, OK where her great-great Grandparents Oliver B. & Anna Lippincott built a home and had a hardware store. We understand they were buried at the Gage Memorial Cemetery.

Old Freedom, Farry, Alva, Enid where the DeGeers had lived, had business, or went to or taught school. (We understand that some of these towns no longer exist.) We would like to visit Bull and Anderson Creeks, the land that the Farry Post Office was on, as well as the Freedom Express newspaper , where the DeGeer homestead was located, Northwestern Teachers College where Thelma Lippincott attended college, schools that she taught at, information about Renfrew DeGeers days as a US Commisioner and Notary, etc.

Okemah where Woody Guthrie (Woodrow Wilson Guthrie) was born on July 14, 1912, in Okemah, Oklahoma, a small frontier town in Okfuskee County.

Anyways, is there anyone out there that might be available to show us around in any of these areas? Do you have any historical information you can share with us about the Lippincott's, DeGeer's, or Woody Guthrie? Maps or directions for any of these places?

The last time I visited Oklahoma was back in the 1980's with Roger, Thelma and Linda Lippincott as well as my husband, John and our 2 older children, Tammy and David. Unfortunately, we didn't keep notes and we can't remember the places they took us. Roger and Thelma are both deceased now and Linda is in ill health. We're hoping to document more of our visit this time with our 2 youngest children, Lindsay and Kate-lynn.

Any suggestions as to where we should begin our Oklahoma journey? Places to stay? Places to dine? Places to see? Information to help her with her State Report? We are coming from Napa, California before June. We're also considering weather. Thank you!" -- Terry Kent, Napa, CA - Email: terrykent@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

SELF's of Seminole, Oklahoma

"I forgot to mention that my mother, Elenore Kay SELF, was born in Seminole, OK, in 1940. Do you have any information on that town? She moved to Minnesota when I was 14 and left me and my brother with my dad.

According to my mom, her mother (deceased) is part Indian and was born on a reservation. She gets facts confused, so I don't know what to believe. My grandmother had black hair and blue eyes and a bulb shaped nose. My mom insist that my grandma was Indian. My mom never knew her father, LeRoy SELF (we don't know where he is). She thinks he was Irish. Which would explain why my children and I look so much like his picture and have fair skin and had auburn colored hair at birth. Anyway, the info she's given me is so foggy that I haven't shared it with my kids.

However, I'm thinking since we will be in Oklahoma that maybe we should visit Seminole as well. Do you know anyone in those parts? Does the names LeRoy SELF or Mae BUTLER (my mom, Elenore Kay SELF's parents) ring a bell? I know it's a stretch. If you know anyone in that area, let me know. Thanks." -- Terry Kent - Email: terrykent@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Out of the Dust

"This site has been a great help for me in doing my homework for out of the dust.You are doing a great job." -- Taylor View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

121 Pound Catfish

"I hate to bust anyone's bubble especially where big catfish are concerned but the picture shown of the catfish (in last week's newsletter) is a hoax. That fish is a Wels Catfish from Italy (Check them out on Google, Other sites & Snopes). They grow them as big as volkswagons over there." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUCHESS!

"GREAT pictures but the one of Duchess (on the left) would not link to your site. LOVED the picture of her in the closeup. She looks like she is saying - 'now what in the world are you taking another picture for?' but she is getting sooo pretty!

[Editor's Note: Try clicking the photo now for the larger view! Sorry about not being able to click last week's photo.] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Happy Birthday Duchess

"Hope You and your master have a great day celebrating. Try and keep those paws warm and the nose too. We've had lots of snow here in upper Ohio by Lake Erie. Thank goodness we have a snow blower. If w didn't, I think I would hav moved to Florida or some place warmer. We're looking for Spring to hurry and come. Had enough of that whit stuff. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Punk Kelsey's Son

"Very neat web site. Do you remember me? I was Punk Kelsey's only son Barry. Gene and Vada were my parents good friends while I was growing up. I've been to their house in the country as well as the house in Alva many times. I loved to fish in their farm pond in the country. Gene always took an interest in me. He to had been a saxophone player early in his life and we used to talk about that. He would talk to me as an equal instead of just another little kid. He encouraged me to become a musician. I am living in Florida now and have my own band. Check out my web site. Avalon-livemusic.com." -- Barry Kelsey - Email: flutman@aol.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

James Allen BLACK - Woods Co., OK Obituary

James Allen BLACK Dies by Hunting Accident - Body of James Black, former Resident, Coming Tonight - Half-Brother Fell and Discharged Gun While Hunting Near Alva, Oklahoma - Black Shot in Leg - From The Evening Herald, Ottawa, Kansas, January 11, 1910 View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

NEUKIRCH Family Farm Near Lookout

"My mother, Hazel Aline Neukirch, was born on my grandparents (Fred & Ivy Neukirch) farm near Lookout." -- Roger W. Hall - Email: rwhall@wans.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Aerials and Topo Maps...

"Now this one is really NEAT! If you haven't seen this, you must try it - terraserver at microsoft.com - From here you can type in your address (under advanced search) or just your town and state under the normal search. You can go anywhere in the US and get aerial or topo maps." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pine Valley Oklahoma Article

Pine Valley Oklahoma Article "Of great interest to me was the article written by Francis 'Frank' Powell, describing his early boyhood in (Pine Valley) Oklahoma, where his father worked at a saw/planer mill. I believe William Cess Powell (Frank's father) was a first cousin to my Dad, Clarence Brown, and they grew up in Clark County, Arkansas. I believe Frank's paternal grandmother was Susan Ellen (Neel) Powell, a sister to my paternal grandmother, Sarah Jane (Neel) Brown. I would love to get in touch with Frank Powell." -- Muriel Hasley - Email: mjhasley@sbcglobal.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Forest Service - 1950's & 1952

"I happened upon your (rather delightful) newsletter on the Internet in the midst of looking for some research data regarding the US Forestry Service. While I realize this is not down your main line of country, I decided to write to you in any event to see if you might be able to help me out, or know of someone else who could. I am looking for some information regarding the US Forestry Service in 1952, or the early 1950's, particularly regarding projects with weather, ie hydro-electric, water conservation, or hydrogenation. If you have any information or tips on who might have, I'd very much appreciate hearing from you." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Woody Guthrie Biography

Woody Guthrie Biography - "Woodrow Wilson Guthrie was born on July 14, 1912, in Okemah, Oklahoma. Describing the small frontier town in Okfuskee County, Woody writes: Okemah was one of the singiest, square dancingest, drinkingest, yellingest, preachingest, walkingest, talkingest, laughingest, cryingest, shootingest, fist fightingest, bleedingest, gamblingest, gun, club and razor carryingest of our ranch towns and farm towns, because it blossomed out into one of our first Oil Boom Town...." -- Woody Guthrie Homepage & Dust Bowl Refugee Lyrics & Oklahoma Hills Lyrics & Other Lyrics View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe