Besides April Fools that plagued us last weekend, we were not sure this week's newsletter would get sent out in time. We are running later than usual!

Our hosting server migrated our OkieLegacy website to a new platform, and we were having trouble last night connecting to our database and OkieLegacy Ezine. You might have noticed if you tried to connect to our "OkieLegacy Journal/Ezine" frontpage and received an error message instead. Well! We are working this afternoon -- everything seems to be running smoothly... again! (knock on wood!) Anyway... that is why we are "Late for a very important date."

You want to know about last week's April Fools & OkieLegacy ezine multiple mailings? We felt we needed to explain... We screwed up when we went to publish last week's ezine. We had the wrong issue pulled up to "publish." January 1, 2006, Issue 1, Vol. 8 got published instead. We did get that one straightened out, but not before you had about 3 or 4 mailings. LOL... That is why you received more than one mailing of OkieLegacy Ezine on April Fools Day. Thanks for being so patience and sticking with us. We learn so much from ALL of you!
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Cal/Poly Researcher Visits Waynoka...

by -- Sandie Olson, Waynoka Historical Society

[Photo caption: Todd Pierce, left, California Polytechnic University, interviewed Dan Delasantos, right, Castle Rock, Colorado, at the Waynoka History Museum. Pierce visited Waynoka seeking information about C.V. Wood, Jr.]

An article in a recent issue of the Waynoka Chronicles prompted a visit to Waynoka by Todd Pierce, professor of English at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, California. Dr. Pierce is working on a narrative history of the theme parks of the 1950s and early 1960s. One of the central figures of that history is C.V. Wood, Jr., who was born in Waynoka in 1920. The Winter 2005-2006 issue of the quarterly newsletter of the Waynoka Historical Society, Waynoka Chronicles, featured the life of C.V. Wood, Jr.

Wood was the first employee of Disneyland, and was the park's masterplanner. After he left Disneyland, he formed a consulting firm which contributed significantly to the building of other major theme parks, including Freedomland in New York and Six Flags Over Texas. Most of the parks were built because of the strong success of Disneyland.

Theme parks weren't Wood's only accomplishments. Dan Delasantos, Castle Rock, Colorado, graduated from high school in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He was living in Lake Havasu City when C.V. Wood, Jr. and his partner Bob McCullough bought the London Bridge and moved it to Lake Havasu. He watched Wood in action as a developer and promoter. Delasantos and his wife are the owners of Advantage Property Rentals in Waynoka, catering to visitors at Little Sahara State Park. Dan is on the board of directors of the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition and a member of Colorado Quad Runners ATV Club.

Delasantos contacted the Waynoka Historical Society after he read the C.V. Wood, Jr., story in the Waynoka Chronicles. He was excited to be in the birthplace of the entrepeneur he knew in Lake Havasu City. For Professor Pierce, it was an added bonus to get to interview Dan Delasantos who knew C.V. Wood, Jr., personally. In addition to the interview, Pierce learned more of the history of Waynoka, and was given a tour of the former Wood home at 400 W. Broadway by the owners, Clarence and Mildred Sampson.

The book will be the fourth written by Dr. Pierce. He has authored two novels, a textbook on creative writing, and a collection of stories that won the Drue Heinz Literary Prize for 2006. His work has appeared in about 60 magazines and journals, and his short stories are anthologized in varioius college textbooks.

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1909 Map - Alva, OK - Block 49, Lots 1-16...

Jim Richey sent us some old map drawings that he found through Alva's Library on Microfiche. This old map shows Block 49, Lots 1 thru 16, southeast corner of government square (reading from right to left).

Some of the writing is hard to read so we have tried our best to decipher the businesses occupying the lots in Block 49, reading from left to right: Bakery, Office, Dr. Office, office, Fire Dept. House No., Restaurant, Cobbler, Office, Vacant, Undertaker, Music, Pat. Stone Mfg., N.L. Miller's Office & Old Opera House (Lot 2 & 3, notice the building in back that is marked 'garage') and Lot 1, marked as Repository. We know from Ketchen's testimony in the 1910 Murder Trial of Mabel Oakes, that Ketchen had a Vet Hospital located on the SW corner of 4th Street & Barnes Avenue.

In 1909, Alva City Hall wasn't even built. You can see from this photo that they had a spot for the future building of City Hall. Notice the small building of some sort just east of the courthouse & jail. It is an L-shaped building with a kitchen. What was it used for? The Woods County Court House & Jail occupied that larger drawing in the middle of Government Square. It was equipped with Heat: Steam, Lights: Electric. AND... In 1909 there was NO government street sutting through the courthouse square. Thanks, Jim, for sending us these great maps you found in Alva's Library.
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The Southern Oklahoma Hiccup - 4/5/2006...

Hey! Are you Southern Oklahomans Shaken up yet?

On Wednesday, April 5, 2006, while we were getting winds, rain in the valley and snow in the mountains of SW Colorado, southern Oklahoma was experiencing a "hiccup" of an earthquake in their neck of the woods. Some say the earthquake measured 2.7 and another site at it marked as 3.0 on the rector scale. All this in the Southern part of Oklahoma on Wednesday, 4/5/2006, approximately, 1:46 CDT 4/5/2006. Did anyone else in the area get shaken? OR... was it just local to SE Lone Grove, Ardmore, etc...?

I suppose some of you Californians out there would say, "You call that an earthquake?"

Check out these graphs at www.okgeosurvey1.gov. Here is another link to check the magnitude of the Oklahoma earthquake Earthquake USGS Site. This is what they reported: Magnitude 3.0 - OKLAHOMA, 2006 April 5 18:46:23 UTC. Here is a page with the seismograms. You can see the images themselves at the following URLs: 20060406m.png -- 20060406h.png. The Oklahoma Geological Survey Observatory where the recordings are done is in Northeast Oklahoma between Tulsa & Muskogee. See this page for a map of its location: Visitors Information. There are also links on the OGS and USGS sites to report if you felt the quake. Links are: Oklahoma Geological Survey report -- U.S. Geological Survey report for the April 06, 2006 quake

It did quiet down here in the valley of SW Colorado on Friday, 4/7/2006, for the end of the week with a calm, cool sun shining over the valley. The Pugs laid out in the sun and chased birds most of the day. They can't seem to get their wings flapping enough to lift off the ground, though. Too Dang top-heavy! In the evenings the Pugs go on "deer alert" with the deer coming down into our front yard to graze in the evenings. The morning find these energetic Pugs on "Robin alert" when the robins perch in our grassy yard for their morning meal. Neither times of alert do the Pugs get to go outside, though. They have their own little, cushioned stool in front of the window, though. Those Pugs (Duchess & Sadie) crack me up!

This NW Okie has been re-reading, writing, re-writing an article to come out in the "Prairie Connection" in the future. That is another thing that has been keeping me off the streets & busy. Forgot to tell you what the article was about, didn't I! It concerns the "Old Opera House Mystery - November 9, 1910" when Alva, Oklahoma was only a brand NEW state of three years (statehood: 9/16/1907). Subscribe to the Prairie Connection" and check it out.
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Perry, Oklahoma Platt Map...

In regards to this week's ezine (Vol. 8, Iss. 13), I found the old Alva platte map very interesting and somewhat similar to the one for Perry (oklahOma). Perhaps I'll get a copy made for you of the 1927 one that I have which shows details as to the construction of the buildings, such as which ones had concrete floors, steel or wood beams, steam heat, what type of business, etc. I do have it broken down into about 6 (8-1/2 x 11") pages which I could send. These are not very good copies, however. I need to take the time to 'doctor' them up a bit. I'm going to include a more modern one without all the handwritten details with this message now, though, and tell you that my mall is located at plat 40-1 of block 13 with a paved parking lot at plat 30-1 in between my business and the Exchange bank which is located at number 27-1 of that same block 13. Across the street south in block #24, plat #13-1 is the GM dealership, Ruble-Vance Chevrolet/Buick/Pontiac/GMC. Our Feucart Building (formerly the First National Bank) now houses the Chamber of Commerce and 'Perry Information Network' (cable TV channel 19) at plat #27-1 in that same block #24. The building was last renovated in 1993 (just before the centennial celebration of the Cherokee Strip Land Run. Our courthouse square is located at 01-1 in block "A". Also in regards to this week's ezine; I was wondering as to what year the photo accompanying the poem, 'The Western Normal College' by Scott Cummins might have been taken. That too was very interesting." -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Kamel Cohlmia at Antique Cash Register...

"I just now sent one of Kamell, standing at the cash register that has been in the store a hundred years and was still in use. This photo was taken a short time before he died. The nice photo of Kamell and Dee (on the cover of the Waynoka Chronicles) must have been a snapshot instead of a digital, and I think I gave it to their daughters. I'm hoping Mark at the newspaper can email it to me. I took the picture at their home one recent Christmas. Kamell Cohlmia operated Frank's Dept Store in Waynoka for many years with his wife, Dee. Both died from injuries received in an auto accident in November, 2005. Frank's had been in business in Waynoka since 1905." -- Sandie View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Picture of Early Day Cedardale...

"I ran onto your site and enjoyed it. I wanted to copy the picture someone sent from early day Cedardale. My brother-in-law lived in the Cedardale area. Keep up your good work." -- Glenda - Email: jgmullins1@sbcglobal.net

[Editor's Note: Vol. 5, Iss. 44Anyone out there from the Cedardale area in Woodward County? One of our readers sent a 1926 (or 1927) photo showing some children of that era in Cedardale. As I said earlier, the picture was taken around 1926 or 1927 not too far from Cedardale, Oklahoma. On the front row, left is Phil M. Brewer; front row, right is Jess Brewer. We don't know the other children's names. Phil Brewer has passed on, but his brother Jess still lives near Amarillo, Texas. If you know who the rest of the kids are, please Wiley Brewer - Email: wpbrewer@houston.rr.com.] View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Great Grandfather Elwood Murphy Hawkins...

"My great grandfather was Elwood Murphy Hawkins born August 30,1865 in Alabama. It is reported he was a orphan. His parents are a mystery. He married Molly Payne (Elizabeth) in Johnson county,Texas on August 17,1887. She died of a spider bite July 28, 1913 in Cleburne,Texas and is buried in Grandview, Texas. Her father was James C.Payne. Nine children were born to this union. Some of which lived in Oklahoma and some in Texas. He lived in Texas and then moved to Oklahoma. He ran a gas station somewhere in Oklahoma. Any one know of this person or the station? He died Feb.9,1942 and is buried in Rose Hill cemetary, Ardmore,Oklahoma." -- Carmon Conder McManigaell - Email: carm34@netzero.net View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Oklahoma Gas Prices...

"A gasoline transport truck dumped a new load of fuel into local service stations today and the price actually dropped! It's back down to $2.45.9 at Conoco and Phillips 66 branded stations and 2 cents lower ($2.43.9) at the independents (which sell the same Phillips gas but post no brand name). We're not supposed to know that there's no difference. I know that there IS a difference between the regular, the premium, and the super premium, but there's not more than one model of automobile out of 20 that needs a better fuel than regular unleaded. You're only paying for "prestige", not better mileage or engine protection. However, there can be a difference in mileage (and perhaps "protection") between certain brands. I'm no longer in the business and haven't seen recent comparisons so cannot be certain which brands are best anymore. When I WAS in the business (30 years ago) the top performers in our area were Standard and Phillips, but that probably has changed. Texaco was a close third at that time and Socony/Mobil was very close.

4/8/2006, Saturday -- Four other gas stations raised their prices by 4-cents - (Conoco, Phillips, and 2 independents) to $2.53.9, and I presume that the others did the same. We had a very cool north wind yesterday evening, following some rain that put about .05-inch of water into my rain gauge. I've not heard any 'fire news' since that -- perhaps it has quit again for the time being. I'm certain that our fire-fighters could use some rest." View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Sky Is Falling...

"It has been extremely warm and windy today (4/6/2006) and now the sky is falling in great big drops of rain. It began about 2:43 PM (5 minutes ago and there is water rushing down the street. Oh.....never mind....it has quit and the sun is back out and shining brightly. Gasoline prices jumped back up this morning. $2.49.9 at the Conoco, Phillips, and independents, and $2.50.9 at Sinclair. On 4/7/2006 - It began a slow rain here just after the noon hour and continued until just a few minutes ago (it's almost 4:30 now). I just checked the rain gauge which shows .05" of water in it. That'll help some (perhaps slow the fires down for a day or two). I noticed that the Sinclair station has raised it's gas prices by 4 more pennies today to $2.54.9" View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Southeast Corner of Alva (Okla.) Square...

"Attached is a snippet of a photo of the southeast corner of Alva's square. The photo is undated but is likely in the late 1800s or early 1900's. The 'Drugs' building was the lot east of the old opera house before a new building was constructed across the street north of current day W.W. Starr Lumber. The Drugs building in this photo stood about where the Co-op Hardware store is today. I'm just going on my memory of the maps. If I get a chance I'll research it more at the library next week. The photo is much earlier than 1910 so things could have changed a lot after the photo was taken. The photo I took this from covers all six blocks of Alva's square. The Alva Library has some good early street maps of the city, some as early as 1897. They were put together by a fire insurance company and are on microfiche. You have to use them under the supervision of Larry Thorne. Most of the downtown businesses are labeled on these maps. I've used the maps to research whether or not a house was located at the site of the Methodist Church (it was) and for other research." -- Jim Richey View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Map of Alva Square - SE Block 49 ...

"Here are some maps of the southeast block of the square in 1895, 1898, 1901 and 1909 (shown here). The opera house first shows up in the 1901 map and has moved by 1909. The map of 1895 most matches my photo, which is apparently before the first opera house was built. None of the maps show a Vet Hospital, but the building is there and is a printer’s business in one photo and a restaurant in another." Jim Richey View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Alva, Oklahoma - May 27, 1911 Postcard 'Street Scene'

Remember this is May 27, 1911 postcard 'street scene' looking south down 4th street towards Barnes Avenue. it shows the flooding after a hard rain. During 1910 thru 1911 they were paving College Avenue (6th Street), the streets around the downtown square and constructing City Hall in the city of Alva, Oklahoma. Notice the frame building on the west corner of 4th Street & Barnes Avenue, southeast corner of the square. That frame building was the 'Ketchen's Veterinary Hospital'. It also shows a barn like building to the left (catty-corner from veterinary hospital) that said it was the Nicholson-Noel Livery Stable. It was in Ketchen's testimony in the "1911 Old Opera Murder Trial" that Ketchen mentioned that Miller's Old Opera House & office was west of the veterinary hospital with four feet open space between the two buildings. The Old Opera House was just west and Miller's office was west of that. It was also testified to that the Noel Livery Stable was catty-corner from the Old Opera House. Through testimony and the Defenses Attorney's opening statement, the Old Opera House Murder site is now pinned down to the southeast corner of the downtown square in the east end of the 400 Block of Barnes Avenue., southside of the square. -- OkieLegacy Mysteries View/Write Comments (count 1)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

We Love LeFlore County, OK...

"I have lived in Leflore County all of my life and in my opinion it is the best and safest place to be. I love Leflore County." -- Tiffany View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Interesting Site...

"Have really enjoyed all that I've been able to peruse up to this point. Will spend a lot more time here in the future. Thanks for the interesting site and all the good work." -- milburn - Email: mqod@hotmail.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

April 1, 2006 Oklahoma Storm...

"The big storm that tracked across most of Oklahoma last evening (Saturday) left just a little more than 2/10s of an inch of water in my rain gauge. We still need more." View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Rest of the Story...

Obituary: Eileen Darnell - 05/05/1916 to 03/24/2006... "For Bobby Huff: I was raised NE of Capron and I now own the Huff Place south of Capron and it is still known as the Huff Place. I also knew the Fashs' but didn't realize the farm was still in the family. I now live in Alva." -- RJ

McVicker Family... I have fond memories of Rita Wingfield. We called her Lizzy. She was one of a kind. Always dressed nice and was very prim and proper.

1936 Longfellow School Classmate... Would like to get in touch with my 1936 Longfellow School classmate, Bobby Lee Huff.
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