April Snowflakes Blows In Oklahoma

We hear that the heartlands of Oklahoma and parts of Texas are experiencing a bit of a cold front this weekend. Several have mentioned that it snowed flakes of blowing white stuff in Oklahoma on Good Friday with temperatures reaching 34 degrees for the highs -- 21 degrees for the lows in the northwest corner of Oklahoma with no accumulations as of this writing. By Saturday it had cleared, but was chilly.

Meanwhile, in in southwest Colorado valley we were experience sunny, cool mornings and cloudy afternoons with a chance sprinkle of rain falling to the ground. As of this writing, we have the fireplace heated and warming up the inside while the chilly, clouds take over the Saturday afternoon leading into Easter Sunday.

Next weekend we may be a bit late with the newsletter. NW Okie shall be making a debute in Shawnee, Oklahoma at the "Horse Expo" to help some friends sell some of their registered quarterhorses. If you are in the neighborhood of Shawnee, OK, check out the Triangle Sales Co. on the westside of Shawnee, Oklahoma for their 2007 Spring Consignment Sale, April 13-14, 2007.

Happy Easter to All!
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Waynoka History Book

I was reading in the Waynoka - Woods County Enterprise this week and came across this information concerning the "Waynoka History Book."

You still have time to reserve your copy of "Waynoka History Book" with the extension date for ordering set to April 30th, 2007. Reserve your copy... NOW!

The Waynoka History Book will have history 1893-2007, from Waynoka and surrounding communities. It is Waynok's first ever history book commerating 100 years of Statehood. You can reserve your book now, because they have extended the deadline for ordering to April 30th, 2007.

It is sponsored by the Woods County Enterprise and Waynoka Historical Society. They need your family stories of Waynoka and surrounding areas. The book will be 500 pages, on 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch size paper, hard bound, printed on acid-free paper.

The Early Bird book Price is $49.00 plus $4.41 tax and $5 shipping (until April 30, 2007). Send Order To: Waynoka History Book, 1543 Main Street, Waynoka, OK 73860. Include your name, address, number of books and check to reserve your Waynoka History Book ... NOW!.
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Oklahoma News Online

The Freedom Call is not the only Oklahoma newspaper you can subscribe to and read online. Waynoka Woods County Enterprise can also be viewed online to subscribers. Just two of the great newspapers located in northwest Oklahoma.

Others newspapers found online at oklahoma.arcasearch.com, include: Allen Advocate, Alva Review-Courier, Arnett - Ellis County Capital, Barnsdall - Bigheart Times, Beaver Herald - Democrat, Cherokee Messenger & Republican, Cleveland American, Clinton daily News, Coalgate Record - Register, Davis News,

Edmond sun, El Reno Tribune, Gage Record, Granite Enterprise, Hobart Democrat - Chief, Holdenville Tribune, Hugo daily News, hugo - choctaw County Times, Inola Independent, Mangum Star News, Midwest city - The Sun,

Mooreland Leader, Morris News, Mountain View News, Mustang News, Newcastle Pacer, NewsGram, Norman Transcript, Okeene Record, Oklahoma City - Friday, Oklahoma Publisher, Oologah Lake Leader, Pauls Valley Daily Democrat, Ponca City News, Rush Springs Gazette,

Seiling - The Dewey County Record, Seminole Producer, Shattuck - Northwestern Oklahoman & Ellis County News, Sulphur Times Democrat, Tecumseh Countrywide News, and Wewoka Times.
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The Cherokee Outlet

The Cherokee Outlet was also known as the Cherokee Strip. It was formed by the US government to give the Cherokee Indians of Eastern Oklahoma a path or "outlet" to hunting lands in the West. A group of cattlemen known as "The Cherokee Strip Livestock Association" finally leased the outlet for a period of years.

After several years under pressure from people wanting the outlet opened for settlement, the US government reneged on the on the contract/lease with the Indians. The government pressured the Indians into accepting $1.25 per acre buyout for their land. In the final negotiations, the dollar sum was fixed at 8-1/2 million or approximately $1.29 per acre.

The Cherokee Outlet was divided into 4 districts: Woodward land district (N county); Alva land District (M county); Enid Land district (L & O county); Perry Land District (K, P, Q counties).

The purchase of the strip from the Cherokee Indians cleared the way for the land to be opened for settlement, September 16, 1893. That was the day that the government sponsored a "land run" allowing an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people and civil war veterans to acquire 160 acres of free land and stake claims. The fertile land lay in the eastern end of the outlet while the rougher western portion of the Strip seemed less desirable and many quarters were not claimed.

The claimants of the chosen 160 acres had to be of legal age (21) and not have previously claimed land in another area under the Homestead Act. Because the government wanted to recover the 8-1/2 million dollars paid to the cherokee Indians for the purchase of the Strip, the land was not intended to really be free. Each acre was paid for at the rate predetermined by the Federal government.

Land in the western portion of the Strip between the Texas stateline and 98° 30' longitude was priced at $1.00 an acre. It included land from the Texas stateline on the west to a line about 24-1/2 miles east of present day Chester, Oklahoma. The east line was just a little west of Fairview.

The land between 98° 30' longitude and 97° 30' was priced at $1.0 per acre. This portion of the strip started just west of Fairview and extended east to about 21 miles east of Enid, close to the town of Garber. The land on the east of the 97° 30' longitude was priced at $2.50 per acre.

The couth boundary of the Strip was located about 3-3/4 miles south of present day Chester, Oklahoma and ran from the Texas line to east of pawnee, in a straight line. The north side was the Kansas line.

In 1900, the Congress voided the "have to repay" requirement, so most homesteaders didn't pay for their land. Claimants had to "prove up" their land by building a permanent living structure and readying the land for crops, if the land was suitable to farming. A claimant could not be absent from his property for a period of exceed 6 months. Upon meeting all the requirements for claiming land, the government issued a document called a "patent" which gave the landowner title to his property.
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Chester, Oklahoma

The southwest quarter of section 2-20-16 was the location of the first "Chester" post office established April 8, 1895. Chester has always been the official name of the post office, but there are doubts about how the name originated.

One story has it that Michael Tedrick named the post office after his grandson who lived in Ohio. The other theory is that it was named for chester Long, US Senator from Kansas. At the time the post office was in a store built by Michael Tedrick, located on property he homesteaded. Tedrick had hauled lumber from Alva to build this 2-story affair, with the family quarters on the top floor and the store and post office on the bottom. Tedrick made an application for the post office by filing a petition with the US Postal Department. The petition had to be signed by a number of residents in the area.

The Chester school was located 1/4 mile east of the post office-store. Chester (Dist. #38) was organized July 30, 1895 in a 1-room log structure with a sod roof and a dirt floor. The seats were benches around the walls.

As the story goes, "When it rained, the only dry place in the school building was under the big cedar poles used as ridge poles for the sod roof."

A few slates for written work, a wood stove for heat and a big paddle for discipline, were the main elements of a school day. The students generally ranged in age from 6 to 16 years old. All grades were in the same room and taught by the same teacher.

The first year, school was taught by George M. Tedrick, the son of Michael Tedrick. The school term was about 90 days, since the students were needed on the farms during the warmer weather. The first schoolhouse was a logged building, but it is unknown when it was replced with a frame building. It has been estimated to be around 1900, though.

Teachers, school years and monthly salaries are listed below:

The Rest of the Story

Looking for OSBURN family Obits... "Walter Harvey was his name not George Harvey Osburn. I spoke to a family in Alva, the Raider's: Olive and Clyde (Bill). They tell me that the Whitehorse cemetery is what everyone called Osburn's Cemetery. I talked to Bob Wharton, he owns the other funeral home near Whitehorse, Wharton's Funeral home. He will get back to me with info on the Osburn's. I talked with the Library in Alva (Larry Thorne) and he told me without actual dates they can't help. I was told that the Library and the Alva Review send everything to the College in Alva, Northwestern College. No such luck with a return phone call from Cindy Gottsch at the College library. They are open to the public and Steve an adminstrator at the college said they will help when you visit. I hope someone can help. If any one gets a chance, this Raider family Knew about the town of Alva -- the 2 fires -- then the tird (sic) town of Alva being run out due to the new interstate. Very interesting."

Negatives of the Roxy Theatre... "Roy, I took the photo image into Photoshop and used the invert function to get a positive of the photo. I can send it to you if you want and will send me an email address to use." -- Jim Bradley, Westmoreland, KS

St. Louis Browns - 1914.. "I wondered if there was a Maurice D. McNiel in the Browns pic? My dad's family live in The City, at Vici, and Woodward. He was a semi-pro ball player and we always thought he played for the St. Louis farm team that was in The City. (I learned that from our sons Little League coach who came from Waynoka.) Grandad went in to the service in 1914 in the City. Thanks for any help!" -- Sherry McNeil Swires - Email: jl-sl@nts-online.net
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1942 Carbine w/762 On Barrel

"I just bought an M1 carbine with barrel dated 1942 and it appears a soldier carved "762" on the stock so I googled it and found your site. Makes sense that a tank crew would have small carbines issued." -- vince oliverio - Email: vince_oliverio@caboces.org
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Fender Skirts - What's That?

"This one has been around before, but had to share it with others our age." -- Terry & Linda

"I came across this phrase in a book yesterday "FENDER SKIRTS". A term I haven't heard in a long time and thinking about "fender skirts" started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice. Like "curb feelers" and "steering knobs."

Since I'd been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that direction first. Any kids will probably have to find some person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you. Remember "Continental kits?" They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.

When did we quit calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point "parking brake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with "emergency brake."

I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the "foot feed."

Didn't you ever wait at the street for your dad to come home, so you could ride the "running board" up to the house?

Here's a phrase I heard all the time in my youth but never anymore - "store-bought." Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days. But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought bag of candy. Or... hear someone say "I've traded here for thirty years."

"Coast to coast" is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term "world wide" for granted. This floors me.

On a smaller scale, "wall-to-wall" was once a magical term in our homes. In the '50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow; wall-to-wall carpeting ! Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors. Go figure.

When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase "in a family way?" It's hard to imagine that the word "pregnant" was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite company. So we had all that talk about stork visits and "being in a family way" or simply "expecting." Remember that children came from the "Cabbage Patch."

Apparently "brassiere" is a word no longer in usage. I said it the other day and my daughter cracked up. I guess it's just "bra" now "Unmentionables" probably wouldn't be understood at all.

I always loved going to the "picture show," but I considered "movie" an affectation.

Most of these words go back to the '50s, but here's a pure-'60s word I came across the other day - "Rat Fink." Ooh, what a nasty put-down that was!

Here's a word I miss - "percolator." That was just a fun word to say. And what was it replaced with? "Coffee maker." How dull. Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this.

I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern and now sound so retro. Words like "DynaFlow" and "Electrolux." Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with "SpectraVision!"

Food for thought - Was there a telethon that wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore. Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening kids with castor oil anymore.

Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. The one that grieves me most "supper." Now everybody says "dinner." Save a great word. Invite someone to supper. Discuss fender skirts.

Someone forwarded this to me. I thought some of us of a "certain age" would remember most of these. Just for fun, Pass it along to others of "a certain age !" -- author unknown
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Love Valentine Diners?

"Please help us save this historic gem! This is the original red and white Dairy Mart Valentine Dinner Sandwich Bar that was located in Cherokee, OK. It was later moved to Nescatunga, Oklahoma and renamed the Yum Yum Shack. It was purchased several years ago by The Balmer Fund (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization), Harper, Kansas, to save it from being destroyed. It is now on blocks in Harper, Kansas. It needs a complete restoration.

Specifications: A large ice cream cone crowns the top and is currently stored. The base of the diner is 25 ft. x 10 ft. There is a one foot overhang off of the back and a two foot overhang on each side, bringing the total width to about 14 feet. The front has a 30 in. overhang, coupled with an angled window on front, so the total length is 29 feet six inches. The total height without the "cone" sign (not shown) 10 ft, 4 in. It has had considerable vandalism.

The Balmer Fund would like to restore this diner to usefulness to enhance a complex of five historic buildings the organization owns in downtown Harper, and is in the process of restoring. One building includes the last known fresh oyster parlor in Kansas, now listed on the National Historic Register (I.P.Campbell building).

If you are interested in any aspect of helping saving this historic gem, contact Rosalea Hostetler at Email: wepreserve@balmerfund.org -- or -- 620.896.7566 (evenings)." -- THE BALMER FUND, Preserving the history, art & culture of the prairies for future generations Since 1968 & 1994
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Pioneer Kansas & Oklahoma Teacher

"What a wonderful web site. Searching for my Great-Grandmother, Eva J. Watson, who taught school along the Kansas and Oklahoma border in 1900 according to the 1900 Census. Would like to find out where she taught. Their farm was in the Township of Fitzlen in Woods County. She was married to William Perry Watson. My Mother was born in Hardtner, Kansas and went to school there and in Felt, and Geresham, Oklahoma. Keep up the excellant work." -- Richard L. D'Eon - Email: richarddeon@msn.com
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Felt, Oklahoma

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia says, "Felt is a small community in Cimarron County, Oklahoma. The post office was established July 16, 1926. It was named for C.F.W. Felt of the Santa Fe Railroad. Nearby is the Cedar Breaks Archaelogical District."
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Easter Snow In Oklahoma?

"It's much colder today and the weather folks are saying that there could be some snow again in time for Easter. I can remember it happening when I was a teen and our Sunday school class had an Easter Sunrise breakfast at a place called "Doc's Pond" (near Britton, Oklahoma).

This mornings snow flakes caught me off guard. They weren't supposed to be here 'til tomorrow (saturday) I thought. Just a few though (so far) and we're still expecting some more for the weekend. Perfect football weather and OU has a scrimmage scheduled in Norman.

The gasoline prices are up again here in Perry. As of Thursday, they'd climbed to $2.65.9 for a gallon of unleaded regular. HAPPY EASTER." -- Roy K.
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World War II Story - Robert F. Gallagher

"Check out this World War II story of the Third Armny, in Europe and written by Robert F. Gallagher." -- Homer

www.gallagher.com/ww2/ World War II Story by Robert F. Gallagher. "Scratch One Messerschmitt" (400 pages and 200 photos ) United States Army, 815th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, Third Army, European Theater, 1941 - 1945. Synopsis and About the Author, Bob Gallagher's Introduction to the Story (mp3 recorded September 2006) -- This story takes you into the daily lives of an average GI during World War II. It begins shortly before America's entrance into the war when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The author tells about his life on the South side of Chicago living in the shadow of the steel mills. He and his friends are enjoying their senior year in high school as the hard times of the Great Depression are coming to a close....."
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THE SENILITY PRAYER

"Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference." -- author unknown
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Unable To Open

"We always look forward to the Okie Journal, BUT the last one we tried many ways and no one has been able to openit up so we can read it. Could you please send it again." -- John J.
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Norman OK Ancestors

"I was born in Norman, Oklahoma and both of my parents heritage is from Oklahoma. I came across this site and I am excited to check it out." -- Susan Hunter - Email: treeclimbergma@att.net
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