Duchess Corner

Duchess and Sadie say, "Oklahoma is feeling the brunt of this Arctic front this weekend through Sunday. He hear from some of our readers that there has been lots of ice in OKC all the way down to Pauls Valley. But... none in southern Oklahoma as of 4p.m. Friday. BUT... it sounds like it was suppose to arrive Friday night, and a LOTs more Saturday evening.

We hear that the electricity went off about 4 a.m. Saturday in some parts of southern Oklahoma because of ice storm. We, also, hear that it came back on at 7:30 a.m., Saturday. Some people have been checking their generators out to make sure they work and buying up propane tanks.

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Castle On The Hill & Science Hall

This old photo came from a friend of mine back in Alva, OK. We think it was taken sometime between 1909-1917, because the only buildings showing in this stretched out old photograph on the right, are the Science Hall, Castle on the Hill and an old smokestack of some sort.

We know that Northwestern Normal School's Castle on the Hill was built before statehood (1907) in 1897. The next building to built at the normal school was the Science Hall, which was finished by 1909.

In 1918 the President's House had been built. The Wyatt Gymnasium was added onto the Normal School campus in 1919. The Herold hall which stood between the Science building and the Castle on the Hill was constructed in 1923.

Thanks to Lovina Clark for sharing this old Northwestern Normal School photo with us. You can read more about the history of Alva's Normal School at Northwestern Normal School.
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Cotton Field Memories

Nope! It ain't cotton pickin' memories of living in the south! It is all about a song called, "Cotton Fields."

This NW Okie was just remembering back to her teen years when she accidentally broke a 45 rpm record of one of her high school friends.

This particular 45 rpm record was called "Cotton Fields." We would like to dedicate this song, "Cotton Fields" to our teenage friend, Sherry, for the record we broke back then. We know it is kind of late, but .... "Better late than never." Great Song! We haven't quite figured out how to convert it to a file we can share with you all... yet! It is one of those purchased through our "itunes" account! View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Carl Stuart Hamblen - This Ole House

We found this information about Carl Stuart Hamblen through our Google search... " Carl Stuart Hamblen was born on October 20, 1908 in Kellyville, Texas, the son of a itinerant Methodist preacher. Between 1931 and 1952, he had several radio programs on the air and appeared in some 10 western movies. In 1949, Stuart attended a prayer meeting being held by a young Billy Graham in Los Angeles. He made a decision to devote his life to Christ. He gave up his drinking, his radio programs and acting career, and began traveling across the country speaking and singing at Youth for Christ rallies, Billy Graham crusades, and churches with his wife, Suzy. In the early 50s, he started a nationally syndicated radio program called the "The Cowboy Church of the Air." When the sponsors demanded he do a commercial promoting alcohol, he refused--and the sponsors pulled out ending his show..... In 1954, he was signed by RCA Victor and his first release for them, This Ole House, reached the top of the Country & Western charts as sung by Stuart, and Rosemary Clooney's rendition reached number 3 on the pop charts." -- Click Here for More Info - Carl Stuart Hamblen's Bio
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The Rest of the Story

Remembering A Clooney Melody"I seem to remember an older recording (early 50's, I think) of 'This Old House' by Carson Robinson. The 'old house' referred to in the song refers to the human body that will be left behind when a person dies." -- Roy

Remembering This Ole house... "Here is the lyrics to the song. This was done best by George Younce with the Cathedral Quartet. This Ole House Words & Music by Stuart Hamblen, Recorded by Rosemary Clooney, 1954.

This ole house once knew my children, this ole house once knew my wife;
This ole house was home and comfort as we fought the storms of life.
This old house once rang with laughter, this old house heard many shouts;
Now she trembles in the darkness when the lightnin'' walks about.

Refrain:
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer,
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more;
Ain't got time to fix the shingles, ain''t got time to fix the floor,
Ain't got time to oil the hinges nor to mend the win-dow-pane;
Ain't gonna need this house no longer--
I'm a-gettin' ready to meet the saints.

This ole house is a-gettin' shaky, this ole house is a-gettin' old;
This ole house lets in the rain, this ole house lets in the cold.
Oh, my knees are a-gettin' shaky, but I feel no fear nor pain,
'Cause I see an angel peekin'' through a broken windowpane.

Repeat Refrain:

This ole house is afraid of thunder, this ole house is afraid of storms;
This ole house just groans and trembles when the night wind flings its arms.
This ole house is gettin' feeble, this old house is needin' paint;
Just like me it's tuckered out, but I''m a-gettin' ready to meet the saints.

Repeat Refrain:

My ol' hound dog lies a-sleepin'--he don't know I'm gonna leave,
Else he'd wake up by the fireplace and he'd sit there and howl and grieve.
But my huntin' days are over; ain't gonna hunt the coon no more;
Gabriel done brought in my chariot when the wind blew down the door.

Repeat Refrain:
" -- Larry

Lookout, OK - School House... "I think that maybe the name of the family that ran the Lookout store may have been spelt BRADT." -- Frances

Britton & OKC Merger... "I am interested in info about those two theaters. I am working on a book about small theaters and stories about the people who went to them.' -- Tom Leek Email: tleek@cox.net
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Toe-Tapping Song

"Loved that toe taping wav file..... written by one of the greatest singers.... Stuart Hamblen." -- Butch
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Junco Bird in the Bush

"The worst snow was west of us here in NE Kansas, actually west of Salina. We had some here at Westmoreland, but it was only 2-3 inches with some drifting however nothing serious as it turned out. Attached is a photo of a Junco sitting in a current bush outside our window. Note the snow on the branches - not much wind at that time.

I am a Mac user of 20 some years dating from when I worked for Boeing Wichita in Software Testing and my owning an Apple ][+ of that era. Since then I have owned nothing but Apple and Macintosh. It has been an interesting existence since much genealogy on CD's etc... is and has been on 'pee cee' based media. Now with the internet that has changed greatly. Cheers!" -- Jim Bradley, Westmoreland, KS
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Alva Teacher Listed - Centenarian

"This is the lead story from today's Daily Oklahoman. You need to view the slide story that comes with the article. It has a picture of one of you Alva teachers. Very interesting story." -- N. Dale Talkington

M.J. Alexander hatched the idea for the photo essay. It's allowed her to tell the stories of Oklahomans. Her media background includes writing for The Associated Press, editing a daily newspaper and having photographs published by Smithsonian magazine. Alexander first planned to interview and photograph about a dozen centenarians for the essay. But six months after she began crisscrossing the state, she has met with more than 100 centenarians and others who will celebrate their 100th birthday this year. Her goal is to meet as many as 350 people. Fifty portraits from Salt of the Red Earth will be displayed until Feb. 24 at the Tulsa Historical Society. Portraits also will be shown in October, November and December at the state Capitol. It's possible "Salt of the Red Earth" could be viewed in May in the Edward L. Gaylord/ Boone Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Center in Oklahoma City. Alexander wants to publish her project as a book she said would be simple and elegant while focusing on people and reflecting on their lives...." -- The Daily Oklahoman, dated January, 2007
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The Martin's of Major county, OK

"Have you heard anything from Mary and Paul Martin? I had a phone call from Mary a couple months ago and Paul had a heart attack resulting in bypass surgery. We didn't get a Xmas card this year and are concerned about his well being. Will try to call in the next day or so." -- Vernon
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Hello From Cleveland

"Thank you for the great Christmas card. Hope your year to come is successful and bountiful. We, in Cleveland, have had a very mild winter so far. 40's and 50's. Really quite different. Bad for the snow plow people but great for those who have to shovel. Am praying for a better year. My husband contracted Lymphoma and our world has been turned upside down. God will see us through this, I know. It just takes a little patience on our part. Do keep the newsletter coming, it's great to read and hear all about others and their quests for their ancestors." -- Jenni
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Relatives of O. Scott Cummins

"Thank you for forwarding the email from Jayne. She is a first cousin of Frank. We have been corresponding with her now and will send her and her sister the books. She has been looking for them for a long time. Thanks again." -- Jan
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Oklahoma Lawmen & Outlaws

"OETA will air a program on Oklahoma outlaws Tuesday evening, January 9th, at 9pm. This documentary is part of a series of programs for the Oklahoma Centennial during 2007. The title of this Stateline program is "Dead or Alive." Dee Cordry, author of "Alive If Possible, Dead If Necessary," was interviewed by OETA and appears in this documentary. Visit OETA's website for more information."
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Oklahoma Memories Out of the Past

"There are so many Perry connections these days. Stewart, Sr. was a member of our church here in Perry and one of the notes I tried to answer to Max (another psychologist) I mentioned that Beasley, Sr. had designed our counties rural water system so that the farm ponds could be linked in case of severe drouth (we're not there yet, but close) to provide additional water supplies for anyone in need. Stewart, Sr. has a daughter living in Vegas, and a granddaughter, Jennifer Dillard (best "buddy" of my daughter-in-law Juli) still in our church.

Coach Faye O'Dell (who also moved to Edmond after retiring here) had been a prisoner on Corregidor at the same time that Wayne Liles was a prisoner on Bataan. Wayne told me once that he weighed less than 90 pounds when he was freed. Hard to believe that he could have EVER been that thin isn't it? I think that his widow Margaret is still a member of Britton Christian.

More Perry relatives made the Oklahoma news this week when it was revealed that the twin grandsons of Gordon Johnson (he and his wife Gwen are also members of our church, as is his ex-wife, Melody) were the first twins (and I think the youngest people) to receive the Cochlear implants (and isn't that doctor/inventor also from Edmond?) to give them hearing for the first time. We really live in an amazing age." -- Roy
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Oklahoma History

"This week's This and That newsletter mentions a "Stateline" program on OETA, our educational network. I thought you might like to know that the program producer, Charles Newcomb is my step-nephew. I first knew his dad (Webb Newcomb) and his grandfather (Dr. L. A Newcomb) when they came to see me at the first movie theatre that I owned (at Newburg, Missouri) back when I was barely 21 years old. Later, I worked as a projectionist at the Newcomb's Lakeside Theatre in Oklahoma City while I was attending Oklahoma City University (majoring in Electronics Engineering), and it was while I was working there that I persuaded them to hire my mom as Dr. Newcomb's dental assistant. She retired from that job after 30+ years, and a couple of years after my dad died, she married her former boss who was Charles Newcomb's grandfather." -- Roy

As it appeared in "This and That Newsletter" - www.OklahomaHistory.net, Vol 11 Issue 520, Circulation 5,000, January 11, 2007, Ardmore, Oklahoma... "OETA will air a program on Oklahoma outlaws on January 23rd, and again January 28th. This documentary is part of a series of programs for the Oklahoma Centennial during 2007. The title of this Stateline program is "Dead or Alive." Dee Cordry, author of "Alive If Possible, Dead If Necessary," was interviewed by OETA and appears in this documentary. I have known Dee Cordry for a long time, I hate to say how long, because it would give away our ages. lol Dee has worked through the years to help preserve Oklahoma lawman and outlaw history from early days of statehood through his website and journals and books. Visit the link below for more about the OETA programs And to learn more about the Oklahoma historian Dee Cordry website
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Cedar Canyon Fire

"Hi there. Wanted someone to know that my husband and I were at the fire on march 11th, 2006, (south of Freedom, Oklahoma. The Stables Fire... along with a stranger who called the fire in that day. Waht a day. Please update us as to when they are rebuilding the Lodge. We were 2 of the 3 people that morning who witnessed the whole ordeal. it was quite emotional. Yes! It was quite a morning!!!!! We actually were staying at the motel and woke up and looked out and I sawa a large flame coming our of the bar area. It had been burning, I'm guessing, 5 minutes. It was pretty frightening, as you can imagine, so we gathered all our belongings and ran down the sidewalk towards our car which was parked in the parking area, maybe 48 yards, from the fire iteself. A propane tank which was starting to become an issue with us at the time. I actually was pu8lling luggage and fell. We were getting into out car and the one pumper unit arrived on the scene, which by that time it was well on its way to becoming out of control. We jumped into our car and manuevered our way around the fire to the highway... and watched for awhile. Then went to the golf course and showered. We left the area came back to OKC. We will never forget it. there were brand new owners... Still the same people?" -- BARB IN OKC
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AHS 40th Reunion - Class of '67

AHS 40th Reunion - Class of '67 "I am helping get addresses for the Alva High (Oklahoma) Class of 1967, 40th reunion. We would like to contact everyone by e-mail, if possible." -- Lyn (Irons) Lyon - Email: llyon4@cox.net
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Baton Rouge Okie

"I'm a misplaced Okie now living in Baton Rouge. Saw your link in butch bridges newsletter. more later." -- susan
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Oklahoma Weather & Stuff

"Things will surely change in the next 24 hours or so, as this major winter storm moves through Oklahoma. At the moment, the radar on "The Weather Channel" appears that Woods County is missing the snow and ice, at least for the time being. Enid seems to be on the edge it, with a line that extends down to the Altus area.

I left Alva yesterday afternoon (Thursday, 1/11/2007) about 4 p.m. and it was 73 degrees. Kids were riding bikes in their shorts and short-sleeve shirts, and I was running the A/C in my car, full blast! By the time I got home (we live in Freedom, a 28-mile drive west of Alva, 25 west and 3 south), the temperature had fallen to 58 degrees, a drop of 15 degrees in about a half-hour.

This Friday morning's drive to Alva was at 19 degrees for most of the drive, though it dipped to 18 for a few seconds at the Twelve-Mile Corner (the Waynoka road) and then rose to 20 for the last two or three miles into Alva.

I left Alva about noon today (Friday, 1/12/2007) and it was 20 degrees when I left and 19 by the time I arrived in Freedom.

Carolyn went to Woodward Thursday morning to stock up on a few items, just in case the prediction of ice is accurate and we lose electrical power. As early as 10:30 a.m., the large parking lot at the Wal-Mart store there was absolutely full of cars and folks were literally in a frenzy trying to stock up on water, batteries, propane bottles, food, and other items. We needed a few small bottles of propane and one larger 20-lb bottle, water, and D-size batteries, none of which were available there.

Alva's store was not exactly a frenzy, but they were nearly sold out of water and were completely out of propane bottles. Fortunately, Carolyn found the larger propane bottle at another store in Woodward (Walgreen's, of all places) and we have seven of the smaller ones on hand.
,br> Various school functions in the region are being canceled or postponed, of course. The university is observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, so if things get really serious, we do have an extra day to recover.

Of course, it's too early to predict ice damage and the like, since the storm is just now starting to move through Oklahoma. TV reporters in Tulsa are indicating that it's getting pretty slick and hazardous there; Oklahoma City is nasty and there has been one traffic fatality this morning when a truck overturned on I-44.

Gas in Alva today was $2.109 per gallon. It typically is about twenty cents a gallon higher than Enid and other surrounding towns. Nobody knows why that is, exactly - greed, perhaps? The rumor-mill says that one individual in Alva sets the price - and the same truck delivers to all the stations. I have no idea if that's true - I hope it's not.

Overnight, things have changed slightly. At the moment, "weather.com" indicates our temp is 18 degrees with a 6 degree wind-chill and that it's snowing. As I stand at the front door, the ground is white, as if the snow has just dusted everything with enough to cover everything, but no serious accumulations at this point. Just now, the "snow" is clattering against the north side of the house (winds seem calm actually, but there's enough of a breeze to make it hit the windows on the north); it sounds, feels, and looks more like sleet than snow. Perhaps it began as snow and then changed - I have no idea.

I was going to take a photo of it, but my digital camera doesn't do its best in dark conditions unless I drag out the tripod - (refer to earlier 18 degree temp and 6 degree wind chill).

We still have electricity, which was one of the major concerns when they first began to talk about this storm. We are still appearing on the "ice map" for predictions over the weekend; perhaps the sleet marks the arrival of that system. If I happen to get any nifty "winter wonderland" photos, I'll forward one or two of them to you.

At 8:12 a.m., Saturday... The sleet has turned to a very light and gentle snow, still no major accumulations - tufts of dry grass sticking up through the snow here and there." -- Rod Murrow
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Oklahoma Weekend Weather

When we had our bad ice storm (I took pictures all over town - Feb., 2002) some of us were without power for more than two weeks. My son was never without power because his house had been the former home of a long time sheriff (in the '20s I think) and that house is on the same "grid" as the courthouse even though it's about 2 miles from it, and if the courthouse has power, he does too (even though his neighbors houses are all in the dark)!!! My house is on the same circuit as many businesses, so I was only without power for about 1-1/2 days. My shop is downtown (next to a bank) and was only without power for a few hours. Most of the town though was "dead".

The picture on the left is from Perry's ice storm (back in February of 2002). They were taken at some property I own. This 2002 picture shows you my '65 Ford pickup truck that had ice-covered branches all over it (from the huge black-walnut tree that was split in two by the weight of the ice).

2007 Weekend Weather -- The wind changed last night and began coming from the north and a few minutes ago (about 10:20 AM Friday) a light blowing snow began falling. No ice nor freezing rain here yet.

It changed to sleet a few minutes later (this morning) and has been sleeting most of the day since. Our gasoline prices dropped to $1.899 at the major independents and at Conoco and Phillips 66 stations. The downtown Sinclair station is at $1.999. It's the only station still offering "full service".

I decided to not try driving on this stuff and continued to walk to work, also to the nutrition center for lunch, and back home this evening. It was only a little more than a mile total and I did not 'slip and slide,' but I did walk a little more carefully. I anticipate doing a little driving tomorrow, but not much. The TV stations are saying that we're having the worst weather in the nation, but it really doesn't seem that bad to me yet.

Our sleet here in Perry (Oklahoma) is "dry" sleet! It doesn't stick to anything and doesn't pack together like the wet stuff. The TV guys keep saying that more is on the way (but the map they're showing doesn't include Noble County. Churches all around us have announced that they'll be closed for the next couple of days, but only 2 of the churches here in Perry have announced closings and only for the Sunday services (the church I attend hasn't announced anything at all yet). Oh wow! I just switched over to the educational channel and they're repeating one of my all time favorite shows, "Close to You; Remembering the Carpenters". One of the many reasons is because Richard Carpenter played a Rhodes keyboard on many of their hits, and I have one just like it here in my living room (complete with the Fender amplifier below it)." -- Roy K.
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