Winter Is Here

While NW Okie was tramping out through it all to feed the horses, Sadie and I find a cozy, warm spot on the end of the sofa -- near the fireplace. That Sadie will curl up next to anyone, won't she! BUT... On top of this Duchess?!

Another weekend with white, fluffy snow falling again here in southwest Colorado. This time we have accumulated almost 4 inches since midnight, Friday, 1/12/2007, when it started to fall.

At 7:30 a.m. this Saturday morning it was still snowing and continued its downward pouring here in the valley south of Bayfield, Colorado. Maybe we will hear from some of the mountain folk this weekend with their accumulations they have received over the week and this weekend.

We hear that Alva, Oklahoma got a couple of inches of snow during the night and it was still snowing around northwest Oklahoma -- reports were predicting upto 10 inches in some places. What is it doing in your neck of the woods, especially, in Oklahoma and Kansas. We hope you survived the fridged temps, ice and sleet that fell your way last weekend.

Sounds like the next couple of weekends will be similar. BUT... It is Winter, isn't it! Que Sera Sera! Spring and a new group of life sproutings will be here before we know it. Everyone knows... Time flies!

NW Okie wanted me to let you all know that we have moved our OkieLegacy Podcasts over at our "okielegacy.us" website. Have a great Winter weekend and keep warm.
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Lincoln Bust at NWOSU

The Lincoln Monument at the Normal School in Alva, Oklahoma, around July 1920 finds Bob & Gene McGill standing on Monument located just northeast of the Northwestern State Normal School's Science Hall.

This old photo had the date of July 1920 and the following message written on the back of the old photo, "at the end of school."

One of our sources told us that the bust of Abraham Lincoln was donated to the College by Frank Ingels, sculptor, who graduated from Northwestern State Teacher's College in 1915.

Notice that in this old photo taken sometime around 1920 that there is NO Herod Hall building in the picture. I am assuming that Gene McGill (right) is going on 6 years and Bob McGill (left) is 4 years.
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Calling all NW Oklahoma Historians!

Calling all NW Oklahoma historians! We have had a request, "Wondering if you guys would consider writing a brief history of the Alva Review-Courier's heritage for the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia."

Duchess, Sadie and NW Okie need your expertise of this northwest Oklahoma Territory newspaper. We have made a request to the Oklahoma Historical Society to see what we can find there, but we really need your help and combined knowledge.

OkieLegacy Guestbook

1/18/2007 - Sheldon Russell - dblstar@cox.net -- "Nice work."

1/17/2007 - Lenora D'Arcy - drc@sagensun.net -- "Oklahoma land rush... My grandmother Minnie Alice Marshal and her two brothers Ira and Alve Marshall, as I understand, it were in the land rush."

1/14/2007 - Ara Autry - wja4032@bmi.net -- "Alva... We have an old man named Mr. Reynolds in our nursing home and he grew up, went to college and worked at the foundry. He hasn't been to Alva in a while but says he would really like to see it again, so I search out pictures for him. -- Ara in Ephrata, WA"
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The Rest of the Story

"Howdy. Here in NE KS we have had two days of cold and messy under foot. Temperatures are in the mid-teens. The forecast is for 4-7" of snow; however, it needs to get serious if we are to get that much. It was messy enough that a 90th birthday party for a retired District Judge was cancelled because of the travel problems. Frankly, I don''t need snow or any of the mess. I just do not enjoy it-maybe should find a new location to live. Gas prices here are in the $2.119 range, some lower and some above. In the area I''ve seen $1.999 and heard of $1.919 in Topeka." -- Vol. 9, Iss. 2 Intro

Castle On The Hill & Science Hall... "I found where a Frank Ingels, sculpture and graduate of Northwestern Normal School in 1915, donated the Lincoln monument to Northwestern. Did this occur the year he graduated in 1915? Did he scupture it himself? Does anyone have any more information on Frank Ingels? Thanks for helping us preserve a piece of this northwest Oklahoma past!"

Cedar Canyon Fire... "The owner, Anita Rennebohm, was in the process of selling the property, but it was not finalized. Word at the time was that she planned to start rebuilding immediately, was going to use a temporary building to begin selling noon meals (burgers, fries, etc.) within weeks, and would have a fancier, bigger place ready to open by July 1st. All that happened was that they cleaned the clutter up and walked away. No rebuilding. I have no idea who is running the motel at this point, or if it is even open (I assume it is, but have not asked that question specifically)."

Alva Teacher Listed - Centenarian... "Wow, ....my hats off to Salt of the Red Earth by M.J. Alexander !!! I cried all the way thru it !!! Breath-taking, and truely a spiritual gift to hold !!! My grandmother too, born in Marshall Oklahoma 1914, still living....now in Quartzsite Arizona.... where I wished I could see her more. I give hugs and kisses to all the "Centenarian''s" with love. You all have touched my heart over and over again. God Bless and God be with ! & THANK YOU !!!"
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Waynoka, OK Weather

"We've had sleet and freezing rain in Waynoka. The sun is shining brightly today (Monday) so the roads may clear somewhat today. It is bitterly cold. I put bird seed in the ice-lined bird bath this morning, and am sending a photo of the crowd that arrived soon after. The picture was taken at my kitchen window, looking east. I'm very thankful that we didn't have a storm that broke the trees." -- Sandie
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Last Week's Weather

"Word yesterday (1/13/07) evening was that highway 64 was clear between here and Alva; this morning, though, the same person took his wife to work in Alva and reports that the road is treacherous, very slick and hazardous. Still no ice, though, so hopefully we'll be able to keep our electrical power on. The TV reports are calling this 'Round Three."
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Last Weekend Weather

"Yes! We are getting our share of the bad weather. It has thundered with lightning, rained, sleeted, and finally snowed this evening (1/13/07). Made me think I was back in the Texas Panhandle! I have started on the Valentine story, will get it to you in a week or so. Thanks for your interest and publishing my memories." -- Kenneth
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Oklahoma Weather

"1/14/2007 -- Perry, Oklahoma has not yet lost power anytime during this major winter storm. Also, it didn't experience any more "stuff" falling from the skies last night. However, we began having tiny sleet pellets (smaller than the tiniest BB's) begin again about 10 AM this (Sunday) morning and it became very foggy. The fog has lifted now so that visibility is about a mile (I can see some of the hills that surround this little valley) and there's very little sleet falling at this moment (11:20 AM Sunday). So far as I know, all of the churches did finally cancel their services (in the interest of the member's safety). Most of the towns that are 25 (or so) miles away from us have experienced much worse weather conditions than here in Perry.

Yesterday afternoon the local youngsters began dragging out sleds (and anything else that would slide on this stuff) and sliding on every small hill they could find. I saw several sliding on the sidewalk across the street from me and then twisting enough that the sled would glide completely across the First Baptist Church parking lot and even twisting again to travel down another sidewalk for about another 25 feet. Oh to be a kid again...nI almost wanted to join them, however since I don't wish to break my 52 year record of no hospitalization, I (wisely) decided not to join them." -- Roy K.
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Oklahoma Weather & Gas Prices

"Here it comes again! Now they're predicting snow in Oklahoma for the next 2 weekends. This might cause some more roofs to collapse. However, it could also bring our moisture level up considerably and make up for the lack of rain this past year (there's always a bright side "somewhere").

The cold has reminded me as to one of the reasons they created indoor plumbing... no one gets frozen to "the seat" these days. I wonder if anyone has a copy of the poem about The Little House Out Back? I think one of the lines had something to do with "that well worn path".

We've had about 3/4" of snow today (1/20/07)and it quit again. I heard road crews somewhere talking about rain. It's above freezing here now and the stuff's thawing again. Gasoline prices haven't changed this week here in Perry. I'm enclosing an article from today's newspaper.

Our street crews here in Perry have been hard at work. The most dangerous part for me now is walking from the house to the car. It's slicker than ever for that part. I haven't fallen yet. I have had a problem keeping the car running at idle though. It's embarrassing and rather scary to have the car die at an intersection (or while moving through it). That's happened to me twice now and I've had to shift into neutral to restart (and then the brakes will work again!).

Our schools are back in session (for 1/2 day) today. And if we see the sun again, there may be some more melting... the temperature is supposed to get up to 32 degrees this afternoon." -- Roy K.
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Oklahoma Lookout Homestead

-- nwokielegacy... Does anyone know who lived here? Where is this located? We know it is in the vicinity of Lookout, Oklahoma, but whose homestead and farm was it? Is this the Beagley, pink house homestead? OR... another homestead at Lookout, Oklahoma? What is the legacy lurking in the walls of this ole house? Share it's legacy with us here at the OkieLegacy. Thanks
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Old OkieLegacy Format

"I like the old one better. I just sit here and use the mouse wheel to scroll down thru all the articles. Some I stop and read, some hold no interest so I just keep going. I think that the new way will be too much, what with opening a new window to be able to read each story holds no interest." -- Steve
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It Is No Secret

It Is No Secret -midi -- "I see the song I attached to my last article stirred up a lot of memories for others. I think that's great. I knew Stuart Hamblen had written it and knew he was talking about his body rather than a house. However, It is no secret written by him in 1951 - '52 is my favortie song. I attached a story that explains how he came about writing this particular song. Stay warm up there, and you can send Spring along anytime." -- Kenneth Updike
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Story Behind "It Is No Secret"

"It Is No Secret, recorded 5/17/50; released 6/19/50: the original manuscript of which is buried in the cornerstone of one of the Copyright Buildings of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and which has been translated into over 50 languages around the world and was the first song to 'cross-over' becoming #1 in Gospel/Country/and Pop categories and starting the trend for ballad style gospel songs.

Carl Stuart Hamblen's most well known is It Is No Secret, reportedly after a casual remark ("...sounds like a song") by actor John Wayne to Stuart, so it is said 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 1949, he attended a prayer meeting in Los Angeles where a young man named Billy Graham was preaching. He gave up his radio and film work and publicly announced he was devoting his life to Christ. In the early '50's, Stuart's radio show, "The Cowboy Church of the Air" was syndicated nationwide. This was also a time when commercials were done by the radio host. During this time, the syndicate sponsors wanted Stuart to do a commercial promoting alchohl, and when Stuart refused, due to the simple fact that his show was called The Cowboy Church of the Air, the sponsors told him they would pull the plug on his show. So, the last several shows, Stuart used them to let his nationwide-listening audience know why he would be leaving the air. Because of this, in 1952, the Prohibition Party asked Stuart to run for the President of the United States on their ticket. He did, and when the first returns came in he was actually ahead! When the final votes were counted, he had set a new record for votes for the Prohibition ticket, running 4th to Dwight D. Eisenhower."
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HUNKY DORY - What is It?

"The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang suggests that the term may have been introduced in America about 1865 by a popular variety performer named Japanese Tommy. Other references suggest that it may have been sailors' slang for a street in Yokohama that catered for what one might describe as the special needs of sailors. In Yokohama today a broad thoroughfare called Honcho-dori runs from the centre of the city to the port area, so one that would have been familiar to sailors (dori is the Japanese word for a road, in particular a broad or important one).

What seems certain is that hunky-dory was a play on an existing sense of the word hunky for something that was fine, splendid or satisfactory. In turn, this probably derives from the adjective hunk, which means that one is all right or in a safe or good position. This derives from the Dutch honk, meaning 'goal' or 'home' in a Frisian variant of the game of tag. This word (and presumably the game, too) was said to have been taken by the Dutch to New Amsterdam, later New York, but was first recorded only around the 1840s. It has links to another reduplicated term, hunkum-bunkum. Though the first part sounds a bit like the hunker of hunker down (which is also of Dutch origin), the words seem not to be related. It may be that hunky-dory was the result of a bilingual pun, perhaps invented because American sailors knew the word dori and prefixed it with hunky as an imagined Japanese street of earthly delights."
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OkieLegacy Ezine

"I can't bring up the latest issue - don't know if it's my computer only, but when I click on the link, I get shut down! I don't want to miss it! Thanks. I followed the link in your email and read Okie Legacy just fine. Always enjoy it so much! I know it takes a lot of time and work. Thank you!"
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