Auumn Colors In SW Colorado

We made it back to southwest Colorado earlier this week around noon with wild turkeys greeting us in our front yard. I did not have camera handy at the time. BUT... I did catch these huge wild turkeys grazing in another pasture along County Road 334 the other day.

Welcome to Fall's Autumn colors in the valley of Southwest Colorado. You will notice from the golden autumn colors that Fall has arrived here in the valley South of Bayfield, Colorado. What is it doing in your neck of the woods?

It's cloudy, cool and dry here in the valley and College Football is on ESPN. Will OU Sooners manage to defeat Missouri... as usual? What about that Penn State vs. Wisconsin team? I picked Penn State in my Fantasy Football League Team.

We have heard from many of you of how impressed with the record time demolition work that David and Robb, the demolition crew, have done on the 12th Street demolitions in Alva, Oklahoma. Yes! As some of you have said, "The demolition crew has really been working their butts off."

As you drive up Oklahoma Blvd, in Alva, OK, and get close to 12th Street you might notice the fitting tribute of the lone toilet/bathtub, on the corner of Oklahoma Blvd/12th Street, next to the highway. Catch it before the demolition crew completely removes the lasts remnants, proof that there was a domicile residing at 915 & 917 12th Street, in Alva, Oklahoma.

You can watch the demolition crew's continued progress of the demolition/cleanup over at our NW OkieLegacy Podcasts - My Albums - Click the "Pigeon's Domicile" image.
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1906 - M'Guire Machine & Alva Normal School

This article was found in The Oklahoman, dated June 27, 1906, page 8, with headlines: Hold Up Game; M'Guire Machine Gave Alva Normal School After Extorting Money; Sensational Story Told; United States Senator is Sought and His Influence Alone Saved Citizens From Further Bleeding.

Guthrie, Okla., June 26, 1906 -- "A prominent Alva man, who visited this city recently, is authority for the statement that the citizens, at the request of congressman McGuire, furnished funds to get their bill passed, which legalized the action of the last legislature in appropriating $60,000 for another building at the Northwestern Normal school. McGuire wrote that he would have to secure the services of several influential men in the matter and that it would take some funds. Afterward, when the people believed the bell had been sidetracked, they wired to Senator Long of Kansas and asked him about it.

"Several days after getting the wire Senator Long wired back that the bill was all O.K. and had passed the senate. The next day, after receiving the wire from Long, a letter was received from McGuire, stating that "owing to the press of business, it was impossible to reach the Alva bill at this session, but that it was in excellent condition to take up at the beginning of the next session." He did not even know that Long was pushing it successfully in the senate."
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OkieLegacy Centennial Moment

Did you know that Oklahoma's first Governor, C. N. Haskell, had a double? The double was a mexican immigration agent, E. R. Shannon.

1907 - Brass Band For Haskell's Double -- This article was found in The Oklahoman, dated Sept. 29, 1907, page. 9, concerning the Mexican immigration agent taken for the new governor of Oklahoma. This was special to The Oklahoman, Muskogee, I. T., Sept. 28, 1907.

"There is one man besides C. N. Haskell who is benefitting from the election of the new governor of Oklahoma already. His name is E. R. Shannon and he is a Mexcian immigration agent, traveling in the interest of some townsite and land companies in Mexico, though he is an American himself.

"Mr. Shannon is Mr. Haskell's double. The similarity is so great that in many parts of the new state he is taken for the new governor. This he uses to his advantage. When an enthusiastic admirer rushes up and congratulates him on having been elected governor, Mr. Shannon smiles, accepts, finds out his friend's name and then gradually drifts around to the advantages of mexican properties and reveals his real name.

"But in the meantime he has amde acquaintances that get him business and he is happy. At one town in the territory a prominent democrat rushed up to Mr. Shannon, called him Governor Haskell, and told him "some of the boys would be dropping around to see him."

"Pretty soon local democrats commenced to drop in and the first thing Shannon knew there was a brass band out in his honor. This was too much for him and after a hasty explanation that there was a mistake, he ducked.

"Mr. Shannon is about the same age as Governor Haskell, has the same piercing eye, a firmly set jaw and brushes his hair exactly the same way Mr. Haskell. When seen together there is, of course, considerable difference, but the likeness is so strong that it takes an intimate acquaintance to distinguish off hand which is the governor-elect and which is the immigration agent."
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Roundup Silhouettes

"Hi Linda, Enjoying reading your latest Legacy. When I saw the silhouettes of the cattle drive, it made me remember a few photos I took along highway 62 somewhere between Indiahoma and Snyder, Oklahoma. I took these a couple of years ago. I don't know if they had anything to do with the Chisholm Trail. But thought I would share them with you. Regards." -- Kenneth
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POW Camp At Chickasha

"Would like details of this POW camp at Chickasha. As a boy of 10 or 11 my friends and I would come to Chickasha to swim at Shannon Springs Park. We would often stop by the POW buildings on the west side of Chickasha. Often some of the POWs would come to the fence. We would converse with a few of them who spoke fluent English." -- Gaylon Stacy - Email: gaylonstacy@cox.net
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WWII - 290th, January-May 1945

"Robert W. McKey, Sr. was a PFC in the 290th from January 1945 to May 1945" -- Robert W. McKey, Sr.
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Cattle Drovers, Homecoming & Demolition

Cattle Drovers, Homecoming & Demolition "Czech Festival: Now that my family and I are Yukon residents once again, we spent Saturday morning at the Czech Festival. During the short one-band parade, I kept thinking, "Hmmm...we should have skipped this one and gone to NWOSU''s Homecoming Parade instead!" But after reading Linda''s comments on the Alva parade about how the bands, floats, and crowds have shrunken considerably. Now I'm wondering, 'Are parades just not a big deal anymore?' They sure were when I was a kid! My daughters enjoyed (most of) the parade, and I enjoyed the vendor booths, especially the lady selling sand plum jelly and jam! (her booth fee was more than covered by the profits on MY purchases alone, I am sure! Now if I could only find some sand plum butter!

Little Sahara: In the 1960's, I believe, I do remember seeing a five-legged animal of some sort on display at the sand dunes. A calf, perhaps? Sorry I can''t come up with more info from my foggy memory banks.

OU/Texas: Those Bevo Burgers I grilled last night after the game sure were tasty! Haven't tasted anything quite as good in... hmmm... something like... three years? " -- Scott Downs- Email: scottdowns@scottdowns.net

Long Search For Camels Hits Gusher

Long Search For Camels Hits Gusher "The baby rattlers were at the gas station on the SE Corner of the intersection, Camp Houston! I remember those as well!" -- Scott Downs
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Enos W. Parsons (Oklahoma Black Slave)

Enos W. Parsons (Oklahoma Black Slave) "Some friends and I are going up there this weekend and we are going to stop at the cemetery. we are going to see if there is a gravesite there for Enos as well as the man and woman. I heard the same story." -- Joleen Cavey
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Grace Ward Smith Legacy

Grace Ward Smith Legacy "How great to read the story about Grace Ward Smith. She was my first cousin and I didn't know all this about her since I last saw her in l947. She was a great person, she and her husband had a Medicine Show, selling linament, candy, etc. My Dad worked with them selling snowcones. I last saw her son Bill at the same time." -- Doris Whittet Guntrum - Email: wrguntrum@comcast.net
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NW Oklahomans & Slapout Ballcap

"I visited with one of your citizens, today, while they were in OKC at the Mardel store where I work. I didn't even know there was a Slapout, Oklahoma until today. So I googled your town and found this site. It is great that you show the old store buildings. I failed to get the name of the couple I talked to, but the wife said her husband's father was one of the founders of Slapout. He had a ballcap from Slapout on it. I collect caps from strangely named towns. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how I might purchase a Slapout cap? Larry A. Smith, Bethany, OK - Email: languss@cox.net
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POW's in WWII

"Great site. There is so little known about these historic POW camps in Oklahoma and elsewhere. Thanks for the information." -- Jerry Jensen - Email: jjensen@ou.edu
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1930 - Bill Fisher - 'Chosen Champs'

The Oklahoman, dated Aug. 24, 1930, pg. 22, headlines read: Bill Fisher, 'Chosen Champs' 'Iron Man' Voted Huge Trophy For Sturdy Pitching - Schillings of Firemen, McMahon of Oklahoma Natural Give Him Closest Race; Seven Clubs Contribute to Honor Team - Official All-State Sandlot Baseball Team

W. C. "Bill" Fisher, pitching "iron man" of the champion Oklahoma Natural Gassers, was the most valuable player of the 1930 Oklahoma state sandlot baseball tournament.

Voted as such by an official committee which selected 14 other playing sensations of the tournament to assist him in whatever duties befall mythical all-state teams. Fisher will receive the 22-inch silver Oklahoma Baseball Federation trophy to have and to hold for a period of one year. His name will be engraved on the huge trophy along with that of C. E. "Chick" Locke of the St. Louis Magnolias, adjudged the outstanding man in last year's tournament.

Although chosen chiefly for his feat of pitching the Gassers to four of their six tournament triumphs and the fact that he was always ready and eager for service, fisher was an offensive threat as well. He proved a timely hitter in almost every game he pitched and was a veritable streak on the bases, boasting perhaps the fastest getaway from the plate of any of the 200-odd participants in the tournament.

Value Greatly Inspirational... a teammate, John McMahon, shortstop, and the veteran E. I. "Red" Schillings, Firemen's pitcher, ran Fisher a close race for the valuable player award, but there was no doubt in the minds of the judges as to fisher's deserving the honor. Schillings's pitching record in all but wins and losses was perhaps a trifle better than Fisher's. It was agreed, however, that the confidence of his teammates in Fisher inspired them to victories they might not have scored and made him of more value to the team.

A deserving all-star cast was chosen to support Fisher in whatever mythical games the tournament's onor team might be called upon to play. Five of the 14 other players cited were fellow Gassers, their preponderance upon the stellar team being in just proportion to the superiority of the Gassers over the field. Seven teams were represented on the first team and a total of 11 on the two squads.

Phillips Antlers' Star... The pitching staff, with fisher, Schillings and Williston Bohanan of the third-place Magnolias as the right-handers and George Phillips of Antlers as the southpaw, is as strong as any that could be recruited in a year's coming of state sandlots.

Phillips did man-sized duty in shouldering most of antler's pitching burden. Had the Mountaineers had a right-hander as dependable as the they would have finished much better than their tie for fourth.

Schillings was the stingiest of all. In 31 innings, he gave up one solitary earned run and only 19 hits. he pitched two complete shutouts and shared in another, thus figuring in every goose-egg game in the tournament. His hitting, though not as timely, was better than Fisher's. He won two games and lost two, both defeats being on errors. In one of the losses, he pitched only one inning.

Fant Outstanding Catcher... The tournament was truly Bohanan's best. he was the most dependable pitcher the Magnolias had, in spite of a sore arm that forced his removal and St. Louis's ultimate climination in the much discussed Saturday game with the Firemen.

Considered only on the playing ability and the sportsmanship they displayed during the tournament, other members of the all-star cast made their places with little or no argument.

Selden Fant, Gasser, proved himself the class of a good crop of catchers, a few of whom eliminated themselves by possessing one fairly shortcoming. Fant, Claude Durham of St. Louis and the two second team selections were considered the best from an all-around standpoint.
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1910 - Cotton Is Destroyed

Henryetta, Okla., Nov. 2, 1910 -- "Fully $8,000 worth of cotton was burned up by fire at the Binge-Forbes cotton gin here. Last week about fifty bales were lighted by several boys and partially destroyed before the department arrived. The fire was supposedly extinguished, but later some smouldering fire in several bales was fanned to flame by the high wind and soon all of the cotton was on fire. The department again made a run and put the fire out. The fire chief ordered the gin company to throw the burned bales in the creek as it is known to be useless to attempt to put out all the smouldering fire in the bales. The loss was fully covered by insurance.
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Obit - June 4, 1955, Tony Schnitzer

[Oklahoman-Times Northwest Bureau] - Alva -- Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the Hill funeral chapel for Tony Schnitzer, 62, longtime Alva resident who was found dead Friday in the area between his slaughterhouse and the Santa Fe railroad tracks north of Alva.

Death apparently came from a coronary occlusion of the heart, the attending physician said.

Schnitzer was born in Denver, Color., March 6, 1893. he had lived in alva many years, and was engaged in the wholesale and retail meat business.

Survivors are his wife, Alice; a son, Merrill of Bartlesville, and two brothers, Joe Schnitzer, of Ponca City, and August Schnitzer, Corpus Christi, Texas.
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Charles Magill of Greene Co. TN

My Great Great Grandparents are William Byers Magill (1819 - 1892) and Martha Jane Gragg (1822 - 1885) both born in Clay Co., Mo. They married 5 jan 1843 clay co., mo. The interesting part is they raised with their children an adopted son, Leonidius Pete Wilson (1857 - 1938). Family lore has that Pete's mother died either in child birth or shortly after. His father left Pete with the Magill's until he could provide a home for him, and he reguested his name not be changed. He never returned. The Magills came to Texas about 1860. I found them on census in 1860, Cooke Co., Texas. In 1870 in Milam co. TX. They are buried in Marlow Cemetery, Milam Co., TX. Pete grew to manhood and was a postal worker in Cameron, TX. He too is buried in the same cemetery. I do not have Pete's father's name. " -- Rootsweb Message Baord - McGill/Magill
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Chisholm Trail- 140 years

"In the late 1940's our family lived in Watonga Oklahoma. My father E. M. Barker worked for the local newspaper The Watonga Republican. He was also an avid fisherman and would spend a lot of time exploring the rivers and tributaries for a good fishing hole. One day he was exploring a creek that fed into the North Canadian River located between Watonga and Geary Oklahoma. While wandering through the brush he came upon Jessee Chisholm's grave site. He remembered reading the local historical society had been searching for it so they could erect a highway historical marker. Today when you drive between Geary and Watonga you will see the marker." -- Bill Barker - Email: billb11@alltel.net
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Vinnie Ream Hoxie

"I was researching for Robert L. Hoxie in regard to something transpiring in Alva and came across all this rich history. I don't know if you know or have researched this woman or not - a great woman & Artist/Indian from Oklahoma." -- Jan Carver

"Vinnie Ream Hoxie (September 25, 1847 - November 20, 1914), sculptor, daughter of Robert Lee and Lavinia (McDonald) Ream, was born in Madison, Wisconsin, then a frontier town. Part of her childhood was spent in Washington, D. C., where her father had found employment, but the family later returned to the West, and she attended Christian College, Columbia, Missouri. Here she wrote songs which were set to music and published.

"Moving again to Washington with her parents during the Civil War, she obtained a minor clerkship in the Post Office department at the age of fifteen. A friend having taken her to the studio of Clark Mills, she laughingly attempted to model a likeness of Mills; the result delighted her and others. Keeping her government position, she thenceforth gave all her free time to the study of sculpture, chiefly under Mills.

"She was small, slender, bright-eyed, with a wealth of long curls. Her personality was so winning, and the art of sculpture was at that time so little understood in the United States, that within a year, at senatorial solicitation, President Lincoln allowed her to come to the White House, giving her daily half-hour sittings, during five months. She was reverent, impressionable, industrious, gifted, but of course without sufficient training for the commission which, nevertheless, was awarded to her by Congress after a competition, to make a full-length marble statue of Lincoln for the Rotunda of the Capitol. A contract was signed August 30, 1866: $5,000 to be paid on acceptance of the full-size plaster model, and $5,000 on completion of the marble." -- Vinnie Ream Hoxie