What you're looking at above is the signage and exterior of the Bartlesville Area History Museum, a 10,000 sq. ft. facility presently located on the top floor of the City Center, a historic building that once was home to the Hotel Maire during the Bartlesville oil boom. According to the museum's website, it was established in 1965 ...
... to ensure the collection, preservation, and exhibition of the rich and varied history of Bartlesville and the surrounding areas. A collection of artifacts, historical objects, photographs, art illustrations, and files that focused on the development of these communities were obtained. Since then, the Museum has continued to collect and display items related to area history. Today, the Museum collection includes thousands of photographs, artifacts, and documents that tell the story of Bartlesville and surrounding areas—the first glass bottle made in Oklahoma was produced by the Great Western Glass Factory, bricks engraved with "Bartlesville, I.T." paved the roads of the early community; a piece of casing from the Nellie Johnstone No. 1 recalls the oil boom; a cowboy hat worn by an attendee of the famous Cowtheives and Outlaws Reunion at Woolaroc—these and many more artifacts and documents represent more than 100 years of history.
So, what's the deal? If Bartlesville had one of these 44 years ago, at least as to its point of beginning, I ask again,
Why haven't we got one of these NOW?
Truth is, in this respect, Oklahoma City has been upstaged by our B'Ville cousin located 47 miles north of Tulsa for 44 years now. In 2010, the number will be 45. Without any doubt, Oklahoma City is blessed with excellent history museums including the Oklahoma History Center, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the Oklahoma Heritage Association's Gaylord-Pickens Museum, as well as others.
So, what's missing in the above names? Two conjoined words: Oklahoma AND City. Just like Mayor Mick Cornett said during lease negotiations when it appeared that chances were good for Oklahoma City to get an NBA team only one spring season ago, he didn't care that much what the team name was as long as the name included two words, "Oklahoma City."
To be sure, one other outstanding museum does include those words, but it's about art, not history, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. What's missing in our city is one of those things which is dedicated to Oklahoma City HISTORY so that, when time passes after the museum/center is established, the museum's website might read that the center was established ...
... to ensure the collection, preservation, and exhibition of the rich and varied history of Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas. A collection of artifacts, historical objects, photographs, art illustrations, and files that focused on the development of these communities were obtained. Since then, the Museum has continued to collect and display items related to area history.
You might ask, "Why not just go visit the existing museums located in the city? Isn't that good enough?"
Those are fair questions. I have three reasons for saying, "No, that's not good enough." They are ...
Lack of Focus. Those fine institutions lack an Oklahoma City focus. In their comprehensiveness, you won't find a department within them which is labeled, "The Oklahoma City ..." room, suite, floor, collection, whatever. That just doesn't exist. One has to dig and search to find the pieces, if you know where to look.
Lost in the Shuffle. Donations of artifacts, photos, etc., to comprehensive groups get lost in the shuffle and often get shelved into places that you could never see even if you wanted to.
Pay Me. With some, and I'm thinking about the Oklahoma History Center (love it as I do), if you want a copy of something, you have to pay to get it -- I'm talking about both its on-line and paper images. Paper is fair; on-line images, well, that's just plain wrong.
The Oklahoma City History Center that I'm thinking about would have an internet presence which would include on-line photographs of at least medium resolution (say, 1024 px wide) of everything that's there ... a shoplifter's paradise ... free distribution to anyone that wants it. As I see it, Oklahoma City history should be so accessible as to slap a person in the face saying, "Take me, take me, I'm yours!" Perhaps that's not the best metaphor, but you get my drift.
Oklahoma City history shouldn't be hoarded by tax-exempt donees and then be doled out to others on a get-as-you-pay basis. It should be freely and readily available to anyone that wants to have it. Just because a donor freely donates something to a public-based collection doesn't entitle the donee to slap a copyright notice on what has just been given by someone whose only motivation was to share his/her stuff with everyone else who might be interested. As far as I'm concerned, that's a misuse and abuse of copyright claims. If I take a photo and want to claim copyright for what I did, that's my business. But, if I am given a photo by someone else, it is not my privilege to make such a claim. The Oklahoma History Center does this routinely. Whether you've noticed it or not, no such restrictions exist in Doug Dawgz Blog — if it's here, anyone can have it.
Where would the stuff for an Oklahoma City History Center come from? It would come from you. It would come from me.
The Bartlesville Museum doesn't purchase anything. It exists because B'Ville citizens care enough about their history to make donations from their own personal collections of memorabilia. It's website reads,
In response to not having specific items, the museum collection is made up of donated items. If it has not been presented to the museum, then we "do not have one."
By donating "your stuff" to the museum, you are helping to fulfill the Mission of the Bartlesville Area History Museum which is, "to ensure the collection, preservation and presentation of the history of Bartlesville and the surrounding areas of Washington County" and to provide access to Bartlesville area history and historical educational opportunities for people of all ages."
That's a good model to follow, I'm thinking. Scores if not hundreds of Oklahoma Citians and others still living would likely find great personal pleasure and satisfaction in donating their historical photos and artifacts to an organization which is principled along the lines I've just mentioned.
At least one similar but substantially different antecedent exists in Oklahoma City about what I'm suggesting here, and that is the activity of the Criterion Group. It was formed, I think, in 2002. Its purposes were more limited than what I have in mind in that its focus was on historical preservation as opposed to historical presentation.
At OkcHistory.com, Steve Lackmeyer and Jack Money wrote this about the Criterion Group which takes its name from the once-glorious Criterion Theater:
The Criterion Group is currently inactive, but in previous years its members played a key role in fighting to save some of the city's endangered historic structures. The preservation community has had both success stories and heartbreaks. They successfully united to save the Walnut Avenue Bridge in Bricktown and the Gold Dome at NW 23 and Western. But they were unable to save the downtown YMCA or the Belle Isle plant. Their mission was to advance historic preservation efforts within Oklahoma City’s historic Grand Boulevard Loop.
But, even were the group active, its purposes did not include the formation of an Oklahoma City History Center/Museum. It's not that we ain't got good stuff. Ever been to Clarence Ford Park ... in downtown ... WHAT? YOU NEVER HEARD OF IT?
CLARENCE FORD PARK
In 1976 when the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce's offices were still located in the Santa Fe Plaza, it decided to create a mini-park in a small cove formed between the parking garage and the strip of offices to its west. If one is good enough, one might parachute in, but it's probably better to enter from Main Street or from the plaza. The park opened April 22, 1977.
The idea was to display artifacts of buildings from the city's past, buildings destroyed during the urban renewal era. A nice little fountain was added, a few trees and a few places to sit — you might say that it was a mini-Oklahoma City history museum, and, while nothing fancy, it was a good idea and good of the Chamber to do.
But, in 1993, Mrs. C. Harold Brand donated the property at 123 Park Avenue to the Chamber and, following renovations, the Chamber moved to that more prestigious location in 1994. No one was left to care for the park on a regular basis. In the following September 14, 1994, Oklahoman article, Mary Jo Nelson wondered what could be done to save the historic remnants.
In an August 6, 2005, Oklahoman article, Jennifer Lee wrote:
Ten years after the chamber’s relocation, no one watches over the dilapidated park, and its hidden position conceals the artifacts from visitors, residents and business people.
Dean Schirf, the chamber’s corporate secretary, remembers when people used to visit the site, called Clarence Ford Park. "People used to come in with brown bag lunches," Schirf said. "It was a very nice setting, a very attractive little courtyard that was frequented quite often by downtowners. Of course all that came to a conclusion when the chambers moved."
Since the above 1994 article was written, there were several who talked the talk but none have walked the walk, and the stuff that hasn't been ripped off or injured by vandals is sitting there where it has been since 1976-77.
Have a look. These pictures were taken today, May 8, 2009. Click on most for larger views.
Passing By A Lion's Head Ornament From The Terminal (Streetcar) Building When Approaching The Park From Main Street
Looking North Into The Park
When I arrived around noon, a young couple was making out. My presence and camera doubtless chilled young love. Sorry, but history marches on. They are barely visible at the left.
What Remains of Crumbling or Stolen Finials From The Criterion Theater
Deteriorating Ornate Light Fixture From The Elegant 1910 Patterson Building Apparently Used As An Ashtray
Not Sure What Made This Marble From The Biltmore Hotel Worthy To Include, But Here It Is
A Spire From The 1909 Baum Building
A Cupola From The 1909 Baum Building From A Distance -- The Floor Is Deteriorating
This Lady Doesn't Handle Closeups Well
Fountain Built By The Chamber In 1977
Hmmm ... so this is Oklahoma City's mini-history museum. Of course, it was never intended to be a museum, just a nice little park where people could be around old stuff while eating lunch.
These historic artifacts need to be restored and moved into a new home.
But where? An Oklahoma City History Museum, don't you think? THINKING BIG: AUSTIN. Although we'd probably need to start small, it's doubtless good to have a vision as to what an Oklahoma City History Center & Museum might become. Thanks to Mike Donovan's comments in the comments area of this article, he presents Austin, capitol city of Baja Oklahoma, as a possibility.
I'm just beginning to explore the links he provided but have taken enough of a quick look to be impressed by what I've seen so far. The history center is housed in the building shown below.
The center's website says that the building was built in 1933 to be Austin's first permanent public library. That statement prompts me to yearn for a return of Oklahoma City's first permanent library, the Carnegie which opened in 1901 ...
... oh, well, too bad, so sad ... it was destroyed and replaced by a more modern facility in the early 1950s. Would the old Carnegie have been a great place for an Oklahoma City History Museum, or what?
I thought that you might to have a look at the Austin resources for yourself. So, here they are ... click on any of the links or images below to go to the associated website.
Mike said that the history center is a project of the Austin Public Libraries along with with the Austin History Center Association, which at first blush sounds like a cooperative public/private venture. However, it appears that the center is under the control of the city via its public library system and that the "Association" is merely a support group. See this About Us page.
That's a model of one way to go, I guess, but it doesn't exactly give me hot flashes. That would mean that the city (via its library system) would set policies, etc., bureaucratic considerations, etc. But, then, I'm just really starting to think about this and I could change my mind.
Any more comments or thoughts, Oklahoma City guys & gals?
The original Famous Kiltie Band article was posted on August 8, 2008, and this updates that article with new photographs. To see the original article, click here.
HELLO, SHAMROCK, FROM OKLAHOMA CITY!
What do Oklahoma City and Shamrock, Texas, have in common? Aside from being in the same general area on this planet, both being on the Mother Road (Route 66), and the fact that the Rock Island Railroad once ran through both cities, I really didn't know. I didn't even wonder.
Not until yesterday, May 2, 2009. Yesterday, it was my great privilege to receive via e-mail from Roger M. Pace of Shamrock eleven (11) high resolution photographs of the Kilties performing in Shamrock, Texas, during that city's now-annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration, when the Kilties performed at Shamrock's inaugural St. Pat's event 71 years ago. Having received the images, I did a little research to come up with the following: When the Kilties were in Shamrock, they would certainly have dined at the Route 66 iconic U-Drop Inn built in 1936 and shown in this 1936 postcard:
The town of Shamrock gleaned its name thanks to the suggestion of an Irish immigrant back in the 1800s. Over the years, the name has certainly lent an air of Irish to the town. In 1938, the Shamrock St. Patrick's Day Festival was first staged at the suggestion of the town's bandmaster. Originally a two-day festival, the event has now grown to three days, but is still held on the weekend nearest St. Patrick's Day.
From Legends of America, I see that the town's bandmaster was then Glen Truax, and, quite likely, he was responsible for inviting the Kilties to perform at this inaugural event.
And, now, thanks to Roger Pace, here are the Kilties having a great time with the residents of Shamrock around March 17, 1938, or so.
As I said, the images originally furnished to me are high resolution scans, generally 2800-3000 px wide at 600 dpi. I've modified them here for internet purposes -- those shown below are 500 px wide with larger images on-click at 1024 px wide. If you see a family member or are otherwise interested, let me know and I'll e-mail the higher resolution scan to you. For all "main" images, click on an image for a larger view. For crops of the originals, only "landscape" (horizontal) crops have larger on-click views -- vertical (portrait) crops do not.
Captain Fry & His Wife, Georgia A Kiltie Enjoying Herself In Shamrock Another Bonnie Oklahoma City Lassie Yet Another Kiltie Closeup on St. Pat's Day Is that a G-Man In the Background? Three Kilties Fourteen Kilties Cropped to Ten Kilties Knock Shamrock's Socks Off Captain Fry Bids The Ladies of Shamrock A Fond Farewell
Well, I don't know if the ladies are from Shamrock or not, but it seemed like the right thing to say.
Update note May 3, 2009 @ 1:40 p.m. Roger just sent four additional photos of the 1938 Shamrock event, he wondering if I might like to have them, also! Ha! Doug Dawg wants any OKC-related photo he can get! The photos below were taken at the same time as the above, and, rather than me paraphrasing what Roger said, I'll just let him do the talking:
I've had those pictures a long time, but pulled them out because my son & daughter-in-law just bought the Texas Theatre here and I wanted to show him how it looked back then. I came across those Capt. Fry photos and realized I had never searched for any history about them, and your site was the only one that popped up. I am posting some more pics below that may interest you, even though you may not need them. The first is the crowd lining Main Street on that celebration. The second is the crowd that was standing around while the Kilties were performing. The other two are the Light Crust Doughboys, which I believe are still around today, in the second & third generations. Bob Wills was one of the original members, but had left the group before the 1938 Celebration. There is a pretty good article about them here.
All I can add is that these Shamrock, Texas, guys and gals sure knew how to throw a party! Enjoy Roger's additional photos below:
Airplanes & Crowd On Main Street Crowd around Kilties Watching To The Right Light Crust Doughboys The Kilties Were Doubtless Watching Them Perform
Thanks very much, again, Roger Pace, for sharing all of this with us!
It ain't a pretty picture. But, it is a part of our history that should be remembered and not forgotten. In this article, the story is told of our ancestors, black and white, beginning before statehood. How is it that whites and blacks were forbidden to marry, that we came to have racially segregated schools, churches, movie theaters, dance halls, assembly halls, public drinking fountains, different places to sit in trains, trolleys and buses, different public parks?
How was it that such a cartoon would appear on the Oklahoman's front page?
With overlap on both dates, this article mainly focuses on events leading to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, travels through Oklahoma City's 1916 and 1933 Jim Crow ordinances, and ends with the Oklahoma Supreme Court's determination that Oklahoma City's residential Jim Crow ordinance was unconstitutional in 1936 and just a bit beyond including a summary of barriers not then overcome by our black citizens but which would eventually occur in the 1960s.
So, how is it that Deep Deuce and its surrounding area ever came to exist?
Click here or the graphic, below, to read the article and find out.
Also, see Steve Lackmeyer's nice article on Roscoe Dunjee which summarizes this topic at OkcHistory.com.
We do, the Flaming Lips'Do You Realize, but thanks only to our Governor Brad Henry. The Senate voted 46-0 "Aye", but the House only voted 48-39 in favor, a "Nay" vote since 51 votes were needed for passage of the Senate Resolution. More about that below.
"What has this to do with Oklahoma City history," you ask. The Flaming Lips is an Oklahoma City based band and its leader, Wayne Coyne, still lives right here in Oklahoma City. The band even has its own alley in Bricktown. We like 'em!
Here are the lyrics:
Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face Do You Realize - we’re floating in space Do You Realize - that happiness makes you cry Do You Realize - that everyone you know someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know You realize that life goes fast It’s hard to make the good things last You realize the sun doesn’t go down It’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh Do You Realize - that everyone you know Someday will die
And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know You realize that life goes fast It’s hard to make the good things last You realize the sun doesn’t go down It’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning round
Do You Realize - that you have the most beautiful face Do You Realize
Great song and powerful lyrics, that's for sure.
But, how did it happen to become our state's official rock 'n roll song? It certainly didn't happen back in the 1950s when rock 'n roll was said by many adults, pastors, parents, and community leaders, to be a work of the one and only most evil one, the Devil, himself. I was a lover of rock 'n roll in its beginnings, way back then when I was a youngster in junior high school ... I snuck off to see Blackboard Jungle and listen to Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock and I was entranced by the Diamond's Little Darlin' and got jittery by Jerry Lee Lewis' Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On ... name that tune and I can tell you want I was doing in that time of my life, just as many of you other old timers can do, as well.
I pretty much figured that those "devil" times gone by were very ancient history. I mean, who doesn't like those great rock 'n roll tunes today?
Silly me, I hadn't taken the Republicans in the Oklahoma Legislature into account. I'd kinda forgotten about them, as high as I am on Oklahoma City and living in a non-Republican district that actually has a gay representative in the Legislature. Silly silly me. In those Republicans, the "evil" is still alive and well.
A resolution came up for a vote about adopting Do You Realize as the state's official rock song.
And, so, I paid only passing attention that a vote was being or had been cast for the state's official Rock Song. Kinda like the having an official state bug (yes, we have one, it's the black swallowtail butterfly, adopted in 1996). State bugs, state songs, state whatevers, it really just doesn't matter.
As for the state's official rock song, an unofficial referendum had apparently been put to the people at this website. We didn't have one of those things ... so let's have one and what should it be? While I adore the Flaming Lips and Wayne Coyne in particular for his loyalty to Oklahoma City, as well as the group generally, I didn't get caught up in the vote and didn't even realize that one existed, so I didn't even vote.
This official state rock song thing was going on well below my radar. According to the Rolling Stone,
According to a press release from the Oklahoma Historical Society, the state’s legislature voted to affirm the track’s importance, putting Wayne Coyne and Co. in the history books for real as part of Senate Joint Resolution 24.
The 2002 track from Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots beat out some stiff competition: the 10 finalists that were “representative of the pervasive influence of Oklahoma and Oklahomans on the development of rock & roll” included “Let’s Have a Party” by Wanda Jackson (1958); “Walk Don’t Run” by The Venture (1960); “Endless Oklahoma Sky” by John Moreland and the Black Gold Band (2008); “Home Sweet Oklahoma” by Leon Russell (1971); “Move Along” by the All-American Rejects (2005); “Never Been to Spain” written by Hoyt Axton (1971); “Oklahoma” by The Call (1986); “Heartbreak Hotel” written by Mae Boren Axton (1956); and “After Midnight” by J.J. Cale (1965).
An official Official Oklahoma Rock Song Advisory Panel was convened in 2007 to recognize the role the state has played in rock history and after the nominations were gathered in 2008 (2,498 were submitted for 458 different tunes) and narrowed down to 10 by the panel, the public voted on the Website oklahomarocksong.org. When the 21,061 votes were counted, the Lips were on top.
My inattention changed when I visited Steve Lackmeyer's par excellence OKC Central blog yesterday evening. It was there that I noticed what I'd missed and my ancient ostrich ears and fuzzy eyes got perky really quick.
First, I noticed an embedded video there of Ed Kelley, the Oklahoman's managing editor. Frankly, Mr. Kelley, I have thought, is not all that well suited for public video ... do you ever see any real emotion in Ed's face as he says what he has to say? Have you ever seen anything in his videos that makes you think of something sexy ... no disrespect intended, but we're talking about what captures public fancies here, and, in those respects, Ed will never likely be a video king.
But ... wait ... this time, at least for me, I noticed something different.If the tune is still playing above, go up and click the Stop button and then listen to what Mr. Kelley had to say ...
What's that? The managing editor of the Oklahoman, a powerful conservative voice in the city, lambasting the Oklahoma conservative House of Representatives? Are my ears totally messed up? Are yours?
No, Ed Kelley's words are still the same even if you get the wax out of your ears and listen again. Yep, I owe Ed Kelley an apology for stereotyping him and thinking that he was kinda boring to listen to. No, he wasn't, not this time.
"Wow," I thought, "I've been underestimating this guy, big time."
They voted to override the will of the people they so piously claim to represent. * * * This latest temper tantrum at the Capitol is another black eye for Oklahoma.
Did a guy representing the Oklahoman really say those things? Maybe it's time that I rethunk some things about the Oklahoman.
The State Senate passed the state rock song resolution 46-0. In the House, the vote was 48-39, with 51 needed to pass. Some members were apparently offended by According to Oklahoman capitol reporter Michael McNutt, here are the 39 who voted "No," should you wish to consider them in your next voting opportunity:
THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HALL OF SHAME
Name
Party
Where From
Ames, Don
Republican
Faxon
Coody, Ann
Republican
Lawton
Cooksey, Marian
Republican
Edmond
Dank, David
Republican
OKC
DeWitt, Dale
Republican
Braman
Denney, Lee
Republican
Cushing
Derby, David
Republican
Owasso
Duncan, Rex
Republican
Sand Springs
Enns, John
Republican
OKC
Faught, George
Republican
Muskogee
Hickman, Jeffrey
Republican
Dacoma
Holland, Corey
Republican
Marlow
Johnson, Dennis
Republican
Lawton area
Jordan, Fred
Republican
Tulsa
Joyner, Charlie
Republican
Midwest City
Kern, Sally
Republican
OKC
Key, Charles
Republican
OKC
Liebmann, Guy
Republican
OKC
Martin, Scott
Republican
Norman
Martin, Steve
Republican
B'ville
McCullough, Mark
Republican
Tulsa area
McNiel, Skye
Republican
Tulsa area
Miller, Ken
Republican
Edmond
Moore, Lewis
Republican
Arcadia
Murphey, Jason
Republican
Guthrie
Nelson, Jason
Republican
OKC
Ortega, Charles
Republican
Altus
Osborn, Leslie
Republican
Tuttle
Ownbey, Pat
Republican
Ardmore
Peters, Ron
Republican
Tulsa
Peterson, Pam
Republican
Tulsa
Reynolds, Mike
Republican
OKC
Richardson,Phil
Republican
Minco
Schwartz, Colby
Republican
El Reno area
Shannon, TW
Republican
Lawton
Tibbs, Sue
Republican
Tulsa
Watson, Weldon
Republican
Tulsa
Wesselhoft, Paul
Republican
Moore
Wright, John
Republican
Tulsa
What Ed Kelley said about bad press was prophetic ... the black eye part. With all the good things being said about Oklahoma City these days in the national media, it's sad that the Oklahoma House of Representatives offered fodder for those who think of us, as Ed Kelley said, as just a bunch of backwater hicks.
Here's a sampling of reports: The Los Angeles Times wondered, "Flaming Lips: Are they too communist for Oklahoma?" here; the Dallas Morning News covered the story here and here. Hartford, Connecticut picked up the story here; heck, even the people way up northwest were talking about the matter in Snohomish County, Washington, as did the Rolling Stone. Yes, and Fox News.
Thanks a hell of a lot, 39 Republican Legislators, thanks a lot.
NOT.The real thanks goes to Governor Brad Henry, and, yes, to the Oklahoman via its Editor, Ed Kelley. Thanks, guys!
Welcome to the Ultimate Deep Deuce Collection! Enjoy your visit. I welcome any feedback. Click a button for where you want to go (the full article needs to be open).
FLASH MAP. Move your mouse over the map to open pages. I recommend that you press F11 for full screen view. This should eliminate the need for vertical scrolling to see the full flash file on your display. Press F11 again to return to your regular display. If the map "locks up", press F5 to refresh the map. To use the longer list of main articles instead of the map, click here.
ARTICLE LIST. They are these and more will be added as knowledge and time allows:
ABOUT THE COLLECTION. What a presumptuous title! Why "ultimate" and why is my chosen title so damn vain? Well, it contains the most, and most accurate, Deep Deuce content you will find anywhere on the web. Anywhere. It collects and compares, sometimes corrects, written press media and book information previously published, and if the assembled information is ambiguous, in error, or contradictory, and if I know that, this collection says so. A good bit of what's been published states things as "fact" which statements are either erroneous or are not necessarily so. This is also true for some of the articles contained in the generally nice collection of history articles in OHS's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. I'm not at all saying that the project isn't a good one, it is a very good one, particularly in its concept and breath. But, it would be a mistake to assume that all of the content you read there is correct, because it is not. To use that resources' search engine, click here.
While the chosen title of this collection is somewhat immodest, I am, nonetheless humbled by the very generous comments received from two of the best Oklahoma City history buffs and bloggers that there are, Steve Lackmeyer in his OKC Central and Charles G. Hill of Dustbury fame (at this moment, 1,757,021 hits and counting), and to each of them I extend my thanks and appreciation.
I also add that this should be considered a work-in-progress. For example, as a spin-off, it includes a 18-19 page article telling the story of Oklahoma City's Jim Crow laws and this city's attempt to avoid the edicts of the United States Supreme Court and simultaneously placate a bigoted and heavy-handed Governor, Alfalfa Bill Murray, both of which endeavors ended in failure though it was a long time coming. That article is here.
This collection contains two parts: (1) the flash file which appears near the top of this page -- it provides a quick glance at Deep Deuce; and (2) a list of the much larger and more substantive articles which are linked directly to articles below the flash map -- those articles are also accessible through the flash map.
In all, 36 items are presently shown in the map -- I expect that the number will grow. Most are buildings but 4 are areas -- Walnut/Finley Bridge, NE 2nd street Street & Map views, Riverside Park, and Aerial views.
An example page is shown below:
A rounded rectangle appears in the map to show a building's location, together with a transparent red arrow. Click within the rounded rectangle and a web-html page will open which contains more and larger pictures as well as historical information.
Despite my claim for "ultimacy," if I've made mistakes, I want to know so that I can make corrections, so please comment as needed.
Newest Mini-Pages as of 4/16/2009 - focusing on the Deep Deuce Area: DONE
For convenience, I've added links to them below, as well as in the complete list which follows this one. And, of course, they are accessible through the main Vintage Clickable Map.
Most of the buildings or areas are in the cropped portion of the map, below, but a few like the Douglass Schools are not shown in the truncated crop:
During the months ahead I'll continue working toward substantial completion of the Vintage Clickable Map which is coming along nicely. THE COMPLETE VINTAGE MAP BUILDING/PLACE INDEX. The table below lists the buildings or areas which are presently in the clickable vintage map. The list will expand considerably over time.Items marked in crimson red below are items which already include mini-articles. Those not crimson red are just links to place-holders where mini-articles will soon appear. Eventually, all items in the list will have mini-articles. Before I put this baby down, the list should include around 200-250 vintage buildings or places, or more.
Operation Scissortail - Our Latest Book!
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[image: devon book cover]
We are very happy to announce the release of our latest book, "Operation
Scissortail," a narative history of the construction o...
Saturday in the Park..on a 113 degree day
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For those who don't know, there is a reason I've gone very quiet at such a
pivotal moment for Downtown OKC. I accepted a position in Cleveland, Ohio
and I...
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