A window to the past was opened recently with the revelation that two early-day Mannford newspapers, thought lost, exist on microfilm in the library of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Norma Ross, secretary of the Keystone Crossroads Historical Society, said that this came as a complete surprise since previous correspondence had indicated thatlocal microfilming began with the 1961, volume 2 editions of The New Mannford News.
But this changed with information received from Carolyn Smith, head of the research library, which included several photocopies of the Mannford Enterprise, dated May 16 and June 13, 1907 and the Mannford Herald, dated October 7 and December 16, 1910.
The historical society has sent an inquiry regarding purchase of microfilm copies of the Enterprise, published from 1907-1909 and the Herald, 1910-11.
In an oral interview made at the 1976 Old Mannford Reunion, Archie Sullens said that in 1911 he had hand-set type for a paper (now known to be the Mannford Herald) edited and printed by his uncle, Howell Sullens, a one-time teacher at the Prairie View School north of town. The newspaper was located on the second floor of the native-stone Mannford State Bank building.
A 1960 New Mannford News article quoting Jim Burgess, then owner of the Terlton Grocery Store, said that Terlton lost its paper, "The Terlton Enterprise," when a "Mannford merchant came along and talked our editor into moving to Mannford."
A reading of the newspaper photocopies shows a thriving business community and evidence of civic-mindedness along with some familiar names, Mrs. Ross said.
A 1907 issue lists guests registered at the Hotel Mannford and mentions the remodeling of Mr. Buchanan's Hotel, with Lee Palmer hired to move it and build an addition also.
"By setting a first-class table and courteous treatment, he has built up a good trade," the editor (unnamed here) comments.
Thanks to a donation by area artist Jewel Barton Cull, the museum has an oil painting of the Buchanan Hotel, which was later bought and operated by Clara Greenwood's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. M. "Lum" Nance. Nothing else is currently known on the Mannford Hotel.
Hot weather bargains in the form of ladies' vests and summer union suits, along with plenty of flour, meat and salt by the barrel were offered by Mannford Mercantile Company, with H. U. Bartlett its president and Grant Knox, manager. Mr. Bartlett was also the founder and first president of Mannford State Bank, with L. H. Lashley, vice-president and Theo. G. Lashley, cashier.
Today, a Sapulpa foundation established in their names by their children and grandchildren honors the memories of Mr. Bartlett and his wife, Eva Maud. This foundation has been the largest single private contributor to Mannford's museum.
The Bartlett family's interests in both the Mercantile and the bank were later bought out by F. M. Coonrod, who continued as a leading town businessman until his death. His name lives on in Mannford's Coonrod Avenue.
In May, 1907 work had begun on the office and sheds for the Dickason-Goodman Lumber Co.'s yards. Later bought by Lee White, Mannford's esteemed ex-marshal, it is recalled in a National cash register used there and later in the Coffee Cup Cafe and Earl and Vera Jones' Drive In. The cash register, still in pristine working condition, was donated to the museum by the Joneses in memory of Mrs. Jones' mother, Dovie White.
James A. Clegg was advertising his new furniture store where his line of spring goods was now arriving. Today, grandson, Gene Box, is treasurer of the historical society and with his wife, Wanda, heads the annual Arts and Crafts Festival.
Another new 1907 business was the Mannford Hardware Co. Owners G. S. Van Eman and sons and W. D. Hinton, formerly in business in Jennings, announced purchase of the hardware and implement stock from the Mercantile. They were also carrying a stock of shelf and heavy hardware and Deere implements. Mr. Hinton's son, Less, was later a long-time business man and civic leader whose family provides yet another Mannford street name.
Mannford hosted not one but two doctors - A. R. Hughes and F. R. Wheeler - with offices in the newly located Palace Drug Store whose formal opening and installation of a "fine, up-to-date soda fountain and ice cream parlor" were still to come.
A Tulsa based dentist, Dr. Ferner, made weekly rounds and if his patients needed to see him between visits, would pay their railroad fare to Tulsa.
Meanwhile, down at the town Frisco depot, a new buggy had come in by freight for J. W. Wilson and two cars of hogs were being shipped to Kansas City by J. W. Patterson, along with J. H. Gage's 10-car shipment of cattle to St. Louis.
Local Lodge 206, IOOF (Odd Fellows) was meeting every Saturday night in the Basin "Hall," which also served as a church and community recreation center.
A commercial club was a manifested need, the editor said, with "matters coming up every day . . which passes by unheeded."
Also heartily endorsed by the editor was the idea of a town Fourth of July picnic, with the suggestion given that a mass meeting be held for its organization.
Yet another business was the New Novelty Store whose proprietor, Troy E. Shultz, was paying top price for produce and selling novelties, tinware, groceries and shoes.
Newcomers scheduled to arrive in town were Tommy Gill and his family, moving nearer to his blacksmithing work at Charley Poulter's. Today his son, Clarence Gill, is still a Mannford resident.
In 1910, Mr. Poulter had moved his store into a "new stone block" building and had added a new line of dry goods, shoes and gents' furnishings to his stock of staple and fancy groceries. Other stores were Baily's Cash Store, selling men's ready-to-wear clothing, M. C. Parks' store (merchandise not listed) and J. W. Hesterlee's, where dry goods, hats, shoes, groceries and flour could be found. He, too, promised the highest prices for country produce.
Also in the market for eggs and paying 20 cents per dozen was Mitchell's Store, operated by Vester Mitchell, father of the late Nola Fisher and grandfather of several area residents.
A photograph of the Hesterlee family was given to the Society by Elsie (Pence) Lawmaster, who said she could remember Mrs. Hesterlee's urging a customer to buy by pointing out her material was "half silk."
Over in the East Basin, Frank Crane (Tommy Crane's father) entertained Sapulpa guests and Lee Wiggs was painting his house (now the Smelser Farm).
A sad incident referred to in an obituary in the October 7, 1910 Herald was the death of young Jasper Holmes (Raymond Holmes' brother) after being run over by a team of horses. Today, Holmes Hardware continues as a second generation business.
Other names mentioned include Morgan Wilhoit, Howard Morrow, D. T. Whitehead, John Hodge, George Cooper and Violet Cutz (did they get married?), Gertie Young, C. E. Woodruff, the Rev. John Willet, Mrs. E. C. Gilman, Claude Morton, C. E. Russell, M. J. Daniels, Mr. Tyland, John Truesdell, S. R. Vickers, Claude Martin, Elsie Coleberg (of Sand Creek), J. A. Tate, C. B. Handley, Charlie Boyles and Belle Zickefoose.
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