Caddo- My Home Town

Déjà vu

The Caddo Herald

January 16, 1925

School May be Cut Short

From information now at hand, it looks like our town schools may run a month or maybe two months short because of lack of funds.

It seems the valuation of the property in the district is some lower than heretofore, and the tax rate also is slightly lowered, so that not enough money will come in from this and other sources to finish the term, though the full amount of tax was levied for schools.

There is a chance that the present legislature may relieve the situation so that the schools may run the full term.

And it may be that enough money may be raised by private subscription to run the full term. At any rate our people have something to think about and we had best not wait until too late to act.

 

Easley and Calhoun

The Caddo Herald

January 16, 1925

B. R. Easley Dies

At his home at twelve o’clock last Thursday night, B. R. Easley died after being stricken two days before with paralysis.

The funeral was held at the Methodist Church Friday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock, conducted by Rev. M. A. Cassidy, attended by a large number of friends of the family. Interment in Caddo Cemetery, in charge of H. D. Pierson.

Mr. Easley was 67 years of age, and had been living in Caddo twenty-five years. Two daughters, a wife and two sons survive him. Mrs. Luella Stillwell, of Soper, Mrs. Ida Howard, of Talihina, Bennie, and Cullen of Caddo, all of whom were present during his last days.

Mr. Easley was a good man, a good citizen, a member of the Methodist Church, and respected by all who knew him.

 

Dies from Accident

A.B. Calhoun died at the Durant Hospital last Thursday afternoon from blood poisoning, brought on by an accident to his foot, which occurred some time ago at the Mebane Gin.

Mr. Calhoun was 78 years of age, and while working in the seed house caught his foot in the seed conveyor, causing a wound which later developed fatally. He had been taken to the hospital for an operation in the hope of saving his life.

 

Better get your shovel...

The Caddo Herald

January 30, 1914

A Better Way to Build Good Roads

Our road system has its grave faults which can easily be corrected if we but take a business view of it. Under the present law each man is requested to do a few day’s work on the public road each year on the order of the overseer who is resident of the district. In practice this works so that the roads are worked only when the roads become impassable. The road overseer knows each man personally and knows that at the time the roads should be worked the man is needed in his field, and he is therefore loath to force him to work on the road. Another thing: This system brings into action almost altogether the  work of inexperienced men, men who know nothing of levels or of grades and the work done is usually of an inferior quality, not improving commensurately the condition of the roads.

A better way would be to levy a certain amount of road tax each year and let the grading of the dirt roads out by contract to men who know how, to men who have tools, and who can induce help whenever they need it. More and better work for the money will then be secured. The contractor might be allowed to use the county convicts and be forced before he gets his pay to have the roads built to certain specifications made either by the county engineer or the state Highway department. Then on the state highway the state convicts might be used.

Until we learn to conduct our city, county, and state affairs in a businesslike and efficient manner, there always will be complaints of high taxes with little to show for it. While The Herald is not in sympathy with the general cry of thieves in office, believing that our public officers as a whole are as honest and efficient as any other set of men, yet there are abuses which should be corrected and wastes which should be stopped.

Honor the Sabbath

The Caddo Herald

February 6, 1914

Limit Court House Use

The county commissioners at the January meeting made an order limiting the use of the district court room.

The order verbatim is as follows:

"It is hereby ordered that all political parties using the district court room shall first pay to the janitor the sum of $1.00 for each meeting to be held, one-half of the said sum to be retained by the janitor for his services and one-half of said sum to be paid to the county treasurer and appropriated to the supply fund of the county.

And it is further ordered that no political party shall occupy and have the use of said court room during the Sabbath day for any purpose whatsoever.”

The above order was made necessary because of extra janitor hire on week nights, and because the socialists had been using the court room Sunday afternoons for political meetings. The commissioners are to be commended by all people for this effort to prevent public desecrations of the Sabbath day.

Summer plans

I just want to let everyone know that I have eight days of school left! :) Then I will be devoting my time to finishing my Caddo history book. In addition:

1. If I have been doing research for you, rest assured that you are still on my list and I will contact you as soon as I have more information.

2. If you are waiting for photos from Gethsemane or Highland cemeteries I will get out with my camera as soon as the flood waters subside. That may be at least another week.

3. If you have been thinking about asking me to do research, now is the time. Contact me with your request soon.

4. If you have photos or stories to share, please send them before July. I hope to have my book completed by August.

Community Suicide

The Caddo Herald

November 25, 1927

Community Suicide

One of the strangest phenomena witnessed in most small towns and small cities is the apparent eagerness with which many otherwise good citizens contribute to the tendency to commit community suicide.

These citizens will often show uncommon zeal in boosting any movement to obtain civic improvements, to promote the location of new industries, to secure better educational facilities, and so on. Yet many of these same proud boosters will deliberately engage in a practice which nullifies all their otherwise laudable efforts- and wonder why their town doesn’t go ahead.

We refer to the suicidal habit of buying away from home.

The enormous growth of the mail order habit in recent years is largely responsible for the failure of many communities to make the progress which their natural advantages would make possible. The money that ought to be kept at home for the expansion of local trade and industry is sent away to distant cities, never to return. This life-blood of prosperity is permitted to ebb away through the indifference or thoughtlessness of the very persons who set an example of local pride and loyalty.

A trifling saving here and there, usually more imaginary than real, is sufficient to cause the average citizen to forget his duty to his community and to himself, which if performed would mean more in the direction of local prosperity than all his other boosting efforts put together. Why boost in one direction, while committing community suicide in another?

 

Caddo, January, 1914

The Caddo Herald

January 30, 1914

Of Local Interest

H. F. Bass was in Durant Monday.

If it’s groceries you want see Freeny.

J. L. Campbell had business in Durant yesterday.

Pinckney Williams was here form Caney Sunday.

P.L. Rogers went to McKinney Monday on business.

Miss Olga Phillips left Tuesday for a visit to friends at Coalgate.

D. O. Beaird is here visiting the family of his son, J. A. Beaird.

Mrs. E. T. Hamer spent a few days here this week with relatives.

A.E. Ray came down from Oklahoma City Tuesday on business.

Mrs. Geo. Markham from Soper visited relatives here this week.

Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Williams went to Dallas Saturday to visit relatives.

Miss Maud Clower was here Saturday and Sunday from Durant visiting homefolks.

Senator McIntosh was up form Durant Wednesday attending a case in the justice’s court.

Attend the big jewelry auction sale at C. W. Haltom’s Feb’y 2 and 3 in Malone’s drug store.

Mrs. Paul England came up from Durant Tuesday to attend the funeral of her aunt Mrs. Bryan.

Harley Morsman, J. L. Boland, W. C. Hatcher, and A. N. Wynne were in Durant Monday on business.

Assistant County Attorney Moore was here form Durant Tuesday and Wednesday attending court.

C. O. Larue has decided that life in the future is not worth living without The Herald, so he ordered it sent.

Two furnished rooms for light housekeeping to let to couple without children. Mrs. D. B. Williams.

For rent after February 1^st: Three rooms unfurnished or furnished for light housekeeping. Mrs. Ed F. Brown

Art Wright went to Tulsa last week to attend the funeral of his brother who was killed by contact with a live wire.

See A. C. Chaney for real estate farm loans and insurance, first and last and all the time. Office over Pace’s store.

Have you any carpenter, joiner, or cabinet work? See T. P. Johnson, makes anything from a chicken coop to a fine house.

If you are interested in the spiritual welfare of Caddo you can advance the cause by attending the revival services at the Methodist church.

Salesman wanted to look after our interests in Bryan and adjacent counties. Salary or commission. Address the Harvey Oil Co., Cleveland, O.

Scott Powell went to Denison Tuesday to reweigh some cotton about which there was some dispute. The Caddo yard weights were found to be correct.

The Woman’s Missionary Society will meet next Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist church immediately after the services. All members are requested to be present.

Mrs. Mattie Bloom left Wednesday for St. Louis where she will study new spring styles and buy millinery stock for the Bass Co. She has an announcement in this issue. 

Mr. and W. F. Dodd, W. W. Boone, H. F. Bass, J. W. Crutchfield, J. L. Sargent, J. E. Bass, and Mrs. Mattie Bloom were in McAlester Tuesday night attending a show.

A.J. Gambli  was here Wednesday form Soper. He is one of the good friends of The Herald and we acknowledge a pleasant visit. Mr. Gambli formerly lived near Caddo.

Let me figure with you on your cement work. I have an experienced finisher form Dallas with me, and I guarantee to give you perfect satisfaction. A. N. Wayne

Mrs. A. F. Manning entertained a party of lady friends at her home Wednesday evening. The ladies spent the evening in cards and listened to music. Delicious refreshments also were enjoyed.

With one skating rink, two picture shows, any number of lodges and societies and revival services going on all the time, surely no one can claim that Caddo is a dull town. Take your choice and attend either or all.

Let me have your baggage and hauling business. Every order receives my careful and prompt attention. Phone No. 2, if you want a trunk, grip, box, express or anything else hauled. J. H. Dempsey

Rain Wednesday night gave us another taste of the mud. The wind changed to the north and the spring like weather was turned to icy blizzards. Prior to this some of the trees had begun to bud and show signs of new life.

There have been weighted at the Caddo cotton yard 6,600 bales of cotton. It is thought that 200 more bales will be received. These with about 200 bales that were shipped without weighing at this yard will make our total receipts 7,000 bales for the season.

Mrs. Davison and Mrs. Chaney will leave next week for the eastern market where they will purchase a new and complete line of millinery, which on arrival will be displayed in the store of Huffman & Brewer, where they invite you to call and see them and their new stock.

A post card or a phone call will bring an experienced corsetiere to your home to demonstrate the merits of Spirella Corsets. For spring deliver give me your order now. Mrs. Ed. F. Brown, corsetiere

A.E. Ray arrived home Tuesday, bring Mrs. Ray with him. She had been visiting her daughter, Mrs. Rexley in Oklahoma City. Mr. Ray returned yesterday to his work, which will take him to Beaver County, where he is appraising state school lands.

**

When you want good meat,

That is sure fit to eat,

Go down the street

Until Hatcher you greet.

He kills the best cows,

Also the finest sows.

Come to his Market at Phillips store,

You are sure of delight more and more.

**

The Story of Alcohol was shown Wednesday afternoon and night at the Electric Theatre with the motion pictures and stereopticon vies, with a lecture by Quincy Lee Morrow. The effects of alcohol were forcefully illustrated. The afternoon matinee was well attended by school children.

At the last meeting of the board of trustees the resignation of H. G. Huffman as a member from the fourth ward was received and I.S. Powell was appointed in his place. Mr. Huffman had moved from the ward. Mr. Powell is a good man and is in thorough accord with progressive town building.

Auction Monday and Tuesday February 2^nd and 3^rd. Our entire $4,000 stock of merchandise- watches, diamonds, jewelry, cut glass, china, and silverware at your own price. Your price is mine. Sale begins Monday at 2 o’clock and 7 o’clock p.m.  C. W. Haltom at Malone’s Drug Store.

Post Office Store for Ladies Home Journal, Saturday Evening Post, Country Gentleman, Oklahoman, Muskogee Phoenix, Sunday St. Louis Globe and Republic, Denver Post and all the leading magazines, stationery, candies, cigars, light racket goods and novelties. W.W. Hendricks.

Many thanks to my customers for the past season’s business. I hope to have you back with me again this season. With the good help I’ll have I expect the greatest season I’ve ever had with the Bass Co. I study hard all the styles and colors before buying. I am always glad to serve you. Watch for our opening. Mattie L. Bloom

A few hundred bushels of real nice select red rust proof seed oats for sale. These oats made over 100 bushels per acre last year and are pure red oats. If you want to buy good seed oats will be glad to show them to you- Amos K. Bass

Mrs. Mattie Lynch Bloom will be at her old stand with the Bass Co. this season in their millinery department. She makes styles a special study each season, designing, rimming, colors and buying. She has had 23 years experience in this work. She will be able to fill your wants when she returns from the market. Don’t fail to see her line of well selected things bought for you.

 The Herald cannot condemn the lynching of the negro Tuesday morning at Noble, for the murder of W. A. Chaffin at Oklahoma City Sunday night. With the announcement of Gov. Cruce that the death penalty shall not be permitted while he is governor, for any crime, comes the hope to the heart of the would be criminal that sooner or later even if caught and convicted he will be freed and not required to pay full penalty for his misdeeds. The Herald does not uphold mob law, nor does it uphold the governor in his course. The object of punishment is not so much a punishment of crime as it is a preventative. In no way can the life that was snuffed out by the negro be brought back by punishing the guilty man, but a punishment of the man might deter others from doing likewise. The Herald, however, does admire the spirit of the governor when he says he will not start an investigation of the lynching. What’s the use? What man on a jury would vote to punish a man in such a case?

Dear Editor and Readers:

I wish to describe a little trip I took Sunday afternoon, as it was such an enjoyable one to me: The children and I took a stroll to the pine woods, the only pine timber in this section- how we did enjoy listening to the gentle breezes as they moaned through the evergreens. It brought back to the memory the happy days of childhood when we roamed the hills of dear old Arkansas with mother, sisters and brother, gathered mosses, ate the winter huckleberries and drank from the clear running brooks. Now if you from Arkansas get homesick, come out here and we will visit the place so much like our old Home Sweet Home. Mrs. Ola Tidwell

 

 

 

 

 

The Bass Family Memories

Bass Family Remembers Early Days in Caddo, by Maida Williams

(reprinted from the Bryan County Star, Thursday, November 30, 1972)

Henry Bass was in business in Caddo longer than any other man- from 1900 to 1966.

Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Bass, Henry’s parents, lived here in the 1880’s. Then they moved to California where they operated a dairy. Californians were curious about the cotton seed brought from Oklahoma to feed their cows, Henry Bass recalled in an interview.

In 1900 the Bass family returned to Caddo. Henry rode in a boxcar with the furniture on the return trip.

The three Bass brothers- Amos K., Ernest, and Henry, opened a grocery store.

Henry was then sixteen and it was his job to ride horseback up and down the streets every morning taking orders. An employee would deliver the groceries in a hack during the afternoon.

In 1916 Henry Bass and Miss Ruby Potts of Colbert were married.

Mrs. Bass recalled that when she came to live in Caddo ladies in hats and gloves made formal calls and left calling cards. Generally they walked because there was no great distance between homes.

After Amos K. and Ernest moved away from Caddo, Henry operated the grocery store. He also dealt in cotton and grain.

“There was a cotton gin at Wapanucka and ten to twelve thousand bales came from there,” Bass said.

Mud in the streets of Caddo made them almost impassable at times, and Henry took it upon himself to raise money to gravel the business section. The street had to be graded, and to provide for runoff for rain, the north side of the street was made higher than the south. Each merchant was asked to contribute $50. Gravel cost $7 a wagon load. The gravel was laid on four inches deep and Henry personally raked it over the street.

Henry always worked for the good of Caddo, though people seldom knew what he did, Mrs. Bass recalled. At one time the town was about to lose its bank, and Bass helped keep it open. He assisted a number of young men to get a start here, and during hard times could be counted on to help people by extending credit for food.

Henry Bass is the sole living charter member of the Lion’s Club. He has served as chairman of the school board, chairman of the Methodist Board of Stewards, and was vice precinct and director of the First State Bank of Caddo, predecessor of the Bryan County Bank. During the times when Bass was dealing in wholesale products, he advertised he would “buy anything, sell anything”. Some wag brought in a wagon load of bois d’arc apples. Henry bought them and dumped them out.

“Caddo was a center of culture when I went there,” Mrs. Bass related. “The Music Club and Literary Club were organized early in the century. They were very active. We also had lots of parties—lovely parties, comparable to those anywhere.

Once Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Manning had a house party for girls who came up for a big dance in the New Royal Hotel. The Mannings were chaperones for the dance and we all wore formal evening dress. Out-of-town orchestras were engaged for dances- from Sherman, Denison, or Dallas.

Part of the old Royal Hotel was an opera house. We had musical comedies, home talent plays, touring players and minstrels. Mrs. Bilbo directed our home talent productions.

Carrol Franks, son of a Caddo barber, had a wonderful tenor voice. He was very popular and sang at parties, minstrels, funerals- wherever he was asked. Later he joined the “Lasses White Minstrels” and traveled all over”, Mrs. Bass reported. 

When Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Bass gave up their big house on Buffalo Street, the Henry Bass family remodeled it and moved in. Mrs. Bass was an ardent gardener and created such a beautiful garden that it was listed in the State Garden Club magazine as one of the outstanding small gardens in the state. The president of the State Garden Clubs came to see it, and there were other visitors from all over.

Mr. and Mrs. Bass were fond of entertaining and their garden was the setting for lovely parties. At night they often used Japanese lanterns or floodlight to enhance the scene.

For many years Mrs. Bass was organist at the Caddo Methodist church. She directed the first candlelight Christmas cantata presented by the combined Methodist and Baptist church choirs. “The Caddo Methodist church has a rich heritage,” the organist remarked. “Way back it was the biggest church in town.”

“Our most outstanding family Christmas was when our son Joe was seven and Frances, our daughter, was eleven” Mrs. Bass said as she showed old photographs. “Joe had been praying for a pony and Frances wanted a bicycle. One Christmas morning Joe’s Shetland pony was tied to a leg of my grand piano. Joe jumped into the saddle and rode right out of the house and down the front steps.”

“Many of our young people went on to finish college- a much larger percentage than in most small towns,” Mrs. Bass said.

There was practically no crime in Caddo in the early days. There weren’t any street lights either. Later on the Bass store was robbed a time or two.

Because there was no physician in Caddo and Henry Bass was in poor health, he and his wife moved to Sherman about five years ago.

In the Bass home are many paintings, a number of them pained by Mrs. Bass. While living in Caddo, she studied with Miss Laura Buchanan, who had moved to Durant from Dallas, to be near her nieces Misses Sally and Lucy Leonard. Miss Buchanan had won a number of medals for her paintings.

Mrs. Bass is now helping to establish the “Old Settler’s Village” at Loy Lake on the edge of Denison. The home of Mr. Bass’s grandmother, who came to Sherman soon after the Civil War, has been moved to the Village to be used as a museum. Some of the family heirlooms will one day be placed in the museum at Loy Lake, Mrs. Bass remarked. Among the many treasured heirlooms and antiques in the Bass home are a table brought over on the Mayflower and 20 apothecary bottles with the W.P. Wood label. Mr. Wood, Henry Bass’s uncle, had the first drug store in Caddo. Later it became the McIntosh Drug Store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Fryer

The Caddo Herald

December 26, 1924

Andy Fryer Found Dead After 4 Days

The body of Andy Fryer was found dead Tuesday morning in his field of the Carnes place six miles northeast of Caddo. The remains will be buried Thursday in Caddo Cemetery.

Mr. Fryer left home last Friday morning to hunt for some horses, and was not again seen alive. It is presumed he was attached by illness. When found after four days the body was stiff, having been exposed to the bitter cold.

Andy Fryer was well known in Caddo and Atoka county, at one time being a candidate for sheriff. He was to have gone to work at Aylesworth prison Jan. 1. He has a brother Joe Fryer who lives at Atoka. He is a second cousin of Bert Fryer of Caddo and stepfather of Mrs. Raymond Bootees. His daughter, Mrs. Lula Patterson lives in Oklahoma City.

Andy Fryer was a good citizen, and his friends will be shocked to learn of his tragic death.

Caddo Scholarship

The Caddo Educational Foundation is offering one Second Chance Scholarship in the amount of $800 for the Fall 2009/Spring 2010 semesters ($400 for each semester).

Qualifications for the scholarship are:

-         Graduate of  Caddo High School

-           Between 25 and 50 years of age

-          Never attended college after high school or discontinued enrollment in college or university without completing any degree program

-          Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in high school course work (if never attended college), or minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in all college level course work completed

-          Currently accepted/enrolled in an accredited college/university degree program

-          Carry a minimum of 9 (nine) hours at an accredited college/university

-          Receiving less than $2,000 (two thousand dollars) in financial assistance from other sources

Other qualifications apply and are explained on the application. 

If you meet these qualifications, have set a course in life that now includes a college degree, and are serious about obtaining that degree, please request an application from:

Caddo Educational Foundation

P.O. Box 82

Caddo, OK 74729

  

Deadline for submission of applications is

June 1, 2009

. Applications received after that date will not be considered.