Caddo- My Home Town

Basketball, 1925

The Caddo Herald

January 9, 1925

Basketball

                At 7:30 Saturday night, January 10, the Durant Lions will take the floor against the fastest and best balanced basketball team that has ever represented Caddo High School. The game will conclude a week of hard work for the Durant team as it played Sherman High Tuesday night, losing to the Texans by a score of 22 to 16. It will meet the Tishomingo team on the Durant Court Friday evening.

                Coach Dendy has been running his squad at top speed since its excellent showing in the game Friday and it is rapidly rounding into a bunch of first-class basketball tossers. Faudree has greatly improved in goal shooting and since missing several sure shots against Roberta he seems to have his eye on the basket and tosses from all angles. Dunham is a veteran basketball man and excels in guarding and team work. His presence on the floor encourages every player to work hard and he fights to the final whistle. With Briggs, A. Downing, and Pirtle going in good condition and keeping up the pace Caddo should give the more experienced Durant aggregation a run for the money. With Davison, Henninger, and Coffey in reserve, Coach Dendy has some good material in case one of the regulars should be unable to go a full game.

                At 8:30 the O.P. C. girls will arrive and play the local girls’ team. The Caddo girls have lost only one game in the past two years and that was to O.P.C. last year by a margin of one point so the fans may rest assured that they will exert every effort to win this game. Eugenia Sargent, Rosie Smith, Marilee Styron, Beth Moore, and Luda Mae Ware are the members of last year’s team who are back in the game and Coach Chiles has excellent new material in Odessa Faudree, Retta Jones, Doris Maytubby and Minnie Herod. It looks like a big year for our girls’ team too.

                The court will be arranged so that more space for spectators will be provided and a record crowed is expected as the O. P. C. School trucks are coming packed with rooters for their team.

                The doors will be open at 7 o’clock and admission will be 15c and 25c.

The Caddo Herald

February 27, 1925

Athletics

                Friday morning the boys’ basketball team was eliminated by Hendrix by a score of 25 to 9. It seemed that the boys could not get together and as a result played their worst game since the season opened.

Ordinance 35

An ordinance is a law passed by a municipal government.

A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body.

The Caddo Herald

May and June, 1899; January, 1900

In May of 1899 the city council wrote and published Ordinance 34, which declared that “Each and every person owning a lot in the incorporated town of Caddo is hereby required to place a good and substantial side walk in front of said lot or lots, when ordered by the town council.” The ordinance included some details, such as materials allowed- lumber, stone, cement, brick, or other substantial substance. It also specified that the width could not be under three feet or over six. The sidewalks had to be completed within thirty days of notification, and thereafter maintained by the property owner. Failure to comply resulted in the city doing the work and taxing the owner.

Apparently, residents weren’t satisfied with the ordinance, so in June the council repealed five of the six sections in #34 and published Ordinance 35. Note the differences in the basic requirement: “Each and every person owning improvements located on a lot in the town of Caddo is hereby required to place a good and substantial side walk on the street joining the lot or lots on which the improvement is located, when ordered by the town council.“ I understand this to mean that residents would not be required to put a sidewalk in front of an empty lot.

In January of 1900 the council passed Resolution 13 and got VERY specific about the construction of sidewalks. I don’t know enough about law or government to tell you why they issued a resolution rather than another ordinance. However, the resolution does say that the side walks to be constructed would be in accordance with “the provisions of Ordinance 35”.

So…I didn’t copy all of the tedious, repetitive wording of the lengthy resolution. However, here are the locations of the sidewalks:

Note: Sidewalks in the business district were required to be made of brick, smooth stone or concrete. Some sections, as noted, could be made of gravel at least 4 inches deep and well-packed. Residential sidewalks could be constructed of lumber or any of the other options, but it was noted that they should be as close to the same height as possible. Specific widths are listed for some sections.

1. Southwest corner of Main and Buffalo to the corner of Buffalo and Arkansas. 8 ft. wide
2. Northwest corner of Smith’s stone building, west on West Buffalo to the northwest corner of W. P. Wood’s foundation. 8 ft. wide (gravel option)
3. Beginning at the foundation, west on Buffalo to the corner of Buffalo and Manning. 6ft. wide
4. Beginning at the northeast corner of Ira Smith’s residence lot, west on Buffalo to the corner of Choctaw, the same being the residence lot of Herman Ahrens. 4 ft. wide (board option)
5. Beginning at Main and Buffalo on the west side, south to the Choctaw courthouse. 4 ft. wide
6. Beginning at Main and Buffalo on the west side, north to Boisdarc (their spelling).
7. “Beginning at the conjunction of Main and Bosidarc streets, thence west on the north side of the said Boisdarc Street to Choctaw Ave., that is to the southwest corner of the Thompson School house lot.”
8. Corner of Arkansas and Buffalo Street, then south on the east side of Arkansas Street to Ainsworth Street.
9. Beginning at the crossing of Henderson and Boisdarc, south on both sides of Henderson to the crossing of Henderson and Ainsworth.
10. “The side walk from the crossing of Buffalo and Main streets east on the north side of East Buffalo Street is hereby ordered repaired and made not less than 8 feet wide and that good safe steps are hereby ordered to be placed where steps are necessary, and that the said steps shall be of the width of the side walk.”

A week later it rained and the editor of the Herald stated: “When the new sidewalks designed by the town have been built, mud such as has made life a failure this week will hold no terrors for Caddo people.”

Post Master, 1921

Durant Daily Democrat

January 31, 1921

Richey Wins the Caddo Post Office By Big Majority

A.E. (Alex) Ritchey was the choice of the Caddo Republicans for postmaster at the primary held last Saturday. When the battle of ballots started, the list of candidates had dwindled down to three, A. E. Ritchey, U. S. Markham, and J. H. Hogan. The vote was Ritchey, 77; Markham 40; Hogan, 8. The other candidates, who have been aspirants for the office, announced that they did not believe that was the way to settle the question, and refused to allow their names to go on the ballot, saying that they would apply for the post office in the usual manner, through the congressman.

            Only Republicans of that city participated in the election, which was held to secure an expression as to who the Republicans wanted as their postmaster when the change comes. Markham and Hogan appeared before the meeting of the Caddo Republican club Saturday night and gave their endorsement to the nominee, Alex Ritchey and announced that they would join in with the Republican club of Caddo in making the nomination of Ritchey unanimous.

            The Republicans of Caddo were highly pleased with the vote, considering it very substantial evidence of the desires of the Republicans and the meeting Saturday night so endorsing him.

            Alex Ritchey is one of the best men in Bryan County and is a member of the county election board. He has the esteem of not only the people of Caddo, but everyone who knows him. The people of Caddo are to be complimented upon the selection, and they are assured of having a courteous and accommodating official, just as they have had during the tenure of Mr. Carroway.

Service, 1917

Changes, 1911

 

The Caddo Herald

June 23, 1911

                Contracts have been let for and the work begun on cement walks on the West side of Main Street from Buffalo to and including the property of C. A. Bilbo, the owners being W. B. Ainsworth, Mrs. Folsom, Mrs. Hauer, Amos K. Bass, A. J. Vaughan, Mrs. Hull, C. W. Hill, and Sam R. Heath. When completed, this will be quite a convenience to those going to the depot. The remainder of the distance will also be laid in cement, though the contracts have not yet been let.

                The old wooden building formerly occupied by Smith’s barber shop was moved this week, having been bought by John Schenck, who has added it to his garage on Arkansas Street. P. W. Howe and J. H. Cosart, the owners of the lot, have begun the work on a two story fifty-foot brick the lower floor which will be used for business purposes and the upper floor will be used as a lodge room and offices. With the passing of this old building, all wooden shacks have been removed from Buffalo Street, giving a much better appearance to the business part of town.

New Year, 1900

Caddo Herald

January 5, 1900

The Social Stream

            Inaugurated last week was a series of Christmas entertainments, balls and parties among the social people of Caddo, that has made life seem worth living indeed to those who participated in the various functions. Among the brightest of them were parties given by Mrs. A. C. Joyce on Wednesday and Saturday nights; by Mesdames Lynch and Moon on Friday night; a watch party at which the time was spent reading and discussing current literature was given at Mrs. H. T. Ahrens’ on New Year’s Eve. A ball at the opera house was the feature of New Year’s night. Mrs. Travis delightfully entertained a happy party of young people Tuesday night.           

Thus to the socially inclined was one of the most delightful weeks of their lives spent.

Jail Riot

 

The Caddo Herald

September 5, 1913

Riot at Jail

What resembled a miniature war was pulled off at the county jail on Saturday night, when officers were forced to shoot into the county jail to drive the prisoners away from the window, and to prevent their escape, and to force them to be quiet. The shooting was heard in nearly every portion of the city, and large crowds flocked to the jail yard expecting to find someone writhing in human gore, but instead they found the prisoners soaked with water that had been turned on them in an endeavor to stop the mutiny.

For some reason the prisoners in the jail started on the war path early in the evening, when they demolished about everything that could be broken up in the jail, even tearing down the lights. Quiet was restored, but it lasted for only about thirty minutes, for they again began their loud and boisterous capers. This time they began their antics by tearing up their beds, using the iron railings in an attempt to batter down the steel bars at the west window, and it was at this time that the shots were fired into the top to the jail to scare the prisoners and force them to leave the window, and it had the desired effect, for the mutinous prisoners made their “fade away” in great shape. But it did not close their mouths, and only seemed to add strength to their lungs, for they began their yelling in renewed vigor, acting as wild maniacs, and it was at this juncture that the “water cure” was resorted to. But even this had little effect, and the prisoners kept up their wild acts until County Attorney Walter Turnbull gave them straight talk, telling them that their action was a disgrace to civilization and that it would have to be stopped. He talked and reasoned with the prisoners and they promised to keep quiet the remainder of the night, and the people within blocks of the jail were allowed to go to sleep for the balance of the night.

When the prisoners were at their worst, one of them threw a soda pop bottle through the iron bars at Deputy Terry of Caddo, who was present. The bottle broke, and one of the flying pieces hit Mr. Terry on the thumb, making a bad wound.

The county officials say that they will have no more such conduct, and the next time the prisoners cut up such capers, stern measures will be resorted to. The trouble seems to be between the jailer and the men, the men clamoring for a new jailer. – Durant Democrat

Vaccine, 1933

The Caddo Herald

October 13, 1933

Typhoid Serum Given to School Children

                For the past four weeks typhoid serum has been given to the school students of Caddo; given to them under the auspices of the School committee of the Civic Club, with Mrs. Barney Woods as chairman.

                On the first day the vaccine was given 316 were inoculated. The next week 410 took the serum; the third, 344 and the fourth 50.

                The Civic Club desires to express its appreciation to Drs. Cochran and Dickey for their services in enabling the children to get this treatment for only ten cents a shot.

                They also want to thank all those who helped with the giving of the vaccine at the school building.

                This vaccine is furnished by the State Health Department to the school children who so desire it. If there are those in the community who were unable to take the serum during this period and they desire to do so now, they should get in touch with Mrs. Barney Wood or Mr. H. I. Meadows and arrangements will be made for them to take it.

New Year

The Caddo Herald

January 2, 1948

Caddo High Times

Lenora Evans, editor

Jolene Hunter, society

Paul Cannon, Joel Clark, voc. ag

Minnie Lou Thompson, library

Harold Young, Mary Choate, feature editors

 

New Year is Time to Shine up Your Good Ideals

By Leonora Evans

                Like a time-worn cane that, having seen its withering master glide away into another land, is laid aside to begin gathering dust, so are the memories of the old year that are stored away in the heart, making room for the new.

                Some memories of the past year will bring joy to the heart, while others will leave a lost and empty feeling to cast its gloom and utter darkness like a low hanging fog upon the world.

Hearts will ache at the thought of a world of conflict, of nations in opposition to each other, of starvation, hunger and cold.

                A determination to be more cooperative, more broad-minded, less greedy, and less self-loving would aid in making a friendly happy world. If nations would try to get along with half the force in their efforts as is put out in the battle to win a war, the world would enjoy a superabundance of prosperity. Money, labor and many of the necessities of life would not have to be used to make firearms for destruction. Half-crazed people would have no need to flee from whizzing, deafening roar of bombs; frail bodies would not suffer lack of food and clothing; inflation would not be a blight on the land or the building block which was torn away.

                The New Year is the time to cast off that which is causing a heavy fog to engulf the world and introduce co-operation for opposition, broad mindedness for narrow mindedness, and unselfishness for selfishness, and friendly folk for hatred. This will make a better person, a better school and a better world.

April 1921

April 15, 1921

Attending District Court

Lake Brewer, M. L. Tanner, J. D. Nickels, H. I. Meadows, A. F. Manning, and W. P. Turnbull are serving as petit jurors in district court at Durant this week.

The criminal docket was taken up Monday:

Alfred Gonia, who is well known in police circles, pleaded guilty to burglary in the second degree and was sentenced to four years in the state penitentiary. Gonia was found guilty of burglarizing a box car, taking a large quantity of shoes belonging to Perkins Dry Goods Company.

Wesley Williford pleaded guilty to burglary in the second degree and was sentenced to two years in the state reformatory at Granite.

George D. Cooper, charged with forgery in the second degree, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to the state penitentiary at McAlester for two years. He was charged with forging Edling Ewing’s name to a check and attempting to pass it at the First National Bank.

R.W. Nelson, charged with forgery in the second degree, pleaded guilty in two cases and was sentenced to two terms in the penitentiary of one year each, the second term to state immediately on the completion of the first. Nelson was charged with passing two forged checks on J. F. Roberts of Durant.

Hunter was sentenced to two years in the state reformatory at Granite on a charge of burglarizing a store at Armstrong, April 1. He also pleaded guilty.

Jesse Crossley was sentenced to reformatory on a charge of robbing the armory of a quantity of blankets and guns. He pleaded guilty.

 

April 15, 1921

Boy Sentenced

Tulsa, Ok. April 11- Eddie Shouquette, convicted of participation in the robbery of the Bank of Sperry last December, drew a fifteen-year sentence in the McAlester penitentiary. Frank Stanley, alleged leader of the band of robbers, was given a like sentence by a district court jury the first of the week. Shouquette, who is but 19 years of age, was the first convicted and the jury left his term of imprisonment up to Judge R. S. Cole.

 

The Durant Weekly News

April 29, 1921

Complete Auto Stealing Outfit

Simpson and Ivey Held in Jail on Bank Robbery Charge

Had Elaborate Sets of Tools

Whether or not the guilt of stealing the Chevrolet car and robbing the First State Bank at Calera is ever proven on Messrs. Simpson and Ivey, who are now held in jail as suspects of the crime, is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain, and it is that those birds had in their possession when arrested about as elaborate an outfit for the disguising of an automobile as have ever been seen here.

One solid leather portfolio, resembling that of a hardware drummer, was found to contain a varied assortment of things, which included several complete sets of automobile license tags for 1921, from numerous states including Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri; complete set of number punch dies, with which the serial number of an automobile engine could be changed with one blow of a hammer on punch; several “motor meters” for Ford cars; several ignition switch boards for Ford cars; files, chisels and hammers of various kinds and sizes; complete automobile maps for practically every state, and numerous other electrical and mechanical appliances such as might be found in a garage tool chest. 

They stopped at the best hotels, and put up an appearance of prosperity. Considerable currency was found in their possession when they were arrested officers said.

They have employed Utterback & MacDonald to defend them as well as several lawyers from other cities and states. Their defense is said to include Moman Pruitt, famous criminal lawyer from Oklahoma City.

Both men are charged with two cases larceny of an automobile and burglary. The examining trial on the larceny case will be held in Justice Phillips’ court this coming week and that in the burglary case in Justice Archibald’s court. The exact dates of the hearings have not been determine.

 

The Durant Democrat (published in the Caddo Herald)

April 29, 1921

Still of Prosperous Farmer is Raided

What is believed to have been the biggest and most cunningly concealed still ever operated in this county was raided and dismantled by Deputy Sheriff C. M. Etchison and Constable Reuben Meek of Mead at the home of Henry Golding two miles southeast of Mead Monday morning at 1 o’clock. The still was of 50-gallon capacity and 300 gallons of mash and several gallons of whiskey were taken along with it. Eight large barrels formerly containing the mash were on display at the court house this morning.

It is said that the still has been in operation for two years, but it was so skillfully concealed that officers were not able to find it until last night. Golding, who owns a big farm and a handsome bungalow, has been suspected of manufacturing whiskey and officers have been watching for him the past week. Saturday night they lay and watched the house, but found no clue on which to work. Sunday night Etchison and Meeks returned to make the raid. Golding, supposing himself safe from the prying eyes of the law, worked. In the parlor of Golding’s residence, raising an art square the floor in the parlor the officers found a panel trap door. Under the floor was a cellar, and leading from the cellar was an underground tunnel in which the still was running on full time, as complete a still as was ever  run in the days of revenue payments. Smoke from the furnace was directed to go out the kitchen flue. It was in reality a place of industry and production.

With the breaking up of this still, it is believed that the biggest source of the whiskey supply in that neighborhood will be cut off.

 

The Durant Weekly News

April 29, 1921

A Jealous Man Slays His Wife

Had Been Divorced and Wife had Returned to Nurse Child

Man Afterward Kills Self

Crazed with jealousy over the attentions of his step-brother paid to his recently divorced wife, D. W. Williams, a farmer living five miles from Atoka, shot and killed his former wife and then committed suicide by taking strychnine Tuesday.

Williams shot Mrs. Williams four times with a shotgun, blowing off entirely her head and one arm. He then wrote a note to the Odd Fellows, asking that they bury him, and took poison.

Mrs. Williams, who had been staying at an Atoka hotel, went to her former husband’s home in the country Saturday night to nurse one of her five children, reported to be seriously ill.

After breakfast Tuesday morning Mrs. Williams was walking in the yard with the other four children. When she returned to the house Williams began shooting, it was said.

After the murder he walked calmly to the barn 200 yards distant and took poison, returning to fall by the side of the woman over whom the deed had been committed.

All the children are under 15 years old, neighbors who are caring for the children said when the deputy sheriff from Okataha made an investigation of the affair.