147 YEARS AGO

Thursday, June 21, 1877

Newspaper Statistics

Pettengil’s newspaper Directory for 1877 gives a list of 792 daily periodicals, 79 tri-weekly, 125 semi-weekly, 6,606 weekly, 122 semi-monthly, 771 monthly, 16 bi-monthly and 60 quarterly: total, 8,574.

The increase in the number of publications since 1870 has been nearly 3,600 – an average of over 500 per annum.

NORTHERN INDIANS

We glean from our exchanges that there is reported trouble between the white and Indians in the Dominion of Canada, in Oregon and in Texas. But as the nature of the trouble, or cause, is not fully manifest we await further light on the subject.

••••• 120 YEARS AGO

Friday, January 20, 1905

Schools Will Teach Farming

Superintendent J.D. Benedict has obtained an agricultural textbook which will soon be distributed among the Territory schools. The pupils will be taught the theory of farming as well as being permitted to do practical work in the fields.

The teachers will be supposed to master the textbook and give practical talks on farming, in regard to soils, how plants grow, how planted and cultivated.

KILLING OUT NEAR STIDHAM

An elopement ended rather abruptly last Saturday near Stidham by the shotgun route.

As near as can be learned, Frank Hope had won the affections of Richmond McGee’s daughter and the two had eloped about two weeks ago, going to Henryetta.

The infatuation evidently enjoyed by both parties came to a termination at that place and the runaways returned to their respective homes.

Hope was called on by the girl’s father, when an explanation was demanded, but the fact that he was at the time the head of a family no doubt dawned upon him and the interview ended without a settlement of differences.

McGee called on Hope again Saturday, this time taking his shotgun along.

He called Hope to the door and opened fire at short range, the charge taking effect in Hope’s chest. He walked to the door of an adjoining room, where he fell, expiring a few moments later. It is claimed that Hope had no gun in the house and was utterly helpless.

Whether this is true or not, McGee evidently went looking for trouble, else the gun would not have been brought in such handy play.

The surroundings evidently became anything but pleasant for McGee, who came to Eufaula the following day and surrendered himself to Deputy Grant Johnson.

••••• 100 YEARS AGO

Thursday, July 10, 1924

SEVENTY INDIAN STUDENTS AIDED AT SUMMER TERM Seventy students were promoted as a result of the special summer sessions held at three Indian schools in eastern Oklahoma, closing this week, it was announced today by Herbert C. Calhoun, supervisor of Indian schools. Ninety students were enrolled for the summer terms in the three schools.

The enrollment in each school was: Eufaula boarding school, 35; Euchee boarding school of Sapulpa, 35; Bloomfield seminary, Ardmore, 20.

Approximately $14,000 was saved by holding the summer sessions, Calhloun said.

WORK OF LEGION CENTERED ON AID OF SERVICE MEN Oklahoma City, July 8 – American Legion activates in the department of Oklahoma, during the past week have centered around the distribution and filling out of adjusted compensation blanks for former service men.

With but few exceptions, the 300 American Legion posts in the state have established adjusted compensation headquarters, generally in a building that is handy to the business section of the city, where the veterans may obtain the blanks, and fill them out with the assistance of legionnaires.

••••• 80 YEARS AGO

Thursday, June 29, 1944

JITTERS PLAGUED EUFAULA HERO IN BAPTISM OF FIRE Sgt. Fred E. Stratton of Eufaula proved himself a real soldier during his overseas service with the 45th infantry division. He has been awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman’s badge but he says he will never forget his first day under fire.

“I got my baptism on the day we invaded Sicily,” Sgt. Stratton said, “and it wasn’t calculated to give me any confidence. I was leader of a light machine gun squad when we hit the beach. I set up my gun, ready for action.”

“Just as I got behind it, as we were taught back in the States, a German bullet hit the gun and bounced off the rear sights. Boy, that didn’t do my morale one bit of good, because there was nothing in the soldiers’ handbook to cover a case like that.”

Sgt Stratton recovered quickly from the jitters and did his part in the invasion of the Sicily campaign.

He was also in on the invasion of Italy at Salerno, the Italian campaign up to Cassino and the Anzio landing.

••••• 75 YEARS AGO

Thursday, June 2, 1949

Students Receive Service, Scholarship Awards Honors went to the upper 10 percent of the Eufaula high school student body at commencement last Thursday night, and to the membership of the newly organized Eufaula service club at the final school assembly last week.

Jaycees to Elect At Stag Party

The Junior Chamber of Commerce will elect new officers for the next fiscal year at a stag party at the Community Hall Tuesday night at 8 o’clock.

Four Lions Honored

Four members of the Eufaula Lions received honorary award pins for continuous service in the club since its organization, as the Lions celebrated their 30th anniversary Wednesday in the Methodist church dining room.

••••• 65 YEARS AGO

Thursday, April 23, 1959

Thelma Dabbs on leave from U.S. Navy

Seaman Apprentice Thelma Dabbs is visiting here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Town Dabbs and family.

Miss Dabbs, a 1957 graduate of Eufaula High School, enlisted in the WAVES February 9, 1959. On graduation from “boot camp” in Bainbridge, Maryland, she was one of the three honor graduates of her company.

After spending a 10 day leave here with her parents, Miss Dabbs will report for duty at the Naval Air Station, May 3, at Jacksonville, Florida.

Navy Trade Training For School Graduates Chief Petty Officer Fort Brogdon of the Navy Recruiting Office in Muskogee, has disclosed that the Navy has immediate openings for enlistment with a guaranteed trade training school for qualified young men.

Chief Brogdon stated that the High School Seaman Recruit program now in use by the Navy covers 27 different job opportunities, any one of which is available to these young men who are able to qualify.

••••• 18 YEARS AGO

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Jail election rolls toward voters

McIntosh County voters will head to the polls on May 9 to decide whether or not to give the thumbsup to a half-cent sales tax hike that would fund the construction of a new jail facility.

The jail, which is literally falling apart in places (and has seen more than its fair share of escapes in recent months) has been out of compliance with Oklahoma jail codes for years.

••••• 10 YEARS AGO

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Heritage Day 2014 now in the history books Parades, races, pie eating contests and the crowning of Mr.& Mrs. Heritage Day, 2014, were only a few of the activities that filled the day Saturday.

This was the third annual Heritage Day Festival, which marked the 142nd birthday of the town of Eufaula.

One pastor of the Checotah Ministerial Alliance, Bud Shackelford, who pastors the First Assembly of God in Checotah, has worked diligently trying to understand the