Development of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad During the late 1800s, most long-distance travel was done through the railways. In Indian Territory, there were no railroad tracks laid until the 1880s. The first rail line in Indian Territory was the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railway Company (MK&T, or Katy). They ran a line […]
Tag: Oklahoma
Stories of Old Oklahoma: Frontier Life in Poteau Switch
White Man’s View of Native Americans After Arriving in Poteau During the late 1800’s, Indian Territory began to see a huge influx of white settlers. Following the arrival of the railroad, transportation routes were opened up that brought in even more people. Many Native American’s opposed this as they saw it as the U.S. Government […]
Frontier Life in Old Poteau Switch, Oklahoma
The Early Days of Poteau From the formation of the Indian Territory until Statehood, eastern Oklahoma was outlaw territory. Following the Civil War, many stories of outlaws, robberies, and other acts of violence were reported throughout the area. Much of this was contained by the Lighthorsemen, but these Native American law officers didn’t have authority […]
Outdoor Recreation in Southeast Oklahoma: Boating, Fishing, Hiking
The Mountain Gateway in southeast Oklahoma is the premier destination location for outdoor recreation. Centered around the tri-city area of Poteau, Wister, and Heavener, the Mountain Gateway is one of the most beautiful areas of the country. The rolling hills and tranquil lakes lead visitors on towards the Ouachita Mountains. During the outlaw days of […]
1st Lt. Clarence E. Coggins: Oklahoma’s Own War Hero
Who Was Clarence E. Coggins? Clarence Coggins was born in Poteau, Oklahoma on July 3, 1920. Growing up, he probably would have never dreamed that he would go on to become one of the nation’s most celebrated heroes. During World War II, he did exactly that. Before joining the war effort, Coggins’ dream was to […]
Forgotten Towns of Southeastern Oklahoma
The Vanishing Towns of Southeastern Oklahoma While many towns in Southeastern Oklahoma flourished, others simply vanished. Many of these towns’ virtual abandonment began in the late 1800s as railroad construction flourished throughout Indian Territory. Other towns were simply swallowed up by the progress of their neighbors. 1. Kully Chaha The abandonment of Kully Chaha, located […]
A WPA Tour of Poteau: The Works Progress Administration in Oklahoma
The History of Oklahoma: The Dust Bowl In October 1929, the world erupted in chaos. A massive stock market crash sent Wall Street into a panic, resulting in a near collapse of the economy. What started off as panic on Wall Street soon came knocking on the doors of Main Street. Thousands of people were […]
The Forgotten Town of Pine Valley
Oklahoma’s Pine Valley Eastern Oklahoma’s Pine Valley was a company-owned lumber town. The picturesque town paralleled the Kiamichi River to the south and was surrounded by the Kiamichi Mountains. Founded in 1926, the entire town was constructed and ready to be occupied by the time the first of the workers arrived. It was just one […]
A Coal Miner’s Life in the Early 20th Century: The Story of Witteville, Oklahoma
Witteville Coal Mines Witteville was once a prosperous mining town during the early 20th century. Located just three miles west of Poteau, the Witteville coal mines drew hundreds of workers from all over the world. During an age where coal was king, the mines in Oklahoma employed over 7,500 men and boys. Oftentimes, children as […]
Socialism in Oklahoma: The Story of Milton
Origins of the Town of Milton Milton, a small town, started out just as any other Oklahoma town. Around 1870, settlers started arriving and cultivating the area. Soon, a small general mercantile store opened that served the needs of the area residents. Or tried to. So frequently was the store out of supplies that the […]