Oklahoma’s Only Railroad Tunnel The Jenson Tunnel is Oklahoma’s only railroad tunnel. Not only is it Oklahoma’s only railroad tunnel, but it is also the only tunnel in the United States built in a foreign nation. Constructed in 1885 through 1886 for the Fort Smith & Southern Railway, it is still in use today. Several […]
Tag: People
Visiting Cowlington, OK: A Brief History and Points of Interest
The Quick Rise and Fall of an Oklahoma Town Today, little remains of the old town of Cowlington, Oklahoma. Officially, the town began with the establishment of the post office on August 27, 1884, but it can trace its roots even further back. Named for E. F. Cowling, the town can trace its roots back […]
Oklahoma’s First Woman Mayor: Ms. Nora Shaw
Progressive Poteau Since Poteau was first established, historically, it’s been known as a very progressive and vibrant city. During the late 1800s, many notorious outlaws and famous U.S. Marshals visited the early town. Those included people such as Belle Starr and Ed “Coon” Ratterree. In the 1910s, Poteau was one of the only towns in […]
Robert S. Kerr’s “Forgotten” history
From 1926 until 1963, Senator Robert S. Kerr was a force to be reckoned with. Most people know him as an oil baron, partner with the Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc. Others know him as a prominent political figure, moving and shaking things across the country with the likes of President John F. Kennedy. However, there’s […]
Poteau Christmas from the Past
Poteau Christmas Traditions Like a scene out of an old time Christmas movie, downtown Poteau has always thrived during the holiday seasons. During the earliest days, from the late 1800’s through the 1910’s, the traditions were centered around family. People would gather in each others homes to sing traditional Christmas songs as well as popular […]
The Terry House on the Hill, or the Doc Woodson Home in Poteau, Oklahoma
The story of the House on Terry Hill, also known as the Woodson Home, begins when Oklahoma was still Indian Territory. George W. Terry, a prominent Poteau businessman and civic leader, was also a romantic. Nearly every day, George would get his exercise by hiking up Cavanal Mountain. It was during one of these hikes […]
Heckabbe’s Station: A forgotten stage stop?
Boggy Depot, Doaksville, Skullyville, Colbert’s Ferry; these are all place names easily associated with Oklahoma’s early history. There are a number of tales of the old Butterfield Overland Mail company and of the trepidatious cattle drives. Still, some stories from that era remain lost in time. One such story is the tale of Heckabbe’s Station […]
Exploring History: Historic Photographs of Shawnee, Oklahoma
The History of Shawnee, Oklahoma The history of the town of Shawnee, Oklahoma, has its origins long before statehood. First settled before the American Civil War, the area was first populated by members of the Sac and Fox tribe during the Indian Removals. Later, they were followed by the Shawnee, Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie Indians. Since the […]
A Tale of Bonnie and Clyde: The Bank Robbery at Poteau, Oklahoma
Meet Bonnie and Clyde After a long string of petty thefts that began in 1926, Clyde Chestnut Barrow was sent to the Eastham Prison Farm in April 1930. The Eastham Prison Farm was the first maximum-security prison in Texas. Because of its grueling work assignments, treacherous conditions, and difficulty escaping the unit, even hard-core criminals […]
Hartshorne, Oklahoma: A Historic Coal-Mining Town
About Hartshorne, Oklahoma In Hartshorne, Oklahoma, the Twin Cities Heritage Museum paints a vivid picture of the life of an early coal-mining town. Fantastic artifacts from the early 1900s allow visitors to take a step back in time to when coal was king. Today, Hartshorne is reminiscent of a typical small-town main-street community. Historic brick […]