The Stakeholder A quarterly publication of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center

Our Mission: to tell the extraordinary stories of settling the Cherokee Strip and sharing the inspiring lessons of leadership with future generations.

I recently had the pleasure of accompanying some of those who volunteer

at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center to the Marland Mansion in Ponca City for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Day. We have a truly magnificent staff at the Heritage Center. Our facility is Smithsonian quality, and would not exist without the help of all of you who have donated for its construction and operation. All of that being said, the life of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is its volunteers. Literally, thousands of hours of time are donated every year to teach, guide and serve all of the people that come to see what you have helped to create here. Whether individuals or bus loads of seven-year-olds, all are welcomed and served by those who care enough to give their time, talent and energies to the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Thank you. Last time, I told you a little bit of the history of my family. What is the history of your family? Remember all those old stories told at family reunions, weddings, funerals or holidays? How many of those stories have you repeated over the years to your kids and grandkids, nieces and nephews? Who else knows the stories of your ancestors? Not just the dates and places, but the stories of the people that they were. My grandfather never told stories of his father. He would just say that if you couldn’t say something nice, you should be quiet. But then that’s a story in and of itself. Your life, every day you have lived thus far, is history. Not only your memories of your grandparents or great-grandparents, but the life that you have lived, including your memories from your childhood, raising children and just yesterday are history. I am sorry to tell you, but if you haven’t taken the time to pass those stories on, the history is lost. As I have gotten older, I have come to realize that the stories are more likely to be forgotten by me than to be lost when I die. The interesting part of the history is not just that someone made the Run, but the content of

the character of someone who would make the Run, and then survive.

Take a little time to preserve the history that is in you. Write it down or record it. Nothing fancy. When my great aunt was losing memories to Alzheimer’s, my grandmother made a tape for her recounting some of their antics as farm kids in the 1920’s. I treasure that tape. I’ll bet someone would treasure your history too.

Daron Rudy

Chairman

Summer 2015 Vol. VIII, Issue II

From the Board Chairman ...

Photo from Grant County exhibit.

We recently opened a new temporary exhibit that will

run through August 15, “Grant County: From Stockade

to Strip 1865-1895.” The exhibit focuses on the

evolution of commerce in Grant County through the

eyes of a typical cowboy riding the Chisholm Trail. It is

a marvelous exhibit, well done in every way and well

worth the visit. I can’t tell you how proud I am of our

Heritage Center team; every staff member and several

volunteers who had a hand in producing the final

product with a great deal of support by the Museum and

Sites Department of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

The Grant County exhibit came to be through the

devotion of a man for his hometown, Pond Creek. Mr.

James Day through The James C. and Teresa K. Day

Foundation graciously underwrote the creation of this

enlightening exhibit. Elements of the exhibit will be

available to travel once the show closes.

Now our staff is assisting another man, Mr. Gene

Anderson, with a historical park project to tell the story

of his hometown, Waukomis. When complete, the

downtown park will be a beautiful place of pride and

reflection for the whole community.

In 2016 Vance Air Force Base will celebrate its 75th

Anniversary. Our team is already busy researching

historical accounts for the makings of another

exceptional exhibit, “Keep ‘em Flying: 75 Years of

Vance Air Force Base.” The exhibit will open Memorial

Day weekend and run through Veteran’s Day weekend

in 2016. We are looking for a few good men and women

with pride and devotion for Vance AFB to underwrite

this exhibit honoring our base. If that is you, we can’t

wait to visit with you!

Andi Holland

2015 Board of Directors

Daron Rudy ............................................... Chairman Jason Turnbow .................................. Vice-Chairman Hallie Caldwell ........................................... Secretary Buddy Carroll ................................................. Treasurer Dr. David Russell .............. Immediate Past Chairman Don Angle April Danahy

Robert Dense Kathy Dickson Lish Glasser Becky Hodgen John Merz Bonnie Muegge Sandie Olson James Shepherd Sharon Trojan

Staff

Andrea Holland ..................................... Director/Editor Dana Reese ............................................ Office Manager David Kennedy ........................... Curator of Collections Cody Jolliff....................................... Education Director Aaron Preston.................................................. Archivist Mike Caffey .................................. Maintenance Director Sarah Hardaway ............................. Museum Assistant

Ella Proctor .................................... Education Assistant Cheri Franklin ...................... Visitor Services Assistant Darlene Pottorf ..................... Visitor Services Assistant Mary McDonald ............................. Museum Educator Dee Taylor ..................................... Museum Educator

Tuesday—Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Closed: New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day,

and Christmas Day

HUMPHREY HERITAGE VILLAGE

Guided tours of historic buildings are available

Tuesday—Saturday: 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:00

p.m., weather permitting.

Adults ...................................................................... $5

Seniors (age 62+) .................................................... $3

Students .................................................................. $3

Group Rate (10+) ........................................... $3 each

Families (up to 4) .................................................. $13

Active Duty Military, Veterans,

and Children (5 & Under) ................................. FREE

CSRHC and OHS Members ............................. FREE

Special Discount—

$1 Off Admission

for AAA Members

MUSEUM HOURSMUSEUM HOURSMUSEUM HOURS

ADMISSIONADMISSIONADMISSION

Director’s Corner

New Grant County Exhibit: Artifacts and Opportunities

The Heritage Center’s new temporary exhibit: Grant County:

Stockade to Strip, 1865-1895, sponsored by The James C. and

Teresa K. Day Foundation, features several artifacts that,

for preservation reasons, will likely not be open to public

viewing for several years again. One of these artifacts is a

tipi, owned by cowboy Frank Orner, and used in the Cherokee Outlet. Over twelve feet tall, the tipi was

bought from a local Native American. It is signed by several cowboys Orner interacted with during his

time in the region. The exhibit also features a bison hide presented to the Cherokee Strip Cow Punchers

Association reunion in 1934. Several hundred CSCPA names are branded on the hide.

Opportunities abound for adults and children to

interact hands-on with the exhibit as well. One can

serve up dinner on a chuck wagon, roll into a bed in

an old-fashioned bunkhouse, take a load off playing

checkers, or stop by the general store at Pond Creek

Ranch and stock up on supplies. The exhibit will

remain until August 15. See it while you can!

Jim Day, sponsor of the new Grant County exhibit with sister, Vicki Hanousek and CSRHC curator, Dave Kennedy

Grant County opening reception guests, Bert Mackie, Gini Zaloudek and Jim Montgomery

Grant County exhibit “hands-on” bunk house

”STRONG W INDS, STRONG CHARACTERS ,

THE DUST BOWL”

JUNE 9-13, 2015

Musical Entertainment & Dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Feature Presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Daily Workshops at 10:30 a.m. & Noon

Chautauqua in the Park is a long-time favorite Enid tradition. Join us under the big tent on the Humphrey

Heritage Village Green each evening for entertainment and interesting discussion. Activities begin nightly at

6:30 p.m. with a hamburger (and sides) concession available in the Village Church. Guests can enjoy delicious

Gelato while listening to performances by a variety of talented local artists.

At 7:30 p.m. each evening, a Chautauqua scholar, portraying a historical character, will present a first-person

account of the events of their time. Some seating is available, but lawn chairs are welcome.

This year's event will feature a Dust Bowl theme to recognize the 80th anniversary of "Black Sunday," April 14,

1935, when a huge dust storm fell over the Southern Plains, causing catastrophic economic and agricultural

damage. The worst conditions were in the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, where the rolling mass of

blowing dust (10,000 feet high) resembled a land-based tsunami. Winds in the Panhandle reached 60 mph,

and for at least a brief time, the blackness was so complete that witnesses reported not being able to see

their hands in front of their faces.

Daily workshops at 10:30 a.m. and noon will explore the cultural and political nuances of the era. Workshops

will be held at Humphrey Heritage Village Church. Enid Chautauqua programs are free and open to the

public.

For more information call (580) 237-1907, or check out our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/enidchautauqua.

2015 Oklahoma Chautauqua Characters

John Steinbeck, Hazel Lucas Shaw, Woody Guthrie, Lena Lowery Sawner, Ernie Pyle

TUESDAY, JUNE 9

10:30 a.m. African-American Women, Education and Perseverance ...... Vanessa Adams—Harris

Noon Reporting on the Dust Bowl: Truth and Fiction ............................................... Doug Mishler

7:30 p.m. JOHN STEINBECK ....................................................................................................Noel Pugach

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10

10:30 a.m. Perspective and Identity ...................................................................... Vanessa Adams-Harris

Noon The Man Behind the Myth of Woody and the Dust Bowl Ballads

— a Hootenanny Sing-a-long ........................................................................... Randy Noojin

7:30 p.m. HAZEL LUCAS SHAW ...................................................................................... Sally Ann Drucker

THURSDAY, JUNE 1 1

10:30 a.m. New Deal Farm Policy and Programs ...................................................... Noel Pugach

Noon Dorothea Lange: Documentary Photographer ................................ Sally Ann Drucker

7:30 p.m. LENA LOWERY SAWNER ............................................................................ Vanessa Adams-Harris

FRIDAY, JUNE 12

10:30 a.m. Film and Discussion of Steinbeck’s “The Red Pony” ....................................Noel Pugach

Noon Songs to Grow On: A Selection of Woody’s Songs for Children .............. Randy Noojin

7:30 p.m. ERNIE PYLE ............................................................................................................... Doug Mishler

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

10:30 a.m. The Worm’s View: Ernie Pyle and America .................................................... Doug Mishler

Noon Writing Your Memoir ..................................................................................... Sally Ann Drucker

7:30 p.m. WOODY GUTHRIE .................................................................................................. Randy Noojin

About to be engulfed in a gigantic dust cloud is a peaceful little ranch

in Boise City, Oklahoma where the top soil is being dried and blown

away. This photo was taken on April 15, 1935. (AP Photo)

DAILY WORKSHOPS & EVENING PERFORMANCES

In Memoriam

Dick Autry, Norman Britt, Jerry Jordan,

Philip Landers, Mary Jo McCoy,

Rev. John McLemore, William Carlos Payne,

Jakie Sandefer, Bill Saxon, and Bob Waller

By Lew and Myra Ward

Dolores McClure

By Charles and Cathy Fitch

Rev. John McLemore

By Mr. and Mrs. R. L. McKnight

Amanda Fields

By Charles and Nancy Buckminster,

and Charlene M. Fields

Honorarium

Dr. David Russell

By Bernie and Linda Powers

For more information on how you can honor a

loved one through a memoriam or honorarium,

please call (580) 237-1907 x221.

Save the Date ...

6th Annual

Cherokee Strip Days Gala

Friday, September 4, 2015—6:30 p.m.

Enid Convention Hall

Shhhh…. It’s going to be a Roaring Twenties,

extravagant good time! Mark your calendars!

New Home for

Turkey Creek School Bell In February of this year, Mrs. Amanda Fields passed

away at the age of 104. She was born February 12,

1911, on Turkey Creek SW of Waukomis, OK and

attended Liberty and Morning Star country schools,

Waukomis High School, and Northwestern State

Teachers College in Alva, where she obtained her

teaching certificate. She taught in

several one room, country

schools, including Turkey

Creek School.

In her memory, her daughter,

Charlene Fields, sponsored the

building of a beautiful new bell

tower for Turkey Creek School.

From the Archives

Chautauqua Not Always as it is Today By Aaron Preston

With the Heritage Center’s Humphrey Heritage Village hosting Chautauqua

“under the tent” from June 9-13, I thought I would look into Chautauqua’s

history here in Enid.

One of the earliest mentions of Chautauqua actually coming to the city was on

July 10, 1913. The event was held at Lakewood Park, and unlike today, one had

to have a ticket to enter. The cost in 1912 was $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for

children between the ages of five and 13.

One of the earliest artifacts detailing Chautauqua’s history in the Heritage

Center’s collection is a program from 1914. Reading it unveils differences

between today’s Chautauqua, and the event a century ago. 1914 Chautauqua was

a variety show. It featured musical acts like “Lenge’s Symphonic Orchestra,” and

“The Riner Sisters.” It featured speakers like Uel W. Lamkin providing orations

on specific topics. He declared, “What this country needs is a public school

system that will educate for a more efficient citizenship.” Unlike today’s

Chautauqua, a scholar taking on the persona of a historic character was not part

of the entertainment.

It is interesting to note that Enid debated, after the 1914 Chautauqua, whether

to hold the event again. To give the proper support to bring back the event, a

group of Enid citizens, including W. D. Frantz, Roy Shaw, and Harry Louthan,

met at the Chamber of Commerce. They formed the Enid Chautauqua

Organization to give the event a better opportunity to come back to town the

next year. Over 100 years later, Chautauqua is still going strong in Enid with one

of the most robust Chautauqua’s in the country. Come out to see it!

(From “The Wave-Democrat” Enid, OK, Thursday,

June 23, 1910)

Thank you to the following for your support:

1893 Club Membership—$1,000 Judy Grove

Land Agent Corporate Membership—$500 Davidson Electric, L.L.C.

Global Spectrum / Enid Event Center

To book a group tour or event rental, or for more

information about upcoming programs or events

please visit our website at www.csrhc.org, call

(580) 237-1907, or e-mail: csrhcinfo@okhistory.org

JUNE 2015 June 9-13 Summer Chautauqua “Strong Winds, Strong Character, The Dust Bowl” JULY 2015 Wed., July 8 Brown Bag Lunch & Learn Noon Village Church AUGUST 2015 Wed., Aug 12 Brown Bag Lunch & Learn Noon Village Church

Aug. 28-Oct. 20 “Apron Strings” Temporary Exhibit Gallery

SEPTEMBER 2015 Fri., Sept. 4 6th Annual Gala 6:30 p.m. “Spangles & Speakeasies” Wed., Sept. 9 Brown Bag Lunch & Learn Noon Village Church Fri., Sept. 18 Lantern Tours 7:00-10:00 p.m. Humphrey Heritage Village

507 S. 4th Street Enid, OK 73701

Phone: (580) 237-1907 e-mail: csrhcinfo@okhistory.org

website: www.csrhc.org

Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid Enid, OK

Permit No. 22

Summer Calendar of Events