Stories from the past
147 YEARS AGO
Wednesday, June 26, 1878
HOME AND FOREIGN GOSSIP
Next season, says a London journal, will witness the revival of knee-breeches and silk stockings as a part of gentlemen’s evening dress. The Prince of Wales is said to be warmly in favor of the revival.
JULY 4 CELEBRATION
Eminent speakers, Miss Maude Crubbs, calathumpian parade, sack race, greased pole and pig races, fireworks and reduced rates of fare will be the attractions at Ft. Scott on the 4th. Go and see them and the beautiful city.
THE TELESCOPOPHON
It was yesterday noon that a few of Mr. Edison’s enthusiastic assistants and friends gathered around him at Menlo Park to witness of the new ear trumpet which the inventor had evolved from his inner consciousness.
••••• 138 YEARS AGO
Thursday, June 16, 1887
Alcohol A Product of Satan To the Editor
You say, in your answer to “A.O.,” “God never gave us fermented wine or alcohol, in any form” True, not one particle of alcohol can be extracted from anything until it has died and commenced to decay. It was Satan who brought sin and death (sin’s penalty) into the world; therefore, it was the devil who gave us alcohol – the extract of death – not God – in God we have life.
••••• 119 YEARS AGO
Friday, September 28, 1906
The Davis Murder
D. King and Bud Roberts, charged with the murder of Cicero Davis, have been released from jail, King having turned state’s evidence, showing that Alford, who is in federal jail for the murder, told him that he (Alford) had committed the deed. Subsequent investigation confirmed King’s statements.
THREATENING OFFICERS
What a spectacle was presented to the people of Eufaula last Saturday when nine men from Muskogee, claiming to be officers of the law, marched through the streets armed to the teeth with Winchesters, six-shooters, exhibiting every mark of warlike demonstration, and all for what?
There was no disturbance, no riot, not even any drunkenness, yet these carpetbagging federal flunkies were here loaded down with heavy artillery.
••••• 114 YEARS AGO
Friday, June 9, 1911
THE MCINTOSH COUNTY FAIR
The McIntosh county fair is to be held in Eufaula two days in the month of October. This was decided at a meeting of the fair directors in this city Monday.
ENTERTAINMENT A GRAND SUCCESS The entertainment given by the faculty and students of the Eufaula Boarding School, held in this city Wednesday evening, was a grand success under the directions of Mrs. Olivia Purdom and her able assistants.
WINDSTORM DOES VERY LITTLE DAMAGE A windstorm that looked bad for a while visited this city Tuesday evening about 8 o’clock and was followed a little later by a nice rain that was worth thousands of dollars to the people of this section of the state.
••••• 100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 2, 1925
Can Build Courthouse Without Bond Issue One Mill Levy, Penalties, Interest or Forfeitures Accrued in Sinking Fund, Can Be Used While nothing definite is likely to be settled at Monday’s meeting of the new board of county commissioners, the matter will be called to their attention, and action is expected by the board at an early date – perhaps at a called meeting sometime in July.
TEN NEW STATE LAWS ARE DESCENDED UPON CITIZENS Oklahoma City July 1 – New laws which the tenth legislature passed with the emergency went into effect Friday.
Among other things it will be against the law to: – drive an automobile across any railroad track in the state without stopping – to remarry within six months of a divorce decree.
– for any ice plant to continue business or go into business without obtaining a permit from the state corporation commission and paying a license fee of 50 cents a ton on its production
••••• 90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, MAY 16, 1935
43 GRADUATES TO RECEIVE DIPLOMAS Commencement exercise for the closing of one of the most successful school terms the Eufaula school ever enjoyed, will begin here Sunday morning, with Dr. Wallace Crutchfield, pastor of the Methodist church, preaching he baccalaureate sermon.
On Thursday, 43 seniors will receive their diplomas.
Man Who Drinks 3.2 Is Intoxicated, Says Anti-Saloon Leaguer The man who drinks a bottle of 3.2 beer is “intoxicated, and if he is involved n an accident his drinking beer should be considered evidence of his guilt and he should be required to prove his innocence,” W. J. Losinger of Oklahoma City, superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League, told an audience in Checotah Monday.
••••• 80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 24, 1945
‘Red’ Hunter Carries Mail For Navy Now D-Day plus two and the fighting men on Okinawa were getting their mail form the newly established Navy post office on the island beachhead.
Through the actual invasion, crews on small craft of the Navy’s postal service were distributing mail to the task force’s personnel. This is the business of the Navy’s postmen.
Eufaula Lieutenant Praised
First Lt. Rueben L. Shirley, who formerly resided west of Eufaula, received recently a high commendation for his part in the crossing of the Rhine River.
R.L. Capps Receives Purple Heart Medal R. L. (Bob) Capps of Hanna received the Purple Heart Monday, May 21, 1945, for wounds he received on September 27, 1918, while serving with the 90th Division in the First World War.
Bob is the brother of Andy Capps of Eufaula.
••••• 75 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 27, 1950
Hunters Near Agreement on Site for Club Lake The Mid Valley Hunters Association discussed the building of a club lake near Eufaula, at a regular meeting at Deeres Chapel, Friday night. Raymond McPeak president of the association, says a lake will be built, but the exact location has not been set.
Local Talent to Parade in Show
Rehearsals are underway for “It’s a Date,” the local talent show bang sponsored by the Eufaula VFW to be presented Monday and Tuesday May 8 and 9 at the community hall, for the benefit of a ‘peewee” ball team, VFW widows and orphans and building funds.
••••• 65 YEARS AGO
Thursday, March 31, 1960
Heavy Equipment Rolling as Multi-Million Dollar Contracts Start Heavy equipment has been rolling around Eufaula the past two weeks as favored contractors wait only on weather and equipment to start actual construction on highway and railroad fills and, at the damsite, actual construction of the dam.
••••• 60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, March 25, 1965
Eufaula Wins Boxing Tourney
Eufaula’s annual Boxing Tournament, the 1965 edition, came to an end here last Statuary night, with some 19 bouts scheduled on the program in the final night of activity.
A standing room only crowd was on hand to witness the final night of action, that was highlighted by five technical knockouts and one knockout, with the remainder of the wins coming on decisions.
The tournament, believed to be the oldest and biggest in the state of Oklahoma, was termed as having been a real success with good attendance at each of the six nightly sessions.
Eufaula had nine boxers wining title bouts and the local team easily walked away with the team championship.
••••• 55 YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 2, 1970
Campers Country Clubs Hires New Manager Tony Spirlock assumed his duties here Monday, June 29 as manager of Campers Country Clubs, Ltd. The Spirlocks spent the past two years in Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Spirlock and daughter Sheryl will be full time residents of the camping area.
••••• 33 YEARS AGO
Thursday, August 6, 1992
Weekend Watermelon Festival Set At Hanna
When the flyer says “free, sliced, watermelon,” you know it is an advertisement for the upcoming Hanna Watermelon Festival Celebration.
The festival is expected to draw hundreds to this small southwestern McIntosh County Community famous for growing watermelons.
••••• 10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 23, 2015
The Hawg Days of Summer
The roots of Eufaula’s Whole Hawg Days Festival – to be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday – can be traced to Memphis, Tenn., sort of.
Former Mayor Joe Johnson, now a business executive in Austin, Texas, recently commented on the festival which has grown to become one of the biggest annual events in Eufaula.
Back in 1984 several downtown merchants wanted to boost sales during the summer months by creating an event that would bring folks back to town after the Memorial and Independence Day holidays were over.
“The one that carried the ball the most was the late Les Hall,” Jonson recalled.
“Buddy” Hall, who went on to become the State Director of the Oklahoma Main Street Organization, owned the Otasco store.
“We decided to fashion the event after the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest in Memphis,” Johnson said.
The Tennessee barbecue cook-off is part of Memphis in May, a month-long celebration of music, cooking and other events which has been around since e1977.
Also among the many involved int the creation of Hawg Day’s were Bill Smith Jr. and Buddy Baberino.
“I said we can just go hawg wild,” Smith once stated.
From that, the Whole Hawg Days Festival was born.
