Stories from the past
114 YEARS AGO The Checotah Times Friday, February 4, 1910
Will Open Saturday Night
The “Gem,” Checotah’s new theatre and playhouse, will open tomorrow night. The finishing touches are being put on the building this week and it is expected everything will be in readiness by Saturday night.
It has a seating capacity of about 400, with a slanting floor and high stage so that those in the rear may witness the performance as well as those in front.
Quail Season Ended
The quail shooting season ended Monday night and the hunters are now obliged to look for other game.
Most of the hunters of the town took advantage of last week of grace and have been out in the “sticks” chasing he festive bird.
ANOTHER BRICK
The 25-foot lot of the east side of Broadway, adjoining the new Owen Price building on the north, was purchased this week by Col. Cheesie McIntosh, as guardian for Cheesie McIntosh Jr., the transaction being made through the agency of R.B. Robinson & Co.
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100 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat I Little Son of Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Millsaps Dies of Hydrophobia Roy, the little 3-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William M. Millsaps residing 7 miles northwest of Checotah, following several days of the most terrible agony, died Friday afternoon about 1 o’clock from hydrophobia.
On Dec. 13 a stray dog visited the Millsaps’ home and little Roy began playing with the stranger. The dog jumped at the little fellow and bit him on the hand. Mr. Millsaps immediately killed the dog and the lad was given medical attention, but unfortunately, the family was unable to give him the Pasteur treatment.
Girl Swallows Needle
Miss Elizabeth Nelson, daughter of Mrs. Roy F. Edwards, Muskogee, who has been attending the Oklahoma Presbyterian college at Durant, is at the home of her mother suffering from the effects of having swallowed a needle some two weeks ago.
Miss Nelson was in her room at the college and doing some mending work on her cloths and was holding the needle in her mouth when one of her school mates dashed suddenly into her room. The surprise caused her to swallow the needle.
Recital Greatly Enjoyed
The dramatic recital given by Mrs. Jessie Duke Richardson at the high school auditorium last Friday night under the auspices of the Camp Fire Girls of this city was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by those present.
Mrs. Richardson gave the “Twelve Pound Look” by J.M Barrie and very artistically portrayed every character.
Mrs. Richardson is head of the School of Fine Arts of Muskogee and has a large following of friends in this city.
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80 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat Thursday, July 22, 1943
CITY LAUNCHES TIN CAN DRIVE TUESDAY NIGHT
The drive to collect tin cans in Checotah will be conducted on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 9 and 10, it was decided at a special meeting at the local war council Tuesday night.
Housewives are asked to start collecting cans now so that they will be immediately available when block leaders call at their homes.
Mayor Orders Dogs Slaughtered In City Dogs caught running-at-large in Checotah will be killed on sight, it was announced in a joint statement issued by Mayor J.P. Powers and A.J. Snelson, health superintendent.
Although city ordinances expressly prohibit unmuzzled dogs from roaming the city, the law had never been enforced heretofore.
Prison Camp May Be Located In City
A German prison camp, consisting of 50 soldiers captured in North Africa, will be station in Checotah, if suitable quarters are secured, it was announced this week by Henry Polson, county agent.
The Germans are said to be excellent laborers, and are standing up well under the Oklahoma heat, to which they became accustomed in North Africa.
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75 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat Thursday, January 27,1949
Worst Sleet Storm In Years Halts Activity in Checotah
Electric and Telephone Services Disrupted; Schools dismissed Checotah began digging out Thursday from a record-breaking avalanche of snow and ice which blanketed the city in the wake of the winter’s worst storm.
Property damage ran into thousands of dollars as many structures crushed beneath the weight of tons of ice which piled up a depth of nearly six inches.
STATE TO PAVE HIGHWAY WEST OF CHECOTAH Paving of highway 266 from Checotah to the “Y” eight miles northwest of the city, will be completed during 1949, H.E. Bailey, state highway director, stated his week.
The commission has earmarked $600,000 for grading, drainage, bridges and concrete paving along seven miles of the proposed route.
12 County Students Enroll at OU
Twelve students from McIntosh County are among the 12,174 at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. George L. Cross, president, has announced.
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50 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat Thursday, February 7, 1974
City – County Open Industrial Road
The old section line south of the Industrial site is being opened up in preparation for the start of construction of the Apex Smelting plant.
Both county and city are working on this project.
McSpadden Asks About LPG Price
Rep. Clem McSpadden, Oklahoma’s 2nd District Congressman, has called on Federal Energy czar William Simon and LPG producers to fully explain and justify skyrocketing prices of LPG (butane and propane) which have risen from 360 to 518 percent in the past year and a half.
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19 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat Thursday, September 22, 2005
McIntosh County ninth highest unemployment rate in the state
McIntosh County has the ninth highest unemployment ranking out of 77 counties statewide, according to statistics released by the Oklahoma Labor Market.
According to the Labor Market numbers, 450 of the 7,840 McIntosh County residents that make up the total work force are currently unemployed, good for a 5.7 percent jobless rate.
Construction company discusses new jail with county commissioners South Build, a construction and planning company that specialize in rural county jails, made a presentation to the McIntosh County Commissioners Monday during their regularly scheduled meeting.
The company has been in operation since 1997. South Build works in not only Oklahoma, but Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi as well.
The initial assessment of the county’s needs in a new jail will cost the county approximately $16,000.
