Stories from the past
114 YEARS AGO The Checotah Times Friday, May 6, 1910
Had a Jolly, Fine Time
The Checotah delegation to the United Confederate Veterans reunion returned Sunday from Mobile, Ala., where they spent a week attending the event and all report a big time.
Returning, the party spent a day in New Orleans taking in the sights. Besides the excellent entertainment extended them the boys report the enjoyment of eating some of the finest oysters that ever came from the sea and imbibing of the largest schooners of lemonade that was ever brewed, as well as many other good things.
The reunion next year will be held at Little Rock, Ark.
Building Changes Hands
R.B. Robinson this week purchased the new 2-story Price building on south Broadway occupied by the Shoe Palace and the Times printing office. The consideration is announced at $6,500.
In the deal Mr. Price secures the new residence recently erected by Mr. Robinson on south Second street which he will occupy as a home.
Fistic Bout Tonight
Checotah is becoming metropolitan in more ways than one. The latest is a 10 round boxing exhibition to be pulled off tonight at the Gem Theatre.
The contestants are Cyclone Kelley of Tulsa and Young Jack Johnson of Wagoner, both colored.
Sid Robey of this place has been invited and may enter the ring.
It is said that this will be a battle royal and that all spectators will get their full 50 cents worth.
••••• 100 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat
Thursday, April 10, 1924
DEATH OF MRS. R.P. MANN
The citizens of Checotah were shocked beyond description early last Sunday morning when the word was flashed over the city that Mrs. R.P. Mann had expired at her home in the south part of the city.
Many who heard the report could not believe that it was correct and were sorely grieved when they found that such was actually the case.
Bake Sale
The ladies of the Baptist church will conduct a food sale and also potted plants for porch boxes on Saturday, April 19.
Citizens Military Training Camp
Lt. J. Howard Leiber has been selected as recruiting officer in Checotah for the Citizens Military Training Camp.
He will be found at the Kniseley drug store from 4 to 6 o’clock each Monday afternoon and at any other time by appointment.
Young men from 17 to 24 years of age, excellent character and physically fit, are eligible for enlistment.
Members of the National Guard who desire education for advancement should take advantage of this opportunity.
The camp will be at Ft. Sill during the month of august and any young man interested should communicate with Lt. Lieber a once.
••••• 80 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat
Thursday, October 14, 1943
GAS FOR FARM TRUCKS CUT BY 40 PERCENT
Gasoline for the operation of farm trucks will be reduced 40 percent it was stated by a representative of the office of defense transportation at the courthouse in Eufaula last Monday morning.
Seventy-eight farmers and livestock truckers engaged in a heated argument with Buster Brown, principal speaker from the Tulsa office.
The new government ruling in effect does away with the present system of hauling with pickup trucks. All farm hauling for the duration of the war must be done in larger trucks, it was said.
The gasoline and trucking regulations will be enforced by a committee of six county farmers, who will set the county’s quota. They will also be empowered with authority to revoke gasoline for abusers of regulations.
BUREAUCRATS HIT BY SHARPE IN HOT LETTER
Disapproval of the action of Washington bureaucrats, who are apparently misleading the people under the guise of helping the war effort, was voiced by L.K. Sharpe, prominent Checotah merchandiser, in a recent letter to Sen. Elmer Thomas.
Sharpe declared that the war effort is apt to be hurt unless a halt is called to the obnoxious tactics of Washington officials.
Registration Is Set For Ration Book 4
Registration for war ration book No. 4 will be held at all school houses in the county on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, October 25, 26 and 27, local officials of the office of price administration have announced.
Squirrels Bite Five Residents Of City
At least five Checotahans prepared to take rabies shots this week after being bitten by squirrels in widely scatted sections of the city.
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75 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat
Thursday, April 14,1949
Child Evangelist To Preach In City
Marjoe Gortner, five years old, the world’s youngest evangelist, will appear at the Union Tabernacle I Checotah Sunday and Monday for a series of sermons which are expected to draw a vast audience The small boy, who has appeared on several “Youth for Christ” rallies and other evangelistic meetings also sings, twirls the baton, and plays the accordion, tambourines, and drums. His music instructors have declared he has a promising future as a musician as well as in the ministry.
Marjoe preaches more than 40 illustrated sermons and first spoke publicly at the age of one year, appearing in a radio broadcast.
He preaches from a child-size pulpit and dramatizes his subjects with costumes fitted to his theme.
VARIETY SHOWTO BE SEASONS’ GAYEST EVENT
The names of many talented Checotahans were added this week to the growing list of actors appearing in the home town variety show scheduled for Friday night April 22 at the high school auditorium.
THOMAS ASKS FOR APPROVAL OF SINGLE DAM
The singe dam project on the Canadian river has been approved by the Oklahoma congressional delegation in Washington, it was stated this week by representatives from Checotah, Henryetta, Stigler and Hartshorne.
The army engineers continued to hold out for a two-dam project, which threatens to cause abandonment of efforts to start the project under the pending budget.
••••• 50 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat
Thursday, May 2, 1974
Special Election For Senate Post
Gov. Hall issued a proclamation late week calling for special election to fill the vacancy created by the death of Sen. Tom Payne in District 8 which includes Mcintosh, Okmulgee and parts of Haskell and Muskogee counties.
••••• 19 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat
Thursday, December 1, 2005
County Ravaged by Wildfires
Hundreds of volunteer and full-time firefighters from as far aways as Dallas and Ft. Smith, Ark., continue to battle runaway wildfires that have already destroyed hundreds of acres and dozens of homes in and around McIntosh County.
Fueled by ongoing drought conditions and this weekend’s gale force winds, upwards of 75 miles per hour, the wildfires jumped highways, killed an as-yet unknown number of livestock, destroyed hundreds of bales of hay and consumed at least 25 homes from Stidham to Checotah.
