Stories from the past

114 YEARS AGO The Checotah Times Friday, May 13, 1910

Election June 7

City Clerk J.O. Price yesterday morning received the proclamation of Governor Haskell calling an election on June 7 for the purpose of voting on the proposition of making Checotah a city of the first class and electing the different city officials.

Those to be elected are Mayor, Clerk, Mashal, Treasurer, Attorney and Five Trustees.

NEWS ITEMS

– Robert Jones went to Fort Worth, Texas, Tuesday with a load of hogs.

– J.R. Coker was a business visitor in western Oklahoma points several days this week.

– The Methodist ladies aid society will meet with Mrs. Albert McKinney Wednesday afternoon of next week.

Death of Baby

Eugene Napoleon, the 10 months old baby of Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Huddleston, died at McAlester about 6 o’clock Saturday evening where it was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The little fellow had been in the best of robust health until Thursday of last week when it was attacked with spasms, followed by other complications.

It was the opinion of the family doctor that an operation was necessary and the parents accordingly went to McAlester Saturday afternoon but when they reached that place the child was so low that the operation was not performed and died at 6 o’clock.

••••• 100 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, April 17, 1924

Moved to Haskell

The Hart Café, for several years one of Checotah’s popular eating places, was moved to Haskell Monday where Mr. and Mrs. Hart expect to engage in the same business. We regret to see Mr. and Mrs. Hart leave but wish them success in their new field.

Be One of 250

The teachers, officers and students of the Christian Sunday school have been making a strenuous effort to make our attendance 250 or better on Easter morning. We know that there are many children in this city that are not attending any Sunday school. It is to you that we are extending this invitation.

Seek Advertising Slogan

Your attention is called to a half page advertisement of the Checotah State Bank in this issue in which they are offering a prize of $25 in cash to the one who will submit the best “motto” or “slogan” for their use in advertising purposes. The contest will close June 21 at which time the board of directors will make the award to the one submitting the best slogan.

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80 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat Thursday, October 21, 1943

Votaw Writes Card From Japan Prison

A simple card bearing the signature of their son, Pfc. William J. Votaw, a prisoner of the Japs, brought joy to the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Votaw this week.

The card which substantiated the fact that their son is alive, is the first word they had received from him since December 1941.

Votaw, along with other boys in the 59th Coast Artillery, was captured by the enemy in the Battle of Manila Bay in the early stages of our war on the Japs. He was held prisoner in the Philippines for many months, being taken to Osaka concentration camp in Japan only a few weeks ago.

Votaw, a graduate of Pierce high school, has many friends throughout this community.

STARK NURSERY WILL ESTABLISH A PLANT IN CITY

Company Payroll May Reach $30,000 Annually Establishment of a nursery in Checotah by the famed Stark Bros. of Missouri, will be undertaken in the immediate future, it was announced at the meeting of the Lions Club Thursday noon.

The project which will eventually provide a local payroll of $20,000 to $30,000 a year will be located here if proper cooperation is provided by local civic leaders and farmers in the adjoining area.

The Stark Nursery is the largest operating in Oklahoma and in peacetime ships millions of trees throughout the world annually.

Letters Help Fight German Propaganda People on the home front were asked to write letters to the soldiers on the battlefront in an appeal issued this week by Levi Phillips, chief of the county war council.

It is important that the morale of the boys be boosted at this time due to the German propaganda which is telling weird tales of how Americans are starving and are fighting among themselves, Phillips stated.

••••• 75 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, April 21,1949

ONE-DAM PLAN DRAWS FAVOR

OF GOVERNOR

Gov. Roy Turner stamped his approval on the single dam plan for the Canadian reservoir Wednesday following a conference with over 50 representatives from towns surrounding the proposed lake.

As a result of Turner’s endorsement of the project action may yet be taken in the present session of congress to set up funds to start construction of the single dam.

Army Chaplain To Speak In City

Rev. Charles E. Neff, army chaplain during the war, will speak at the First Christian church at 7:30 o’clock Sunday evening.

Rev. Neff was stationed in Japan for quite some time and secured valuable data as well as relics and souvenirs of the people. He is now pastor of the Memorial Christian church of Muskogee.

Neff entered the army in 1942, went overseas in January 1944, serving in Asia until his return to the United States.

Checotah School Bus Involved In Wreck A Checotah school bus was involved in an accident one mile east of Elm Grove Wednesday morning when a Tulsa car plowed into the back of the school vehicle.

••••• 50 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, May 9, 1974

Your Help Needed to Save Oklahoma Coach Sweet ‘n Legal, U.S.A., Inc., has joined forces with the Oklahoma Coaches Association to establish a benevolent fund to be used for the benefit of Curt Dobbins, a coach in the Public School System of Hominy.

Coach Dobbins has recently lost both kidneys and must utilize a dialysis machine several times each week. The benevolent fund will help to defray the tremendous expense to Coach Dobbins.

••••• 19 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, December 8, 2005

State of Disaster

Federal officials have declared at least one scarred and blackened piece of McIntosh County a disaster area, opening the door for local property owners devastated by last week’s wildfires to receive government assistance.

••••• 10 YEARS AGO McIntosh County Democrat

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Top school officials under fire

The roles of Checotah schools two top administrators were on shaky ground following a board meeting Monday night.

A motion to re-hire Checotah’s Assistant Superintendent Toni Brown failed for lack of a second – and a teacher said he was starting “a petition of no confidence” in Superintendent Janet Blocker.