07.08.06
Posted in WWII at 9:26 pm by NW Okie
Each compounds were identical and contained 32 one-story wooden barracks; mess halls; other buildings used by the POW’s. Each barrack held 50 men and gave camp the original capacity of 4,800. Officers compound contained 100 or more buildings as compared to only 52 in each of other compounds. The POW Officers barracks only had capacity for 1000 officers. The officers had much more room. Space was assigned in accordance of their ranks.
The original three compounds were surrounded by two 8-foot high fences that were separated from each other by a single 8-foot fence. Officers compound also surrounded by two 8-foot high fences. There were 13 guard towers arranged along the fences. The compounds extended 700 feet to the west and 1100 feet to the east and 700 feet to the south of the concrete water tower. The hospital stood just north of the prisoner compounds and west of Washington Avenue with service and supply areas between it and the Section Line Road.
The camp was built to house five guard companies. The army acquired the prime farm land for the camp from local farmers in the Alva area. The north 320 Acres was acquired from the Wiebener family and the south 320 Acres from the Peterman family. After the war, neither family was given chance to regain their land. It was given to the City of Alva.
The buildings covered less than half of the north Section and were sold and removed after WWII. The land not used for the camp was left under cultivation. The Recreation Hall of the Alva POW camp was moved to Kiowa, Kansas after the war and used by Kiowa American Legion as a meeting hall.
At the termination of the war, the POW camp was vacated and the land turned over to the City of Alva for control purposes. The deed transfer specified that the land would be used primarily for an airport, however, none of the land could be sold in as much as it still belonged to the US Government. Buildings were sold and all except one that houses the VFW Post were removed.
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06.21.06
Posted in Oklahoma Counties at 8:45 am by NW Okie
Lincoln County - Oklahoma…
According to the Lincoln County Historical Society, County government began when Governor Steele appointed a full slate of county officers October 12 to join Judge Allison in forming the first county government in County A (Lincoln county).
All were Republicans and were….
Harry F. Ardery, county treasurer
Claud F. Parker, Sheriff
P. P. Hillerman, Count Attorney
G. A. Colton, County Clerk
Marquis D. Losey, County Superintendent
Charles Cunningham, Surveyor
Thomas J. Taylor, Register of Deeds
County Commissioners: C. H. DeFord, Wylie H. Blakemore & W. N. Warren.
The county commissioners held their first meeting October 22, 1891 at 2 pm, although the location was not recorded. Blakemore was elected chairman at this first meeting. On November 5th. The board voted to advertise for sealed bids for proposals to rent space for court rooms and county offices for one year, with a possible two-year extension. On November 12, bids were awarded to Kalklosch and Johnson, and to R. S. White and C. L. White for rental of rooms in their business buildings from January 1, 1892 through January 1, 1893.
The commissioners voted November 7, 1891, to name the various townships in the county as follows: Ponca, Pawnee, Osage, Cimarron, Iowa, Tohee, Otoe, Chandler, Fox, Keokuk, Creek, Seminole, Choctaw, Wichita and Kickapoo.
As the years passed, the townships were divided into north and south divisions as population and needs for services merited. The divided townships were named at that time. Township government played an important role in the assessment of property, opening, building and maintaining roads. The commissioners approved naming township in southwestern County A - Kickapoo and Wichita. Although that part of the county was still part of the Kickapoo reservation and not open for settlement. That area had already been disignated to become part of the county when it was eventually settled.
Residents of Counties A at the first general election in November, 1892, chose names for their counties and elected officials to serve as the first elected officers.
In County A… The Populists proposed the name of Sac and Fox. The Democrats wanted the name Springer (for William Springer, member of Congress from Illinois). The Republicans proposed the name of Lincoln (for the president). The Republicans won by a majority and the county was named Lincoln.
1st Monday, January, 1893… The first elected officers in Lincoln County took office the first Monday in January, 1893.
They were: D. W. Ulam, county treasurer; Claud F. Parker, sheriff; W. H. Mason, probate judge; Thomas J. Taylor, register of deeds; J. B. Underwood, county clerk; J. W. Crawford, county attorney; M. D. Losey, county superintendent; N. McKimmey, surveyor; Smith Rhea, coroner; Commissioners: C. A. Kelso, first district; Benoni Rea, second district; and Jacob Amberg, third district.
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Posted in Oklahoma Counties at 8:43 am by NW Okie
LeFlore County, Oklahoma… LeFore County was once a part of Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. It has the rugged hills, narrow valleys and productive farmland. They also have a gentle blending of modern days and old ways. Many towns were established as a result of railroad expansion. The Carl Albert State Junior College offers courses to more than 2,000 full and part-time students annually.
Poteau is the County Seat… and home of the late Senator Robert S. Kerr. Tourism is an important aspect of LeFlore County. The Heavener Runestone and Spiro Mounds offer historic interest and are well known. It stops on the “Old Butterfield Trail” that is hailed as the first transcontinental link between East and West, in the northern part of the county. The Quachita National Forest, including the Talimena Scenic Drive dominates the southern half of the county. LeFlore County borders Arkansas in southeastern Oklahoma. Major highways in this county are US 59, US 259, US 271, and SH 63.
View the Talimena Drive from Talihina, Oklahoma through the Winding Stairs National Forest and end up in Mena, Arkansas. OR… Vice-versa. Travel the Talimena Scenic Drive by taking Oklahoma’s State Highway 1 that travels the crest of Winding Stair Mountain for a breathtaking 54 miles.
Scenes of Talimena Drive (Click the Photo links for larger view:)
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