Volume 6 , Issue 9

1939 - Waynoka Newspaper...

We were reading a 1939 Northwest Oklahoma newspaper (The Waynoka News ) dated Thursday, June 15, 1939. Did you know that the biggest privately owned man-made lake in the state was in the "Dust Bowl" of Oklahoma's Panhandle, on the 3,200 acre farm of O. W. Tucker, in Cimarron County?" The 1939 article mentioned that the original dam (45 feet high) would hold 900 acre feet of water and would irrigate 300 acres of alfalfa (started in 1937) through ditches running from both sides of the dam. From reading the 1939 news we also learn that C. T. Sturdevant was extension service engineer of Oklahoma A & M College back in 1939 and was assisted by someone called "Uncle Bill" Baker (Cimarron County agent) and Tucker's two sons when they made the original survey for the lake, dam.

Also... Back in June, 1939, you could read about the Woods County 4-H delegates winning honors at State Round-up. Some of those Woods County delegates to the 1939 4-H Club Round-up were: Jean Light, Capron; Joyce Lightburn, Capron; Betty Rose, Capron; David Mitts, Capron; Virgil Schwerdtfeger, Capron; Joe D. Heaton, Capron; Junior Grant, Capron; Donna Mae Wagner, Capron; Willa Jean Armour, Capron; Emma Crusinberry (sic), Waynoka; Ruth Hyde, Alva; Ella Louise Hyde, Alva; Eugene Yohn, Alva; Vernon Whitney, Alva; John Wiebener, Alva; Bob Vore, Dacoma; Howard Whitney, Alva; Fred Veley, Aline; Loretta Gail English, Aline; Katherine McNally, Waynoka; Ethel Crusinberry (sic), Waynoka. That year Woods County took their share of top honors at State Club Round-up. Vernon Whitney and Ruth Hyde, Alva, won blue and red ribbons respectively in the timely topic contest. Joe D. Heaton and Junior Grant, Capron, took a blue ribbon with their poultry demonstration. Girls' team of Betty Rose, Capron, and Donna Mae Wagner, Alva, won a blue ribbon with their home improvement demonstration. Junior Grant, Capron, and Emma Crusinberry, Waynoka, placed with blue and red ribbons respectively in the health contest. Loretta Gail English, Aline, and Bob Vore, Dacoma, each placed in the red ribbon class in appropriate dress. In the recreational contests Woods county members won a blue ribbon in play, red ribbon in songs and white ribbon in games.

December 28, 1939, Thursday... you might read about the final payment of wheat checks for the 1939 AAA program being received. George Felkel was county agent back then and stated that the checks totaled $8,951 and brought the final total amount to $65,777 received by the farmers. Claren C. Cobb, of Avard was elected chairman of the Woods county soil conservation committee at the county meeting in Alva, Friday, December 22, 1939. The article said that the committee would control the 1940 AAA program in the county. Cobb succeeded former chairman, Albie Melkus. What was this AAA program, anyway? Is this AAA program what we call the farm program today: ASCS and now FSA program?

In December, 1939... there was mention of three obituaries listed for these Waynoka Pioneers: William Monfort (brother of John Monfort of Alva), Ernest Chritton, and James Ottis Braught.

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