Volume 14 , Issue 3

NW Okie's Corner

I was browsing the web a few days ago and found some interesting facts about the ghosts of the County Line BBQ, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I had eaten great BBQ there a few times in my life and loved everything about the food and the restaurant, but never experienced any ghostly hauntings that I knew about.

You know those private rooms that flanked both sides of the main dining area? What is not well-known is that the tables sit above trap doors that lead to an area beneath the building during prohibition for quick getaways for some.

Have you heard about the ghost, Russell, who frequented the establishment and was typically found on the prowl of a new lovely lady to cuddle up to? One evening, Russell's luck ran out when he picked the wrong lady to solicit and he was shot dead in front of the fireplace. Russell is believed to still haunt the place, has never left. There are paranormal research teams in the area that have gathered evidence to suggest that Russell is still there.

In the 1930's Gangster and mobs were known to frequent the County Line BBQ when the city had a colorful history full of booze, gambling, prostitution and murder. It even dates further to the wild west where it was known to be a popular brothel frequented by lonely cowboys. Read More about the County Line BBQ Hauntings.

I just finished reading Volume I and Volume II of The History of Eliza Warwick, and found it to be a sad story of love, family grief and non-acknowledgement for an orphan daughter of General Harry and Lady Eliza Warwick.

I will not give away the ending, but will try to portray the scenes through the next few weeks of "The OkieLegacy Ezine" the best that I can. Although, I have found no resemblance to any of my Warwick ancestors, I have gleaned a view of what life was like back in the 1700's in England. I still believe this story would make a great Masterpiece Theater drama.

On to another subject, though, Jim Barker reminds us of the "Lincoln Bust" queries in our recent edition of the OkieLegacy, Vol. 9, Iss. 4, 27 January 2007. It concerned the Frank Ingels sculptor and creator of the bust he created in 1914. Frank donated it during the Spring commencement of the 1915 graduating class at Northwestern State Normal, when his brother Roland Ingels graduated.

The unveiling was done by President Grant B. Grumbine as part of the program for the commencement exercises the Spring of 1915. There is a bronze tablet attached tot he base that list all the names of the members of the class of 1915.

Did you know that the class of 1915 was the first at Northwestern to graduate wearing caps and gowns?

Jim Barker shared this image that has appeared in the Alva Review Courier from time to time over the years and read essentially the same:

Delivering a silent message to the exertions of Rangers passing by.

Lincoln memorial and Sculptor - "It was the Class of '15 that placed on the campus the shaft erected to Honest Abe. This in itself would perhaps carry no great weight to you but when you are told that the bust was made by a Northwestern student, you feel akin to greatness and swell up your chest.

"The bust donated to the Class of '15 by Frank Ingles was his token to Alma Mater thru his brother Roland a member of the class. The bust came from the studio of Lorado Taft, out to the plains of Oklahoma, to our very campus. Here it stands thru the white heat of the summer noonday, thru the chill of the winter winds, staunch, unflinching, a benefactor to all who heed."

Let us leave you with these lessons and thoughts on Democracy from Woody Guthrie, who is to soon have a museum in Tulsa devoted to his work back in the 1930's.


On Democracy: Is This Land Made For You And Me? from BillMoyers.com on Vimeo.
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