Volume 10 , Issue 35

Britton, Oklahoma Connection

"Carrie (Email: carriec1@cox.net) wrote and says, "Hello... I saw a website called okielegacy.net ... and that is how I get your email address. I saw that you were talking about the old Britton area of OKC. I am actually doing some family research in that area. My dad's mother died when she was 24 years old in the year 1948, in Britton. Do you know if Britton streets have been renamed? She lived on a street called W. Broadway but when I try to Mapquest the address it doesn't show it. Also, do you know where I could find some old city maps of Britton ... from the 1940's? And do you know what the Cotton Exchange Bldg was? Was it in Britton? I'm trying to find someone who knew my grandmother ... her name was Mary Ellen Baker, married name Mary Ellen Lewis. If you could be of any help, I would appreciate it! Thanks! -- Carrie"

"Wow! It is indeed a small world being made smaller by the Internet.

Yes the streets of Britton were renamed about the time that Britton became a part of Oklahoma City. Also, I was still going to Britton High school in 1948 and am sending this message (and my reply) to others who were attending the school at that time, and even to some others who have an interest in the stories of Britton as it was before it became a part of OKC.

My family had a grocery store (Kendrick Grocery) there but I do not remember where Broadway was at that time. The Broadway that I remember was the one that paralleled that old interurban streetcar (railway) tracks. However, I think that perhaps Fran Morris or Hugh Goodall (perhaps others) might have the answer. As to early city maps, I have no idea where to find one. I do remember (because you 'jogged' my memory) that at one time there was a city directory that listed folks and their addresses, and whether they had a phone (and its number) but also don't know whether there are any still in existence. My folks grocery store was next door to the Howard Johnston's residence, and Howard Johnston was the person who had created the old Britton telephone exchange and later merged it into Southwestern Bell (and became a line chief for them). In our neighborhood, the youngsters had the old crank-type telephones that had been used in earlier days, and the switchboard was in Stan and Steve's bedroom (which was just across our driveway from the dining room in our house which was located at the rear of the grocery store).

I do not remember the Cotton Exchange Building but suspect that it was in the south part of 'Downtown' OKC. I do remember some Baker's but don't remember a Mary Ellen. My mom was the daughter of William Orville Lewis and his wife Mary E. (Mamie) but there were other Lewis families in Britton and I don't remember a Mary Ellen Lewis.

Therefor, I have not YET been any help to you, but I'm hoping that one of the folks who receive a copy of this email can provide some answers. Please let me know how this turns out. I too am a family history buff and always searching for more information about the town where I spent my youth, and the people who lived there." -- Roy Kendrick
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