Volume 12 , Issue 34

Dedication of Bixler Corner To Be Saturday

Press Release - Waynoka Historical Society, Sandie Olson 580-824-5871 or 580-541-2148. Bixler Corner at Waynoka Station To Be Dedicated Saturday. The Waynoka Historical Society invites everyone to come to the dedication of Bixler Corner at Waynoka Station on Saturday, August 28, at 10 a.m.

A lot has happened on the four lots donated to the society in December, 2001, by Bill and Charlene Bixler. The empty lots have been transformed into a major part of the Waynoka Station complex. The complex, situated next to the BNSF Transcon at the west end of Waynoka Street, includes the Harvey House and Santa Fe Depot.

Interpretive signs have been placed on the site. The informative signs for the dwellings provide maps showing their original locations, as well as the history of each building. The Oklahoma Humanities Council and individuals provided funds for the signs, which were made by Wayne Lamunyun and installed by Jack Graham. Dr. Deena Fisher, Dean, NWOSU Woodward, served as consultant on the sign project. A three-room log cabin, built in 1904 by pioneer Joseph Barnett and donated to the society by the late Jeryl Hutchison, was dismantled and the logs were hauled to the site with the help of Chesapeake Energy. Bill Buckley, Ray Nutter, Corey Smith and others helped with the reconstruction.

A historic 1918 section foreman's house from the town of Edith on the Buffalo Northwestern Railway was given to the society by DeWayne & Lillian Hodgson, Freedom. It was restored on their ranch by Dr. Milt and Becky Lehr, Alva, before being moved to Bixler Corner. Charles Morton Share Trust, Alva, provided funds for the 40-mile move.

Johnny Fuqua donated a Santa Fe Railroad scale house which had been moved to his family's farm from the Waynoka rail yards many years ago. Dr. and Mrs. Lehr accepted the challenge of restoring the unique multi-sided structure and its many windows before its move to town by Veldon Woolley. Jack Graham prepared the site for the scale house. Former Waynokan Mark Clemence, who owns a short-line railroad in Woodward, donated and delivered heavy-duty railroad scales to be placed in the scale house. The Waynoka Co-op provided its forklift to carefully insert the scales through the scale house door for display.

The Oklahoma Centennial Commission was very supportive of the Waynoka Historcal Society. Centennial funds provided the paved sidewalking and parking areas at Waynoka Station and Bixler Corner, in addition to the professionally planned Waynoka Air Rail Museum in the Harvey House.

Because of the generous donations of many individuals and entities, Bixler Corner preserves and showcases fascinating local and area history for all to appreciate and enjoy.

The log cabin and section foreman's house will be open for tours on Saturday morning. Refreshments will be served in the kitchen of the log cabin. Everyone is invited to attend the dedication of Bixler Corner and Open House on Saturday, August 28 at 10 a.m.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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