2016_07 HHS_newsletter.indd - Henryetta Territorial Museum

Volume 6 Number 3 -July 2016
Clowning around was way
of life for 1955 HHS Grad
A Henryetta High School graduate in 1955, Dan Little went on
to become an Oklahoma City University Music School graduate.
He became known as an outstanding Rodeo Clown. Records
show that he traveled and performed around the United States,
in Madison Square Garden and the new Tulsa Convention Center.
“Tiny” Little, with the yellow “Buckin’ Ford” comically entertained
the audience, rodeo guys and the livestock, to keep them under
control.
Music was also his love and world. He opened the “Music Store”
in Tulsa, became a partner with Texan Roy Swicegood to create
“L&S Band Instrument Company” with stores in several locations.
Schools in a 4-state area were serviced by L&S for years.
“Brush Creek Ranch”, a 920 acre area near Jay, Oklahoma was
brought into being by a Board from the Christian Church in Jenks,
OK in 1977 where Little was Music Director.
Known as “A Second Chance!” it was a healing place for young
men 18-29 years of age to turn to a positive, contributing force in
our society. Little was co-founder and director for many years. It
has changed hundreds from “Boys into Men”.
President of the Board for Habitat for Humanity, many houses
were built in Ft. Smith for deserving families.
Little passed away in 2006 after living a wholesome, loving life.
His wife Pat, and son, Joe, carry on his memory. His parents were
Tommie and Roy Little, ranchers in the Henryetta area. They, at one
time, had the load of running the Jim Shoulders’ Ranch.
-- Story submitted by Pat Little.
Pictured is Henryetta’s Dan ‘Tiny’ Little who was one of many of
the local rodeo personalities. Little performed in venues large and
small and was best know for his ‘Bucking’ Ford a reengineered car
that was used in parades and arenas to captivate audiences
www.territorialmuseum.net
PAGE 2
Gallamores recall early Henryetta
From an undated story that ran in the
Henryetta Daily Free-Lance. References to
the year the Gallamores arrived lead us to
believe this was written around 1955.
HENRYETTA – Mrs. S. W. Gallamore
and the late Mr. Gallamore, arrived
in Henryetta 50 years ago on Oct. 5.
Cherished memories of their early life here
took on special meaning this month, when
Mrs. Gallamore’s sister and brother-in-law,
Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Champion, arrived from
Ukiah, California, for a visit.
Like all of the courageous pioneers who
founded this city, the Gallamores elected
to remain here, in spite of the fear and
“Snake Up-rising” that occurred a few
months after their arrival.
Recalling a few of the vivid memories
of those pioneer days Mrs. Gallamore
said, “We came to Henryetta, Oct. 5,
1905, from Vernon County, Mo., with our
two daughters Stella and Elva.” She said,
“We spent our first night here at the old
Emerson Hotel, a two-story frame building
located in the present site of the Chevrolet
garage.” They were strangers in a strange
country with no friends, except the Sid
Haynes, who had arrived from Missouri
ahead of them to homestead in Henryetta.
She said, “That first day, we visited the
Haynes in their home, where Mrs. Haynes
still resides at 302 West Cummings. We
stayed with them for
several days before
settling in our fourroom frame house
located directly
north of the Haynes
home, on what
is now known as
Merrick street,” Mrs.
Gallamore recalled.
She said Mr.
Gallamore went to
work immediately
at the old Wise
Mine, laying track
for $4 per day. She
explained, “We
thought we were
rich, for back in
Missouri, after Mr.
Gallamore finished
with his farm chores he worked for only 75
cents a day.” She shivered as she recalled
the wild days of long ago. “Henryetta, she
said, was just a wide place in the road,
with one block of board walk that only
ran from Fourth to Fifth Streets.” She said
most everyone used barrel water that was
hauled in, only a few were lucky enough
to own cisterns. She spoke of the many
hardships that faced the pioneer women
in their efforts to make good homes for
their families, under constant fear of the
Indians, “who in that day were a threat to
our very existence,” Mrs. Gallamore said.
She recalled the “Crazy Snake Indian
Up-rising,” which occurred a few months
after their arrival and why the Negroes
{sic} were driven from Henryetta that
same year.
She said it all started when a Negro
went to a livery stable and tried to rent a
team. The Negro was drunk and when the
stable owner refused to rent him a rig, he
left and came back a short time later and
shot him.
She said a Dr. Sanderson, mayor of the
city at that time, was unable to calm the
angry mob that lynched the negro, only
a few hours after he had killed the white
man. She said the unrest which followed
the lynching, prompted the next move
by the leaders of the community. They
advised the Negroes,
settled mostly on the
east side of the railroad
tracks to get out of
Henryetta in a hurry.
Mrs. Gallamore said the
“Crazy Snake Up-rising”
got underway when
the Indians, with the
feeling that unjustice
had been done, took
sides with the outlawed
Negro race. She said
fear reigned in the
small city, with the
white folks fearing the
Indians would carry
out their threat to burn
everything and kill
everybody.
Gallamore-Champion Building built 1914
Mr. Gallamore, who
died in April 1953, began
“Henryetta was
just a wide place
in the road”
Mrs. S.W. Gallamore
his career in the furniture business
in 1908 when he and the late O. L
Bates, who died in January, 1945, put
a second hand furniture and farm
implement store in the 500 block of
Main Street. The business grew as
the population of the city increased.
In 1909 Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Champion
arrived in a covered wagon from
Purcell. Mr. Champion became
a third partner in the growing
furniture business with Gallamore
and Bates.
Disaster struck in 1912 when the
big fire, which many old timers will
remember, destroyed everything
on the south side of Main Street,
from Fifth to Sixth. There was no
fire department to call in those days,
and Mrs. Gallamore remembers how
the men and women joined forces
with wet sacks in an effort to save
their city.
The partnership of Gallamore and
Champion reopened for business
in the 300 block of West Main, in
the old Buchanan Building, the
present site of the J.D. Penney
Company. Their new building was
completed and ready for occupancy
in 1914. The old building, located in
the 500 block, is now part of the
building occupied by the Henryetta
Furniture. The additional space was
added to the Gallamore Furniture as
partnerships changed and business
increased down through the years.
Mrs. Gallamore said, “We
continued to operate the business
now known as the Henryetta
Furniture, until Mr. Gallamore’s
health failed and he retired in 1945.
The business was sold at that time
to W. M Smith and his son, the late
W. E. Smith.
PAGE 3
MEMBERSHIP
BENEFITS
Henryetta Historical Society
2016 Membership Application
Thanks for supporting Henryetta’s award-winning Historical Society. The Society
brings together those who work hard to improve Henryetta, and it has brought local,
state and na-tional attention to our community. It is composed of dedicated volunteers.
Dues and finan-cial donations are used to preserve Henryetta’s historical objects without
being used for salaries. There are no Henryetta tax dollars received to fund any event
or operation. We depend on your Memberships, Endowments, fund-raising events and
private grants.
With your membership dues, please consider a contribution to the Society’s
Endowment Fund. Every dollar that the Endowment receives provides investment
income to the Territorial Museum forever. This fund is critical to the long-term operation
of the Museum.
Types of Membership
Individuals
$20
__________
Family
$30
__________
Silver
$50
__________
Gold
$100
__________
Platinum
$250
__________
BUSINESS MEMBERSHIPS
• The Exchange”, the Historical
Society’s quarterly newsletter
• 10% discount on items
purchased in the Territorial Museum
Book and Gift department.
LET US ADVERTISE YOUR
BUSINESS FOR YOU!
BUSINESS
Membership Includes:
• 10% discount
• Quarterly Newsletter
• Our website has received hits
from every continent in the world
• Link to your website
• Mapquest to your business
• A few years ago, Bill Bussey,
who lives in West Virginia but has
businesses in Poland, advertised with
us. A prospective customer from
India was trying to find him, so he
Googled Bill and found him on our
website. Because of this Bill has done
thousands of dollars in business with
this client.
Silver
$50
__________
Gold
$100
__________
Platinum
$250
__________
• A memorial is a lasting tribute
in honor of those who have touched
your life.
Memorial Fund
$__________
Endowment Fund
$__________
• Endowments provide funds
for the longevity of the Territorial
Museum.
DONATIONS
Photo Digitization Fund $ __________
Capital Improvements $__________
Conservation Fund
$__________
Total $___________
Name _____________________________________________________________
Mailing Address _____________________________________________________
City, State, Zip_______________________________________________________
Telephone ____________________________Cell __________________________
Member Type ________________ Amount $__________ Endowment $_______
Your Website_________________________________________________________
Download membership/donations form and send to:
Henryetta Historical Society
P O Box 220 - Henryetta, OK 74437
Or Pay Online
Memberships are valid through April 1, 2017
DONATIONS
• Donations to the museum fund
our day-to-day opera-tions and the
conservation of our collection.
• Does your employer match
your contributions to cultural
organizations? If so, contact Mike
Doak at 918 798-7918.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
The Henryetta Historical
Society would love to hear your
stories. If you would like to
donate items, tell us your story
or visit our museum we would be
happy to accommodate you.
Like us on Facebook!!
The Henryetta Historical Society
P. O. Box 220
Henryetta, OK 74437
President’s Message
We are
blessed!
Had a great Oklahoma Travel
Industries Tourism Convention,
networked
with their
members and
members
from Travel.
OK. We won
a 1/3 page ad
space, ($1200
value) for
Oklahoma
Today
Magazine,
OSU in Okmulgee is in the process of
designing it for us. Also, found out
the city can use their Tourism money
to help us out. Will be receiving
contracts from two cities that say
the hotel tax can be used by 501 (c)
(3) ‘s if they are creating tourism
and economic development for the
city. Details will be worked out later. I
also have notes from classes so you can
see what is going on with us and other
museums.
Memorial Day I went out to the
Creek Mine Cemetery aka, Coal
Creek Cemetery, grass is only cut for
Memorial Day. I took pictures of a
few tombstones. One was of Albert
Furr. The first name of the town was
Furrs, after Albert. Later changed to
Henryetta, named after Henry and Etta
Beard and for Hugh Henry.
Another photo that I took was of
Albert Bates, the co-owner of the livery
stable that was killed for not renting a
wagon. The shooter was caught and
jailed. Vigilantes broke him out of jail
and hung him across the street.
The other day I realized the museum
is located in one of the most historic
places it could be placed. Hugh Henry
lived one block west, O.W. Meacham,
first Post Master, lived roughly one
block south of him, George Riley Hall
lived roughly one block east of him, the
lynching took place roughly one block
northwest of the museum, the Daily
Free-Lance started ½ block west of
the museum, etc.
In reading the clippings of Mrs.
Gallamore, I learned that in about
1910, the entire south side of Main
between 5th and 6th was burned.
They had no fire department and lots
of wooden buildings were lost.
I also wanted to let you know we
are doing things right. I walked into
a store in Checotah a few weeks ago
and I heard a guy say, “Have you
been to the Henryetta museum?” He
could not see me, so I stopped to see
what his next words were and he said
that is the greatest museum he had
ever seen. We talked quite a while
and he ended up donating $500 for
membership and donation. He is going
to buy one of the large panoramas
and said if he can help in anyway let
him know. The next day his dad called
and he donating decoys from the 30’s
and 40’s. You never know where a
blessing will come from!
Mike Doak , President