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“People” sometimes ask me to write more about Allen’s olden history. There was no Allen newspapers in 1834 but according to a Historical Marker about 3.6 miles West of Allen on SHW 1 there was something going on here. A large group of Osage Indians were camped out in those flats. These Indians came down here every year killing buffalo and dressing them out. They took what they needed for meat and clothing. It was an intense time of hard work for this large group (hundreds) and then they went back home. It is thought this annual hunt was a happy enjoyable campout for these 600 Osages as well as an essential part of their food gathering. And the historical marker still stands.
Read moreAllen has a long and colorful history. The earlier Cold Springs name came long ago when settlers heading west passed through this area on their way to (where else?) further out west. Many stopped here because of the cold springs. Some simply stayed a bit, camping on the river. And yes, the great Canadian River was quite a stream then. No one had built dams, lakes or to impede its flow toward the Mississippi. Commercial steamboats even made their way up this river as far as Ft. Holmes.
Read moreEaster was subdued and strange this year. There were no Easter church services this year. Stores were mostly locked and empty. Shopping centers in the cities are shuttered. There is no Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Allen City Park. If the long-time promoter of this event, Buck Gilmore, was still alive he would be surprised. But it was the Corona Virus—a Pandemic that has shut down much of the world. Who knew it could shut down all the churches in America? But it has.
Read morePinched in between the Corona Pandemic and the Presidential election this fall is the Venezuelan crisis which continues to live a life of its own. Or is it? President Trump was, before the Corona Virus reared its ugly head, moving more warships to the Venezuelan area. Destroyers that have flight decks for helicopters and ships with capabilities more concerned with law enforcement. Pentagon talk about Venezuelan President Marco has drifted in tone from “Regime” to “Cartel” in their descriptions of the country.
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Well, Nancy Pelosi gave in—finally—and signed the big Corona Bill that will hopefully give $1,200 in stimulus dollars to each taxpaying adult. The bill was stagnating for two or three days on her desk before she finally yielded to pressure and wrote her name on it. And what was her “excuse” for holding the bill up? She said she had to take some clauses and words out that “you know who” (Trump) had in it to divert much of the money to billionaires and CEO’s and thus, stealing from we worthy yet suffering taxpayers. So, I guess the money is on its way—to us. I hear the money will be sent to our banks for direct deposit and all you billionaires and CEO’s can just leave the bank lobbies and go home. Nancy cut you out. Well, Nancy Pelosi gave in—finally—and signed the big Corona Bill that will hopefully give $1,200 in stimulus dollars to each taxpaying adult. The bill was stagnating for two or three days on her desk before she finally yielded to pressure and wrote her name on it. And what was her “excuse” for holding the bill up? She said she had to take some clauses and words out that “you know who” (Trump) had in it to divert much of the money to billionaires and CEO’s and thus, stealing from we worthy yet suffering taxpayers. So, I guess the money is on its way—to us. I hear the money will be sent to our banks for direct deposit and all you billionaires and CEO’s can just leave the bank lobbies and go home. Nancy cut you out.
Read moreHere it is. Another week. Same old Corona virus. Well not really. But it does make me think of the old 1918 Spanish Flu that swept the world. In 1918 there was not much radio and no TV. News traveled slow. Grandpa probably had heard little about the flu when he boarded the train there in Wister to travel to Fort Smith for a song leader’s conference. George Boyd was the song leader at the Free Will Baptist Church there in Liberty, a nice little church next to Mountain Creek in the shadow of Wolf Mountain.
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My dentist up at the VA Hospital had me in his chair the other day and started talking about my options on long term care of my teeth. He mentioned the fact that I was nearly 85 and then spent a few moments giving me a long searching look.
Read moreA few years back Pat and I were in a place called Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Beautiful area, ringed by the Grand Tetons, was so appealing that I didn’t know where
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