Friday, October 28, 2005

Bromide Oklahoma




Nestled amongst the foothills of the Arbuckles Mountains, north of the Delaware and east of the Blue, in southern Oklahoma, lies the little town of Bromide. Amid the storybook landscape surpassed by none others, there is an interesting and captivating history. In the eastern quadrant of the Chickasaw Nation, this little burg is quite a remarkable place.

It was once famous for its mineral springs, of which there are many. Called Oka-Alichi (Medicine Water) or Hopi Kuli(Salt Springs) by the Chickasaws, thousands once came to these healing waters in the search of cures or improvements to the illnesses such as rheumatism, diseases of the stomach, kidney and bladder aliments, nerve troubles, and skin problems, and often found just that.

The springs carried the Indian names until Judge W.H. Jackson, the founder of Bromide, realized that this was a perfect place for a health resort. He established a town site, and the first post office as Juanita, named after one of Jackson's daughters, on October 20, 1905. A few months later, in 1906, the name was changed to another on of the judge's daughters; this time it was Zenobia. On June 8th, a year later its name was changed, once a for all to Bromide ( the name was taken from the minerals of the springs).

The Jackson Land Co. was formed and city lots were sold. Soon the soo-to-be town was a tent city of people who had yet to build their house.

Robert Galbreath, a wealthy Tulsa business man, was attracted to Bromide because of the possible fortune that could be made in the oolitic stone of the surrounding hills. Most of the buildings on Main Street were built with this stone, as well as the Chickasaw and Robinson Academies.

Soon Bromide would be a prospering health resort. It had two dry good stores, a livery stable, a hardware store, two theaters, a rock quarry, a lime kiln, and a newspaper office.

Only two problems stood in the way of this expected prosperity-- first, a lack of accommodations for quests; second, a lack of railway facilities.

Both of these difficulties were removed when a spur of the M.O. and G. Railroad was built to Bromide, and when Mr. Galbreath built a modern hotel in 1911.

The hotel was a huge, towering three-story building of native limestone. The Bromide State Bank occupied one corner of this elaborately furnished hotel, which contained a barber shop, beauty parlor, restaurant, and a gift shop.

The nearest rival was the Mosely Hotel, while the two remaining hotels were the Main Street Hotel, and the Bromide Hotel.

In 1912, B. F. Kinsey with local help, built a magnificent stone business building. The top floor was occupied by a fraternal organization and three doctors offices. The Kinsey family owned and operated a General Mercantile, on the bottom floor, until the 1950's. The local gathering place, the Chanell(sic) Drug, was owned and operated by Henry T. and Gladys (Lady) Channel. Together they had built a beautiful oolitic building. Loved by all in the community, Mr. Channell was the local pharmacist, filled out prescriptions for Bromide and Wapanucka doctors, while Mrs. Channell took care of the area's notary needs. They always kept the drugstore open until all the customers left, no matter how late.

Some of the other early merchants were the Waltons Dry Goods, Austin Grocery, The People store, owned and operated by Frank McCartney and Will Scenyer. Through the years, other grocery stores were, as follows: Mays, Butlers, Whites, Pardue, Phelps, Parker, Muncrief and Chester, and Collins and Dewberrys.

F. C. Woodworth owned a hardware store, and W.O. built a flour mill, and owned two cotton gins with Fred Barnett.

The Galbreath Quarries were located a mile and a half east of town, on the Bromide branch of the railroad, just north of the old Chickasaw Academy, on the location known as the "Narrows on Delaware".

Located a half mile northwest of the town, the rock crusher, later Dolese Brothers, stayed in operation up to about a decade ago.

The M. O. and G. Railroad had a passenger service, an excursion train which came into town two times a week bringing tourists to drink and bathe in the healing "Oka-Alichi".

In its earlier days, Bromide was fortunate to have had a total of six doctors, Dr. Germany, Dr, Funk, Dr. Hicks, Dr. Ashley, Dr. McRae, and Dr. Martin.

Surrounding the town are several cemeteries, four of which are family cemeteries, one public cemetery, and another unmarked cemetery. Judge Jackson's family cemetery lies to the north, south of town is the Wells Valley Cemetery, still in use today; southwest of Bromide is the Spring Blood Cemetery; and one mile west are the unmarked Indian graves.

On the road west from Bromide to Connerville is the Cravatt cemetery; just east of Bromide lies two family cemeteries and one unmarked one; high on a ridge to the east is the old Mosely Cemetery, and somewhere near is the other unmarked group of graves.

The town was once home to three churches, the First Presbyterian, the First Missionary Baptist Church, and South Side Missionary Baptist Church.

Bromide, at one time had a wide variety of family entertainment. The traveling Chautauqua offered a blend of culture and entertainment, and held the only opportunity, for outside entertainment.

Other forms of entertainment were traveling Medicine and Magic Shows, local goat roping contests, and, in the summertime, three-day picnics.

Bromide, now without all the former fame and glory, is a close-knit, peaceful little community. Neighbors help neighbors, and children have the freedom to play anywhere in town without worry. Every one in Bromide is proud of their small town, and appreciate its remarkable history.
Author Unknown
Contributed by Irene Anglin



Jimmie Dale Martin was born April 10, 1937 near Bromide to William LaVerne Martin and Pauline Savana Costner Martin. Grandfather John Martin and family had crossed the Red River settling near Pontotoc, Oklahoma in 1900 when William was just a babe.
William Martin died on New Year's Eve December 31, 1955. Jim was a Senior at Bromide High School. Pauline moved the family to Madill to be closer to her work. The class of 56 honored Jim by showing him as a graduating Senior in the Yearbook. Pauline remarried and passed away in 2003. Billie Martin Williams is a Realtor in OKC. Sammy Joel Martin designs and sells emergency vehicles ou of Harrah, Ok. Jim works part time at Wal Mart and builds web sites for local shops. William and Pauline have a total of 47 decendant and in laws who all live in central Oklahoma. This New Years Eve is the 50th anniversary of William Laverne "Freck" Martin's passing thru eternity's opening door.

Monday, September 26, 2005

My beloved Bromide...I'll be seeing you... ...click player above



,Click player above...





http://www.smickandsmodoo.com/

Click Player above to play...and be sure to visit Smick and Smodoo for more midi selections and more!
But please come back!

Words... to I'll be seeing you...
I'll be seeing youIn all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through
In that small cafe'
The park across the way
The children's carousel
The chestnut trees, the wishing wel
lI'll be seeing you
In every lovely summer's day
In everything that's light and gay
I'll always think of you that way
I'll find you in the mornin' sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you
I'll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through
I'll find you in the mornin' sun
And when the night is new
I'll be looking at the moon
But I'll be seeing you
... ... ...
Blogmaster adds words below...
And when this life is through
Together for all time
hand in hand
we'll walk on thru the promised land
Love has brought it's promise
as day after day
I'll be seeing you
you'll be seeing me!


http://www.smickandsmodoo.com/1957/1957.shtml
1957 click above to go there! Please come back!

Saturday Morning serials - Chapters One thru fifteenFly Paper, Penny Loafers, and Lucky Strike GreenFlat Tops, sock hops, Studebaker, "Pepsi, please"...Ah, do you remember these?Cigar Bands on your hands - Your Daddy's socks rolled down...Sticks, no plugs and Aviator caps, with flaps that button downMovie stars on Dixie Cup tops and knickers to your knees...Ah, do you remember these?The hit Parade, Grape Truaide, The Sadie Hawkins Dance....Peddle Pushers, Duck Tail hair, and Peggin' your pants...Howdy Doody...Tootie fruitie...The seam up the back of her hose.....Ah, do you remember those?James Dean, he was "Keen", Sunday Movies were Taboo....The senior Prom, Judy's Mom, Rock 'n Roll was New...Cracker Jack Prize...stars in your eyes..."Ask Daddy for the Keys"...Ah, do you remember these?The Boogie Man, Lemonade stand and taking your Tonsils out...Indian Burn and Wait Your Turn and four foul Balls...You're Out!Cigarette Loads and Secret Codes and saving Lucky StarsCan you remember back that far?To Boat Neck shirts and fender skirts and Crinoline Petticoats...Mums the Word and Dirty Bird and Double Root Beer float...Moon hubcaps and Loud heel Taps and "he's a Real Gone Cat"Ah, do you remember that?Dancing Close, Little Moron Jokes and "Cooties" in her hair...Captain Midnight, Ovaltine, and The Whip at the County fairCharles Atlas Course, Roy Rogers horse, and "Only the Shadow Knows"...Ah, do you remember those?Gables Charms, "froggin" your arm, Loud Mufflers, Pitching Woo...Going steady, Veronica and Betty, White Bucks and Blue Suede ShoesKnock, Knock Jokes.........Who's There?DeweyDewey Who?Dewey......Remember These.........Yes we do!Oh Do We?.....Do We Remember These!!! "Do You Remember These"The Statler Brothers(Written by: D. Reid - H. Reid - L. Lee) Midi Sequenced and Performed bySal Grippaldi

Saturday, September 17, 2005

eBay Store - Records and Rose Rocks by bromide99:

Official PayPal SealeBay Store - Records and Rose Rocks by bromide99:: "We are selling off a collection of over 3500 albums from the 30's and 40's. We offer Rose Rock Jewelry made from natural rose rocks that are found only in Oklahoma."

Monday, August 15, 2005

His eye is on the sparrow...words


Words: Ci­vil­la D. Mar­tin, 1905.

Music: Charles H. Gab­ri­el, 1905 (MI­DI, score).

Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)

Early in the spring of 1905, my hus­band and I were so­journ­ing in El­mi­ra, New York. We con­tract­ed a deep friend­ship for a cou­ple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doo­lit­tle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doo­lit­tle had been bed­rid­den for nigh twen­ty years. Her hus­band was an in­cur­a­ble crip­ple who had to pro­pel him­self to and from his bus­i­ness in a wheel chair. De­spite their af­flict­ions, they lived hap­py Christ­ian lives, bring­ing in­spir­a­tion and com­fort to all who knew them. One day while we were vi­sit­ing with the Doo­lit­tles, my hus­band com­ment­ed on their bright hope­ful­ness and asked them for the se­cret of it. Mrs. Doo­lit­tle’s re­ply was sim­ple: “His eye is on the spar­row, and I know He watch­es me.” The beau­ty of this sim­ple ex­press­ion of bound­less faith gripped the hearts and fired the imag­in­a­tion of Dr. Mar­tin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Spar­row” was the out­come of that ex­per­i­ence.

Civilla Martin

The next day she mailed the po­em to Charles Gab­ri­el, who sup­plied the mu­sic. Sing­er Ethel Wa­ters so loved this song that she used its name as the ti­tle for her au­to­bi­og­ra­phy
Words

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Love..the Greatest of these...



Love Is ... Forever!
LOVE is the most powerfull force in the universe.
It was LOVE that prompted the Creator to bring us into being (He first loved us..)
LOVE once it comes into being never goes away. Rejection only sends it into hiding. LOVE indures and tho the flame burns dimly it can flare into full bloom when the winds of time flow thru beloved territory. by jdm 2003
visit my dot com at http://jimmiedalemartin.com email me at mailto:jimmiedalemartin@gmail.com <><><>

He stopped loving her today


He said I'll love you til I die,
She told him you'll forget in time
As the years went slowly by
She still preyed upon his mind

He kept her picture on his wall
Went half crazy now and then
He still loved her through it all
Hoping she'd come back again

He stopped loving her today,
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away,
He stopped loving her today

Kept some letters by his bed, dated 1962
He had underlined in red
Every single I love you
I went to see him just today,
Oh but I didn't see no tears
All dressed up to go away
First time I'd seen him smile in years

You know she came to see him one last time,
We all wondered if she would
And it kept running through my mind
This time he's over her for good

He stopped loving her today,
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away,
He stopped loving her today

Home in Newcastle





The wind blows off the South Canadian River a couple hundred yards away. 11 minutes to OKC fairgrounds and within 30 minutes to all the grandkids.

Home is where the heart is..

16" Sunflower ...I grew-just add tlc and water!

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

the wind moves thru the Yellow Hills



A riddle...... ...
....
Let yes do its answering.
I realize everyone needs empathy.
Surely
anyone
versed
at
gamesmanship
envisions.

....
APG Maryland fall of '58

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Young Love also from late 50's

Sonny James ...

They say for every boy and girl
There's just one love in this whole world
And I know I've found mine
The heavenly touch of your embrace
Tells me no one could take your place
Ever in my heart

Young love (young love), first love (first love)
Filled with true devotion
Young love (young love), our love (our love)
We share with deep emotion

Just one kiss from your sweet lips
Will tell me that your love is real
And I can feel that it's true
We will vow to one another
There will never be another
Love for you or for me

Young love (young love), first love (first love)
Filled with true devotion
Young love (young love), our love (first love)
We share with deep emotion







They