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Frisco Depot is Historic Building

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Column sent to Frederick Leader and Frederick Press

October 27, 2009

The Methodist minister and his wife gather with the church congregation at the Frisco Depot after a revival meeting in earlyday Frederick.

Workers are pictured in the Frisco Depot office in 1903.

Founding of Frederick Tied to Frisco Depot

The Frisco Depot is the most historic building in Frederick.

The depot stands today at North 8th and Floral in Pioneer Park, but it was the decision in 1902 by the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad (The BES Line, later the Frisco) to locate the depot at its original site that established the town of Frederick.

After the area was opened to settlement by land lottery in August 1901, two potential towns battled for the townsite – Gosnell and Hazel. Gosnell was a site that was promoted by Rev. S.M. Gosnell. Hazel, located one half mile south of Grand Avenue, was developed and promoted by John Mounts.

The town that secured the railroad depot would be the town that survived.

Gosnell secured the depot and the town site’s future by making a deal with Charles Hunter, manager of the BES Line’s townsite company, giving him half the lots in the original town of Gosnell for the agreement to establish a depot here. The depot was built in 1902. The town’s lots were platted on September 30, 1902, and on January 1, 1903, the town’s name was officially changed from Gosnell to Frederick in honor or Frederick Van Blarcom, the son of a railroad official.

The depot was built in 1902 at 400 West Grand Avenue, just west of the railroad tracks. All buildings constructed in Frederick at that time were wood frame and the depot was no exception. Brick buildings would come later.

The Frederick depot was never an ornate or pretentious building, but was built for service and efficiency. Throughout Frederick’s early decades it was a hive of activity, with trains, people, freight coming and going every day.

When President Theodore Roosevelt visited Frederick in April 1905, he disembarked from his private rail car at the depot.

Eventually, as train shipping became less important to Frederick and passenger service was discontinued, the old depot was closed and fell into disrepair.

In 1987, though, the Frederick Historical Society moved the depot two blocks from its original site to its current location at the Pioneer Townsite Museum. It was not an easy move. To transport the large building, it was cut into three sections and carefully relocated, one section at a time. At its new location, the historic building was restored and brick that surrounded the building at its original location was also relocated to the current site.

Today, the historic 107-year-old building has a new life. At the museum, the building provides educational insight into early transportation in the area and a time when most people and freight came to Frederick by rail.

Pioneer Townsite manager Jimmy Espinosa and an unidentified worker add finishing touches to the depot reproduction that will be raffled by the Tillman County Historical Society as a 2009 holiday fundraiser.

The Frisco Depot is one of the most popular attractions at the Pioneer Townsite.

For that reason, it is appropriate that the depot is the subject of the Tillman County Historical Society’s 2009 Christmas reproduction building raffle. Museum Director Jimmy Espinosa and inmates from the Frederick Work Release Center at Weaver began work on the project several months ago. The result is an amazing scale reproduction of the Frisco Depot’s main section, complete with deep-set eaves and bay windows. Twenty feet in length, the reproduction building is a reduced-scale version of the original depot.

The Christmas reproduction building is always important fundraising project for the historical society, but this year it is more important than ever because funding is much-needed to offset state budget cuts for operation of the local museum.

The building will be given away in a drawing that will be held on KYBE’s “Town and Country” on December 23. Raffle tickets are $5 each and may be purchased at Frederick Hardware, BancFirst, First National Bank, Tillco Supply, or Box, Inc. Tickets may also be purchased at the Pioneer Townsite, the Frederick Chamber office, or from any historical society board member.

- - -

Joe Wynn is a member of the Tillman County Historical Society’s board of directors. He can be contacted by e-mail at [email protected]

#Methodist Church #Fundraising Raffle #Frisco Depot #Early Frederick

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The Wide-A-Wake

Column sent to Frederick Leader and Frederick Press

December 15, 2009

The Wide-A-Wake Store in Frederick, Christmas 1918

Wide-A-Wake was Christmas-Central in Early Frederick

In Tillman County’s early days, Christmas must have been an especially wonderful holiday.

Although money was tight for most area residents and luxuries were few, the prospect of store-bought candy, simple Christmas gifts, or baskets of apples or oranges were rare holiday treats, and every community in the new county contained stores and businesses where Christmas treats could be purchased.

Frederick had many dry-good, hardware, and mercantile stores where simple traditional Christmas shopping could be done, but one of the most popular was the Wide-A-Wake variety store.

The Wide-A-Wake was purchased by the Tomlinson family in 1911 and, according to the Tillman County History Vol. I, was located then at Main and Grand. Shortly thereafter, though, the Tomlinsons moved the Wide-A-Wake to the 200 block of West Grand into the building where the City of Frederick’s drive-though is now located. Eventually the Tomlinson family purchased buildings on the west and south sides of that location and expanded the business.

According to the Tillman County History, though, for a brief time in 1918, the Wide-A-Wake was located in the 100 block of West Grand in the building that now houses Sweet Magnolia’s Antique Mall.

The Tillman County archives photo of the Wide-A-Wake shown above, taken at Christmastime in about 1918, appears to be at the Sweet Magnolia’s location.

It pictures Christmas merchandise on the sidewalk in front of the store. Red wagons imprinted with "Wide-A-Wake" on the sides and wooden buckets of Christmas fruit and candies are ready for sale to holiday shoppers.

A large sign with a picture of Santa reads "Christmas Toys, Holiday Goods, for Sale Here." Another sign reads "We Have a Doll for Every Child in Tillman Co." A third sign reads "Remember the Loved Ones at Home. They Haven't Forgotten You."

A close look at the photo shows that snow has accumulated in the street in front of the display.

The Tomlinson business remained a Frederick institution until the 1970s.

In the mid-1930s, the family changed the name of the business from the Wide-A-Wake to Tomlinson and Son”

The Tomlinson family was part owner of the national TG&Y chain of stores (“T” standing for Tomlinson) and in the 1960s the Tomlinson store in Frederick became a TG&Y, which it remained until its closing.

#Wide-A-Wake #Store #Early Frederick #Christmas

Telephone Book, 1931

Column sent to Frederick Leader and Frederick Press

January 12, 2010, January 19, 2010, and January 26, 2010

Add from 1931 telephone book.

1931 Telephone Book Reflects Life in County

The Tillman County Historical Society maintains a number of early documents in its permanent collection, including some residential directories and telephone books.

One such book is the Southwest Telephone Company’s telephone book from December 1931. The book contains telephone numbers for telephone “subscribers” in Frederick, Davidson, Hollister, Loveland, Manitou, and Manitou, but was only 22 pages in size – small by today’s standards because not every business or family had a telephone in 1931.

What’s more, in addition to telephone listings the 22 pages included advertising, a business directory, telephone policies, rates, and explanation and samples of long-distance charges.

Telephone numbers of that era varied in length and type. Most were two-, three-, or four-digit numbers. Others contained as many as seven numbers and letters.

For Frederick residents, telephone service cost $2.00 per month. Business costs were $3.50.

Costs for residents of area towns were as follows: Davidson and Hollister, $2.50 business, $1.50 residence; Loveland, $2.25 business, $1.75 residence; Manitou, $3.00 business, $2.00 residence.

Long distance telephone calls were always placed through operators and were not cheap.

Costs for long distance varied greatly, not only by distance of the call and time talked, but by type and time of the call. A regular call from Frederick to Amarillo, Texas, for instance, cost $1.00 during the day, 80 cents during the evening after 7:00 p.m., and 55 cents at night between 8:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m.

Person-to-person calls to Amarillo cost $1.25, regardless of the time. All long distance calls were placed through an operator.

According to the directory, long distance calls could be placed to “almost any telephone in the United States, as well as to telephones in many cities in Canada, Cuba, Europe and Mexico.”

How should the telephone be answered in 1931? The directory provides the following instructions: “Time will be saved if you immediately give your number or name, as ‘6342’, ‘4-9013W’, or ‘Jones Department Store.’ This informs the person calling that the desired connection is established. Please answer the telephone promptly. Courtesy to the calling party requires it.”

Cover advertisers for the 1931 book were Gish Furniture and Undertaking Company (Dependable Ambulance Service), 111 North 11th Street; First National Bank, Frederick (Capital, $100,000; Resources, $1,000,000, “A Friendly Bank”; McLellan Funeral Home (‘Superior Ambulance Service’, ‘To serve humanity better’), 9th Street and Floral Avenue; Murrell Motor Co. (Chevrolet); M System Store (‘Groceries for Particular People’); The Security State Bank (‘Cordial, Friendly, Banking Service’), 201 West Grand; and Victory Service Station, Blanton and Fondren (Firestone tires and tubes).

Inside banner advertisers included the following: Morris Supreme Ham and Bacon, S.M. Briscoe salesman; Coca-Cola (Order by the case); Corner Drug Store; S&W Electric Company (Atwater Kent ‘Screen Grid’ radio and Brown Mule Battery service); Scott New and Second Hand Furniture and Hardware, 109 North 9th Street; Spangler’s Tin Shop, Tinning and Roofing; Frederick Hardware Co.; and Frederick Clinic Hospital, 121 North 9th Street (O.G. Bacon, MD, and Roy Fisher, BS and MD (Complete X-Ray equipment).

1931 Telephone Book

Listed Many County Businesses

@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Not every Tillman County business had a telephone in 1931. Those businesses in Frederick, Davidson, Hollister, Loveland, and Manitou that DID have telephones were listed in the Southwest Telephone Company’s business directory. NOTE: Grandfield and Tipton were not included in the book’s listings.

This week, the column looks at some of the business categories from the 1931 directory. Most listings note business category, town (Frk, Dvd, Hol, Lvd, Mtu); address, building or general location; and simple-digit telephone number. It’s a pretty interesting look at the business world from 1931. This listing will continue in next week’s column.

1931 Business Listings

Apartments: Thurmond Rooms, 304 ½ W. Grand, Fdk 403; Wessel Apartments, 125 N. 11th, Fdk 131

Associations: Chamber of Commerce, Fdk 320; Retail Merchants Assn, W. Grand, Fdk 211

Attorneys: Christian R.L., Eberlee Blg, Fdk 292; Hussey & Chaney, W. Grand, Fdk 657; Mounts & Chamberlain, Mounts Bldg, Fdk 270; Wilson & Roe, Commerce Bldg., Fdk 296

Automobile Business: Cooter Motor Co., 114 S. 10th, Fdk 330; Ford Motor Co., S. 9th, Fdk 307; Hood Motor Co., Dvd 33; Krause, A.H., W. Dahlia, Fdk 508; McNeely Motor Co., 117 S. 9th, Fdk 586; Murrell Motor Co., 520 W. Grand, Fdk 584

Automobile Service Business: Motor Supply, 116 S. 9th, Fdk 581

Bakers: Ansleys Bakery, 117 N. 10th, Fdk 132; City Bakery, Dvd 115; Home Bakery, 108 N. 10th, Fdk 21

Banks: Bank of Hollister, Hol 25; Bank of Manitou, Mtu 44; First Natl Bank, 200 W. Grand, Fdk 127; First State Bank, Dvd 7; Natl Bank of Commerce, 101 W. Grand, Fdk 11; Security State Bank, 201 W. Grand, Fdk 24

Barber Shops: City Barber Shop, W. Grand, Fdk 116; City Barber Shop, Mtu 43; Hotel Barber Shop, Main & Grand, Fdk 11; Sandersons Shop, E. Grand, Fdk 24

Battery Business: Davidson Battery & Electric Co., Dvd 117; Exide Batteries, Gene Pruitt Mgr, 316 W. Grand, Fdk 394; Frederick Battery & Electric, 308 W. Grand, Fdk 478; Kimes & Pruitt, 316 W. Grand, Fdk 394

Beauty Parlors: Mi Lady Beauty Shop, W. Grand, Fdk 130; Miss Frederick Beauty Shop, W. Grand, Fdk 395

Bottlers: Coca-Cola Co., 300 S. 9th, Fdk 135

Building & Loan Associations: McHugh George, Wide-A-Wake Bldg, Fdk 466

Bus Stations: Union Bus Station, Fdk 15

Cafes: Campbell Café, 125 S. 9th, Fdk 14; City Café, 108 N. Main, Fdk 700; Curtis Joe, W. Grand, Fdk 280; Liberty Café, 109 S. 9th, Fdk 231; Lucky Seven Café, 108 S. 10th, Fdk 52

Carpenter Business: Jones & Loftis, 206 S. 9th, Fdk 709

Chiropractors: Hartwig Ora, 104 N. 10th, Fdk 417; Mannon E. 113 ½ N. 10th, Fdk 321; Wolfe C.C., 115 ½ S. 9th, Fdk 35

Churches: Baptist Church, 215 N. 11th, Fdk 619; Christian Church, 201 E. Gladstone, Fdk 609J; Methodist Church, E. Grand Ave., Fdk 243J; Presbyterian Church, N. 11th, Fdk 430

Clinics: Frederick Clinic, 121 N. 9th, Fdk 247

Clothing Business: Julia Shop, W. Grand, Fdk 165; Nuf-Sed Tailor Shop, W. Grand, Fdk 398; Orchid Shop, Inc., 216 W. Grand, Fdk 159

Confectioners: Candyland, Main & Grand, Fdk 315

Construction: Frederick Construction, 105 W. Grand, Fdk 199

Cotton Business: Roby Cotton Co., 119 S. 8th, Fdk 582: Simmons Gin Co., Fdk 341

Cotton Compresses: Frederick Compresses, S. 4th, Fdk 203; Traders Compress, Fdk 314

Cotton Ginners: Baker Gin Co., Mtu 20; Chickasha Gin Co., Mtu 41; Davidson Gin Co., Dvd 62; Farmers Co-operative, S. 7th, Fdk 73; Farmers Co-operative Gin, Fdk 73; Farmer Gin Co., Dvd 65; Farmers Gin Co., Fdk 63; Farmers Gin Co., Mtu 50; Farmers Gin Co., Lvd 2; Farmers Gin Co., Hol 31; Frederick Seed Farm Gin, Fdk 88; Hollister Gin Co, Hol 39; Kilgore Gin, 6th and Grand, Fdk 708; Mitchell gin Co, South 5th, Fdk 230; Reed Gin Co., Dvd 140; Robinson Gin Co., Fdk 704; Simmons Gin Co., Dvd 57; Simmons Gin Co., W. Grand, Fdk 170; Tillman County Gin Co., Dvd 137; William & Fry Gin, S. 7th, Fdk 310

Cotton Oil Mills: Frederick Oil Mill, S. 5th, Fdk 95

Dentists: Ball C.B., SW Tel Co Bldg, Fdk 134; Longwell W.L., First Nat Bnk Bldg, Fdk 451; Rogers J.J., 402 ½ W. Grand, Fdk 348

Druggists: Corner Drug Co., 127 W. Grand, Fdk 9 & 10; Corner Drug Store, Lvd 3; Crescent Drug Co., 113 W. Grand, Fdk 16 & 238; Hollister Drug Co., Hol 12F2; Langston Drug Co., 205 W. Grand, Fdk 448; Miley Drug Co., Mtu 40; Place Drug Store, Dvd 40; Red Front Drug, 128 W. Grand, Fdk 2; Red Front Drug Co, 127 W. Grand, Fdk 3

Dry Good Business: Anthony C.R. Co, Fdk 258; Curreathers & Smith, 107 W. Grand, Fdk 65; Fair Store, Dvd 120; Liebman A Store, 219 W. Grand, Fdk 293; Norwood G.G., Dvd 1; Penney J.C., E. Grand Ave., Fdk 606; Stone, C.E. Co, Fdk 702; Strange Dry Goods, 108 W. Grand, Fdk 445; Thomas Slayton & Brush, Dvd 138; Tylers Bootery, 304 W. Grand, Fdk 240

Electrical Equipment: Jack’s Electric Shop, 110 N. 10th, Fdk 310

Express Companies: Amer. Railway Express, 310 W. Grand, Fdk 229

Feed Business: McFall Feed Store, 520 W. Grand, Fdk 67

Filling Stations: Bowman Service Station, 301 N. 1st, Fdk 17; Burns Filling Station, Lvd 20; Cities Service Oil Co Filling Station, Fdk 750; City Service, 100 S. 8th, Fdk 423; Coleman & West Filling Station, Dvd 31; Continental Oil Co., S. 9th, Fdk 235; Eason Oil Co., 5th & Grand, Fdk 183; Farmers Filling Station, 127 N. Main, Fdk 555; Frederick Ser Sta, 123 S. 8th, Fdk 541; Golays Filling Station, Mtu 17; Hayter Serv Sta, Fdk 786; Hollister Service Station, Hol 24; Jackson Filling Station, Dvd 80; Kemp & Shouse Filling Station, W. Grand, Fdk 491; Lee Hi Service Station, 222 N. 15th, Fdk 120; Magnolia Service Station, 13th and Gladstone, Fdk 200; Marathon Service Station, 501 W. Grand, Fdk 698; Panhandle Ref Co No 2, 12th & Grand, Fdk 580; Panhandle Refining Co No 3, W. Grand, Fdk 503; Phillips Petroleum Co., 216 N. 10th, Fdk 666; Quick Service Filling Station, Dvd 91; Reasor Filling Station, Dvd 55; Rock Service Station, Mtu 54; Rock Service Sta, Fdk 808; Southside Service Co., 503 S. 15th, Fdk 391; Star Service Station, 201 S. 9th, Fdk 235; Star Service Station, Hol 28; Texas Oil Co., 200 S. 9th, Fdk 441J; Victory Service Station, E. Grand, Fdk 547

Florists: Frederick Florist, 700 S. 12th, Fdk 602

Funeral Directors: Gish Funeral Home, 205 N. 11th, Fdk 91; McLellen Funeral Home, 122 N. 9th, Fdk 121

Furniture Business: Duncan Furniture Co., 112 N. Main, Fdk 411; Frederick Furniture Co., N. Main, Fdk 277; Gish Furniture Co., 110 E. Grand, Fdk 91: Russell S.E. Store, 108 S. 9th, Fdk 520: Scott Furniture Co., 109 N. 9th, Fdk 601

Garages: Higgins Garage, 801 W. Grand, Fdk 47; Hollister Garage, Hol 21F2; Manitou Motor Co., Mtu 28; Prestidge & Newman, W. Grand, Fdk 378; Wade & Young Garage, 110 S. 8th, Fdk 472

Gas Company: Community Gas Co., 119 N. 9th, Fdk 290

Government Offices, City: Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, 10th and Dahlia, Fdk 320; City Supt Office, High School Bldg, 200 S. 12th, Fdk 276; Retail Merchants Assn., Mount Bldg., Fdk 211

Grain Business: Cope & Brantly, Hol 22; Farmers Co-op Grain Co., 200 S. 7th, Fdk 523; Northwestern Elevator Co., 300 S. 8th, Fdk 480; Northwestern Elevator Co, Mtu 46

Grocers: Bell Bros Grocery, Dvd 14; Blue Front Groc., 115 N. 10th, Fdk 174; Blue Front Groc No. 2, W. Grand, Fdk 306; Brannons Market, Mtu 42; Brittain B.G. Store, Hol 11; Brown Cash Groc, 118 S. 9th, Fdk 84; Bryan J. W. Groc, Lvd 33; Glen J.G., 521 W. Dahlia, Fdk 418 Black; Gross & Son, W. Grand, Fdk 8 & 59; Harmison Groc, W. Grand, Fdk 189; Lauback Groc, Mtu 22; Lautherback Groc, Mtu 49; Litton Groc, Fdk 260; Loveland Cash Store, Lvd 25; M System Store, 119 W. Grand, Frd 18; Massie-Bryan Groc Co., Dvd 30; McElroy Groc, Dvd 16; Overton Frank Groc., 218 W. Grand; Payne Groc, W. Grand, Fdk 19; Piggly-Wiggly Market, 121 N. 10th, Fdk 216; Raley Groc, W. Grand, Fdk 450 & 460; Sanitary Market, 100 N. 10th, Fdk 54; Thorne W.H. Groc, Dvd 23; White House Groc, Fdk 34; Witts Store Groc, Fdk 71; Wooten Wholesale Groc, W. Calla, Fdk 486

Hotels: Hotel Frederick, Main & Grand, Fdk 800; New Campbell Hotel, 127 S. 9th, Fdk 27

Ice Business: Southwestern Light and Power, 112 W. Astor, Fdk 222

Ice Cream Business: Southwest Utility Co., 120 W. Astor, Fdk 163

Insurance Business: Ames & McFall, Bank of Commerce Bldg., Fdk 195; Gamblin E.U., 108 N. 9th, Fdk 39; Johnson J.C., 108 N. 9th, Fdk 70; Mathis & Eady, 302 W. Gand, Fdk 193; McHugh George, Wide-a-Wake Bldg., Fdk 466; Meeks & Meeks, Meeks Bldg, Fdk 373; Moss & Emmons, 204 ½ W. Grand, Fdk 211

Jewelers: Dillingham C.H., 109 W. Grand, Fdk 64

Laundries: Frederick Laundry, 603 S. 10th, Fdk 60

Lodges: Amer Legion, S. 10th, Fdk 658; Masonic Hall, W. Grand, Fdk 137; Odd Fellows Hall, W. Grand, Fdk 85

Lumber Business: Caldwell Nuckles, 200 S. 8th, Fdk 196; Cameron Lumber Co., 313 W. Grand, Fdk 26; Cameron Lumber Co., Mtu 36; Dascomb-Daniels, Hol 15: Dascomb-Daniels, Dvd 20Dascombe-Daniels, 201 N. 8th, Fdk 30; Rounds & Porter, 226 S. 8th, Fdk 610

Meat Business: Crow Meat Market, W. Grand, Fdk 495; Sanitary Market, 100 N. 10th, Fdk 13; Waller Meat Market, Dvd 53; White House Market, 110 W. Grand, Fdk 36

Newspaper Business: Frederick Leader, 304 W. Grand, Fdk 66; Frederick Press, 117 N. 9th, Fdk 22

Office Supply: Mary Ann Shop, 308 W. Grand, Fdk 141

Oil Companies: Consumers Oil Co., W. Grand, Fdk 8; Phillips Petroleum Co., Warehouse, Fdk 666J; Sinclair Oil Co., 1st & Grand, Fdk 660; Transcontinental Oil Co., W. Grand, Fdk 698

Photographers: Porter G.E., 110 S. 9th, Fdk 87

Physicians & Surgeons, M.D.: Bacon O.G., N. 9th, Fdk 247; Caldwell Alvin B., Dvd 54; Fisher Roy, N. 9th, Fdrk 247; Mackeller M.M., Lvd 21; Osborne J.D., 214 ½ W. Grand, Fdk 102; Reynolds J.C., 102 ½ W. Grand, Fdk 604; Wilson & Roberts, Dodson Bldg., Fdk 471

Piano Business: Culp Music Co., E. Grand Ave., Fdk 305

Plumbers: Shout Plumbing Shop, 318 W. Grand, Fdk 1; Zumwalt Plumbing Shop, 118 N. 9th, Fdk 179

Printers: Peerless Printery, 110 N. 10th, Fdk 295

Produce Business: Frederick Produce, 202 S. 8th, Fdk 204; Knaust Produce, 112 N. 8th, Fdk 133; Wilson & Co., 219 N. 8th, Fdk 76

Radio Business (sales): S & W Radio and Electric Shop, 114 N. 10th, Fdk 701

Railroad Companies: Frisco Railroad Co., Dvd 3; Frisco Railroad Co., Mtu 15; Frisco Railroad Co., Fdk 20; MK&T Railroad Co., Lvd 1; MK&T Railroad Co., Hol 23; MK&T Railroad Co., Fdk 62

Real Estate Business: Bates J.A., Mounts Bldg., 653; Copeland J.L., Fdk 86; Ray R.O. Real Estate & Loans, Fdk 190

Refrigerator Business: Norman C.K., N. 10th, Fdk 138

Sand Business: Holloman A.H., W. Grand, Fdk 4002

Schools, Public: Colored School, Fdk 751; Davidson High School, Dvd 100; Frederick High School, 200 S. 12th, Fdk 185; Hollister High School, Hol 48; Junior High School, 100 S. 12th, Fdk 285; Loveland High School, Lvd 17; North Ward School, N. 12th, Fdk 392; South Ward School, S. 12th, Fdk 308; West Ward School, N. 3rd, Fdk 347

Seed Business: Allen Seed Co., 118 N. 9th, Fdk 245

Shoe Business: Tylers Booterie, 304 W. Grand, Fdk 240

Shoe Repairers: Quality Shoe Shop, 111 N. 9th, Fdk 593

Tailors: Brandy’s Tailor Shop, 110 S. 9th, Fdk 89; Hotel Tailor Shop, Fdk 500; Nuf Sed No 2, E. Grand, Fdk 500; Nuf-Sed Tailor Shop, 207 W. Grand, Fdk 528; Tiptop Tailor Shop, Dvd 76; Uptown Tailors, Grand, Fdk 94

Telegraph: Western Union, 106 N. 9th, Fdk 43

Telephone: Southwest Telephone Co., 12000

Theatres: Grand Theatre, 113 W. Grand, Fdk 361: Midwest Theatre, Fdk 98; Ramona Theatre, 124 S. 9th, Fdk 265; Ritz Theatre, Dvd 105

Tinners: Sprangler’s Tin Shop, 205 S. 8th, Fdk 241

Tire Business: Night & Day Service Station, Fdk 786

Transfer Companies: Baird Roland Transfer Co., N. 9th, Fdk 45; Stewart R.E., W. Grand, Fdk 248

Variety Stores: Tyson Variety Store, Dvd 153; Wide-A-Wake, 204 W. Grand, Fdk 250

Warehouses: The Texas Oil Co., W. Dahlia, Fdk 441

Welding: Cook Welding Shop, 213 S. 8th, Fdk 399

#Telephone Book #Manitou #Loveland #Hollister #Early Frederick #Davidson #1931

Hobo Claim was Early Frederick Mystery

Column sent to Frederick Leader and Frederick Press

February 23, 2010

1932 Holloman Letter Provides Account of Area History

The western part of Tillman County was opened by land lottery in August 1901. After sixty days, land that was unclaimed or abandoned was put up for claim again.

One piece of land that became known as the “hobo quarter” was the 160 acres that would eventually join the new town of Frederick on the south. This property would later become the southwest part of Frederick. The man who originally claimed the property was known as Hobo, but he suddenly disappeared causing many rumors about what happened to him.

The next claim on the property was made by Ira J. Holloman who would become a prominent figure in early-day Frederick.

By 1932, Holloman had left Frederick and was living in Pasadena, California, when R.H. Wessel, editor and publisher of The Frederick Press, asked him to recount his memories of Frederick’s early years. The letter, published in the Press in 1932, is a fascinating picture of how things were done in the newly opened territory.

The 1932 letter from Ira J. Holloman follows:

“At the time of the opening of the Comanche reservation in 1901, I was with the Waggoner ranch at Electra, Texas. As you recall, Mr. Waggoner had leased from the government the western portion of the reservation for ranch purposes but was later given notice to remove all cattle in a given length of time. I was given the task of helping with the big round-up. Some of the cattle were shipped to market, some returned to the Texas side, and the remainder drifted east into what was later known as the Big Pasture.

“After this job was completed, I returned to my duties on the ranch at Electra. This was the nearest railway point to the land opening from the Texas side, and people by the hundreds came to cross into the ‘Promised Land.’ A sudden demand for transportation in the territory developed. Mr. Waggoner, seeing an opportunity and need for a stage line to transport these home-seekers, propositioned me to put in a stage from Electra, Texas, to Lawton, Oklahoma, and other major points. I then made a counter proposition: if he would furnish the necessary capital, I would operate same and divide the profits with him. To my surprise, he accepted so quickly I was bewildered, but went right on with the deal.

“He asked me to select teams as I wanted from hundreds of fine horses – which I did – and the next day I made a trip to Fort Worth and purchased a carload, six in number, of the latest type yellow-wheeled Studebaker stage coaches, the capacity of each being 12 to 16 passengers. Mr. Waggoner owned a harness shop, and we fitted out six of the finest turnouts you would chance to see and were soon operating a stage line transporting people into the new Oklahoma Territory.”

“All this time the BES line railroad company, known now as the Frisco, was building their new road from Vernon, Texas, toward the Red River. We made arrangements with Dan Healy, one of the first construction conductors, to sell tickets from Vernon to any part of Oklahoma. Here we met the train, as the bridge was not yet completed. We forded the river with four horses hitched to one coach, as it was very treacherous with quicksand. The white dry sand from the river channel to the main land was so deep that many times these four fine horses could not draw the load through the sand, and we were forced to unload some of our passengers. After a time, hay was spread over the sand making the footing better.

“It was during this time that I learned through the Waggoner cowboys, who were friends of mine, of what was known as the ‘hobo claim’ and, as I recall the story, this so-called hobo had filed on what later became my homestead. He filed under the name of Robert Lawson, which proved later to be an assumed name. This information came to me from the cowboys at Suttle Camp, one of Mr. Waggoner’s cow-camps where the hobo stayed for a time (This was located just west of Frederick where the lake is now located. There were also a fine spring and a dugout there where Johnny Williams, the Vernon sheriff, shot it out with a band of outlaws in the early days.) I never met Lawson, but learned he had filed on land previously to this under his own name which was Thomas, but I do not recall the initials. When he filed under the name Lawson, he gave as his address Elgin, Illinois, and his occupation as watchmaker, writer and artist. The name ‘Hobo’ was given him by reason of his filing at Lawton by map before seeing the land and making the 50 miles out to the land by foot.

“It was said on arriving his earthly possessions were a dog, gun and frying pan. I learned from the cowboys he was a real ‘artist’ when it came to dealing from the bottom. As the story goes, he loved his ‘rock and rye’ and, as they could have no luck when playing the various games of chance with him, they proceeded to frame him by making it possible for him to imbibe too much White Mule. While under the influence, he told his past life and how he was putting it over on the government by filing under an assumed name. After sleeping this off, he realized he had talked too much and became frightened and told the boys he was ‘on his way and they could have his claim.’ They, like the rest of us who had been in that part of the country so long, could not visualize the land ever being of any value, and only because of Waggoner’s insistence and learning of a possible townsite being located there did I file on the contest claim. At this time living there were only I.E. Stout and family, D.B. Pearson and family, S.N. Gosnell and family and R.L. Gosnell who was not married at the time.

“The night before the last day for filing on abandoned claims, I drove to Lawton, taking with me W.S. McCurdy and two husky cowboys from the Waggoner Ranch for witnesses and assistance. I was all set to file on the “Hobo Claim” as well as several others, as we had all been camping on the claim long before time for filing under the impression we could hold it by prior settlement. I went to the land office in the afternoon before the filing was to take place the next morning. As soon as the doors were closed at 5 p.m., I mounted the steps and took my seat on the doorsill and remained there through the night and until the doors were opened at 9 in the morning. McCurdy acted as ‘best man’ serving me with hot coffee and sandwiches throughout the night.

“The crowds began to gather, and by midnight there were several hundred in line for this and other claims. Mr. Greenwade, who was after my claim, stood next in line to me. We had both been camping on the claim with several others. He was a large man, weighing 200 or more, and I then weighed about 135. McCurdy, seeing the situation, placed one of the cowboys next in line to Greenwade and kept the other cowboy in reserve for any emergency, as he (Greenwade) was trying to crowd me off the doorsill, which was three or four feet off the ground. It was understood the cowboy was to tackle Greenwade if he undertook to unseat me. We were all armed and ready for anything, but thanks to Providence, we came through without a scratch.

“Next morning there was a free-for-all down the line when the door was opened at 9 a.m. I had some advantage as I was holding the doorknob and felt the key slip in the lock. I gave the cowboy the signal. He threw his arms around Greenwade and went to the ground with him while I went in for the first filing.

“On my return to the claim, encouraged by my successful filing, I erected a more permanent camp and built corrals for my horses, using this for headquarters for the stage transportation. During this time the government townsite of Hazel was platted on the south of my claim and the BES line townsite was on the north, later known as Frederick.

“During the rivalry of the two towns there was effected in 1902 a compromise in which the Hazel townsite was moved to Frederick, and Mr. Waggoner and I were given two lots, corner Eighth and Grand, where we erected the old frame building and continued to operate until the railroad moved on northward and at which time the stage line was discontinued.

“I opened a farm loan and real estate office and Frisco immigration agent office. This brings us down to the opening of the Big Pasture (in 1906) when I turned my efforts to locating claims for new homeseekers, establishing camp at Panther Springs. Feeling the need for more modern transportation, I purchased what I believe to be the first automobile that came to Frederick and used same to transport my homeseekers to the Panther Springs camp.”

“Yours very truly, Ira J. Holloman”

#Holloman #Hobo Quarter #Early Frederick