Coming Soon š„ šļø
(A historical marker located near Clarkson in Columbiana County, Ohio.)
The Apprentice
Welcome to Boley, Oklahoma ā the town that couldnāt be robbed.
Founded in 1903, Boley grew into one of the most successful all-Black towns in America ā with banks, colleges, and thriving businesses. Booker T. Washington once called it āthe most enterprising and interesting Negro town in the United States.ā
So when the gang of Pretty Boy Floyd targeted Boleyās bank in 1932⦠even HE warned them not to go.
They didnāt listen.
And thatās when everything went left. š„
Inside the bank, cashier Herbert C. McCormick grabbed a rifle and opened fire from the vault ā taking down gang leader George Birdwell.
Outside?
The entire town responded.
Men and women came armed with guns, tools⦠whatever they had.
The result:
⢠The gang leader was killed
⢠The getaway driver was shot trying to escape
⢠Another robber was captured after being hit multiple times
⢠Even the bank president, David Turner, gave his life protecting the town
Let that sink inā¦
This wasnāt just a robbery gone wrong.
This was a community that REFUSED to be victimized.
Boley sent a message that day:
You donāt come here and take what we built.
And to this day, the town still stands ā with its historic district preserved and one of the oldest Black rodeos in the nation still going strong. šŖš¾














