Cotton harvest was the big news in Beckham County in October 1925. The front page headline of the October 8, 1925, issue of the Elk City News-Democrat declared, “Elk City Gins Running Day and Night.” Farmers were expecting yields comparable to those of 1924. Small communities surrounding Elk City were harvesting cotton also. Many of those communities had columns in the newspaper. The article from Hager stated, “Everyone of this community is picking cotton.”
In other agriculture news, the Elk City News-Democrat reported that “Broomcorn grown two miles south of Elk City [by Charles Miller, broomcorn specialist] took the blue ribbon at the Oklahoma State Fair.” The paper further states that “there were a great many entries of broomcorn and Mr. Miller had plenty of competition.”
In keeping with the agricultural theme, Forsyth’s Department Store advertised Goodyear Overalls for $1.25 or $23.14 in today’s currency. That price was quite a bargain since a local store sells Round House overalls for $37.99 to $52.99 today.
The front page of the Elk City News-Democrat also featured an article about a football game between Elk City High School and Hobart. The final score was 7-0 in favor of Hobart. The article reported, “The only score in the game came in the middle of the fourth quarter when a punt was blocked by Hobart. The ball rolled into the arms of the enemy, and he fell across the line. The try for point was successful.” The article described the size of the crowd as “pitiful,” and the reporter went on to chastise the citizens of Elk City for not turning out and supporting the football team.
Another front-page article entitled “Coursing Association Had Races” described a sixteen-dog race at the fairgrounds. The winning dog was named Mary-Lene owned by C. C. Baker.
In further news, Elk City High School reported on its English classes. The English I class had quite a required reading list including Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, A Man without a Country by Edward Everett Hale, The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman, and David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. The article further reported that the high school was starting an orchestra and had twenty students enrolled.
The Story Theatre advertised a new comedy entitled The Navigator starring Buster Keaton. The ad described the film as “the scream of the year” and cautioned people, “If you can’t laugh don’t come.”
The headline news in the October 8, 1925, issue of The Elk City Press was natural gas making its way to Elk City. The headline stated, “Natural Gas Will Be Delivered in Elk City in Thirty Days.” However, the gas lines would still need to be laid within the city, so the article said that coal stoves would still be in use for a while.
Another front page article related that the “largest crowd ever” was in Elk City for the Robbins Circus. The article lamented the fact that having the circus at the fairgrounds did not help local merchants. The author went on to say that Elk City would benefit from having some form of entertainment such as the circus once a month instead of once a year.
The Elk City Press also reported on the local library news. One new book that the librarian was excited about was The American Indian by Hamlin Garland for its different view of Native Americans. In addition, the article listed several books suitable for women’s clubs. Another new book promoted by the article was Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis.
Prohibition was the law of the land in 1925. The October 8, 1925, issue of The Sayre Journal reported a raid on a distillery. The raid was purported to be “the largest haul ever made in Beckham County against the illicit manufacture of intoxicants.” Four people were arrested and charged with possession of stills and released on $1,000 bonds. Authorities confiscated five wagon loads of accessories for making liquor.
The Sayre Journal reported on a pie supper at Spring Creek. The supper netted $36.50, which was donated to the school. In addition to the sale of pies, participants held a contest between the “pretty girls and the homely boys.” A program followed that included readings and musical numbers.
The Sayre Journal also included the article “Improving on History” by Will Rogers. Rogers stated, “Lincoln has had more Public men speak of his good qualities, and fewer copy any of them, than any man America ever produced.”
The October 15, 1925, issue of The Beckham County Democrat reported that a corner stone was laid for the Erick Hospital. A large audience watched as the Masonic Grand Lodge of Oklahoma laid the corner stone. The Masons were there at the request of Dr. G. H. Stagner.
In addition, that issue of the paper featured chapter one of the new serialized novel, Neighbors by Robert Reed, and The Dixie Store ran an ad for ladies’ dresses. The silk and wool dresses ranged in price from $10.00 to $12.95, $185 to $222 today.
Finally, The Texola Tribune featured a weekly column entitled “The Kitchen Cabinet” by Nellie Maxwell. The October 8, 1925, issue featured autumn recipes. The directions for the recipes were not particularly detailed. Directions for Cottage Pudding are as follows: “Cream a tablespoonful each of butter and lard and add one cupful of sugar and mix well until well blended. Then add two eggs, beating well, a cupful of sour milk, a half teaspoonful of soda dissolved in it and one and three-fourths cupfuls of flour to which a teaspoonful of baking powder has been added. Flavor to taste and after a good beating pour into a large shallow pan to bake. Cut into squares while still warm.” There was no mention of pan size, oven temperature, or length of time for baking.
In 1925 the citizens of Beckham County enjoyed sporting events, a good book, a funny movie, good food, and social events. One hundred years later, those same things make life good for most of us.