The news in Beckham County was varied and engaging in February 1926. A look back at the newspapers for that month gives a glimpse into the lives of the citizens of Elk City, Sayre, Erick, and Texola. The front page of the February 18, 1926, edition of the Elk City News-Democrat led with the poem “Stone Mountain Call” by Mrs. J. E. Standifer. The poem, while glorifying the Confederate soldier, called for unity between the North and the South: “Come you, Ye sons and daughters of the South/Come you, Ye sons and daughters of the North/Forgetting, forgiving, hand clasping hand/And in one great common cause united stand.”
Another article on page one reported that the Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association was selling memorial coins to honor Confederate soldiers. The coins could be purchased from the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Page one of the newspaper also reported that the Elk City girls basketball team suffered their first conference loss to Mangum 19 to 9. A large crowd attended the game at Mangum. Other front-page news stated that the Chamber of Commerce had a 1926 budget of $5,000.
Further news in the February 18, 1926, issue of the Elk City News-Democrat reported that planting sweet clover was beneficial to a farmer’s livestock while enriching the soil. In addition, the Rex Theater ran an ad for the movie A Kiss for Cinderella. The ad enticed young ladies to attend the movie and possibly win a pair of slippers. “At 8:30 the first young lady on the stage that can wear these slippers gets them free.” The slippers were “the latest spring style” and valued at $10.
In the same paper, United Cash Stores advertised pork & beans for 9₵ a can and bananas for 28₵ a dozen. Another ad was for a public auction where 35 head of mules would be sold. Yet another ad invited farmers to come to Farmers Milling and Supply Company and drive the new John Deere kerosene-burning, three-plow tractor. In other news, the Laff-A-Lot Club had met for lunch and needlework, and the new Broadway Methodist Church was nearing completion.
The February 15, 1926, edition of the Southwestern Elk City Press reported that Troop One of the Boy Scouts had met at First Christian Church. The Boy Scouts were celebrating their sixteenth anniversary. The article reminded readers that “every Boy Scout in America does a good turn every day without receiving pay for it.”
The February 18, 1926, edition of the Sayre Journal had an article entitled “Osage Indian Reign of Terror.” The article told of the crimes that began in 1922 against the Osage Indians in Oklahoma that were perpetrated in order to steal the Osage oil wealth. In four years’ time, at least nine murders had occurred, although some sources reported the number of murders to be as high as twenty-two. The ironic thing about the story is that it was resurrected in David Grann’s 2017 best-selling book, Killers of the Flower Moon. The book resulted in a major movie and an OETA documentary.
The February 18, 1926, edition of the Beckham County Democrat continued the serialized novel In Valhalla and Out by George Ethelbert Walsh. In the book, a young man stows away on a yacht and overhears a sinister conversation. In the same paper, a want ad states that the Watkins Company is looking for men who are “real live wires.” Many of today’s readers can remember when the Watkins Man came to our doors selling personal and homecare items along with pantry staples such as vanilla extract.
The February 18, 1926, edition of the Texola Tribune reported that pie suppers would be held in the Oak Valley and the River View communities. The article encouraged the people of Texola to attend the events and buy pies. The proceeds from the sale of the pies were earmarked for improvements to the local schools. In addition, the paper reported that repairs to the bridge north of Texola over the North Fork of Red River was expected to be complete within a few days. Businesses reliant on the bridge had been stationing a man at the bridge day and night to pull people across the river at some expense. The people and businesses of Texola were expected to benefit from the repairs.
The newspapers of 1926 give us insight into life a hundred years ago. Some companies such as John Deere and Watkins are still serving customers, and the history-making crime against the Osage Indians has had renewed interest in recent years. We share common interests and concerns with the people who lived in Beckham County many years ago.