HISTORY OF EL RENO, OK
BY Carolyn Barker
£L &^ tt^yj/nfc, #^° 1 I1 1 1 f JI HI ID I JI II ll ll ll ll ll V
5C_UWK<-/ History of El Reno, OK
El Reno has a remarkable and interesting history.
This was my endeavor to help preserve some of it.
This history was written for the Canadian County History Book
that was published in 1991 by Carolyn Barker. EL RENO El Reno had a controversial beginning. This town began in 1889 and was not legally straightened out until 1892. John Foreman located cattle trails for railroads and assisted in running a line from Kansas to El Reno in the 1880s. In the 1889 landrun he homesteaded the NW% 9-12-7. Foreman filed...a_ soldier' s declaratory statement on it. He also signed a homestead affidavit stating that the entry was "for the purpose of actual settlement for his own benefit and not for other people." On May 13, two days after filing his homestead, Foreman took a four day trip. Upon his return he found a group of men surveying and laying out a town. They advised him to lease a portion of his homestead to the townsite company. On May 19 he leased 120 acres to the Oklahoma Homestead and Town Company, while 40 acres were kept for his own to cultivate. This company was chartered February 26, 1889 as a private corpora tion. Some of the objects of the company were to purchase land, lay out townsites, buy and sell lots, rent buildings, etc. After securing the lease the company platted the town. A charter was adopted on the townsite on May 22nd. It read: "It was unanimously resolved, that, whereas, there are no means whereby the inhabitants of El Reno can legally enter lands under the laws of the United States, and whereas_ in all lands attempted to be occupied as goverment town- sites, there is great strife and uncertainty in regard to titles and the possession of lots, it is expedient that the people of the town of El Reno, adopt the system proposed by the Oklahoma Homestead and Town Company, and take leases for the lots with an agreement for the deeds as soon as the settlers get final receipt or the government provides a law under which the occupants can secure title." Apparently Foreman and the townsite company were in harmony, as he made more than one trip to Washington to secure appropriate townsite legislation and to enter his homestead for townsite purposes. The Territorial Act of May 2, 1890 made provisions for the incorp orations of towns. So on June 11 a petition was submitted to the county commissioners. They ordered the 120 acre tract of Foreman and the ad joining 80 acres of Thomas Jensen be incorporated as the "Village of El Reno." A. A. Farnham, E. E. Elterman, A. F. Masterman, M. M. Kerfoot ' • .-.:-..•' *•••••• •.-"•• *' "" * V,;'; .... 7 Legal Petition of El Reno Village ¥r ':IA For Incorporation Is Reprinted
:; 7 Incorporation :of the Village of El* Reno..Petition presented., by the citizens of, tho. Village of El Reno'rcqucstingthe Honor*?' • able. Board:-;of County. Commissioners to incorporate said Vil- : lage of El-Rcho:as':pcr.the provisions of Chapter 14 of the' Re-/. ' vised -Statutes of •Nebraska;"', applying in Oklahoma Territory under Section 11. of the ''Organic Act" of said .Territory. _••..,-.: • The Honorable Board made the following-order:--••-•--.-.' v.'- \•". '•'•' And now, on this 12th day of June, 1890 comes t-on • for., '..hearing the. petition of the inhabitants ,of* the Village of El*. •Reno, .Fourth County,-Oklahoma Territory, praying that they..' ' may be incorporated and may have the power of incorporated • " towns that the name.of said Village be El Reno and the metes.. and .bounds of said.Village be as', hereinafter described. '•'••'• •"'..-• •• And it appearing to" the'Board that a majority. of_.the.Taxr.-, able male inhabitants..of said Village have signed the petition and that the prayer of the petitioners is reasonable, it is there fore ordered and declared that said Village0be incorporated • with the following metes and bounds Viz.:* .' '••.». Beginning at the northwest* corner, of the northwest * quarter of Section (9) nine Township 02) Tyyclye north of ^ •-.-•'•Range- (7). Seven West 'of• Indian Meridian: Thence' West"• along._t.hc Section line to thc.point.where said Section line'. intersects-the' 00th Meridian: Thence South'along'said ". meridian-line 160 rods: Thence east on the half section ;line ",. to the point where said half section, line intersects the sec tion line between sections (8) eight and (9) nine of said'.. Township and Range: Thence East. . 1G0 rods:7 Thence North 1G0 Rods;.Thence West 80 Rods:* Thence North 80 '.- . Rods: Thence \Vest 80 rpds_to.the_p.]acc_Q_Lbcginning: and • that the inhabitants within -said bounds by a body politic * .and icorporate by'the name and style of "The Village of • .••El Reno" and by that name-they and their successors shall . be known in law...' •.'"*"•'... "And it is-further ordered that A. A. Farnham, E; E. Eltcr-; . man, A. .F.-Mastcrman, M. M. Kerfoot and WIT. Graham be-
-r\ and'constitute the' Board of Trustees, for. said Village of El. •'Reno until, their successors .are elected and qualified as.pro vided by. law.' . •*' '„.',. ...• ';]'•' '' . .'• '.*..' '. •-.. •/. .*. -.* . '-'A. . •',. "At a' subsequent, meeting oh the Honorable* Board of .County.: .-Commissioners held on.the 7th day of July, 18.90 the-rcsigna-', tion of A'.. F. Mastcrmah was received .'and accepted arid H. K: . Rickcr was appointed to fill the vacancy"./.v' • •-'•.•*• '»•*.'.'. .-The Territory of Oklahoma 1 '•''-•.. —*—_ „_ . _ vss t , .;•••..J3 Fourth County^ . Jj„< .. '.' * ;• •'' ;;.,*I, Parker _*§. Smith, 'County .'Clerk .within 'and.'' for.'said •.-.Territory.'do hereby certify that -the- foregoing is a- true copy •;. of vthe-decree of. -Commissioners"Court of- 'the"FouRH'-'Couhty" Of Oklahoma Territory now on file in my office.' * Witness my hand and.seal this-15th day of July, 1890. ., • Signed: ' ' • _' PARKER S. SMITH, . • \ ((SEAL) • . County Clerk. ' -• page 2 and H. T. Graham were appointed as trustees of the village. Anson A. Davis, a homesteader near Frisco, charged Foreman was a "sooner" and worked for the townsite company. The Commissioner of the General Land Office ruled in favor of Foreman. Davis then appealed the decision to the Secretary of the Interior. The matter was also taken to the U. S. Congress. The town lot holders urged congress to pass a bill for the relief of the inhabitants of El Reno, so they could get clear title to their lots. On February 6, 1892 John W. Noble, Secretary of the Interior handed down his decision. He directed that the homestead and cash en tries made by Foreman, be cancelled and the land be entered under the townsite law. LOT JUMPING About noon the same day an El Reno citizen received a private message about Mr. Noble's decision. The Foreman land was opened for public settlement. About 9:00 p.m. lot jumpers moved on the land and in about an hour almost every lot was occupied. It was reported the sound of hammers were heard all night long. The next morning shingles, pieces of foundations, dugouts and skeleton frames had been put on these lots, i On February 15, 1892 several El Reno citizens presented a petition to the U. S. Congress, asking that the land be entered under the town- , site law. Adjoining homestead entries of Thomas Jensen and James Thompson were cancelled on November 26, 1892. John Foreman relinquished to the U. S. Goverment all his right, title and interest in the tract of land he had claimed as a homestead on August 1, 1893. Thus the first clear title was secured by the city of El Reno in 1893. HOW EL RENO GOT ITS NAME The promoters of the town, which included several officers from Fort Reno, wanted to name their town after the fort. So they decided on the name Reno. But the post office department refused to establish a post office with that name. It claimed there would be too much con fusion with Fort Reno, Reno City and Reno all within a few miles of each other. page 3 The town promoters and the Fort Reno officers met several times to choose a new name. In July, 1889 William C. McDonald, R. R. Hickox and
Dr. A. K. Jackson were in a wagon on their way to Fort Reno to again discuss a new town name. When they reached Target Creek, near Fort Reno, the driver, Mr. McDonald, suddenly exclaimed he had a name! "El Reno!"
He explained that "el" in Spanish meant "the". He felt sure the post office department would accept that name. Which it did.
At first it was spelled as one word. Elreno. However, when Reno
City faded from existence, the name became the two words "El Reno" as we know it today.
EL RENO IN THREE LAND OPENINGS
El Reno's early history was unique in another way. It had a part in three different land openings.
The east part of the town was established in the 1889 land run.
Grand street was on the edge of the 98th Meridian, which was the west boundary of this land run.
Many people came to El Reno to make the run into the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe lands in April 1892. This opened the land which became the western part of El Reno.
The 1901 land drawing was held in El Reno. That summer the town was host to thousands of hopeful people wanting land.
FIRST STREET NAMES
In June 1889 George Lambe was hired by the townsite company to plow the streets. He got a wagon load of cedar posts and made the stakes that the surveyors used to plat out the new town.
The 1892 plat map's boundaries were as follows: Grand Street on the west, Foreman Street on the north, Foster on the east and Cavanaugh
Street on the south. In the southwest corner a few blocks extended to page 4
Elm Street.
9Bth Meridian
Foreman \ •8 a u A \ "^ \
10 0 Etu **1 Havana ULgn ^> Elro X
PL IT MAP OF EL RENO
Many of the original streets were named in honor of the Fort Reno officers, whom the town promoters had interested in the new town, the streets so named were: CARSON for Lieutenant Carson of the Fifth Cavalry. FOSTER for Quartermaster Foster of the Fifth Cavalry. HAYES for Captain "Black Jack" Hayes of the C Troop, Fifth Cavalry. HOFF for Dr. Hoff, a major of the Fifth Cavalry. JENKINS for Lieutenant Jenkins of K Troop, Fifth Cavalry. LONDON for Lieutenant London of the Fifth Cavalry. MACOMB for Lieutenant Macomb of B Troop, Fifth Cavalry. RUSSELL for Major Russell of the Fifth Cavalry. WADE for Col. J. F. Wade, commanding officer of the Fifth Cavalry and commander of Fort Reno. WATTS for Captain Watts of F Troop, Fifth Cavalry. The following is a list of the streets named after civilians. ADMIRE for Captain J. L. Admire, receiver of the Kingfisher Land Office. BARKER for W. D. Barker, Indian teacher at Darlington. BICKFORD for H. L. and C. B. Bickford, who were in the freight business with headquarters at Darlington. EVANS for Neal W. Evans, post trader at Fort Reno and later moved to El Reno. FOREMAN for Major John A. Foreman, on whose claim the original townsite Page 5
of El Reno was located. ROGERS for Dr. C. S. Rogers, whom the townsite organizers selected as the first mayor. WILLIAMS for W. G. "Caddo Bill" Williams who owned a ranch west of Minco before the opening and later ran a wholesale grocery in El Reno.
Choctaw was considered the "Main Street" in the early days, as most of the businesses were located on it. SOME OF EL RENO'S FIRST
The FIRST BANK was established in 1889 by S. W. Sawyer and call the Bank of El Reno. The FIRST BRICK BUILDING was the two story city hall owned by Jake Schweitzer. The FIRST HOTEL was the Hotel Del Monte with W. H. Tusten as proprietor. It was later renamed the Anstine. The FIRST GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORE was the Elterman and Company, located at 105 So. Bickford. The FIRST DRUG STORE was operated by Dr. J. M. Patterson at 106 So. Bickford. The FIRST PHYSICIANS were Dr. J. 0. Sandercook and Dr. A. H. Jackson. Tne FIRST MEN'S CLOTHING STORE was J. G. Wierwalter and Company. It was owned by Joseph Bierwalter and William Esser and located about 205 So. Wade. The FIRST BAKERY was in a dugout about 507 So. Choctaw and run by William Emms. The Price"s Market was the FIRST MEAT MARKET and was located about 109 W. Woodson. The FIRST ARCHITECT was W. H. Riley. The FIRST LIQUOR DEALER was Jake Schweitzer. The FIRST ATTORNEY was William R. Kirkpatrick. The FIRST BLACKSMITH was Tom Dowell. The FIRST DEPARTMENT STORE was Kelso's owned by James E. Kelso about 109 No. Bickford in a frame building 20 by 60 feet. The FIRST HARDWARE STORE was operated by J. W. Hughes on the corner of Bickford and Hayes. The FIRST LIVERY was owned by C. W. Beers, named Bon Ton Livery on No. Barker. The FIRST BUS AND TRANSFER was located at 101 So. Barker and owned by Felix Willan. In 1889 El Reno had an opera house. It had board sides with a canvas roof. It was used for almost any kind of gathering, such as school, church and political convention. Most of the seats were boards laid across empty beer kegs to form benches. Most of the contents had been con sumed by the public. Tom Jensen had El Reno's FIRST MILK ROUTE. He served his patrons from a milk can tied onto his saddle horn. The FIRST CHILD BORN in El Reno was El Reno Clayton, daughter of W. G. and Lucy Clayton. She was born in March 1890. The FIRST BOY born in El Reno was J. Gilbert Tompkins, son of James G. and Lillie Tompkins. He was born later in the same year. The FIRST TINSMITH was A. F. Newell. In 1891 he used ox teams to EL RENO'S FIRSTS continued transport the first post office building from Reno City to 116 So. Rock Island and used it for his business. The FIRST WHOLESALE GROCERY was the Greathouse Wholesale Grocery Company in 200 block of So. Rock Island. The FIRST JEWELER AND WATCHMAKER was Ben Wurm. The FIRST MILL was the El Reno Mill and Elevator Company with Ed Humphrey as proprietor. NEWSPAPERS
El Reno was known as the "Newspaper Graveyard of the Southwest." Many were started and only a few continued for any length of time. Reno Herald was the first paper in El Reno. It started in June, 1889. At different times it was known as the El Reno Herald and the Oklahoma Herald, the old Washington Hand Press that the "Boomers" used and thought ruined by a group of cattlemen , who opposed Payne and the settlement of the territory, was repaired and used in the El Reno Herald office. The El Reno News began as an 8-page weekly on April 9, 1896. It was sold on July 4, 1901 to the American Publishing Company and called the American News. The El Reno Daily American started on the same day. It changed ownership and was changed from daily to weekly and back again many times. finally on December 24, 1910, the El Reno American became a weekly newspaper printed on Thursdays. In August 1958 Merle Woods, owner, leased the American to the El Reno Tribune, while he kept the press for commercial printing. The "Americanism" column was written by Mr. Woods until his death. When the lease expired in July, 1988 the American Newspaper was discontinued. The Courier was moved to El Reno from Frisco about 1890. It was sold in November 1893 and was consolidated with the Democrat. The Eagle started in Reno City and was moved to El Reno. On November 22, 1894 it absorbed the El Reno Daily News. Early in 1900 the man who held a mortgage on the equipment took over the plant. The Globe started in 1892 and was the first daily on the west side of town. The Globe absorbed the Supper Bell and was renamed the Globe-Bell. On December 8, 1905 it was consolidated with the Democrat. The Industrial Headlight was a populist paper started in 1894 by J. C. Towsley. He wanted to run for congress but changed his plans and with drew. The paper failed in 1897. The People's Press started in December 1910 as a free daily paper. In January 1894 the Republican began. It changed hands several times. the paper ended with the January 13, 1899 edition. Supper Bell was started as a two-column sheet to advertise the owner's job office. It was enlarged until it became a six-column, eight page paper. It was published everyday for five years and was placed free in every home in El Reno. A wee<|kly edition of 5,000 copies were mailed to Washita, Blaine, Custer and Canadian Counties. Newspapers continued
An extra published in the morning was the Dinner Bell, on Sundays it was the Church Bell and the School Bell pertained to school affairs. On February 12, 1903 the paper was consolidated with the Globe. The El Reno Republic began as a daily and later became a weekly. The Cyclone was started by a preacher to fight a news editor on another paper. The Daily Visitor was a free daily started in 1893 or 1894. It was abandoned when the Supper Bell began. The El Reno Minstrel came from Minco on June 2, 1893 and a few weeks later moved back to Minco. The Saturday Advertiser was a free weekly paper published for 4 or 5 months in 1905. The Der Courier, A German newspaper, started on December 23, 1893. Volksbatt was another German language newspaper published between 1898 and 1910. The Staatz Zeitunq began about 1898. Other newspapers printed in El Reno were the Free Press, The Gazette, New Era, Times and the Tribune. The El Reno Daily Democrat and the People's Press were bought in September, 1930. A new daily newspaper The El Reno Daily Tribune was started. It is the only newspaper still being published in El Reno.
m EARLY FIRE DEPARTMENT
In the beginning the fire fighting equipment consisted of two hose carts drawn by hand. Usually the carts were pulled by cowboys, who looped the tow ropes of the carts about their saddle horns and beat the volunteer firemen to the blaze. 1^ /S7V -_". 2 *_••_<'. c.-,-m e<->r.' he,J ?oc icd of /*<>_•. Before there was a fire bell or siren, everyone would run out into the streets yelling or firing their guns in the air.
In 1894 the fire station had a bell tower in the street in front of city hall. By 1895 the fire bell tower had been moved behind the jail. In 1901 the fire alarm was operated by an electric bell on the tower. The bell and hose tower was located near the southwest corner of the city b/uilding in 1904.
FIRST FIRE El Reno's first fire of any consequence occurred in the 600 block of North Choctaw in November 1892. The fire at Mr. Moran's house was extinquished by the neighbors. Since there was no water-works system at that time, barrels of water were used for the hose cart. The neighbors carried the water in buckets to fill these barrels. 1899 FIRE On August 23, 1899 an explosion caused by a leaking gasoline tank in the El Reno Steam Laundry burned it to the ground. The fire was so hot the firemen could not get close enough to put it out. Mr. Fryberger brought large woolen blankets from his store. These were soaked with water and then used as a shield. This enabled the firemen to confine the fire to the four frame buildings that were in flames before they arrived on the scene.
FIRE HORSES Belle and George were the fire team forrten7years:and won several prizes at tire team contests. They were retired in 1902. George died in 1910. Dan and Pat took over the job of pulling the fire wagon in 1902. The coal block team weighed 3,050 pounds and was perfectly matched. Dan dropped dead after making a quick run to 717 South Miles for a fire in April, 1911. Pat served until:1916 when he was given to the street department. Pat was under their care until late 1929, when he was turned over to the cemetery sexton. Pat, the last of the El Reno fire horses, died in January, 1930 at the cemetery. FIRST FIRE TRUCK El Reno's first motor driven fire wagon arrived on January 22, 1916. "Old Betsy" was the name given by the firemen to the 1915 model American LaFrance fire engine. Its first fire run was made on January 31, 1916 to 604 South Williams. The last major fire to which it responded was in 1955 to the Brinkley Furniture Store, where it pumped water for 12 straight hours. "Old Betsy" is currently housed in the red barn of the Canadian County Museum. El Reno Carnegie Library
In the early 1890s the Athenaeum Club of El Reno organized a small library. In the beginning they met in members' homes and held small entertainments to raise money for books. The club was responsible for a petition to the City Council requesting an ordinance be passed to maintain a public library in and for the city, which the council passed on April 2, 1902. E. D. Humphrey, Henry Lassen, J. Hensley, J. A. Hatchett, I. C. Montgomery and S. H. Reid were appointed to the Library Board of Directors. This board made arrangements to rent rooms to house the library and contacted the clubs in town to solicit funds and books for the library. The first librarian was E. D. Cave. On January 28, 1904 the board voted to accept Andrew Carnegie's proposition for a library. He would give $12,500.00 if the city would agree to maintain the library at an expense of not less than $1,250.00 a year. The library board accepted the completed building on May 5, 1905. It was the fourth Carnegie Library built in Oklahoma. It is the oldest Carnegie Library in the state, still being used as a library. The first floor of the building was designed for library use, the second floor was an auditorium with a stage. From 1905 until the high school was built, most of the graduation exercises were held in the aud itorium. Other entertainments were also presented there. A special children's section of the library was established in 1912. The upstair auditorium was not used much after 1912. So in 1927 it was decided to remodel the room and move the children's library upstairs. The stage was walled off and used for storage. The ceiling in the aud itorium was lowered. At this time a full-time children's librarian was hired. A bond issue was passed for an addition, which included an archives room, air-conditioning and other needed repairs. It was completed in 1964 at a cost of $54,000.00. The archives room was named after longtime El Reno librarian Edna Mae Armold. In 1980 the Ashbrook Foundation gave $50,000.00 and the City of El reno matched the fund. This addition contained a meeting room, a reference room and two restrooms. The meeting room was named in honor of Mary K. Ashbrook. Library continued
The building has been well preserved. The lobby and stairway has the original marble. The embossed metal ceiling with a Florentine design was originally installed in 1905. The large wooden desk in the main lobby was constructed in 1909 and is still in use. Color was added to the decorative terra cotta in the main lobby in 1953.
• • I 1: I I • I I I I HOSPITALS El Reno Sanitarium Doctors John A. Hatchett and Henry C. Shuttee built the El Reno Sanitarium in 1902 at 620 East Wade. It contained 20 beds at that time. The first patient was C. F. McCain. He was treated for typhoid fever before the building was completed. The first nurse was Miss Ida Ferguson. The three story hospital was doubled in size in 1908. After 1910 seven adjoining buildings were used for a maternity home, a contagious diseases hospital, 3 buildings for nurses' homes, and a large steam laundry with the second floor used for classrooms. In the first 12 years, the hospital received and treated 3,179 patients. In 1937 it had a capacity of 36 beds. In 1912 Dr. Thomas M. Aderhold became owner and Chief of Staff. The El Reno Sanitarium continued to serve the community until 1954 when Park View Hospital opened.
Nursing School A training school for nurses was established at the El Reno Sanitarium in 1903. It was the first hospital in the state to adopt a regular course of training and graduate a class of trained nurses. Miss Floy Ben Bow was the first graduate in 1904. Candidates for admission had to be in good health, educated and possess good common sense. They were on three months probation to see whether they were suitable to enter the school. The student nurses worked nine hours during the day and ten hours at night. They were allowed a half day off during the week and a half day each Sunday. The school was discontinued in 1929, after having graduated 101 women. Clark Hospital Dr. Fred Clark established a small hospital in the business section of El Reno in 1910. But he entered W W I and never returned to El Reno. CATTO HOSPITAL The Catto Hospital was opened October 16, 1909 over the City Drug Store at 120 South Bickford by Dr. William B. Catto. In late 1923 the institution moved into larger quarters at 421 South Williams. The three hospitals continued story residence had a 25 bed capacity in 1937. It closed in September, 1954 when the new Park View Hospital opened. Laughton Hospital The Laughton Clinic and Hospital opened in December, 1948 at 421 South Rock Island. The new building was built for Doctors W. A. and Elneanor Laughton. It consisted of 14 rooms on the first floor and 4 rooms in the basement. The hospital was discontinued around 1970. But the doctors continued to operate their clinic for many years.
Park View Hospital El Reno's long-awaited new modern $575,000.00 Park View Hospital was officially dedicated on August 15, 1954. The city voters had passed a bond issue of $350,000.00 and the federal government contributed the rest of the money. At first it was owned and operated by the City of El Reno. In October 1969 Park View Hospital began providing ambulance service for El Reno and the surrounding area. In early 1971 a local Trust Authority took over the operations of the hospital from the City of El Reno. Later that same year, an addition was built to house new ancillary services. In October 1984, park View Hospital established its Home Health Service covering a five-county area and providing many services. This service allowed patients to recuperate in their homes. The hospital developed one day surgery service in December 1984. In 1989 Park View Hospital contained 54 beds and ten newborn bassi nettes. Today it provides a full spectrum of general practice and specialty services. It has a broad group of over fifty physicians practicing there. The hospital is a viable part of the El Reno community, employing approsimately 190 people in many different aspects of health care. Early Day Doctor During Dr. J. A. Hatchett's early days in the county, he made his rounds on a saddle horse, named Dick. Upon the death of his horse, he used a horse-drawn buggy for his trips, until automobiles came into general use. RECREATIONAL AREAS
Peach's Lake In 1903 or 1904 Sam Peach, an El Reno merchant, built a recreation park on the west side of Reno Street. A few years later he built a dam across the creek and the lake that was formed was known as Peach's Lake. Peach's Park had a baseball diamon, vaudeville house, dancing pavillion and boats in 1908. At also had a miniature scenic railroad, skating rink and a merry-g-round.
Legion Bark Legion Park was formerly Peach's Park, the neake was nearly com pletely excavated in april 1920. A rustic bridge was built in the summer to connect the island with the mainland. The lake was used for both, boating and swimming. In 1923 the park covered 17 acres, with \\ acres set aside as tourist facilities, the fee of 254* per car was changed for over-night parking in 1926. The park is still being used, but the lake is much smaller now and swimming is no longer allowed. Baseball diamonds on the west side are still being used.
Bellamy Lake It is not known when Bellamy Lake or Reno Lake was built. But the article from the El Reno Democrat of November 16, 1905 read: "The contract for raising and strengthening the dam at Bellamy's Lake was awarded to Will Penwright, and the work is now being done. The contract calls for the completion of the job in ninety days. The dam will be raised three and it will be wide enough on top for a good drive way. The added height of the dam will enlarge the lake to 120 acres and it will double the capacity of the lake." Bellamy Lake had a pump to provide water in the Rock Island Railroad water tank near the depot in 1907. The dam broke on June 12, 1907 and flooded the eare in the northern part of El Reno. The dam broke loose at the center after 5 3/4 inches of rain fell in 8 hours. Many fish washed out of the lake, that had been stocked there. On February 21, 1908 it was reported that Bellamy's Lake was rapidly filling with water and would soon have as much water in it as when the dam broke last spring. Later that same year Lake Reno covered 110 acres with a granite- lined dam 1500 by 12 feet. When filled the lake contained 175,000,000 gallons of water. Boat houses lined the shore.
Adams Park
Lawrence G. Adams, pioneer El Reno Resident, died on July 25, 1941 and bequeathed a large portion of his estate to the city of El Reno for a public park. The 120 acre farm was located on the west edge of El Reno. It embraced the site of the old Bellamy Lake. Part of the dam remained with a large grove near it. Under the terms of the will the land would remain in the possession of the city so long as it was devoted to park purposes. Adams Park is still a well-maintained area which many people enjoy all year round. Lake El Reno The city of El Reno recognized a need for flood control and recreat ional facilities. The flood plain of Four Mile Creek was flooded fre quently and severely. The flood of 1953 flooded 353 acres of the urban area of El Reno. Approximately 475 homes and 25 businesses were affected, as well as railroad property, city streets, a sewage disposal plant, two city parks and public utilities. Lake El Reno, a part of the four Mile Creek Watershed project, was a joint venture by the city of El Reno and the United States Soil Con servation Service. The lake is for flood prevention storage and recreational water. The city's portion of the cost of construction of the lake was furnished by a bond issue voted in October, 1959. Most of it was paid by the federal government. Construction on Lake El Reno began in the fall of 1965. The final inspection on the dam was held on March 2, 1966. Most of the sewer, water and road work was completed by November, 1966. The lake was opened for fishing and recreation by June, 1968. Channel improvement on 4.8 miles of the Four Mile Creek below the dam started in July, 1968. Many people have enjoyed the lake area. Fourth of July fire works were held there for many years. The flooding has been corrected and homes are no longer flooded, like they were before. The City of El Reno is responsible for the operation, maintenance and replacement of the lake and stream channel improvement.
City Parks Besides Lake El Reno, the city has 738 acres of city parks. 1 hese include a swimming pool built in 1935, tennis courts, baseball diamonds and rodeo facilities.These parks include: Legion and Adams parks pre viously mentioned; Bronson park near Rose Witcher; Burton Park, formerly known as Dunbar Park; Frank Knight Park, which was formerly City Park; Gadberry Park at 23rd and South Miles; Hillcrest Park between Hadden and Ellison near the school; and Rinehart Park, which is a green belt between the residencial area and the Country Club Shopping Center. EL RENO REFORMATORY
The federal reformatory was constructed in the southeast corner of Fort Reno military reservation. The first ground was broken on January 20, 1932 on the 1,000 acre tract located on the south side of U. S. Highway 66,just west of El Reno. The first group of 25 prisoners arrived on April 3, 1933 from the reformatory at Leavenworth. These honor prisoners helped to get ready for the next 50 inmates. By August, 1934 the inmate population was about 725. The Southwestern U. S. Reformatory was opened to the public on February 10 and 11, 1934. A total of 13, 396 people visited the reform atory to view the facilities. New construction began in late 1936 and continued through 1939 to increase the rated capacity of 750 to 1,200 prisoners. The name "Southwestern U. S. Reformatory" was changed to the El reno Federal Reformatory. The broom factory was installed in 1937. In the spring of 1938 the machinery and equipment was from from the Leavenworth plant to El Reno. This made the El Reno institution the only broom factory in the U. S. prison industry's set up. Over 100 inmates were employed in the factory and their average daily output was over 175 dozen brooms in 1939. Another industry was the weaving mill. Its equipment consisted of 31 master hand looms, dye vat, etc. the raw wool from the clipped animal was woven into wool material. During WWII the industry shop made some 25,000 cargo nets for the armed forces. New houses at the reformatory circle were built and part of the POW camp were remodeled to relieve the housing shortage for reformatory em ployees in 1947. Around 1976 the medium security institution's name was changed to Federal Correctional Institution of El Reno. It began taking all ages of adult male inmates. When the reformatory began it was for first- termers and youthful offenders. School and college courses were offered to the inmates. They also received vocational training in auto mechanics, food service, machine shop, welding, meat cutting and related trades instruction. The in dustry consisted of a machine,tool and die factory and a broom factory. A major change in the FCI's role came in late 1980, when a level 1 minimum-security camp was built outside the prison walls. reformatory continued Currently the Federal Correctional institution is one of El Reno's largest employers, with 430 employees. Unlike most prisons, the FCI is a major transportation center for inmates moving across the country. Virtually every inmate who is transferred across the U. S. spends the night at the El Reno facility. RADIO STATIONS KCHE El Reno's first radio station officially went on the air on October 3, 1948. KCHE was located at 1520 on the radio dial. The 500 watts station was licensed to broadcast during the daylight hours only. The studio was located on the second floor of the First National Bank building. It consisted of the main studio, a newsroom, the engineering room and an office and reception room. The engineering room contained a broadcasting unit with two transcription turntables, while the newsroom held a teletype with United Press leased wire, which provided 24 hours coverage of the world's news. This was transmitted the first five min utes of each hour throughout the day. The 190 feet transmitting tower was near the old POW camp west of El Reno. Some of the people doing disc jockey duties or play-by-play of the El Reno football games were: Gene Young, Harry Ward, Hi Roberts, Bill McNaught, Tom Gilmore and Francis "Did" Dwyer. Ethel Crump of Kelso Department Store performed commercial duties. KCHE went off the air on July 31, 1950, due to the lack of monetary support by local merchants and the high cost of operations. K E L R The radio station K E L R -was on the air in 1966. The station was located east of El Reno at 2715 South Radio Road. K E L R was on the 1460 A M radio dial. It played a mixture of music and had local news, sports and other programming, until Bill B. Marshall sold it in 1971. It then played religious music until 1976 when the call letters were changed. K C A N In 1977 the radio station became known as K C A N and was pronounced as K-CAN. This station played country and western music and was in operation until 1984. KZUE In 1986 the radio station began anew with the call letters KZUE. It continued to play western style music. K Z U E is currently a Spanish-speaking station. MOVIES
AI Jennings Of Oklahoma was a 1951 movie based on Jennines' own autobiography. He was a local earlv day bank robber, band member and lawyer, who later became an actor in western movies. The film starred
Dan Duryea as Jennings and Gale Storm. Jennings taught another actor,
Tex Sitter, how to handle a gun in Song Of The Gringo in 1936.
HUMAN DESIRE
The movie, Human Desire, was filmed in El Reno in December, 1953. El Reno was chosen as the filming location because it was a typical mid west railroad town with extensive railroad facilities. About one-fourth of the movie scenes were shot in El Reno. The railroad yards, roundhouse, 100 block of North Bickford, a home on South Evans and a home near the Schroeder Elevator were used as locations. The highlight of the filming for the citizens of El Reno was the barroom brawls at Dugan's Bar on West Wade. The rest of the movie was filmed in Hollywood. Bruce Haynes of Haynes Studio was awarded the contract for the still photographs. He took many pictures around the railroad shops, yard, depot and inside of trains for the movie company. The name of the movie was End Of The Line while it was being filmed in El Reno. Later the title was changed to Human Desire. El Reno became the make-believe railroad town of Sorton, Oklahoma in the movie, while the Rock Island Railroad was known as the Central National. The movie starred the well-known actors Glenn Ford, Broderick Crawford, Gloria Graham and Edgar Buchanan. About forty local people were used as extras. Several of them were railroaders. An attempt to have the world premiere showing of the movie held in El Reno was unsuccessful. But the first showing in Oklahoma was held at the Centre Theatre in El Reno on September 30, 1954. RAIN MAN A small portion of another movie, Rain Man,was filmed in El Reno in in June, 1988. The movie people wanted to be within 30 minutes from the airport and they wanted Ve locale to look like Missouri, Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. The Big 8 Motel, located on the east of El Reno, was the filming site. The sign was changed to read The Big 8 as Amarillo's Finest. A construction crew worked for two weeks fixing up the motel, replacing neon on the sign out front and remodeling a room for the film shooting. Then the movie stars Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise and the rest of the movie crew arrived in El Reno. Ten local people and their cars were used as extras. Se-v. t-o . The movie was released at Christmas time. It later won some Oscar awards. PARKING METERS
Parking in the downtown area became a problem as early as the 1930s. A petition with more than 300 signatures, most of them from outside of
El Reno, was presented to the city council. This brought about a two- af n*•***•' tc.'*""^ J.
"One of El Reno's chronic problems is that of adequate parking. This problem will become more acute as El Reno grows and extends its trade area. Rural people, when interviewed, mentioned the parking problem as a factor in their trade, or lack of trade, in El Reno. As an immediate project, the matter of adequate parking should be high on the list." The report recommended an intensive educational program to encourage El Reno residents, particularly merchants, administrative and professional people, not to use the commercial area for parking. A chamber of commerce committee should be appointed to investigate the possiblity of acquiring parking areas adjacent to the present commercial area, and make cost estimates, the survey concluded. In 1950 more parking meters were installed. In 1964 the downtown merchants felt "free, accessable, off-street parking for customers was one of the most critical needs of the town." A dozen firms and individuals formed a corportion for the purpose of creating a parking lot. It was located on land that formerly was occupied by the Behne Building and Rocket Theater. In December 1964 there were nearly 500 meters in the downtown area. Their purpose was to provide more parking space for more people in the critical business area. The meters insured the downtown businesses a "brisk turnover" of customers each day. 0owntown merchants requested a 90 day trial period without parking meters in March 1970. The decision was delayed by the city council until October. The Parking meters were "sacked" through the Christmas season of 1970. Again in February 1971 a petition with 58 signatures of the El Reno was presented to the city countil. The petition asked for immediate "sacking" of the parking meters for a six month trial period. In March 1971 the parking meters were officially removed for a six month period. The free downtown parking began on March 15. A board of merchants from each block was set up to help prevent store employees from taking spaces in front of other businesses. The city council honored the mail survey of business people and citizens, which heavily favored leaving the parking meters out in Sept ember 1971. Thus ended the era of the El Reno parking meters. FUKKK&II \_:\__ DDuDu D% Q D PEBH \t\ DDDDD• •ROGER S •ODDDDfX aancDDHAYES D PARK •nODDDDDWOODSON D RUSSELL r, D^DC„.DnDQD„D HADE g g pj si s t: r LONDON DDDDDDDDD WATTS DDDDDDDDD cooNt;-. DDDDDDDDD DDDDODDD -PUT or that portion of EL REH0 an-bracing Th-> Nfr or SWfr Sac 9 •«_ Lota 1.2.3,Uof Sec 8 D UDDDnDDl In T12K - R7W in CtMdlM County, 0,D T. The survey was cortifiad on February 3, 1893.
NWf of Sac 9 Plat of which waa approvad May 26, 1892.
90lh Meridian
:•• 1 LA-- rl .C '-*" i-m^-. Truth or Myth
John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin, once lived at the Anstine Hotel for several months in 1902. He used the name of David
• George and came to El reno, where he painted houses for N. J. Anstine. George Roberts worked for him as a painter's helper. He often re marked that David George quoted Shakespeare, had the manners of an actor and used perfect English. The painter moved to Enid from El Reno. On a January day in 1903 screams of agony were heard from his hotel room. George had taken strychnine poison. A doctor could not save him and a local mortician began to carry out his duties. While doing so, Rev. E. D. Harper, pastor of the Methodist Church, told him, that he was embalming the body of the man who killed Pres. Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth...not the body of David George. Rev. Harper said that when he had served the church in El Reno, his wife had visited a family of the parish, who rented a room to George. The boarder became violently ill and drew Mrs Harper close to his bedside. He told her that he was not an ordinary house painter, but the man who killed the best man that ever lived, Abraham Lincoln. He told her not to doubt him, for he was a dying man. He told of his escape from Washington, of friends who rowed him down the Potomac to a steamer bound for Europe, where he spent several years before returning to American. A doctor restored him to health. He later swore the Harpers to secrecy concerning his identity, until after his death. A vow which they did not break. After word spread about his death, much controversy developed. The proprietors of the Anstine Hotel in El Reno, attested to George's un quenchable* thirst for theatrical journals, and his flair for the dramatic. Mrs Anstine recalled, that once when she had visited his room and found him pacing the floor, saying "why don't they know who I am? I killed the best man that ever lived." . , , trtA-h The U. S. government must have thought there might:be some tofevtoi-ktto this story, as they came to El Reno and took the page from the hotel registry, where he had signed his name. 1893
The Kerfoot Hotel was built in 1893 on the corner of Bickford and Hayes. The 56 bedroom hotel was the largest in Oklahoma. It had hot and cold water through the building and an elevator, the Kerfoot got most of the trade, because it had inside toilets and a bathtub. Another hotel was the Commercial Hotel on the corner of Choctaw and Russell streets. It was built in the fall and winter of 1889-90 by Jacob Schweizer. In 1893 there was not a single tree on the townsite of El Reno. So during that year the city had 1800 trees set out along the streets. All of them died because of drought and lack of attention.
1895
El Reno in 1895 was the third largest city of the territory in size. The Canadian County Bank and the Kerfoot Hotel, with 75 rooms, were both three story brick buildings. The town had a good water system, with about six miles of water pipes and 53 water hydrants. The fire department had 12 volunteer firemen and two salaried men. Five policemen maintained law and order. The hitching racks were always crowded. Cavalry horses were tied firmly; cow horses were never tied, but their bridle reins dropped to the ground; and the Indian horses never tied but with the wagon tongue dropped to the ground and the traces still hoolced to the double-trees.
In January 1895 it was reported that there were 201 retail and 7 wholesale businesses in El Reno. These numbers included: 11 dry goods, 15 groceries, 6 meat markets, 5 drugs, 5 hardware, 6 feed stores, 5 lumber, 4 millinery, 5 books, 4 confectionery, 3 clothing, 3 furniture, 3 harness, 5 shoemakers, 7 implements, 4 blacksmiths, 1 plumber, 2 under takers, 4 dentists, 10 doctors, 31 lawyers, 18 saloons, 2 flour mills, 1 ice plant, 1 bottling works, 1 carriage factory, 4 brickyards, 7 hotels, 5 livery stables, 10 restaurants, 3 volunteer fire companies, bus lines, telephone and electric light lines building.
1900s By 1900 the population of El Reno had grown to 4,120. Between 1901 and WWI El Reno enjoyed a steady increase in people and the rapid building of homes, businesses, schools and churches. The Stock Exchange Bank was established on February 8, 1892 and was located on the corner of Woodson and Bickford in a building that had been moved from Reno City. In 1893 when the Kerfoot Hotel opened, the bank was moved into it. The Stock Exchange Bank failed sometime in 1902 or 1903 and many people lost their deposits.
Elks Home
The Oklahoma Building at the St. Louis World's Fair was dedicated on November 16, 1903. Otto Shuttee of El Reno served on the building committee, while A. J. Miller of El Reno was the architect. Since the building was to advertise Oklahoma and its progress, naturally Oklahoma materials were used. The rooms were plastered with Oklahoma cement. The granite and limestone to build it came from Oklahoma. A mantle of Blaine County marble was used. The furniture was of Oklahoma wood. After the close of the fair, the building was dismantled and moved to El reno and rebuilt at 415 South Rock Island by the local lodge of Elks. The two story and basement building wad dedicated on January 16, 1906.
/ "101
When Oklahoma became a state in 1907, El Reno had a population of 5,370 and was the seventh largest city in the state. cm In 1907 El Reno had an electric light and gas plant, am ice plant conceded to be the largest in the territory, a fine sanitary sewerage system, a large storm sewer that took all the surplus water from the streets, four public school buildings, and one parochial/and many fine churches. The Old Minute Washer Company began to build another warehouse in March. Kelso Department Store had an addition erected to its store in May. The Southern Hotel was opened on August 4. ~].he three story brick building contained 53 rooms. It was owned and managed by Hans Paulsen. A new addition was constructed in 1909. The El Reno Foundry and Machine Company was started in 1901 by H. Breuer. In 1907 the company manufactured 1700 Monkey Stoves, which was a small stove used for heating and light cooking. In July, 1907 an article in a local newspaper stated a need for a "regulation of the speed of automobiles within the city limits and the matter of carrying lights on them." On September 4, 1907 the city council officials passed an ordinance making it a misdemeanor to spit on the sidewalks of the city and on the floors of public buildings. The penalty was fixed at one dollar and costs.
Pioneer Car The W R C Auto Works was organized in 1907 by Ed Wright, W. R. Roberts and Mr. Compton. The first car, called the W R C Auto Buggy, was manu factured in May 1907 and sold to the Catholic Priest at Kingfisher. The company was reorganized with Mr Wright, Roberts and W. F. Church and renamed the Pioneer Car Company. The factory started out making a complete car every four days. The Pioneer Car Company moved its offices and plant to Oklahoma City and in 1910 stopped manufacturing the Pioneer Car.
1910s The 1910 census reported El Reno had a population of 7,872, which made it the eleventh largest city in Oklahoma at that time. On November 2, 1910 thp citizens of El Reno voted for a new charter to change to the commission form of government. The vote carried nearly 4 to 1. El Reno's first election under the new form og government was held on April 5, 1911.
1912 In February 1912, the China Plant was destroyed by a fire. At the time of its construction in 1908, it was the largest builing in Oklahoma, the 165 by 430 feet building was purchased by the One Minute Washer Company only a few months before the fire. Portions of the building were leased and occupied by other companies. The north end of the structure was rented by the Western Sales Company, a wholesale business of vehicles, implements and furniture. The Fox Construction Company, railroad and general contractors, lost tools and outfits stored in the building. The El Reno Vinegar and Pickle Works saved part of their stock, by rolling out barrels of vinegar and cases of relishes. In 1912 El Reno had ten miles of paved streets, fifteen miles of sewers, eighteen miles of water works and seven water wells. 1916 and 1919 were reported as good years financially for the merchants and business people of El Reno.
1920 In 1920 the federal census showed 7,737 people living in El Reno. This was a decrease of 135 citizens from 1910.
1921 El Reno had always depended on wells for its water supply. In August 1921 a new $400,000.00 water system was completed. Five new wells were dug, each with an electric moter. These emptied into a million- gallon covered, concrete reservoir and a distribution system. In January, 1921 there was a shortage of housing. Many people were forced to store their household goods and wait for a place to rent. There were 146 residences built that year. Most of the buildings cost $1,500 to $3,000 to build and rented from $30 to $50 a month. It was reported the city authorities were gratified over the large increase in the number of homes erected. Because the house storage was unusually pressing and the growth of the city was being handicapped by the situation.
The Commercial Bank failed and closed on February 28, 1922. It was the largest institution in El Reno and one of the largest in Oklahoma, . having had deposits of about a million and a half Jo liar s . . School bonds were sold to the Commercial Bank in the fall of 1921 to build a high school. When the bank failed, these bonds were lost and the building of the school was halted.
1923 In March,1923 El Reno had 1750 homes ranging in price from $500 to $25,000. There were 14 churches, which was a church for every 550 people. The city was noted for having one of the best paved street systems in the state. A two inch coating of asphalt on a strong concrete found ation covered most of the streets. Some of the manufacturing industries were: El Reno Ice Company, which began in 1920; Waldo Alfalfa Mill; El Reno Broom, which had been in El Reno four years; El Reno Ice Cream Company; Morris Manufacturing Company; , El Reno Foundry and Machine Company; El Reno Whole sale Company; and two mills, the El Reno Mill and Elevator Company and the Canadian.. Mill and Elevator Co. Morris Manufacturing Company began in 1900 and made s-lo'fcn different products. They were truck bodies, truck cabs, wagon boxes, step ladders,
step stools, cow yokes, washing machines, incubators, three kinds of brooders, water fountains, hay baler blocks and spring wagon seats. The Wholesale Grocery Company had a coffee roasting department that could produce 360 pounds of coffee per hour. In 1923, the four brands of coffee made were Renoka, O-So-Good, Over The Top and Silver Spoon. The foundry made Monkey stoves, cannon heaters, cistern platforms, cotton machine castings and washing machine castings.
1924 El Reno enjoyed a steady growth in 1924. Many blocks were paved and several new residences were built.
1927 In 1927 the city government was changed from the commission form to the council-manager type.
1928 El Reno made great advances in growth and development during 1928. Several blocks of the brick pavement downtown were resurfaced with asphalt. 0 G & E installed the white way system. It replaced the arch light system, which had been installed twenty years before. The 112 pole white way system flashed on at 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening, December 12, 1928.
1930 In 1930 the population of El Reno was 9,384, showing an increase of over 1,600 people. 1935 On June 30, 1935 fire destroyed the Canadian Mill and Elevator Company's mill. The ten new wheat storage tanks that had just been completed the evening before were destroyed. The fire also threatened to wipe out a large section of the residential district as the flames, whipped by a strong south wind, carried embers for many blocks. Tt ignited the roofs of many homes, including the Missouri Hotel, which was located 13 blocks north of the mills. 1937 This was an exceptionally good year of construction for both, bus inesses and homes. About 30 new houses were built and old business structures were modernized. Mrs. Franklin D. Rooseveldt, the U. S. president's wife, gave a short talk at the dedication of the new National Youth Administration Center at 602 South Choctaw on March 13, 1937. The Canadian County unit was one of the first established in the state and the center was the first one completed in Oklahoma. The NYA house was formerly a residence on the site of the new junior high school building and was donated by the El Reno Board of Education. 1939 The pioneers had many celebration and parades each year, from the mid 1930s to the early 1940s when WWII's rationing was felt. El Reno's 50th anniversary pioneer celebration brought 20,000 people to see the big parade and evening show in May 1939. One hundred new residences were constructed in 1939. El Reno had 35 grocery and meat markets in 1938. 1940
El Reno population was reported to be 10,078. There wer 41 new residences built in 1940. In 1941 the El Reno Construction Company built a new warehouse. Mr Lawrence Adams died and in his will he deeded his farm on the west edge of town for park purposes. On March 15, 1942 a hail storm did $400,000.00 damage in El Reno. Nearly every building received some damage. The hail accompanied with rain and a strong wind did the worst damage in the business district. Seventy whiteway lights were broken, practically every neon and electric sign was destroyed and thousands of windows were shattered. Roof damage was extensive. The heavy hail stones whipped by a strong northwest wind chipped and scarred the surface of many buildings, almost completely removed the paint from some. The War Production Board ordered virtually all non-essential con struction halted for the duration of World War II. The building materials, labor and equipment were to be used for the war effort. With so many people coming to El Reno because of the Fort Reno post, POW camp, Mustang Field and other war related jobs, there was a lack of housing for the families of the men workinq in this area. IW A fire wiped out four buildings on the west side of the 100 block of South Bickford on December 23, 1943. These buildings housed the Boston Recreation hall, Rector Hardware, Woolworth Store , Western Union and the El Caro Theatre. The second floor occupants of the buildings were: Liebmann Estate, Dr J. P. Neal, dentist and Dr. J. T. Phelps and Dr. Malcom Phelps, physicians. The local fire department was assisted by a large fire truck and crew from Fort Reno and a smaller one from the reformatory. The Rock Island shops sent a volunteer crew to man one of the El Reno trucks. w*-* After the war was over construction again resumed. But in May, 1946 it; was reported material shortages were holding up many of the new building projects that had begun at the first of the year. Davidson and Case Lumber warehouse and contents in the 400 block of West Cooney were damaged by fire on July 30, 1946. In August of the same year the Rector and Jackson Electric opened. As well as Earl's Refrigeration. Dr. Ernest W. Potts opened his new dentist office. In September the city council contracted for paving 49 blocks. The new sub-division of Lore Heights, was platted. Dr C. A. Bentley opened his dental office. On November 12, 1946 the El Reno downtown area was rocked by an explosion of carbide acetylene gas in the Chandler Shop, located in the rear of the Midwest Oil Company at 212 W Wade. The force of the blast shattered windows in a large area, but no fire was reported. 1947 Fire from a flash-back of a kerosene stove, completely destroyed the newly opened Roll-A-Way skating rink, located east of the El Reno cemetery on the night of December 31, 1947. A large group of skaters celebrating New Year's Eve, spent a few anxious moments, when they found themselved blocked from the only exit of the building, they made their escape by knocking down a section of one of the walls. No one was injured, but most of them lost their coats, hats and shoes, as they wore skating shoes out of the building. Youngheim's Store moved to a new location at the corner of Bickford and Sunset. The First National Bank expanded its quarters into the old Youndheim's store, adjacent to the building. Mr & Mrs Tony McGoffin purchased the Allen Grocery Store. The South west Ice Company plant was enlarged. Pan Tex Cleaners remodeled their front. In February Pruett's Automotive Machine and Bearings Works opened at 101 North Evans. March saw an auto trim shop opened at 118 West Wade. Dr John H. Mogab became associated with Dr. Catto. The Bendix Launderette opened on North Bickford by Mr and Mrs. Odis Cox in April. Schooling Drug moved to their new location at the corner of Russell and Rock Island. In May the Canadian Mill and Elevator completed $25,000 worth of improvements. While Davis Funeral Home constructed a new stone chapel. In June of the same year the last of the old interurban rails were removed at the intersections. Botts-Hulme-Brown Lumber Company established a ready-mix concrete plant. Barry Brothers opened an Army and Navy Store at 126 West Rogers. In July of that year, Milo Leeper established a sign business. Then in August the El Reno voters overwhelmingly backed the $372,000.00 bond issue for water, sewer and fire department improvements. The Phelps Clinic opened. Ground was broken for building 27 homes in the Parkridge sub division in September. The El Reno Gun Club was re-organized in November, following two years suspension for lack of shells, because of the war. Fred's Taxi bought out Gambill's Taxi. Davis Funeral Home was sold to S. Boyd Wilson. 1948 On March 6, 1948 approximately $4,000.00 in damage to building, fixtures, and stock occurred when fire broke out in preston's Floral Shop at 203 South Rock Island. A woman, who rented an apartment above the shop, was partically suffocated, but was quickly revived. The El Reno Drive-in theatre opened on September 11, 1948. It was located one half mile west of town at the end of Sunset. The 400 car facility allowed people to sit in their cars, where they watched the large screen and heard the movie from speakers that hooked to their cars. The show started at dusk. Admission was 30 cents for adults and children under 12 were admitted free. Cal Everett built a large Sales Pavilion. The First National Bank held its openhouse in March 16th for the remodeling that took over a year to complete. In February Doke's Taxi installed El Reno's first two-way radio system. The Jones Furniture Store remodeled their building in the fall. 1949 A modern $75,000.00 hospital was opened by Drs W. A. and Eleanor Laughton at 421 South Rock Island. In February the F and W Shoe Store opened for business by C. G. Fisher and T. G. Williams. The El Reno Sanitarium established a polio ward in July. 1950 The Federal census reported the population for El Reno in 1950 was 10,971. In January the General Mills announced plans to construct a 400 thousand bushel elevator. There were 98 new homes built in 1950. On June 20, 1950 winds, ranging in gusts up to 75 miles per hour, did heavy property damage, particularly in the western part of El Reno. Pieces of the aluminum sheeting in the grandstand roof at Adams park were found a mile and a half south of the park, near the municipal swimming pool. Three trailers at the "townsend Trailer park were overturned by the wind and one was completely demolished. Another was blown off its blocks and damaged. The screen at the drive-in theatre was blown down and the five 14 inch pilings, by which it was supported were snapped off. In August Pfc Roscoe Frazier became El Reno's first casualty in the Korean War. « The formal opening of the Chisholm Trail Cafe was held on August 12, 1950. The cafe was located \ mile east of the US 66 and 81 Y, former location of the Cattleman's Cafe.
The El Reno Bowling Palace, 108 South Choctaw, was reopened on Tuesday, Augst 15, 1950, after being closed three months for renovation.
The city was presented a traffic safety plaque by the National Safety Council. 1951
In August 1951 it was announced that McLellan's 56 to $1.00 store would be remodeled at 107 South Bickford.
Formal opening of the Brinkley Furniture Store was held on September 8, 1951. It was located at 114 South Rock Island and was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brinkley. In November the Canadian Mill and Elevator company was sold to the Colorado Milling and Elevator Co and the name was changed to Oklahoma Flour Mills Company. The Farm Burea opened an El Reno office at 108 West Wade. The soil conservation service offices were moved from Yukon to El Reno. The office building, warehouse and two feed sheds of the National Alfalfa Dehydrating and Milling company's plant at 700 South Gresham, were completely destroyed by a fire on December 18, 1951. The company was originally owned by the Waldo Milling Company, which began in 1914. It was sold to the National Alfalfa Company just ten months earlier on March 17th. 1952 A fire broke out shortly after 8:00 p.m., Saturday, January 11, 1952 in the rear of the C. R. Anthony Store, located on the ground floor of the knights of Columbus Building. The Circle 8 Sguare Dance Club had • just finished their first set of dances for the evening when the fire was discovered.
Smoke and fumes made escape by the only stairway impossible. Some of the nearly 100 trapped dancers made their exit by means of the only usable fire escape ladder on the north side of the building. Others made their way through a trap door and ladder leading to the second floor, where they descended to the street on hand ladders brought from the fire station. Another group were rescued from the third floor at the front of the building by the fire station's new ladder truck. Fourteen store and business buildings, including the 0 G & E and the Farmers Elevator, were remodeled in 1952, while 32 new homes were constructed. The voters of El Reno passed the bond issue to build the coliseum and armory building. 1954 The $575,000.00 Park View Hospital was officially dedicated on August 12, 1954. This year also saw the construction of the city armory -field house. The Liebmann Building on Choctaw was remodeled into the Professional Building. An addition was made to Benson Funeral Home and a new ware house was built by General Mills. Thirty-four new homes were erected. 1955 In March Woolsworth announced the closing of the store after 37 years in El Reno. In mid-June the T G & Y Store opened at 118 South Bickford. The same year the El Reno Country Club built a new swimming pool. A small twister brought minor damage on the west edge of El Reno in May. Large trees were town down and other minor damage in the Townsend Drive area. The Southern Heights Addition on the south edge of El Reno was developed. The American Legion purchased the former Peabody Building. A formal opening celebration was held on December 2 and 3 for the new 65 feet front Stevenson Grocery Store. The old.location was in. the building next door to the east. 1955 Fires On June 27, 1955 a fire completely destroyed three businesses, Park Appliance Store, Brinkley Furniture Company and the C. R. Anthony Store. They were located in the Knights of Columbus and Fryberger buildings on the west side of the 200 block of South Bickford. Help in fighting the fire came from seven of the surrounding towns. El Reno's business district suffered its second serious fire in less than two months when fire broke out above the Allison's Grocery Store at 105 South Rock Island. The August 26, 1955 fire did an estimated $40,000.00 damage.
A wind-fanned fire swept through the old Hubbard Sale Barn on October 23, 1955 and completely destroyed the old landmark. The 33 year old structure, once was a county fair building, then an auction sale center, but at that time one wing of it was used as a roller rink and dance hall. 1957 In January The Chicken Hut at 1316 Sunset Drive was severely damaged by fire. The firm had been in operation only about a month, since Sunset Drive had been re-opened. Jobe's Drive In was built in 1957 at 1220 sunset Drive. That same month the old Stewart Lumber Company rarehouse in the 100 block of North Choctaw was remodeled.
A new Hensley's Consumers Restaurant and Service Station was built to the rear of the old cafe and station in 1957. After completion the- old building .was razed and the area made into parking and driveway.
The new Liebmann Building included five offices. These were occupied by Morris Insurance Agency, Bill Gustafson Inc., Consultant, Dr. C. A. Bentley - dentist, Porta and Weaver Attorneys and Jean L. Pazourek, attorney. On September 21, 1957 the formal opening of the V F W's new clubhouse was held. The ceremonies included the dedication of a fighter plane, set up as a symbol of "Sonny" Kegelman, El Reno WWII flying hero and the man after whom the VFW Post was named. A flu outbreak in early November caused school to close and dis rupted activities. 1958 The second addition of the Southern Heights Addition was opened in March 1958. In April the Williams Grain and Feed Company Mill and Elevator burned to the ground. 1959 1959 saw the construction of 36 new homes. Remodeling was done in the J. C. Penney Store at 117 South Bickford and the Champlain Service. at 301 North Choctaw. 1960 El Reno fell to the 25th place among the Oklahoma communities in size with a population of 11,115, even though El Reno's count had risen by 144 citizens.since 1950. El Reno voters approved bond issues for sewer and water improvements. New homes erected in 1960 were 59. The C and D Sales Corp. was burned out of its sawmill location at Geary and moved to El Reno. Late July a powerful swift-moving thunderstorm wreaked havoc in
near Adams Park and injured three people. It tore the roof off the rodeo grounds grandstand. The coliseum's big north overhead door was - damaged. Downtown plate glass windows were blown out of Dee's Tire Store at 301 South Rock Island. Signs were blown down in the 100 block of South Rock Island at Warren's Fashions Shop and the Goodyear Service Store. In December the long-awaited conversion to dial telephone service was completed after 17 months of construction and installation of new equipment at the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company plant. No longer did you hear an operator say "number please" when you picked- up the receiver. 1961 Fifty new residences were constructed in 1961. In August an explosion and fire in grain dust at the El Reno Terminal Grain Company elevator split a huge grain tank and damaged two others. The company announced a reconstruction and improvement program in October. This was formerly the Jim Smith Grain Company. In September hurricane Carla struck the Texas coast and dropped seven inches of rain in El Seno, which flooded parts of the town. November brought the announcement of plans for a new Canadian Valley Clinic to be built. 1962 A tornado struck near the South Rock island overpass on the south east edge of town, traveled over Williams and Hoff streets and went out of the residential area near City Park, between Rogers and Woodson streets. on April 28, 1962. Leaving torn trees, twisted television antennas, broken chimneys and damaged roofs, the twister touched down in the Rock Island railroad yards in the northern part of the city, where the roof was taken off a warehouse building. This was the year that El Reno annexed 126 miles to prevent Oklahoma City from annexing the land. 1964 The new El Reno Post Office was erected at the Evans and Hayes corner. Jit opened in October for business after the post office em ployees spent the weekend moving furniture and equipment into it from the old building. In that same month El Reno's Federal Reformatory held an openhouse to the general public. It was the first since it was built. The El Reno Carnegie Library also held an openhouse on November 8th to show off its new addition.
• The City Directory listed 32 gas stations in 1964.
1966 New homes were continuing to be erected, with 36 built in 1965 and 48 in 1966. In April, 1966 El Reno received a plaque for "Corimunity Planning" in the annual Oklahoma Community Achievement Contest. July saw the Chamber of Commerce move into its own home and for the first time in its history had its own building from which to operate. El Reno suffered its first death in the Vietnam War in August, when Ronald L. Watson was killed in action.
1967 The opening of El Reno's first shopping mall was held in mid- February, 1967. The 300,000 square feet building, which contained Humpty Dumpty Grocery and TG_Y Variety Store, was located in the 200 block of West Elm and was known as the Elm Plaza. In April El Reno was named the first place winner in the statewide community achievement contest. Over 3,000 people visited the new municipal complex during openhouse celebrations in August. Last year the city had awarded a contract for a new city hall and public safety building. Contracts were also awarded for a new building at the cemetery and a city shop building. Close to 1,000 people participated in the downtown Veterans Day Parade in November. 1968 Tornado-like winds ripped through El Reno and caused considerable damage on April 24, 1968. Lightning started at least one fire. 1970 According to the Federal Census records El Reno was ranked 23rd in size for Oklahoma with a population of 14,510. On February 2, 1970 an explosion and fire destroyed the El Reno Transfer and storage warehouse at 210 West Carson. The explosion knocked out a portion of the north wall of the 46,000 square feet building and sent flames roaring through the rest of the building before firemen could arrive. The original part of the structure was built in 1914.
Fire also destroyed the Davidson and Case Lumber Company warehouse area on May 26, 1970. The intense heat threatened nearby businesses and residences for nearly an hour. The firm was located in the 300 blocks of Bickford and Choctaw. Briarwood Apartments at North Ellison and West Foreman were built. Oklahoma Tire and Supply purchased the adjoining property and remodeled into it. The store was located in the 100 block of North Bickford. Golf ball size hail, highwinds and heavy rains lashed El Reno and the surrounding area in June. It did an estimated $2 million damage to homes and property. The winds were estimated at 70 miles per hour during the storm. 1970s New homes were still being built, with 50 in 1972 and 75 new res idences in 1973. On February 26, 1973 a pre-dawn four alarm fire caused an estimated $100,000.00 damage to two city businesses. The fire originated in the Shoe Shack at 211 South Bickford. The adjacent Bake-Rite Bakery of 213 •South Bickford, sustained some damage. 1970s
David DeLana opened the Heritage Print Shoppe at 320 North Choctaw for business in June 1974. It is now known as Heritage Press and is located at 2517 Holloway Drive. This firm printed the Family Histories of Canadian County, Oklahoma and is now in the process of prining this book. There were 38 new residences built in 1974 and 56 new homes in 1975. Dirt work for the new Canadian Square Shopping Center began in April, 1975. It was located on the east side of El Reno near the highways 66 and 81 intersection. The T G & Y Family Center, main tenant of the shopping center, held its grand opening on November 20, 1975. Other early tenants were; Kelso Department Store, El Reno Discount Foods, Sears Catalog Store, Pay Less Shoes, Western Auto associate Store, Eckerd Drugs and Pampor Parlor Hair Style. In February 1976 the C. R. Anthony Store moved into the Elm Street Palza building, which was vacated by the T G & Y. After the Kelso Department Store moved to the Canadian Square Shopping Center, the old Kelso building was torn down and construction began to enlarge the Citizens National Bank. It was completed in March, 1978 and the open house was held in June. The Citizens National Bank began September 15, 1891 and is the oldest continuing bank in El Reno. Wal Mart's grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 10, 1978. It was built in the Country Club Shopping Center, which was located at County Club Road and 27th Street. 1980s From the mid-1970s to mid-1980s many businesses were erected on Country Club Road between Elm Street and 1-40. In June 1980 remodeling was completed for a Senior Citizens Center in the old Southern Hotel. The rest of the building was renovated into apartments for senior citizens. In 1982 the businesses in the Country Club Shopping Center were: Griders Discount Foods, D J's Arcade and Snackbar, Captains Chair Barber Shop, Revco Discount Drug Center, Marlin's Hallmark Shop, Payless Shoe Source, Wal Mart Discount City, Sweetbriar Shop, Zales Jewelers, C. R. Anthony Company, Beall's Departments Store and Mellers Photo Drive-in. 'Mistletoe Express Service and Triangle Express, Inc. delivered freight for many years. In 1982 El Reno had 31 eating establishments, 6 barber shops, 18 beauty shops, 20 gasoline stations, 19 grocery stores, 16 motels, 11 doctors and 18 oil field service businesses. The dedication of the new El Reno Family Y building was held on May 25, 1986, which was located at 2200 Babcock Drive. On August 7, 1986 the First National Bank and Trust Company was declared insolvent and was closed. It was the eighth Oklahoma bank to fail in 1986. Six hours after the closing, it was announced the bank had been bought and would reopen as a branch of American National Bank of Lawton. The Investors Federal Bank was declared insolvent on June 18, 1987. The bank was rechartered and reopened immediately as Midwest Federal Savings and Loan Assn. On March 10, 1988 El Reno was accepted as a "Main Street" City. Its object is to accomplish economic revitalization in the central or downtown business district. The project is totally funded at the local level, using both public and private monies. F u i i' r e_ El Reno has a rich historical heritage. The spiritual needs of the people are met by many churches of nearly every denomation. Education is important to its citizens. This is evident by the fine city schools, the El Reno Junior College and the Canadian Valley Vo-Tech. The El Reno Carnegie Library has many varied resource materials for education, re creation and historical research. El Reno has over 700 acres of parks and recreation areas. But the greatest asset is the people. They are working to make El Reno a better place to work. With these positive, forward-thinking people El Reno will become the best it can be. I I I 1
I
I I • I I I I I I I I / m II o II II II II