Volume 2 Article 9 Issue 2 Winter 12-15-1982 Literary Connected Oklahoma Towns OHB Garrity Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westview Recommended Citation Garrity, OHB (1982) "Literary Connected Oklahoma Towns," Westview: Vol. 2 : Iss. 2 , Article 9. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westview/vol2/iss2/9 This Nonfiction is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Westview by an authorized administrator of SWOSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Perspectives ILLUSTRATION BY NORETTA WILLIAMS Ljiierayy Cotitn 01U owcl T c o wnS by^HB Garrrty WESTVIEW Perspectives Literary Connected Oklahoma Towns Dryden, Shakespeare, Poe; Romulus, Enid, Inconium was in Logan County, three miles Nebo. These and other towns in Oklahoma at east of Meridian. Originally, the name came the turn of the century indicate at least a from the city in Asia Minor, now Konya in portion of the early cattlemen, railroaders, Turkey. It was here Paul and Barnabas con­ and homesteaders knew literature. The Bible verted Jews and Gentiles to Christianity. was one of their most popular sources for Kidron, eight miles north of Sallisaw, was names. once the Marble Salt Works and remains a Ark, Antioch, Bethel, Bethany, Eden, Icon- historic site. It existed from 1835 to 1886. Its ium, Kidron, Nebo, Olive. As a matter of fact, Bible predecessor, Kedron or Cedron, meant there were two Bethels, two Bethanys, and “torrent valley’or “dark, turbid” and in the two Beulahs. Greek suggests “cedars.” It was a valley Ark in southern Love County, five miles between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives. northeast of Marietta, existed from 1895 to Nebo, about eight miles south of Sulphur on 1912. The word Ark is from the Hebrew Highway 177, existed from 1890 to 1922. Only Language and means “chest” or “box.” Gene­ a store, some ranches, and the school building, sis 6:14-16 and other scriptures tell about the occupied by the Church of Christ, remain. ark Noah built and used for a boat and the Ark Named for Mt. Nebo, now in the Kingdom of of the Covenant, used for storage. Jordan, it was the site from which Moses Antioch was in Garvin County, ten miles surveyed the Promised Land and upon which west of Pauls Valley from 1895 to 1932. The he is believed to have been buried. Antioch for which it was named was the site of Olive in Creek County, six miles northeast Paul’s preaching and where the disciples (of of Drumright, existed from 1896 to 1938. Its Christ) were first called Christians, Acts Bible connection is the Mt. of Olives, sep­ 11:26. Today, the same town is in Turkey as arated from Jerusalem by the Kidron Valley. Antakya. Four sections of the Garden of Gethsemane Bethel, a Hebrew word meaning “House of are on its lower reaches. God,” was in Grant County and existed from Mythology was recognized in the naming of March 2 to November 2, 1895, only eight six early-day communities: Romulus and Re­ months. A second Bethel was established in mus, Cupid, Eolian, Orion, and Aquila. 17 McCurtain County in 1900 and still exists. Romulus and Remus were close together in Bethel of Bible fame dates back to the Pottawatomie County — Romulus, 1892 to twenty-first century B.C. Mentioned more 1918, was four miles south of Macomb, while than any other Biblical city, except Jerusalem, Remus, 1893 to 1906, was four miles north­ it is ten miles north of Jerusalem on the way to west of Maud. Shechem. Many Old Testament characters, In literature, these mythological twins, cast especially Abraham, Jacob, and David, were adrift on the Tiber River, were suckled by a connected with Bethel. she-wolf and raised by a shepherd. They The Bethany in Ellis County, five miles restored the throne to Grandfather Numitor, southwest of May, had a post office from 1903 founded Rome in 753 B.C., and wound up in to 1906. The one joining Oklahoma on the west another Cain and Abel conflict. Romulus was established in 1913 and still exists. killed Remus. In the Bible, the word Bethany meant In keeping with mythology, Romulus, Okla­ “house of poverty.” The town sat at the foot of homa, outlived Remus twelve years. The only the Mount of Olives about 1 3/4 miles from thing left of the “slayer’s” namesake is a sign Jerusalem. It was the home of Mary, Martha, on Highway 177 between Tecumseh and and their brother Lazarus, whom Christ Asher. raised from the dead. Cupid, in Harper County five miles south­ Beulah was established as Sequoyah in east of Laverne, lasted from 1895 to 1916. The 1871, changed to Beulah in 1909, and discon­ word means “desire.” Its Roman equivalent is tinued in 1913. Named for the postmaster’s Eros, the Greek god of love, son of Venus and daughter, it was in present-day Rogers Coun­ Mars. Another name for Cupid is Amor.. ty, six miles northeast of Claremore. Eolian in western Carter County was estab­ Another Beulah was organized in 1906 by a lished 1904, but changed to Joiner in 1909. It church group in Beckham County, ten miles met its demise in 1918. southeast of Sayre. It is now Carter. The name originated from Aeolus, Greek In the Bible, Beulah means “married” and is god of the wind who kept the winds in a cave derived from “Land of Beulah, a land of rest,” on the isle of Aeolia. in Isaiah 62:4. The name was given to Pale­ Aquila was in north Dewey County, six stine after the exile when it was resettled and miles south of Mutual. It lasted only five restored to God’s people. months during 1901 and 1902. A Latin word, it Eden in central Payne County existed from is the same as Boreas, another Greek god of 1895 to 1902. In Genesis, Eden, or “plain” was the wind. It is also from the Constellation the garden in which Adam and Eve lived, Eagle. believed generally to have been in the land of Orion, 1895-1932, was in western Major Sumer near the Persian Gulf. County, twelve miles northeast of Seiling. In WESTVIEW ectives Greek mythology, Orion was a great hunter, Wanette, in southern Pottawatomie County also a constellation in the north sky. Accord­ seven miles west of Asher, was established in ing to the myth,Orion loved Merope, violated 1894. Its name is from a once popular song her, and was blinded by her father. The sun’s “Juanita.” rays healed him. A newspaper and a magazine prompted the From novels and history came two Ivan- names of Sentinel and Whizbang. Sentinel, in hoes, Damon, Micawber, Barkis, Phroso, Ra­ southwest Washita County, was named in mona, and Zenda. The first Ivanhoe lasted 1899 to honor the HERALD SENTINEL, pub­ from 1887 to 1891 when it was changed to lished at Cloud Chief, also, in Washita Coun­ Custer in Custer County, honoring George ty- Custer. Whizbang, 1921-1942, was the local name A second Ivanhoe developed in southeast for Denoya. Located in Osage County, three Beaver County, four miles west of Slapout. It miles southwest of Shidler, it was tagged for lasted from 1892 to 1920. Captain Billy’s magazine, the “Play Boy” of The name originated from Sir Walter the 1920s. Scott’s famous romantic novel on British Seven towns honored authors: Irving, Poe, History, written in 1820. Pollock, Posey, Dryden, Shakespeare, and Zang- Damon, in Latimer County six nrles south­ well. west of Wilburton, lasted from 1906 to 1934. Irving, 1892-1894, was in Lincoln County The name is from a citizen of Syracuse. When nine miles north of Chandler. The American Pythias was condemned to death, Damon author, Washington Irving, traveled in the stayed as a pledge. Pythias would return after area in 1832 and wrote his experience in he attended to his affairs. Dionysius was so TOUR OF THE PRAIRIE, published in 1835. impressed by Pythias’ return that he freed Poe was in southwest Jackson County, six both men. miles northwest of Eldorado from 1891 to Micawber, nine miles northwest of Boley in 1895. It honored Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849. Okfuskee County, existed from 1904 to 1955. Pollock in Lincoln County, six miles south­ The name originated from a character created west of Langston, was established in 1892, by Charles Dickens. changed to Belton in 1893, and discontinued in Another town named for Dickens’ character 1895. It honored Sir Frederick Pollock, an was Barkis. Located in Greer County, it was Englishman of letters. three miles southeast of Jester, and active Posey was in Tulsa County, five miles from 1904 to 1908. northeast of Mounds, which became its suc­ Phroso, 1900 to 1937, was in Major County, cessor. Posey existed from 1895 to 1898 and eight miles northwest of Chester. The name honored the Creek Indian poet, Alexander originated in a novel by Anthony Hope. Posey. He lived from 1873 to 1908 when he That author’s work inspired another Okla­ drowned. homa town, Zenda, from PRISONER OF Dryden in Harmon County, seven miles ZENDA. Now a ghost town, Zenda was in Ellis northeast of Hollis, had a post office from 1892 County, six miles north of Shattuck. It lasted to 1919. Its honoree was the English author from 1903 to 1905. and critic John Dryden, 1631-1700. Perhaps the most romantic novel-inspired The town Shakespeare lasted from 1903 to town was Ramona, at one time called Bonton.