ENID, OK – If you were raised in Enid like I was there are many things that remind you of why it was such a great place to grow up. Enid Buzz was originally started to help remind people of the unique and quirky things that made our little hometown the best place in America.
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I originally wrote this list in 2008 and have revised it and added to it over the years. It is one of the most engaged posts I’ve ever written about Enid and it usually sparks the most comments and additional memories. Many of the most memorable items on the list were popular in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.
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Being a kid in Enid, back in the day, meant you were free to ride your bike anywhere in town and you always felt safe. You could explore creeks, tunnels and parks where few adults ever wandered. As kids we remember certain things that stick in our memories forever. This list will include of few of those events, places, businesses and people.
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Some of you might not remember everything on the list but I hope it brings back a few great memories. From time to time I do add and subtract from the list. I hope you enjoy rereading the list if it’s been a while since you’ve seen it.
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You might be from Enid if…
1. You dressed a little crazy on the last Saturday of July
2. You spent your allowance at Wackers, Woolco and OTASCO
3. You were or knew an extra in the movie “Dillinger”
4. You ate at a restaurant with a train in it and a train with a restaurant in it
5. You know where you were during the “Flood of ’73”
6. You know the Wee Too is not a Chinese restaurant
7. If you’re immune to jet engine noise and train horns
8. You can spell Chautauqua and know what it is
9. “Going to the City” meant shopping at Crossroads Mall
10. You attended P.U. and had a skunk mascot
11. You’ve ever used the term “flyboy”
12. You know what “The Quill” is
13. You’ve ever seen the winding of a May Pole
14. Someone talked you into going to the “insane asylum”
15. You watched the “submarine races” at Meadowlake
16. You know where Lahoma Road was
17. You remember riding the “Bullet”
18. You ate at a restaurant that had a volcano in it
19. You know who had the largest grain elevators in the world
20. You remember the smell of Bond or Ken’s Bakeries
21. You remember the smell of Champlin Oil Refinery
22. You honked while driving by the Enid State School
23. Your favorite astronaut is Owen K. Garriott
24. You threw peanuts into the monkey pit at the zoo
25. You know who the Price brothers are
26. You know who won the 1998 Grammy for Best New Age Album
27. You’ve ever heard something blamed on the “City Fathers”
28. You got into the “Trail Drive-In” in someone’s trunk
29. You’ve ever been on an Adventure Quest
30. You’ve marched in a Tri-State parade
31. “Chapter 7” meant more to you than bankruptcy
32. You know that the Tia Juana wasn’t a Mexican eatery
33. You know where Enid’s only escalator was
34. You remember the failure of “the loop”
35. You know the Simpsons aren’t named OJ and Bart
36. You remember the masked jogger that pushed his wife in a wheelchair
37. You knew someone that knew someone that got stabbed at the Magnificent Cobra
38. You read books at a Carnegie Library
39. You bought Boy Scout supplies at Coldirons
40. You know which President snuck out to eat at the Wagon Wheel
41. You could hear the stock cars races at the Enid Speedway
42. You bought school supplies at Vaters
43. You saw the Thunderbirds at an airshow
44. You think carnival rides can only exist on W. Broadway
45. You rented skis and gear from Simpsons, Evans or Crosscourt
46. You swam indoors at the “Y”
47. You’ve ever sat in an empty bathtub during a severe thunderstorm
48. You ran across the train bridge at Meadowlake to beat the train
49. You know what “Donkey Basketball” was
50. You ever dragged Van Buren
51. You accidentally call Taco Bandito, Taco Grande
52. You loved the Three Towers dressing
53. You know that John Wilkes Booth REALLY died in Enid
54. You got shakes at Gold Spot
55. You think of Roman Holiday for pizza not as a movie
56. You’ve heard of EnidBuzz.com!
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Here are some comments we’ve gotten on this post over the years…
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July 20, 2010 at 1:32 pm — Reply
Hi Robin, the escalator was in the original Mongomery Wards building which later became Evans Drug on the corner of Randolph and Grand.
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Lorie Legere
July 20, 2010 at 3:30 pm — Reply
I can’t remember the restaurant in #18, with a volcano???? Please help me out!
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July 20, 2010 at 3:42 pm — Reply
Toucan Harry’s in the Midwestern Inn on Van Buren.
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Erica
July 21, 2010 at 10:04 am — Reply
# 36 ? What is that about????
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July 21, 2010 at 10:54 am — Reply
Used to be a guy that jogged everywhere around town. In the summer he would wear a full ski mask, no shirt and a speedo. You could usually see him running along Garriott. About half the time he was pushing his wife who sat in a wheel chair but was not unable to walk. This went on for years.
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Jessi
July 26, 2010 at 11:41 am — Reply
The masked jogger was a state school “graduate”. (See #22) Sometimes he pushed his wife in a shopping cart and other times he wore a tutu to run in.
It was always fun to see what new outfit he would wear. I’m not sure I ever saw the speedo though.
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Michael
August 5, 2010 at 3:48 pm — Reply
you knew that too get your boy scout stuff you would have to go to coldirons
The shale pit was an awesome place to take the motorcycle or 4×4
Grand Natl Quail hunt every year at Mid western Inn
4th of july at Meadowlake
Awesome air shows
Wheat capitol of the world
Spectator races at the speedway
Hardees to Meadowlake was the drag
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Kurt
November 1, 2010 at 9:17 pm — Reply
Burger Chef predated McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Hardee’s.
Hickory Hut was way out west, but the skating rink was practically in the panhandle.
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Kurt
November 1, 2010 at 9:17 pm — Reply
You’re from Enid if you know which President ate at the Wagon Wheel.
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Pam Pattillo
December 31, 2010 at 4:18 pm — Reply
You might be from Enid if your Dad met your Mom at the Youngblood Hotel.
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Randy (stet)
May 27, 2011 at 1:06 pm — Reply
You might have gone to Enid High if you know what the boys wore for swim class in the ’60s!! (SR ’67)
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Scott
June 17, 2011 at 4:02 pm — Reply
Nixon stayed at the Midwestern Inn and walked to the Wagon Wheel in the middle of the night during the Quail Hunt.
The EHS Boys swim class’ wore the same nothing in the 70s as well. When did that finally STOP?
Before there was Wal Mart or K.Mart, all the kids bought school supplies at Vaters.
Did anyone house band kids in their own homes in the 60s and 70s from other states for Tri State?
How about Pizza Inn and the guy managing the place calling everyone “Ralph!”-
June 28, 2011 at 5:50 pm — Reply
Thanks for the additions!
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Karen Waldman
June 28, 2011 at 5:18 pm — Reply
You know you are from Enid if you remember:
The great walk-out protest against the school dress code.
Playing “Ghosts at Midnight” in the Bird Sanctuary
Visits to the Lahoma Drive-in
Dear Gabby in the Waller newspaper.
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June 28, 2011 at 5:49 pm — Reply
Great additions!
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Karen Waldman
July 2, 2011 at 4:48 pm — Reply
Does anyone know what happened to the Main Street Station railroad car that used to be a restaurant downtown? Thanks!
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July 20, 2010 at 1:16 pm — Reply
I’m stumped on the answer to #33! Can you help?