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Michael Wrote:
Hardees to Meadowlake was the drag

The “drag” was from Vans Plaza Drive In to A&W. Actually the south turn-around was in the shopping center. AND, you had to swing through Sonic on the north run.

You might be from Enid if:

You know what Pack-a-Sack smells like.

You could get a bannana shake/malt at the Navaho.

What fast food place started out in a clapboard shack just south of Tia Juana in a dusty dirt lot. [ Hint – has Lotta in the name ]

You know who Polly and Peggy are/were.

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#16 What does this mean?

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#34 the Loop, when and how long did it last? also #36 he also was a great pianist, before he had a wheelchair he had a shopping cart with the end cut out.

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#14 was there an old asylum? If so, what was it called? If not, what was the underground structure at the old landfill?

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You might be from Enid if your lunch hour in high school meant piling many people in one car and going to either Taco Grande or Tastee Freeze. If you went to Tastee Freeze, I believe the lady’s name was Janet, would have your hamburger already prepared when you arrived.

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The north end of the drag was originally Sandys long before Burger King. Sandys was the first of the new style drive inns.

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If you’ve ever dragged Van Buren.

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Woolworth and TG&Y

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You know what fat and skinnys is.
You know where 9 mile canyon is.

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Summerfest!!

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It’s where Atwoods originated also

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If your senior prom was at the Education building!

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White Way Cafe
Teepees on the court house lawn
You have a root beer mug you borrowed from A&W
Phillip’s pool
Lazy Dazy’s from the little hamburger joint on Maine street

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Doyle’s cafe
George’s cafe
Stone’s Grocery
Chapman’s Grocery and hamburgers!

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You danced to Poverty’s Children
Visited the old fire station downtown with its brass poles
The first roller rink was across the street from Champlin Pool, west of the YMCA
Shopped at Newman’s and Lamberts
Participated in Little Olympics at Plainsmen Field
Saturday morning movies for kids at the Esquire
Paying 5 cents for a giant pickle at the movies
Burger Chef on the south end of Van Buren
Great salad dressing at Pizza Inn on Van Buren
Ate at Taco Bandito when it was Taco Grande on south Van Buren

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One of your original statements was about the only escalator and there was a reply that I think is incorrect. I’m pretty sure that the only escalator in Enid was in Evans Drugstore on the square, and it only went up.

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If you know where or ever been to the river bottom.

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Who remembers eating at “Big Al’s”. And Big Al himself?

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Trademart, TG&Y, and Otasco are stores I remember

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I worked at Pac-A-Sac :O)

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Maypole is one word

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Hmmm..where to start? Don’t remember a volcano in a restaurant, but T-38 and T-37 air force jet trainers were a daily sight and sound over my house. Smelled Champlin refinery, Worked at one of the worlds largest grain elevators one semester. My Mom got her teaching degree and Masters from Phillips (P.U. University). Ate many times at Tia Juana as a child. Marched in Tri-state 5 years. Know about submarine races at meadowlake,but we all chose oil well sites out in the country. Crazy days on the square, Mr. Bull (my scout master was an extra in Dillinger),Michael Hedges was 1998 new age artist of the year. Owen K.Garriott,(his hand prints are here in town along with all the other men), I dragged Van Buren many a night, dated a wing commanders daughter from VANCE, know that John Wilkes Booth REALLY died in Enid,Oklahoma upstairs of the Garfield furniture store (former hotel), and…worked for and got all my prescriptions from Walter Scheffe,(Scheffe’s drug store;…former B-29 pilot from W.W. II and all around great guy).
Yes…I’m in Florida now,but will forever be from ENID, OKLAHOMA.

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P.S. Got a swat or two from E.H.S. Band director Mr.Griffen, Flood of 73..was walking in chest deep water arm in arm with my Dad out of our front door that night. Know that Enid was the chicken raising capital of the world in the 1920’s. Was a proud member of the Valiant Knights Drum and bugle corp which traveled nationally each summer. Watched stock car races at fairgrounds on Saturday nights, paddle boats at Govt. Springs park, May pole, rode little train at Medowlake park,and worlds first portable drilling rig was invented and built by George Failing company of Enid,Oklahoma. Last but not least…Garber oil field was the worlds TOP producer of super fine grade oil in W.W.I.

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was the volcano first in the restaurant Fig Tree Atrium and then later Toucan Harry’s?

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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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you knew that too get your boy scout stuff you would have to go to coldirons
I worked at Coldirons during high school and worked downstairs and sold the Scout stuff and the “overhauls”

The shale pit was an awesome place to take the motorcycle or 4×4
I used to take my motorcycle to the shale pits to jump.

Grand Natl Quail hunt every year at Mid western Inn
I worked part-time for Richills and Dick Autrey, who catered the big dinner, and worked the big quail hunt dinner for many years

4th of july at Meadowlake
I used to go there to watch the biggest fireworks show in town

Awesome air shows
Went to many of those

Wheat capitol of the world
I cut wheat around Enid for 2 summers

Spectator races at the speedway
I worked for the ambulance service and one summer I worked the races every saturday night on the ambulance (took in more people from the stands that summer than we did drivers)

Hardees to Meadowlake was the drag
I learned to drive dragging Van Buren

Thanks for the memories!

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Snipe Hunting
The Gucci Monster
The Big Chicken
Sloe Gin Fizz’s thanks to Sonic’s Large Sprites
The Petrified Rock Houses off of Van Buren

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This is cool. I lived in Enid and Drummond (15 miles SWof Enid) in the 70’s and 80’s. I remember the jogger on Lahoma Road and he had an incredible tan. Also how about JuDon’s Drive-In. I worked at Atwoods when it was on North Van BUren and used to get lunch at the Navajo.V

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You know – and miss – Michael Hedges and his music.

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Lime Rickeys at Downs Pharmacy’s fountain.

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How about the flake ice at the CharBurg (just east of the train underpass that keeps getting hit on Maine street). And the auction company that sat directly behind it – went to many an auction there as a kid, and marveled at the auctioneers. And, remember the big statue right by the underpass – was the mascot for the lumber company that was right there, but can’t remember its name.

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You are from Enid if you remember the wonderful smell of fried onions for the hamburgers at Dan and Bake downtown. I remember the Cherokee Strip Celebrations when the Indian Village with wigwams were set up in the square. You could buy used school textbooks at Vaters? book store and the busy music store where we bought our sheet music and had our instruments repaired. What WAS the name of it? We walked to school.

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Skated many a night at Jerry’s Roller Rink owned by Jerry Galusha and wife “Sis”. The original Jerry’s was beside the newer one built later. Ate at the “Gypsy Inn” …. a Mexican restaurant that was in a house west of Enid. Taylor Bros. service station on Van Buren. I mowed down 2 pop machines at that station in the 60’s in my future husband’s new 1965 Mustang. Clinesmith Furniture on Independence..I worked there for awhile. Mr Cline’s house on S. 9th that had plaster animals in the yard. Took twirling lessons at Bridge’s Music Store on Randolph from the feature twirler at OU..Sherena Holland. Took accordion lessons from Mrs. Elliott at Chenoweth & Green Music Store on Independence. Dragged Van Buren, circled A&W. Ate at Ken’s Pizza on North Van Buren. Miss the “Old Enid”

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Did anyone remember Mad Calf Drive-in? Kids would skip out for lunch from Longfellow and go to the Mad Calf….

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What about Vann’s Drive-In? That is where my dad met my mom.
Don’t forget Ernie’s Trading Post? On Enid radio station’s their Christmas jingle marked the beginning of the season.

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Remember Belva and Kim Lamb – the Thunderbirds Twirling Corp?

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You might be from Enid if you know who flew the plane that took the photos that was right behind the one that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima.

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Maxwell pancake house

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….if you still wonder about the identities of Darlin’ Nikki and the Crusher haha

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S&H green stamp store. (Was on Cleveland and Owen k). Also big als used to be on Van Buren (near the stadium I think ).

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Music Store was Chenoweth-Green, it was next to Security National Bank.

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Do you remember Don-Paul Cafeteria, worked there while in high school.

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One of first skating rinks, was in building that was just East of Convention Hall back in the 40’s , then it moved to building that was under the Enid Business College. That was behind First National Bank. From there it went to the location on West Cherokee and man by name of Day run it with his wife. That was before it moved out to West Owen Garriott (formerly Lahoma Rd.) Do any of you remember the ball park where K-mart is now?

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The old asylum was actually about where the police shooting range is at between 10th and 16th on Rupe St.

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My father made those hamburgers at the Dan and Bake at the corner of Randolph and Washington streets. Great chili also.

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My daughter, Ashley, was born just before the flood of 73 and we were on the top floor of St. Mary’s Hospital! The nurses could not leave the hospital and it was a long few days until we could leave and go home. Very exciting time.

Also, loved Dan and Bakes can still remember the wonderful food and smell!

Great memories! Thank you for this!

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This is a great sight for former Enid residents. Thank you for letting us comment and remember the great memories.

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I think it was about in the late 1930’s, the Jacob Schmidt (potato chips) family of seven would occasionally present a musical program on a Sunday afternoon at the “FEEBLE MINDED INSTITUTE” North of Enid. Yes, that was it’s name.

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Didn’t see anyone mention Gibson’s. Can’t remember where it was located. Used to drive by Bond’s Bakery just to smell the bread baking. My dad worked at Goldspot till it closed. Used to stop in walking home from Emerson so we could coax him into buying us a malt. And could anyone forget the candy counter at Sears downtown? I remember the smells like it was yesterday!

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I really liked reading what you posted and what other people have posted on this site. Sure brought back a lot of memories. Been living in Enid off and on since 1957. Back in the late 60’s early 70’s there was actually two drags of Van Buren. The short drag was to start at Sandy’s drive all the way to the A&W drive in. Either stop there and get a root beer or circle around and exit to Van Buren. You could not make a left turn at the exit, you had to turn right. This took you to the old Wallace Shopping Center parking lot. You cirlcled through the parking lot or stopped and talked to friends. The you would go north on Van Buren circling through Sonic and continue north all the way to Sandy’s. That was the short run. The long run you didn’t stop at Sandy’s going north. You continued on over the overpass to Willow taking a right all the way to Grand St. Take Left at Grand and no you are on Rock Island Blvd. You continued till you got to Navajo’s Drive-In located close to the Three Towers Chinese Resteraunt. You either stopped there to talk with friend or circled around it and then headed back to Sandy’s to start all over again. Very seldom did anyone then go to Meadowlake, the south side Meadowlake had not been delveloped bach then. Well anyway that is the way me and all my friends did it back then. There were lots of drag racing back then as we had the original muscle cars.

One question. Does anyone know when the Van Buren overpass (over the railroad tracks) was built? I have seen information that that overpass is finally going to have a completely new one built in 2018. I have searched and searched and cannot find any history on that overpass.

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The trail bowling lanes
Searching for the ginger bread house
The pig farm
Riverbottom
Mel’s Clothing Store
The Bamboo

What was the name of the pool hall and arcade on N Van Buren?

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I remember most of those. I almost drowned jumping off the high dive at champlins..my dive turned into a flip and belly buster.

Cramming people into the trunk at the drive in movies.
Going out to the asylum and these guys from kremlin stealing our flashlights …we crawled out because there were holes in the floor. Then we pretended to be abducted causing April Craddock to freak. Sorry bout that one.

Playing sardines at the Simpsons mansion for a work party.

The short lived water slide out by North Enid.
All skate All skate…roller rink
The train at Meadowlake….and fishing for perch at the water works.

Playing video games at the arcade..and foosball at the lil arcade north of town..cant remember its name it was close to willow and VB.

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you might be from Enid if…
…you smell like cigarettes after going out anywhere.
…sports like lacrosse or ice hockey are foreign concepts to you.
…your idea of great seafood is The Red Lobster.
…you donate more to a local church than a local school.
…your idea of fine dining is in a strip mall.

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Burgers at the Flamingo Lounge

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If you graduated from Enid 1960 to 1967, you might recall some of these cool cars.

Listing Factory Stock Cars Only

Jim Crabbs – 1961 Ford Starliner HT, (white) 390 cubes, 375 HP, 3 speed column
Chuck Ainsworth – 1960 Ford Galaxie HT (white) 352 cubes, 300 HP, 3 speed column
Jerry Soderberg – 1962 Ford Galaxie, (black) 406, 385 HP, 4 speed
Jerry Ross – 1964 Galaxie 500 XL HT (blue) 390 cubes, 330 HP, 4 speed
Johnny Rinehart – 1964 GTO (blue) 389 cubes, 325 HP, 4 speed
Gary Chappell – 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Conv., (burgundy) 390 cubes, 330 HP, 4 speed
Name ??? – 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS (white) 327 cubes, 300 HP, 4 speed
Richard Hamilton – 1961 Chevrolet Impala Conv., (burgundy) 348 bored to 409, est. 385 HP, 4 speed
Larry Bundren – 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS HT (gray) 409, 385 HP, 4 speed
Bill Lochner – 1962 I Chevrolet Impala SS HT (red) 327, 300 HP, 4 speed
Larry Schultz – 1962 I Chevrolet Impala HT SS (blue) 327, 300 HP 4 speed 456 posi.
Tom Tarrant – 1960 corvette 283, 270 HP
Ed Poage – 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS HT, (white) 409, 409 HP, 4 speed
Hathoot – 1962 Pontiac Catalina (Blue/Green) 421
Gary Polachek – ’61 Ford Starliner, 2dr ht, (black) 390, 401 HP 3 speed column
Buddy Faukner – 60 Chevrolet Impala, (black) 348, 335 HP 4 speed
Steven Stewart – 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS, HT (white) 409, 385 HP, 4 speed

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I only lived in Enid when I was very young but still remember the chocolate chip pancakes at Maxwell’s pancake house fondly.

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THIS IS A LITTLE FARTHER BACK THAN MOST OF THE OTHERS ABOVE:

You might be from Enid….
If you remember the shows ( movie theaters) in Enid were the Aztec (now known as the Esquire), the Chief (Now the Gaslight Theater), the Mecca, and the Royal.
if you remember the big dances upstairs above the Jitney Jungle on Saturday night You could hear the music if you were coming out of the movie (we called “shows”).
if you went to town on Saturday nights and “watched the people go by.”
if you played outside at nights until your parents whistled.
if you rarely got to go to a cafe’ or a cafeteria…but usually ate all three lunches at home with the whole family around the dinner table.
if you remember that no stores had air conditioning. After a while, you loved going to the show because the new Esquire was cool. Schools were NOT air conditioned either.
If you went to the show on Saturdays and saw Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, and etc. serials that continued from week to week. Then, you went to Chenoweth and Green music store and got in a booth to listen to the latest records.
if you remember Woolsworth’s had a fountain where very occasionally you could eat lunch with your mom if she took you to town on a city bus.
if you remember that Moler’s Drug had frozen malts, served by a curb hop in small glasses. We occasionally went there in the hot evenings.
if you remember the milkman delivered milk at the door, and exchanged it for your empty bottles.
if you remember the ice-man brought large cubes of ice, which he entered your house and put it in the ice box (not electric) to cool your foods. We would jump on his truck, find a big chunk of ice, roll it around in our hands until any dirt fell off with the drips, and you thoroughly enjoyed it on a very hot day.
if you remember people dying, being paralyzed, living lives in an iron lung due to Polio (Infantile Paralysis). Parents would not let children go swimming, eat bananas, go to the show, or any place where their were crowds, for fear of “catching it.”
At St. Mary’s Hospital, all of the nurses or hospital staff members were nuns
who wore their complete long habits (black in winter; white in summer), the stiftly starched white (forget) things that covered their heads and surrounded their faces, and long black veil over that and down their backs. My parents used to tell about the nuns “dropping like flies” because of the heat.
if you remember that getting a Grapette, Orange Crush, a RC cola, or a Coke (in very little bottles) was quite a treat, only enjoyed very occasionally.
if you remember that most shows were either war movies or musicals.
if you remember saving bacon grease and smashed cans to turn in for the war effort. Mom used to save rags, and donate them where they were sterilized and the women went to the Red Cross here in Enid, and tore and rolled bandages for the War. You were issued ration stamps that you had to use when at the grocery stores that allowed you to buy only certain items and amounts….no supermarkets here in Enid.
There was a bubble-gum shortage. We would hear a rumor that a certain store would have it, and we would walk clear across Enid to find it, and usually to no avail. We did actually put our chewed bubblegum on the bedpost to use it again.
Any time the Star Spangled Banner was heard, people in Enid stopped what they were doing, and stood in respect for our country.

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Going to imo cemetary. To see the ghost hanging from the tree. The old trees that looked like people out by the best western. And in the 70a the drag was from hardees to medowlake before they made the park’s close at dark. And the asylum was somewhere out west and south. Like heading out to imo rd.

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I got an autographed “photo” of Johnny Weismuller as Jungle Jim when he appeared at the Grand Opening of Trade Mart on South Van Buren. And, does anybody remember the Somewhere Drive-In burger place on north Van Buren? Their burgers were always crowned with fancy toothpicks spearing an olive and a small sweet pickle. They were right across the street from Sandy’s … no McDonalds in those days.

The first pizza I ever had in my life was in the mid 1960s at a place on Lahoma Road. It was like a small residential house and it took an hour before the pizza came to the table — and it was HUGE. I remember they either only offered cheese pizzas or that’s all we ordered. What was the name of that place ???

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You might be from Enid if you ever played Snooker in Ike’s pool hall!

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This brought back so many memories!

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What about the electric eagle arcade?

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Jack’s Records and Tapes. Jack Garner what a great guy. Miss him! Davis Auto Supply on east Broadway. Bob’s Cone Corner. Bill Hill’s This and That book store. The Barn owned by Puss Himes on north 4th Street. The Bamboo Club.

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Enid had 3 bottling plants. Coca-Cola,RC Cola plants were on south Grand. 7UP was on n Independence. We raced dirt track at Enid Speedway during 60’s & 70’s. Bought a new 71 Mach 1 from Semkies? on north Grand. Spent several days in 1973 after flood looking for missing people with the Okla NG. Stopped cars Crusing thru Wallace Shopping Center so they would show how good their car would burnout. I think Greg Cox 396 Chevelle is still going!

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Thanks for sharing this forum and bringing back some great memories. I lived in Enid during the 60,70s . I still tell stories about how fortunate we were to grow up in ENID AMERICA!!!! I remember once myself and 3 of my friends tried to ride our
bicycles to Salt Plains Reservoir because it only took about 45 mins .to drive there in a car. We only made it about 10 miles. Thankfully we told someones little brother that we were heading that way.

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You could stay in the Esquire theater all day on a Saturday and watch the show over and over.
Goofy Golf on Maine.
7 for a $1 burgers at pak a sak
And don’t forget Bob’s Cone Corner
And The Mad Calf on broadway.

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Someway drive in was on elm and van buren what about the dip cones at Lenox drive in ive lived here all my life I was raised at tia Juana restaurant

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The movie theaters had cry rooms and they would pass out headshots of Elvis if his movie was showing. Woolworths had instant photo booths for taking pictures. The drug store on the south side of the square would have cinnamon toothpicks for after school buys. Mayfest was a big todo! Elementary School Christmas Cantatas were awesome gatherings, as well as the Kiwanis club annual Little Olympics! Government Springs Park had a zoo, and naming the first female lion was a contest. A lot of good in Enid.

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Loy and Joys
Ike’s pool hall for the rougher crowd
Nixon’s visit to Enid coincided with a grand opening of McDonalds.
Guess which event had the larger crowd.

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You might be from Enid if you could pick out the only male large mouth bass hanging in the Wagon Wheel. (Where you got you french fry and gravy fix.)

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Oh and don’t forget Zeppy”s Pizza!!

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Bat Caves, TFFLB, A&W “frosted mug” root beer /w onion rings, Ike’s pool hall, Friday night football, victory dance after the game, original meadowlake golf course and the burgers they sold. YMCA across from the pool. Janet’s husbands name (tastee-freeze)

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One of my greatest memories growing up in the 70’s /80’s was the waterside on hwy 81 just at the edge of town. Seems like it was near John Deere?

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Shamrock Bowling Alley on north Van Buren.
Sitting at the snack bar on the second level at Champlain pool.
PAL Park off of Chestnut.

So many great memories. Oh, to go back to those days of friends and carefree fun.

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Wow, does this ever bring back memories! Here’s a few: No one mentioned Bob’s Cone Corner and the “Lumberjack and onion rings.” Also, who remembers that before there was a South Van Buren overpass, it was an underpass, part of which is still visible on the east side of Van Buren, just north of the overpass. I remember that the A&W was the busiest place in town after dark until we were told the police would hand out tickets to people that just drove thru without stopping. Don’t know if that was true, but it seems the A&W went away soon after.
So, thank all those that shared their memories and thank you Enid Buzz!

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A couple more how about Brights drive Inn on North grand it’s now Dennys car lot , gourmet restaurant on grand1 block north of randolph

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Sounds like you are from my “time.” Remember Newt’s Potato Chips…and the cherry orchards up on North 16th where we would pick cherries for 10 cents a bucket…good ‘ol days…thanks for the memories!

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Every year…going to the speedway to go to the fair….

Eating at Pizza-Inn after the Saturday night races…

If you know who Bill Beebe or Ted Shepard are…

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Great memories.

My brother and I delivered the Enid Morning News and Daily Eagle.
I worked in the meat market at Wynn’s IGA on Main Street just north of the railroad underpass. Several trucks had their tops ripped open or off because they were too tall and could not safely go under the the train tracks. I attended Wilson Elementary School at 10th and Chestnut and Coolidge Elementary School at 15th and Chestnut. I also worked at Coldiron’s while in high school and on weekends and summers when I was home from attending Oklahoma Baptist University.

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How about shopping at Trade Mart or eating at the lunch counter in Woolworths? Where was the Lahoma Drive In located?