Crystal digging season is open! Digging is permitted April 1 through October 15, sunrise to sunset at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. No special permit is required. Collectors are permitted to remove up to 10 pounds of crystals plus one large cluster for their personal use per day. Take Hwy 64 west of Jet to the Salt Flats sign (about six miles), turn N on sand road to Salt Plains (about three miles), and one mile east on a paved road to the gate and follow the orange signs to ‘Dig Area'.

The drive from Enid to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is at just about an hour from Enid. Wear old shoes and clothes. You might want to pack extra clothes for after digging in case they become covered in salt and dirt.

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We usually take Highway 64 through Jet, Oklahoma coming from the east. The road to the Salt Flats has a big sign near it and it is a few miles west of Jet. There are a few other roads that will get you there. Stop in Jet to use the restroom, purchase snacks and something to drink. Be sure to have plenty of water and ice if possible. (There is a small bathroom inside the gate at the Selenite Crystal Digging Area just in case.)
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Once you arrive at the Selenite Crystal Digging Area you'll see a road marked by posts. The road will be pretty rough at the beginning. If you have a vehicle that sits very low you might have a little trouble. Drive slow. The gate of the Selenite Crystal Digging Area is located at 66003 Garvin Road, Cherokee OK 73728. You drive about a mile then to the Dig Area.
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There will be signs telling what areas to stay away from. It will most likely be windy. Even on a non-windy day there's going to be some wind on the salt flats. Take sunscreen and sunglasses!
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There will be a designated dig area. You can only dig in that area. You'll see other older areas that are now blocked off. Don't dig in the areas that say keep out. There are severe penalties for not following the rules.
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The road is clearly marked. Just follow the posts. You'll also see other diggers and the most recent area of digging will be very apparent.
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You'll see the large salt flats but the actual salt is just a very thin layer. You may also see some water areas. There is basically an aquifer right under the salt flats so you will see water filling your hole if you dig very deep.
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Jerry Rose took his daughters to dig and shared this pic on our Facebook page. Be sure and take small shovels and digging tools. Also have a bucket to clean the crystals and some extra water.
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You'll find lots of these crystal pieces. You're looking for large pieces that have an hour glass shape in the middle. If you dig carefully and hit the right spot you might find large clumps of crystals together. Clumps are rare but very cool!

Collectors are permitted to remove up to 10 pounds of crystals plus one large cluster for their personal use per day.
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Part of the Great Salt Plains is Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Avoid the areas that are marked with signs. You can get in trouble if you harm anything in the Refuge.
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Nearing sunset on the Great Salt Plains. This is where the camera come in real handy.
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Sunset.
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Beware that you will get salt on just about everything especially shoes. This was after an hour ride and walking across a parking lot. You will have salt in your car. You might want to wash your car after your visit. Enjoy!

INFORMATION ON THE SELENITE CRYSTALS

The salt flats are a unique geological area made up of 11,000-acres that are perfectly flat with a wafer thin salt crust. It is classified as the "largest such saline flat in the central lowlands of North America".

The salt area was formed by repeated flooding by sea water millions of years ago. There are thick layers of salt-saturated sand hidden below the plain. Rains and local ground water travel through the salt-saturated sand and comes to the surface where it evaporates, leaving the crust of salt. Saline solution combines with gypsum to promote selenite crystal growth in that portion of the salt flats.

Because these crystals form in the wet part of the  soil, sand and clay particles are included within the crystal. These particles often form an "hourglass" shape inside the crystal. This hourglass shape cannot be found in selenite crystals in other places of the world; it is only found here at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in NW Oklahoma.

Single crystals, penetration twins, and clusters are the typical crystal shapes most frequently encountered on the refuge. Exceptional individual crystals measuring up to 7 inches long have been found, along with complex combinations weighing as much as 38 pounds.

Call 580-626-4794 for more information.

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.

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.

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.

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" at Meadowlake
18. You ate at a restaurant that had a volcano in it
19. You know where the "Wheat Capital of the World" was
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've heard about the failure of "the loop"
35. You know the Simpsons aren't named OJ and Bart
36. You remember the masked jogger pushing his wife in a wheelchair
37. You heard wild stories about the Magnificent Cobra
38. You read books at a Carnegie Library
39. You bought Boy Scout supplies at Coldirons
40. You know which President ate 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 from Simpsons, Evans or Crosscourt
46. You swam indoors at the "Y"
47. You've sat in an empty bathtub during a severe storm
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 (or Grand)
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 remember the number to Time & Temperature
57. You bought an album or cassette from Jack
58. Your favorite cookies are Katy's
59. You chased hot air balloons at Summerfest
60. You watched fireworks at Meadowlake Park
61. You know Boggy Creek had tadpoles not monsters
62. PEGASYS wasn't Greek mythology to you
63. You've followed EnidBuzz.com!

Here are some comments we've gotten on this post over the years...

1.  Robin Pierce

   July 20, 2010 at 1:16 pm

   I’m stumped on the answer to #33! Can you help?

2. Buzz Head

   July 20, 2010 at 1:32 pm

   Hi Robin, the escalator was in the original Mongomery Wards building which later became Evans Drug on the corner of Randolph and Grand.

3. Lorie Legere

   July 20, 2010 at 3:30 pm

   I can’t remember the restaurant in #18, with a volcano???? Please help me out!

   • Buzz Head

     July 20, 2010 at 3:42 pm

     Toucan Harry’s in the Midwestern Inn on Van Buren.

4. Erica

   July 21, 2010 at 10:04 am

   # 36 ? What is that about????

   • Buzz Head

     July 21, 2010 at 10:54 am

     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.

5. Jessi

   July 26, 2010 at 11:41 am

   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.

6. Michael

   August 5, 2010 at 3:48 pm

   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

7. Kurt

   November 1, 2010 at 9:17 pm

   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.

8. Kurt

   November 1, 2010 at 9:17 pm

   You’re from Enid if you know which President ate at the Wagon Wheel.

9. Pam Pattillo

   December 31, 2010 at 4:18 pm

   You might be from Enid if your Dad met your Mom at the Youngblood Hotel.

10. Randy (stet)

    May 27, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    You might have gone to Enid High if you know what the boys wore for swim class in the ’60s!! (SR ’67)

11. Scott

    June 17, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    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!”

    • Buzz Head

      June 28, 2011 at 5:50 pm

      Thanks for the additions!

12. Karen Waldman

    June 28, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    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.

    • Buzz Head

      June 28, 2011 at 5:49 pm

      Great additions!

13. Karen Waldman

    July 2, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    Does anyone know what happened to the Main Street Station railroad car that used to be a restaurant downtown? Thanks!

Bikes and skateboards were our only modes of transportation and we used them to get around everywhere. Almost every street had sidewalks that ended at a curb. These were our thoroughfares and by the end of summer we'd have every bump and crack memorized.

There seemed to be less crime or at least it wasn't on TV 24/7 so we didn't know about it. Most people didn't lock their doors and kids were allowed to go just about anywhere alone. I think it was the freedom we had that makes such good memories of those summers.

The July 4th holiday was always the highlight of the summer. Fireworks were pretty much unrestricted so we always had lots of explosives in July. Below are the memories I have of the July 4th holiday and the things we would do during that fun summer weekend. I may add more to the list from time to time as new memories pop into my head. Enjoy!

Listen to The 70's Buzz Podcast about growing up in the 70s.

Fun Summer Activities We Did In The 70s

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1.) Ran around the yard with sparklers.
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2.) Chased lightning bugs and put them in a jar.
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3.) Found turtles, painted their shells and raced them.
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4.) Watched the local fireworks display at Meadowlake.
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5.) Threw Jarts in the air and tried not to get impaled.
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6.) Walked through Boggy Creek in our sneakers and got stuck in the mud.
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7.) Stuck Black Cats firecrackers into red ant dens and blew them up.
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8.) Ate watermelon and spit the seeds!
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9.) Made homemade ice cream in a churn bucket.
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10.) Ran and slid on the Slip'n Slide and got bonked with the Water Wiggle.
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11.) Set up the spinning sprinkler and ran through it.
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12.) Stuck pinwheels on our bikes while we were riding.
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13.) Stuck little American flags in the grass.
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14.) Ate burgers and hot dogs cooked on the grill.
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15.) Made real lemonade and sold it at a table in the front yard.
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16.) Covered ourselves in bug spray and played hide & seek.
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17.) Watched the sky at night looking for falling stars.
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18.) Walked barefooted on the hot cement until our feet were on fire.
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19.) Drank soda out of a bottle with a straw.
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20.) Washed our bikes with a garden hose.
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21.) Rode our skateboards over a wooden board on a brick.
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22.) Ate Popsicles while they melted all over us.
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23.) Licked Kool-Aid powder out of a packet.
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24.) Hula Hooped, but tried to look cool doing it.
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25.) Played catch with a Frisbee.
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26.) Slid down a burning metal slide at Meadowlake Park.
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27.) Spun each other on the merry-go-round at Champlin Park until we were sick.
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28.) Told jokes and scary stories under a corner street light on W. Broadway.
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29.) Swung on a swing at Champlin Park and jumped out as high as we could.
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30.) Sat in webbed lawn chairs trying not to fall through the broken strap.
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31.) Tried to ride wheelies the length of the block.
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32.) Climbed trees on boards we nailed to the trunk.
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33.) Blew bubbles with our Fruit Stripe gum.
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34.) Dug up worms for fishing bait.
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35.) Threw water balloons at each other.
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36.) Slept with a fan in the window to stay cool.
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37.) Watched the clouds and looked for shapes.
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38.) Filled up a wading pool and played for hours.
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39.) Caught tadpoles in Boggy Creek and took them home.
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40.) Slid down the hill at the Bird Sanctuary on a cardboard box.
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41.) Drank water from everyone's garden hoses.
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Mid-America Summerfest began in the summer of 1986 running annually for six years until it ended in 1991. Summerest was put on and organized by the Enid A.M. AMBUCS as a fundraiser and a three-day community event. It was originally conceived as a celebration to lift spirits of Northwest Oklahoma residents.

The festival promised to be top-notch entertainment for the whole family. It was a combined effort of the AMBUCS working in cooperation with other local civic clubs and the City of Enid. It took hundreds of volunteers that spent countless hours in preparation for each celebration.

Summerfest was most well known for the hot air balloons but there was a very wide variety of activities. Exhibits and displays included antiques cars, lumberjacks, antique engines & steam show, Skoal Bandit racing car, Kodak Chipmunk aerobatic plane, fireworks, arts & crafts, commercial booths, petting zoo, bands, Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats, Magicians of Taipei, comedy, food, and much, much more.

Enid Buzz will be updating this page with more photos, videos, posters, publications and stories from Summerfest. Stay tuned! We're just getting started.

Listen to our hour long Podcast interview about Summerfest. Click the play button and the podcast will load and play.

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February 15 is National Remember The Maine Day. Remembering the Maine is exactly why Enid has a Maine Street.

In January 1898, Battleship Maine was sent from Key West, FL, to Havana, Cuba, to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban War of Independence. The U.S.S. Maine was a battleship, 319 feet long and weighing 6,682 tons. It was the largest ship ever to enter the harbor at Havana.

On February 15, 1898 an explosion on board the Maine occurred in the Havana Harbor destroying the forward third of the ship. The remaining wreckage sank to the bottom of the harbor. In total 260 men lost their lives as a result of the explosion and related injuries.

It has never been established exactly what caused the explosion or who was responsible, but the consequence was the brief Spanish-American War of 1898. The yellow press, led by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, proprietors of the New York Journal and the New York World, took every opportunity to inflame the situation by exclaiming, ‘Remember the Maine.’

Immediately after hearing of the incident, the Enid City Council changed what was known as D Street to Maine Street to honor the battleship and her crew. And that's why Enid has a Maine Street!

In 1976, Adm. Hyman Rickover of the U.S. Navy mounted yet another investigation into the cause of the Maine disaster. His team of experts found that the ship's demise was self- inflicted--likely the result of a coal bunker fire.

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1973 Enid, OK Flood Photo

Read more stories on this Facebook Post.
1973 ENID FLOOD PHOTOS

This was the attached article:

Hospital Evacuated

Rampaging Boggy Creek, (lowerpart of photo) flooded St. Mary's Hospital in Enid, Okla., (right center) and park at left after a 16-inch downpour Wednesday night, forcing evacuation of the hospital. The hospital, six blocks from the town square, lost its medical supplies and electricity when water rose to a foot high on the first floor. Seventy-five or more cars in parking lots around the hospital were swept away into the creek and park and some were found several blocks away. Four fatalities were confirmed and several people are still unaccounted for as search and cleanup operations continued in the stricken city where damages are expected to run into the millions. (UPI Telephoto)

1973 Enid, Oklahoma Flood Details

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There seems to be, even today, a great interest in the "great" flood of Enid, Oklahoma. We will try to gather as much information about the flood as we can and post it here. If you have any stories or photos from the flood please send them to us. Below is the information we have gathered at this time.
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The huge amount of rainfall that fell in Enid is known as the "Enid Flood". The flood took place October 10 and 11 of 1973. The storm was caused by a locally intense thunderstorm that was centered over Enid. This storm produced the greatest urban rainfall on record in Oklahoma. Rainfall accumulations were 15 to 20 inches within a 100 square mile area. A recorded 2 inches fell in 3 hours.
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The cause of the storm was a low pressure center that moved northeastward along a slowly moving cold front. These two systems stalled over north-central Oklahoma, depositing record-breaking rainfall. The 24-hour rainfall total at Enid of 15.68 inches exceeded the previous record which occurred September 3-4, 1940 (at Sapulpa). Unofficial reports have put the amount at 20 inches of rain.
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The rain in Enid actually fell in about 12 hours, with 75 percent of it falling in 4 hours. The severe flash flooding that resulted from the rainfall in Enid destroyed or severely damaged 300 homes and 40 businesses. The rainfall also contributed to nine deaths. In Garfield County alone, property damages were estimated at 8 million dollars, with damages to crops and land that climbed to some 13 million.
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Governor David Hall called Enid a disaster area and asked President Nixon for federal disaster fund to help rebuild.
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Accounts of the flood: (further comments added below)

I was ten years old, living in Enid during the flood. My sister and I were staying alone at our house on South Johnson, while our mom was bowling. My great-grandmother lived directly across the street and kept an eye on us from her front window. I remember there being a very heavy rain that lasted for hours.
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The flooding was so bad and so quick that our mom couldn't get home. My great-grandmother must have called us to come to her house because I remember crossing the street to her house and becoming completely drenched as soon as I made it to the front yard. I remember the water completely filling the street and my shoes becoming soaked in an instant.
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My grandmother asked me to go to her basement and see if there was any water coming in. I do remember that there were several areas where water was just running into her basement. We used buckets to move the water out of the basement. I'm not exactly sure where we put the water but I think we just threw it out the back door to watch it run back in again.
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That's about all I remember about the great Enid flood. We would love to hear your accounts and see any photos that you might have. Please send them to us.
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Curtis D. Tucker

I was at the bowling alley during the heavy rainfall. When we finished bowling (up the hill from the corner of W Owen K Garriott and S. Van Buren at the Trail Bowling Alley) that night I went out to the car. I looked and the water was up to the middle of the hub caps on my 67 Thunderbird. I went back inside to think about what to do. A man came in and said his car had just floated away at the corner and he had jumped out of the window. That spot was right at the corner where Walgreens stands now. The small house that is a information center was the highway patrol building and it was totally under water.
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The man (a Munsingwear Underwear salesman) asked if anyone could take him to the Ramada Inn. I said I would try so we got in and went West on Rupe and turned at each street to try to get on Owen K Garriott. The man would get out and wade up the street to test the height of the water but at every crossing the water was too high. He told me his wife would never believe this story when he got home to Tulsa. On our final try on South Garland my car finally stalled from so much water. A man in a pickup stopped, picked us up and took us back to South Johnson where a friend lived.
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We had found a safe haven from the flood until the water went down. My friend and his wife weren't quite clear on where or how I had come up with a traveling salesman whose car had floated away. We were finally able to go home by dawn and my friend took the man to the Inn. I got my car towed and went home to tell the tale to the kids.
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Ann Tucker

Your story rings very familiar. I was also 10 years old in ’73, and like Ann, we were also at the bowling alley that night. My dad bowled on a league for years. I don’t remember much about getting home, just that it was really late. Our house sat on something of a hill, so we didn’t have any damage. However, a friend had to climb out of her car near Johnson Street ( I think) and found it the next day on the banks of Meadowlake Park.
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I hadn’t thought about the flood in years. Thanks for memories (I think).
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Jodi Shumway

Flood of '73: Rita (Conrady) Buck (aerial photo/article) Richard & Ed Galbraith (train track photo)
(if you remember the 1973 Flood or were caught in it and you would like to help us do further research on this page please feel free to send us stories or photos – Thank You!)
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More Comments

1. Angie Kirkley

   June 25, 2010 at 5:34 pm

   Just seen this website going through Facebook today. It is really interesting to know all of the things that go on in Enid (I live in Enid). What caught my eye was the flood of ’73 story. I didn’t live here then but had family that did and still does today. It was devastating to everyone at the time.
   I also remember there being a huge hail storm here back in the seventies and it tearing up a lot of homes and vehicles. My Aunts house had a lot of windows knocked out I remember. If anyone has stories of that I would like to see it, or I could be wrong?
   Anyway keep up this site it’s a very good way to see what is going on in town and I do think Enid could be just as good as Oklahoma City or Tulsa! A lot of volunteers and work would help the towns look! It is a nice town and we could have a lot of shows brought here with help of the people! Keep it up !!! Angie:)

2. Bronwyn Franke Gogia

   July 15, 2010 at 4:59 pm

   I remember standing at the front door watching the water in the street with my sisters. We lived at the end of W. Oklahoma and everytime a car went by the water came into the house. We did better than others, at least our house was on an incline so we only got 4 inches inside.

3. Shannon Barone (Rezler)

   August 24, 2010 at 1:34 am

   I was born at Saint Mary’s on 9 October 1973. I grew up hearing the stories about the great flood, and my family lost a lot during that flood. My families car floated away, and my dad was one of the people trying to bail water out of the lower level of the hospital. Seeing the pictures, and reading the information, puts it all into perspective.

4. Raye Davis (Tripp)

   October 22, 2010 at 5:15 pm

   I was a senior in high school during the ’73 flood. I was home with my mother and our dog. Our dog, Rascal, kept barking, so I took him off his chain and put him in a shed on our property.

   We noticed that the water was getting high. Boggie Creek ran behind my parents’ house. We heard the storm sirens go off and thought it was because of the high water and saw a neighbor’s car against the bank on the opposite side of the road from our house and the noticed that the whole yard and road was just a sheet of water. Rascal had gotten out of the shed and was sitting on a chair on our front porch. My dad called from Vance (where he worked) and told us if water was coming into the house to turn the breakers off. By this time the water was coming in. It was very strange because it filled up under the house and then seemed to be coming in from every wall (inside walls too) at one time and was knee deep quickly. We tried to put things up high where the water could not get to them but to no avail. I helped my mother and the dog into the trap door to the attic (no ladder, had to scale shelves) and we watched as things were washed out of the house below us. Water level was 63″ inside the house.

   We heard the fire department in a boat going down the creek (or flooded yards) near us and managed to get the attic vent opened enough to yell and wave at them. They came and rescued us in their boat and took us to high ground. It was a mess and took a long time to get the house put back into liviable shape. No flood insurance was avialable back then.

   And we survived the hail storm also. I do not remember the year, but I’m pretty sure it was a few years before the flood. We had baseball to softball size hail stones. Lots of damage there too.

   Raye

5. Randy Manning

   January 27, 2011 at 3:53 am

   I lived in Drummond a small town about fifteen miles south west of Enid during the flood of ’73. We lived on the edge of Drummond next to an ancient dry lake bed. No one lived out in this large area we called: “The Flats” because of the flooding that occasionally happened there.
   I’ll never forget the sound of all that rain falling on the roof – at times it was deafening. Mom and Dad were both somewhat worried too. The next morning the rain stopped. I went outside and the old dry lake had turned into a big real lake! Water was blocking about half of our driveway. I remember poking sticks into the ground at the waters edge every 30 or so minutes and watching the water rise ever so slowly. The water didn’t stop rising until about 6:00 p.m. that evening. By then, the water was up to our back porch. All this water coming right up to our house gave me a very uneasy feeling. I was so glad to see it stop rising.
   I remember that after the rain all the drainage systems in Enid were widened and redesigned to handle a flash flood more effectively.

   Randy

6. millie campbell, ashford

   February 25, 2011 at 4:16 pm

   i remember the flood.i lived on south independence with my family my dad loyd,my mom genevieve.my brothers,loyd,donald,ronald and tonya. i was 13 then and im 50 now

7. Debra Lounsbury/Robert Rogers

   May 11, 2011 at 6:26 pm

   Robert J Rogers’ account of the 1973 flood in Enid, OK:
   On that night, Rob’s dad was at the Shamrock Bowling alley and his mother and he were at home with their 2 dogs. They lived at 3102 Dwelle Drive. He was in the 11th grade at Pioneer High School. It had been raining for some time when he looked out the kitchen window and noticed that the driveway was full of water and there were cars floating by. His mother’s car, a Buick LeSabre, was floating between the houses. He realized that this wasn’t good! The water then was up to the front and back door and was coming out of the electrical outlets in the house. The water outside was higher than inside at that time. They heard on the news that people at the Trail Bowling alley were standing on tables to avoid the high water. There was then a loud banging noise, and unbeknownst to them, the back wall of the garage had floated away. The water then came pouring in the kitchen door from the garage. The water in the house within a matter of seconds went from 1 to 5 feet. The icebox went through the patio doors.

   Rob and his mom put the dogs on a mattress and headed to the bedroom where he kicked out a window and shimmied on a row of bushes and a stockade fence to get to the roof. He then helped his mom out of the window on the fence but she could not get her footing to get on the roof. So she started saying her goodbyes. She told him she loved him and his dad and to let her go. Rob knew he had to get her up there so for the very 1st time he cursed at her (knowing it would make her mad) and told her she was not going anywhere and to get her “*** ***” on that roof!!!!! And it worked! She was mad and she told him when she got up there he was going to get it! But she made it up on that roof!!!!

   They stayed for about 45 minutes to an hour on the roof and could hear others hollering all around them. Coming east on Dwelle was a boat with about 6-7 people in it. They stopped and picked up Rob and his mom. They got almost to 30th street when the prop on the boat was knocked out. The owner of the boat asked some of the guys to grab on to anything they could to slow them down. Several tried but the water was so strong it pulled them out of the boat including Rob. This is where he waited until the waters receded. Rob could see the water stretched from the overpass of Highway 412 to Pine Manor apartments. When the water was about a foot, the guys got off the roofs and started looking for their families. Several people died on those streets that night. Rob’s dogs were lucky and survived.

   He later found out from his mom that the boat ended up on the roof of the last house on Hillcrest before it opened up into the big creek. Everyone got out on that roof. But then lightening hit the house next to them and several people were burned.

   Rob also saw 2 guys in a canoe in the Valleyview addition that were trying to paddle but when the main water current hit that canoe you could see the look of sheer terror in their eyes (there was a streetlight working near them at the time). They paddled so fast and hard and got out of that canoe somewhere near Pine Manor apartments.

   What a story! And this is not the last of his nine lives!!! There is more!

8. Bruce Seymour

   October 2, 2011 at 1:31 pm

   Me and my wife spent the night across the temporary river from previous story by Curtis Tucker. I worked for Stalcup Imports at 423 west Broadway and was working late that night when the rain started busting the seams of the inside drains in our building My wife and I got everything off of the floors in all of the offices and then decided to go home. We lived straight south on Jefferson street (1200 block south) but there was a temporary river in out way. after driving around in our chevy truck for about 1/2 of an hour and deciding that there was no way home we spent the night in the parking lot of Pizza Inn which was then on the very bank of the river stretching south to the Texaco 2 1/2 blocks south.

9. Benita Ward (Lenker)

   January 3, 2012 at 1:43 pm

   I also remember the flood. I was around 10 when it happened and living on the street that ran next to Hardees right off Van Buren. (I no longer live in Enid) Of Course the houses on that street are set high up off the street so there was no flooding in the house. I remember I had been out with my mom and right as we got back home it had started raining really hard. She wanted to wait in the car for the rain to slow but it never did and finally we made our way into the house. The next morning I remember lots of kids playing out in the water in the streets. I think about the flood from time to time which is what has brought me to the website today.

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ENID, OK - Each of us carry our own memories of growing up in a carefree time, when we had little responsibility and days of discovery. I loved growing up in my hometown of Enid, Oklahoma. There are dozens of memories trapped in my mind that occurred in the 70's and early 80's. This is a list of the things I remember and miss the most from those good old days.

This list is not to say that Enid doesn't have many great things going on now. There is easily a list of 50 things that my daughters will look back on in 30 years and remember fondly. Each of us grew up in different neighborhoods on different sides of town. I was pretty much in the middle of everything location wise and economically.

The thing that sticks out the most is the freedom we had when we were in grade school and junior high. We could go to any part of town on our own and our parents never had to worry. We could throw our bikes down at the movie theater and they'd be there when we got out. It sure seemed like a safer, more innocent time whether it was or not.

I originally wrote this back in 2008 but I've updated it and thought I would re-post.

1. I miss the Tri-State carnival rides and food being parked on west Broadway.
2. I miss Summerfest and taking photos of the hot air balloons.
3. I miss the stores and crowds downtown, especially on Saturday and Crazy Day.
4. I miss watching Disney and other movies at the Esquire Movie Theater.
5. I miss my birthday dinner with relatives being in the round room at Richill's Cafeteria.
6. I miss collecting green stamps and trading them for stuff at the Green Stamp Store.
7. I miss buying toys and snacks at Wackers in Westgate Shopping Center.
8. I miss playing 45's in the jukebox at Ken's Pizza during lunch at Enid High.
9. I miss the onion rings and shakes from Next Door Restaurant on Garriott.
10. I miss buying comics from Baker's Pawn Shop on west Maine.
11. I miss sneaking into the Trail and Enid drive-ins.
12. I miss playing Asteroids for hours on one quarter at Putt-Putt.
13. I miss chasing ducks in the paddle boats at Meadowlake.
14. I miss buying cassettes and albums at Jack's Records and Tapes.
15. I miss sitting at the A & W Drive In and sneaking off with their trays.
16. I miss looking at Weeblo and Cub Scout gear at Coldirons.
17. I miss the mystique and tales of the Magnificent Cobra.
18. I miss seeing the bikini swimsuit guy jogging down Lahoma Rd.
19. I miss trips out to Trade Mart because it seemed so big.
20. I miss the riding the Bullet at Meadowlake and watching my best friend get sick.
21. I miss buying white mice, 45's and black light posters at Woolco.
22. I miss getting bike parts and skateboards at OTASCO.
23. I miss riding bikes & sliding on boxes down the hill at the Bird Sanctuary.
24. I miss getting drinks with "good ice" at Somewhere Drive In.
25. I miss finding boxes around town to build a cardboard maze on Halloween.
26. I miss exploring the water drainage tunnels under Van Buren and Garriott.
27. I miss catching tadpoles in Boggy Creek and going home covered in mud.
28. I miss going up and down the ramp at the Sears parking garage.
29. I miss sneaking out to the, so called, "Insane Asylum" late at night.
30. I miss cruising and watching people drag Van Buren.
31. I miss trick-or-treating in the Waverly area with sidewalks packed with kids.
32. I miss playing on the escalator at Evans Drug downtown.
33. I miss browsing hobby and train stuff at Enid News and Stationary.
34. I miss the awful smell of the monkey pit at the Enid Zoo.
35. I miss the electronic parrot and the running train at Richill's.
36. I miss playing hide-n-go-seek under the seats at the old Gaslight Theatre.
37. I miss throwing snowballs off the second floor of the Hedges/Knox Mansion.
38. I miss eating multiple Pak-A-Sak burgers and their great onion smell.
39. I miss the giant water slide on north Van Buren.
40. I miss playing neighborhood hide-n-seek on west Broadway late at night.
41. I miss skateboarding in the office park parking lot at 1420 west Garriott
42. I miss riding bikes on the BMX dirt track at Elm and Cleveland.
43. I miss the smell of Ken's Bakery.
44. I miss picking out gifts from the Service Merchandise catalog and store.
45. I miss the base wide 4th of July celebration and cook-out at Vance.
46. I miss buying magic tricks and gags at Papa Torry's.
47. I miss the creaky wooden floors at Dollar General/Kress.
48. I miss buying candy at Fitzsimmons on the way to Waller Jr. High.
49. I miss trying on sneakers and t-shirts at Larry Black's.
50. I miss listening to stereo equipment at Contemporary Sounds.

Read the comments for more great memories

I live in Indian Hills and made my way down Hayes to the trail near the big drainage ditch. I always love starting there because I can go east to Van Buren, north to Meadowlake or west to Oakwood. I also enjoy crossing the bridge over the large drainage ditch.

I glimpsed over the side as I started my journey and saw two large turtles enjoying the morning water. It was 6am and there was no one in sight. I decided to take off west to Oakwood Rd. One of my favorite spots going to Oakwood is the area crossing the railroad track and the wooded area after that. I'm always reminded of the movie Stand By Me as I walk along that route.

I loved passing the wheat fields because the wheat is just about ripe enough to cut. The fields seemed to stretch forever and I got some great photos. I saw some great birds, bunnies and squirrels along the way. There were also plenty of mosquitoes but fortunately for me I do not get bumps when I'm bitten so I just swat them away.

I was very pleasantly surprised when I arrived at Oakwood and saw that the trail seemed to continue further west. I crossed Oakwood, rounded a quick curve and saw that a new mile had been added to the trail! I took off on my first excursion on this part of the trail.

I'm not sure if it was the sunrise, the smell of the wheat or just the new surroundings but it was one of the best walks I've ever had. The wheat fields along that stretch were even larger and more golden than those I had already passed. The trail has some really good curves in this section and a few water areas.

Along the new route there is an additional bridge, a pond with fountain and a few more low areas that were filled with water. I happened upon a big turtle and took his pic, I saw dozens of tiny toads hopping all over the trail and watched a scissor-tailed flycatcher pass by me. The new stretch reached all the way to Garland.

All along the way you can see the back of Walmart, Oakwood mall and many of the new hotels. There is also a new church being constructed on Garland. Fortunately I had decided to take my handy dandy iPhone with me and I took many photos along the way. I also returned on Sunday and made the same trek.

Below is my photo diary of my time on the walking trail. I hope you enjoy and get out to spend some time on the trail. For some reason I have a title for each photo.
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"A Road Less Traveled"
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"Annoyances"
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"Bloomers"
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"Cutting A Path"
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"Golden Slumber"
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"Gateway To Sunshine"
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"Morning Wheaties"
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"No Photos Allowed"
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"A Time For Reflection"
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"Scissor-tailed"
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"Sit A Spell"
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"Smoke On The Water"
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"Subtle Variations"
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"Swheat!"
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"The Path Of Least Resistance"
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"The Shadow Knows"
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"This Is The End"
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"The Three Amigos"
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"Tiny Croaker"
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"Atracktive" (disclaimer: this photo was taken on a public crossing on the trail as I walked by. It is illegal to go down the railroad tracks at anytime especially to take photos.)
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"Treeshine"
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MAY FETE CEREMONY

Enid High May Fete is a rite of passage for the senior class of Enid High School. It comes from an old English May Day tradition which celebrates the coming of spring. Enid High turned this tradition into a ceremony that not only welcomes spring but also honors the senior class each year. It began in 1915 and has changed very little over the decades. Students dress in their finest attire and walk as couples around Government Springs Park. There's music, pageantry, the May Queen, her Herald, and their Court. Throughout much of its history, the May Queen, Herald and Court were elected by the senior class.

The May Fete ceremony usually begins with the processional around Government Springs lake, the crowning of the May Queen and the winding of the May Poles. The processional begins with a color guard, the Queen and Harold and the Court attendants. It is then followed by the senior class, who walk along the sidewalk and over the springs arched bridge, then around the lake to the waiting crowd.

The senior class and audience then watch as the Queen and her Court are seated on a throne covered by the springs gazebo. The crowd watches as the Herald crowns the Queen. She is presented with traditional red roses, a sparkling crown and the traditional May Fete kiss. All are then seated as they enjoy the sophomore and junior girls winding ribbon around the May poles.

LIST OF MAY FETE QUEENS & HERALDS

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History of Enid High's May Fete

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By Ruth Ann Brown Sailors, Class of '57

(The following history of May Fete was authored in 1993 by Ruth Ann Sailors, long time art teacher at EHS and May Fete sponsor. Ruth Ann is responsible for collecting the history of May Fete which is displayed in the halls of EHS. Compiled by Gary L. Brown)

A few hours before sundown on an evening each May, people gather on a grassy hillside in Government Springs Park to view the colorful and romantic panorama call May Fete. This festival is based on an old English May Day tradition which celebrates the coming of spring; however, at EHS this occasion is used to honor the senior class each year. Since 1915 May Fete has featured students, who, with music, pomp, and pageantry, pay homage to their May Queen, Herald, and Court.

May Fete has changed little since its inception in 1915. The first May Queen was elected by the student body and crowned by the President of the Senior Class, who served a her Herald. Later, the Herald became an elected position. In the early years, Queens chose their attendants, who likewise, chose their escorts. Presently, all members are elected by the senior class. Although the first Queen was crowned at Government Springs Park, other has been crowned on the front steps of the school, on the football field, or in the auditorium. Elaborate themes were used incorporating extensive costuming and pageantry. Traditionally, a formal or informal dinner party has been given for the Court member by the Queen and Harold. Some unique situations have transpired through the years. For example, several Queens later married their Heralds. A pair of twins were elected one year, which naturally called for two Heralds. An early Queen rode her horse around the lake as part of the pageantry, and a Harold led the procession wearing a white plaster case on his broken foot. One Queen passed the legacy on to her daughter, and several sisters have shared the honor of being elected Queen in their respective graduating years.

Today, May Fete consists of the processional around the lake, the crowning ceremony, musical entertainment, and the winding of the May Pole. Preceded by a color guard, the Queen and Harold with the Court attendants and a tiny cortege of preschool children serving as pages, lead the senior processional along the sidewalk between green lawns, over a large arched bridge, and round the lake at Government Spring Park. Flanked by a quiet waterfall, the fountained waters of the lake reflect the mingled hues of colorful gowns as strains of music float on the evening breeze. Light perfumes blend with roses and spring flowers trailing over the trellises in the park’s gardens. For one elegant evening, every senior is able to participate in a royal procession with young men escorting beautifully gowned young ladies.

After the procession circles the lake, the Queen and her Court ascend the steps and are seated on a throne within a Greek-styled gazebo. The seniors sit nearby to view the crowning of the Queen. The Herald presents her with traditional red roses, a sparkling crown, and a kiss to seal the moment. Everyone is entertained by the EHS choir and bank. Strains of "Come Touch the Sun," play as sophomore and junior girls wind a multi-ribboned May pole in front of the gazebo. As the sun sinks behind the hill, nostalgia settles in the hearts of the young and old since May Fete signals the departure of another senior class. The evening ends with an all school dance held in honor of the seniors.

Sustaining its popularity with students and patrons through the years, May Fete has endured disastrous floods, times of war and depression, changing social attitudes, and dress styles. May Fete is a unique Enid High tradition that has and will continue to bond decades of Plainsmen together in heart and spirit.
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My training exercise came at the end of the initial two-week orientation period where a rookie firefighter learns basic firefighting skills. Ryan Felder, EFD's newest probationary firefighter, was scheduled for the live burn training that morning. Fire Marshall Ken Helms asked me if I wanted to participate in the training and I jumped at the chance.

The day before the live burn I was suited up with a set of fire protective gear. My ensemble included a pair of pants, boots, suspenders, coat, gloves, face mask, breathing mask and helmet. It was recommended that I wear all cotton clothing underneath so as not to risk the material becoming overheated. I was set to meet the fire crews behind Autry Tech the next morning.

The next morning, after being briefed on the live burn structure and the safety procedures, I suited up and was ready to go. I entered the fire with rookie Ryan Felder leading the way, Captain Todd Hayes instructing as we went and firefighter Daniel Moyer backing us up.

We entered the building three times. The first time we encountered a small fire that had just been set, the second entry was for a fire that was raging and already very hot and the third entry was to an upstairs fire that had us turning corners and climbing stairs.

I quickly learned that my gear kept me completely safe and protected from the intense heat. I also observed that the temps near the ceiling were very hot reaching somewhere near 600-800 degrees while the temps closer to the floor were near 100-300 degrees. This is one reason you should crawl out of a fire. We entered the bottom floor fires on our knees which was not at all comfortable wearing heavy gear and holding a hose filled with high pressure water.

The hardest part for me was the complete loss of visibility once they put water on the fire. The smoke was thick and intense dropping visibility to zero. I learned that the firefighters open windows or doors on two ends of the building and use the high pressure water to blow the smoke out of the building. Using this technique the smoke would clear very quickly. Another thing that surprised me was that the floor quickly filled with water, hot water, that I could feel on my knees.

Fire Marshall Helms explained to me that one of the most significant pieces of equipment for firefighters in the last ten years are the thermal imaging cameras. These special cameras allow firefighters to see hot and cool spots indicating the live fire, bodies and cool places to stay safe. I took one in with me on my second entry which really allowed me to see where the fire was and where my fellow firefighters were.

The fire protective ensemble that these firefighters wear into a live burn or real fire weighs around 50 lbs but with equipment/tools can add an additional 20 to 40 lbs. Wearing the fire protective ensemble is encapsulating and insulating and can elevate core temperatures to levels exceeding 102.2°F (39°C).

I now have so much more respect for what firefighters do to keep us safe. They not only enter buildings most people run from, but they are met with very extreme conditions that are unpredictable and unknown. If I can help firefighters in any way it would be to tell residents to keep a clean, uncluttered house and never store flammable or combustible materials inside.

Thanks to Training Officer Justin McAlister, Chief Joe Jackson and all of the crews that helped in the training and made me feel like a part of the team and special thanks to Fire Marshal Ken Helms for the invitation and for taking great photos.

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One of the more recent debates is whether you are eating stuffing or dressing on Thanksgiving. Many so called kitchen experts have their own opinions. Some will swear it's one or the other.

What I have discovered after an exhaustive investigation is that it really comes down to the old soda versus pop debate.

Some Quick Facts
Stuffing is sometimes defined as a seasoned mix used to fill the body of a fowl before it is cooked. The Oxford English Dictionary's definition of dressing is not as specific and merely calls it "the seasoning substance used in cooking". Because of these definitions some expect that stuffing is always stuffed inside a bird but that is not the case. Many people in the north no longer "stuff" their ingredients but they continue to call it stuffing.

The Similarities
Family recipes for turkey stuffing and dressing are very much interchangeable, especially in the north and northeast regions of the country. The base of the recipe is usually a crumbled bread product such as cornbread, biscuits and/or bread slices. Some believe one bread product is exclusive to one or the other but that is not the case. Most call for chopped onion and/or celery. Another key ingredient in almost every recipe is poultry seasoning.

The Differences
The main difference, some point out, is that stuffing is "stuffed" into the turkey before it is baked, while dressing is put into a greased pan and baked. The famous cookbook "The Joy of Cooking" says that a mixture is considered stuffing if you cook it inside the bird, and dressing if you cook it in a pan. However, The National Turkey Federation states that the terms are interchangeable.

Other differences are in the ingredients choices which vary according to regional locations. Generally southern states in America call a mixture "dressing" while northern states usually call it "stuffing." By far, more of the country calls the side dish, "stuffing". The theory is that southern states find the word "stuffing" not genteel enough for their liking so they began using the word, "dressing".

So Which Is It?
It really comes down to personal preference because the recipes are many times the same. If you like the combination of a crispy outside with a moist middle you may call it dressing. If you prefer the squishy, wet texture, then you will most likely call it stuffing. The debate actually depends more on where you grew up and what you grew up eating rather than an actual difference between the two. There are more searches online for stuffing recipes and the majority of those are from northern states.

Conclusion
I'm more than certain that this will not settle the debate. Those that think dressing is something completely different than stuffing will continue to call it dressing. And those that grew up eating stuffing, whether stuffed in a bird or not, will continue to call it stuffing. Guess I'll go have a soda from the ice box.

The Story Of Digging Crystals As A Kid

There are some memories that can immediately bring a smile to my face when I think about them. Some of those memories are the day trips we made as kids to the Great Salt Plains area. We'd go over there hunting for selenite crystal formations. I remember the drives over from Enid with my family, thinking it took hours to get there and then wondering if we could really find the road that would get us there safely. Of course it really never took that long to make the 40 miles or so and the road to the plains was always clearly marked with a big sign.

As a kid it was quite a site driving up to the salt flats in the middle of Oklahoma. It was a huge flat desert that was completely covered in white. It boggled my mind how it ever got here. As you would get closer you would start to see the dig holes, or areas where visitors had been searching for their own crystal treasures. Here are some photos of the Salt Flats from a past trip.

A kid legend around Enid always told of unforeseen quicksand that diggers could accidentally walk or drive into. This meant there was always an air of danger as we would drive onto the actual plains. We never did find any quicksand or see anyone disappear in case you're wondering.

We would find what we thought was a lucky spot, park and unload. We always had a trunk full of things to dig with and plastic containers used to wash off the crystals and carry them home. I remember it being windy and sometimes almost cool with the air blowing in from the lake. Even in the beating spring and summer sun, there was no match for the Oklahoma wind.

We'd spend hours digging our own holes looking for those legendary crystal formations. You could always find the single crystals with the familiar hour glass design locked inside but to find a cluster of more than four or five was like finding a four leaf clover in a clover field. I think we ran across a few small clusters from time to time but never hit the mother load of the thousand piece cluster we fantasized about on the drive over.

Most of our crystal digs were family outings on a Saturday or Sunday. A quicker than imagined drive to Jet with mom, grandma and my sister would get us there and we'd spend the day baking in the sun. I remember coming home dirty and salty with cuts under my finger nails from scraping the sand and salt bare handed. We always seemed to have a garage full of crystals and would unload them at our garage sales just in time to go collect more.

There were other fun times at the Great Slat Plains. I remember my best friend and I getting interested in lightweight rocket powered cars. They actually looked like rockets with foam wheels. His parents would drive us over to the plains and we'd shoot the cars off with this rocket powered fuel that would freeze your finger off if it touched your skin. Our rocket cars would blast across the salt plains further than we could ever get them to go within the Enid city limits.

Those were all great memories, even after whining and complaining about having to go in the first place, sitting in the car and getting a big dose of Oklahoma wind. There was usually a stop in Jet for a snack or drink at the convenience store on the way home and every now and then I was allowed to snag a turtle that we'd spot crossing the dirt road.

If you haven't been or it's been a while, grab the kids and head over to the salt flats. Because it can be hot, windy and dry you should take care to protect your skin! Take sunscreen and some type of hat to cover your head. And don't forget to take a camera to record your first big crystal formation score!!

Digging for selenite crystals is dirty work so wear some old clothes you won't mind getting stained or ruined. Also take sunglasses and Chapstick. And probably the most important item to include is water!!! Make sure everyone has something to drink all day.

When you go digging remember that the moist growing crystal formations will be in soggy sand and are fragile. If you're not slow and careful you'll most likely break any large formations that you find. Let the crystals air-dry for several days and it will decrease their fragility once you get them home.

See more photos from Salt Flats.

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INFORMATION ON THE SELENITE CRYSTALS

The salt plains are a unique geological area made up of 11,000-acres that are perfectly flat with a wafer thin salt crust. It is classified as the "largest such saline flat in the central lowlands of North America".

The salt area was formed by repeated flooding by sea water millions of years ago. There are thick layers of salt-saturated sand hidden below the plain. Rains and local ground water travel through the salt-saturated sand and comes to the surface where it evaporates, leaving the crust of salt. Saline solution combines with gypsum to promote selenite crystal growth in that portion of the salt flats.

Because these crystals form in the wet part of the  soil, sand and clay particles are included within the crystal. These particles often form an "hourglass" shape inside the crystal. This hourglass shape cannot be found in selenite crystals in other places of the world; it is only found here in NW Oklahoma.

Single crystals, penetration twins, and clusters are the typical crystal shapes most frequently encountered on the refuge. Exceptional individual crystals measuring up to 7 inches long have been found, along with complex combinations weighing as much as 38 pounds.

See more information and details here...

Ethel rode a horse each day to the little red school house, which was Glenwood School.  She had to quit school when her mother died, to stay home and take care of her two brothers who farmed the land. This prevented her from being our first generation to graduate from Enid High school.

Ethel married William A. (Bert) Erwin in 1909. They purchased 1009 W. Randolph sometime not long after. Over the years we always called it Ten-O-Nine. Their daughter, my grandma, was born there, on the second floor, in 1913. She was the last person to own the house until it was sold along with the other homes on the block for commercial development.

The house was basically located where Taco Mayo is today. The entire block was filled with large two story homes when I was a kid.

Vintage Enid Photo

The photo above is a picture of my grandma, Elizabeth Scaling, in a wagon being pulled by a goat. The photo was taken in front of Ten-O-Nine around 1916-1917. The house next door (in the background) really changed over the years while old Ten-O-Nine stayed much the same.

1009 W. Randolph, Enid

Here is an early photo of 3 young girls in front of Ten-O-Nine. We are not sure who the girls are but most likely neighbors. Notice the lot next door and the big house in the background. The house in the background would have been on the southwest corner of Van Buren and Randolph. My best guess is that this was in the 1920's.

1009 W. Randolph, Enid

This photo is a better shot than the one above it. Again this is 1009 W. Randolph looking east. The street between the two story houses was Van Buren when it was nothing more than another 2 lane street named after a president. The house in the background closest to Ten-O-Nine eventually was torn down and became the south bound lane of Van Buren. There is a lady in a mink coat walking a dog in the background. Best guess is that this photo was taken right around 1920. This is Elizabeth Erwin Scaling at about age 7-8.

1009 W. Randolph, Enid

Yet another photo in front of Ten-O-Nine looking east toward Van Buren and downtown. Again this is Elizabeth Erwin Scaling in the mid to late 192o's. Notice the two story behind her head. That is the home that faced east looking down Randolph towards downtown. That was where James and Randolph split. Once Van Buren was widened that house lost almost all of its front yard.

1009 W. Randolph, Enid

We discovered this photo of Ten-O-Nine with a big tree in front and a new house next door. Our best guess on this photo is the 1940's or 1950's. The single story on the left eventually became a gas station and the house on the right had a complete remodel somewhere down the road.

Ethel Valentine Erwin

My great grandma, Ethel Erwin, owned the home before my grandma. This black and white photo shows my uncle, Richard Scaling, with my great grandma standing in front of Ten-O-Nine. The year must have been in the early 1950's.

1009 West Randolph, Enid

This photo is most likely from the late 60's or early 70's which is the way I remember the house as a kid. It seemed like a huge house and had the coolest wrap around front porch. There were stairs on the front and back of the porch so we ran around it for hours. It also had a two person swing that kept us occupied for hours.
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There was a small gas station right next door to the east which rented U-Hauls. I remember playing in the front yard at night running and hiding from cars. I always wondered why the cars only seemed to come from one direction, as a kid I hadn't learned about one way streets.

1009 W. Randolph, Enid

This is an additional 1980's photo of Ten-O-Nine. The lot from which the picture was taken is the area between Randolph and James. All of these homes had been torn down for commercial development.

Scaling House

The last photo shows Ten-O-Nine in it's later years. This was late 70's or early 80's. All of the houses in the area were being bought up for a rumored development along Randolph and James. My grandma had moved into another home and held out selling Ten-O-Nine as long as she could. It wasn't long after this photo that the old place was torn down.

If you notice the garage in the background you can see it was painted half and half. From the time they were built, Ten-O-Nine and the house next door shared one driveway and each owned half of the garage. Talk about a parking nightmare!

Today, this is the parking lot and location of Taco Mayo. My grandma's house sat almost exactly where the restaurant is and it always brings back great memories when I eat there.

Interesting fact: If you look back through the photos you'll see a Gremlin and a Pacer parked at the house. My uncle may have been the only person to have owned both cars!!

1) Every kid must sit at the card table or short table at least once as a rite of passage.

2) You'll have absolutely nothing to talk about the first year you sit at the adult table.

3) There will be a prayer before the meal and you may have to hold someone's hand.

4) One child will pile a plate with five pounds of food and will only take two bites.

5) Someone will mention that they are eating too fast, and they need to slow down.

6) Be ready to hug people you barely know. Coming and going.

7) A new guest will hear a Thanksgiving tale that's been told over a million times.

8) No matter where you sit you'll inevitably be by the left handed family member.

9) Someone will tell you to go back for seconds, as soon as your plate is clean.

10) You must eat cranberry sauce. Don't ask, it's Thanksgiving, just eat it.

11) Expect an awkward silence when everyone is eating. Enjoy it, it won't last.

12) It's leftovers for supper. Turkey sandwiches. Want something different? Starve.

13) The family touch football game will always turn into tackle. Dress appropriately.

14) Canned black olives are an appetizer. Eat them and stay away from the turkey.

15) The most liberal and conservative at the table will start a political argument.

16) A dish or item will be forgotten in the oven or freezer until the after meal is over.

17) At least one uncle will disappear to the bathroom for forty-five minutes.

18) Ten hours to cook, twenty minutes to consume, two hours to clean up.

19) You won't be able to eat one more bite without exploding. Until dessert.

20) The TV will be on and the Detroit Lions will be playing football.

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A few years back while I was searching online for historical facts about Enid I stumbled upon a cross country flying schedule of Amelia Earhart that mentioned Enid, Oklahoma as a destination. The landing date on the list was June 15, 1931. Having grown up here almost my entire life I had never once heard the tale that Amelia Earhart had actually visited Enid.

I decided to investigate things a little further and found a second source that had Enid on Earhart’s flying schedule during her Beech-Nut Transcontinental Autogiro tour across the country. I also found news accounts of Earhart having a mishap in Abilene, Texas just days before she was to arrive in Enid. Some newspaper accounts wondered if she would continue her tour which made me question if the accident had caused her to skip Enid.

For a year I conducted quick searches online but was unable to ever find any verifiable proof that she had ever landed in Enid. One morning at KGWA while doing my radio show with Alan Clepper I mentioned my search for information on Earhart and word got back to the Public Library Of Enid. Jade Champion, Mary Shaklee and especially Sarah Cariker took time to scan old Enid Morning News articles and came up with 100% proof that Amelia Earhart had indeed come to Enid, Oklahoma!

Below are details we’ve uncovered from local news articles on the cross country tour and trip Earhart made to Enid.

The Beech-Nut Tour

Harold F. Pitcairn designed the Pitcairn PCA-2 which was an autogyro developed in the United States in the early 1930s. The PCA-2 was the first rotary-wing aircraft to achieve type certification in the United States. He used a number of high-profile activities including the first flight across the United States in a rotorcraft to promote his plane. That feat was attempted by Amelia Earhart, flying for the Beech-Nut food company, but was actually accomplished by John M. Miller who completed his flight nine days before Earhart on May 28, 1931.

Pitcairn’s intent was to fan the public fires of autogiro interest, and he accomplished that with many different marketing techniques. He arranged for journalists to take rides in the PCA-2, and then would use their columns in advertising to tout the revolutionary nature of Autogiro flight. Ernie Pyle, aviation editor for the Washington News, was given a ride and praised Autogiro’s performance in a column dated September 26, 1930.

In May 1931, Earhart took off from Newark, NJ on her first transcontinental autogiro tour. The autogiro craft in which she flew was ordered specially for the aviatrix by the Beech-Nut Packing Company to promote their chewing gum. The autogiro was a relatively new aviation design that many at the time believed to be dangerous and Earhart was out to prove them wrong.

The Crash

Amelia Mary Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for this record. Earhart was married to George Putnam in 1931 but because of her liberal views she kept her own name. Due to the climate of the times, many newspapers insisted on calling her Mrs. Putnam which we’ll also call her from time to time.

Putnam arranged to have Earhart fly Beech-Nut’s autogiro on a transcontinental tour to promote both the plane and the gum. Earhart took off in the company’s vivid green rotorcraft from Newark, N.J., on May 29, 1931, accompanied by mechanic Eddie de Vaught. The autogiro was capable of vertical landings and could poise motionless in mid-air. It had a 300-horsepower engine and had a top speed of 110 miles per hour.

The autogiro plane needed to be refueled frequently, which caused Earhart to make many stops in small towns across the country. She was often invited to attend luncheons and banquets in her honor while visiting and demonstrating in each city. Normally Earhart would be dressed in her leather jacket, jodhpurs and boots. Unfortunately she didn’t have room in her open cockpit to carry a nice change of clothes.

On Saturday, June 13, 1931 Earhart ran into trouble when her autogiro failed to attain sufficient momentum during a demonstration over Abilene, Texas. She crash landed the plane in an area away
from the onlookers and walked away unharmed. The plane’s rotors were damaged and the propeller was bent preventing it from being flown.

Fortunately for Enid residents, Earhart took a private plane from Abilene to OKC piloted by aviator Dick Young. Another autogiro was flown to Oklahoma City from Philadelphia and the tour continued. Major Hugh Askew, manager of the Enid airpark, tried to call Mrs. Putnam but could not get her on the wire. He then telegraphed her to ask about her Enid plans and was told she would still be coming to town.

Earhart In Oklahoma

Earhart appeared at the Oklahoma City fairgrounds on Sunday, June 14, 1931. The Texas crash had not stopped the crowds from coming out to see her as she continued the tour. Prior to her autogiro demonstration in Oklahoma City, Earhart was serenaded by a 42-piece band, an airshow featuring what one report said was “practically every plane in Oklahoma City,” formation flying, a parachute jump and a demonstration by a local woman stunt pilot.

Amelia Earhart Putnam was to arrive in Enid at 10 o’clock on Monday, June 15, 1931. She was to be
coming from Oklahoma City and would leave Enid that same day after her appearances. She was to give demonstrations with her autogiro and was to be a guest of the Enid Air club at a luncheon. She was then to appear before the Oklahoma District Lions convention at the general session in the afternoon.

Earhart made it to Enid on June 15 at 9:10am. She arrived in her ‘Wind-Mill’ plane in an hour from Oklahoma City. Upon arriving in Enid, she gave a demonstration of how her plane operated at the Municipal air park. During the demonstration she flew over Enid but landed when a rainstorm appeared in the area.

At noon, Earhart was the guest of the Rotary club at their weekly luncheon in the Masonic temple downtown. The Enid Air club was in attendance and the program was turned over to them. Mrs. Putnam, as she was called in the paper, described this area as mighty fine country to fly over and noted that we had fine landing fields. She joked that she hated to fly back east but unfortunately she had a husband there.

Earhart later greeted members of the Oklahoma Lions Convention and area residents from the mezzanine floor of the Hotel Youngblood. She was described as having a friendly handshake and charming smile in a newspaper article. She spoke about wearing flying apparel everywhere she went and let the crowd know that she did not prefer flying gear to her normal clothes.

Mrs. Putnam described flying over our part of the state as one of the prettiest parts she had seen. She described watching farm sections that appeared as tiny patches of green. Earhart said Enid could be seen for a long distance and the town itself was beautiful.

Later in the afternoon, Enid resident George Zacharias, a member of the park board and a World War aviator, was taken for a ride over the city by Earhart in her autogiro. Earhart then left Enid flying back to Abilene.

Just six years later on July 2, 1937, during an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in a Purdue-funded Lockheed Model 10 Electra, Earhart disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island. To this day there is no explanation as what actually happened to Earhart.

The photos and tour dates for this article come from the Lincoln Highway Museum website. Unfortunately many of the photos were not labeled with location or the photographer that took them. We do not know where Earhart was when the featured photo was taken. Details of Earhart’s visit to Enid were found in microfiche copies of The Enid Daily Eagle and Enid Morning News from 1931 thanks to the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County.

Contact us at buzz@enidbuzz.com if you remember hearing stories of Earhart being in Enid or have an old family photo showing her in Enid.

Photos Of Earhart In Enid

UPDATED: June 16, 2015 – Kate Shaklee, daughter of Enid librarian Mary Shaklee, found these photos  while going through old family photos. Her dad’s grandfather, Waldo G. Clegg, was an editor for the Enid Morning News and was also an airplane enthusiast. The family does not believe Mr. Clegg took these photos but may have made copies from originals which were not identified.

We do not have 100% proof that these photos were taken in Enid, Oklahoma but the probability is very high. We would like to thank the Shaklee and Clegg families for allowing us to use these photos.

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Since 1998, 882 children have died due to pediatric vehicular heatstroke, an average of 38 children each year. In 2020, 24 children died in hot cars. Although it's not an epidemic, it is often enough that parents with young children need to form habits that guarantee they will not forget the child in the back of a hot vehicle.

When parents get busy or are thrown out of their routine things are bound to happen. Things get forgotten and overlooked which leads to these kinds of accidents. A cars temperature can rise over 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. A car in the sunlight can reach temperatures of 110 degrees when the outside temperature is only 60 degrees. A child dies when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.

Many organizations are trying to bring awareness to parents and one campaign is called "Look Before You Lock." Here are a few tips and ideas to help new parents form habits of not forgetting the kids in the back of the car.

• If you are a parent that drives kids around you need to get in the habit of checking your back seats before locking the doors and walking away.
• Keep a kids item in your child's car seat when it is empty. As soon as you put the child in the seat move the item up front with you so you'll have a visual reminder or leave something of yours in the back seat.
• If your spouse or someone else is driving your child and it is not their daily routine, be sure to check on the child's location and make sure they arrived safely.

If you ever see a child alone in a closed vehicle make it your first priority to get the child out before doing anything else. The child may not have time for you to wait on the owner of the vehicle. If a child has been left in a hot car and they are unresponsive, call 911 immediately. Make sure the child is out of the car and try to get cool water on the child.

ENID, OK - The Federal Government had granted seven million acres of land to the Cherokee Nation in treaties of 1828 and 1835. The United States guaranteed to the Cherokee Nation that this land would be a perpetual outlet west for tribal hunting grounds, measured 58 miles wide and extending 220 miles along the northern border.

After the Civil War, because part of the Cherokee Nation had supported and fought for the Confederacy, the federal government demanded that a new treaty be written. The new treaty reduced the original reservation lands and permitted "friendly tribes" to be moved into the eastern end of the Outlet.

With the start of the cattle drives following the Civil War the Cherokee Indians began to use their western land to make a money. The Cherokee leased the land to the cattlemen that wanted to fatten their cattle on the grasses before taking them to Kansas. This eventually became the Chisholm Trail.

The trail reached Enid from south on the west side of where the Rock Island tracks run, broadening out and swerving somewhat eastward. It followed Grand Ave., past the old Gensman corner (across the street southeast of the library), on north where the Alton Building (Leonardo's) was, to the Skeleton Stage Station where the Enid State School was, and north to the trail's end in Kansas.

Mail routes and stage coaches followed the Chisholm Trail. The first mail route was between Wichita and Ft. Sill, Indian Territory. Four stations for change of horses, rest and food were in the Strip, two of them in Garfield County - at Skeleton Station and at Buffalo Springs.

All of Garfield County was covered with ranches during the era of the cattlemen, but only a few dim traces of that colorful period remain today.

Opened by "land run" on September 16, 1893

Settlers, wanting to own their own land, viewed this use of the area as a waste of fertile farmland and pressured the government to purchase the land from the Cherokee. Congress eventually paid the $8,505,736 or about $1.40 per acre, and announced the opening of the Outlet to homesteaders.

President Grover Cleveland designated September 16, 1893 as the date of the "run" for 6,000,000 acres. On that day, 100,000 land hungry persons gathered for the land run into the Cherokee Outlet by horse, train, wagon and even on foot. From Caldwell, Kansas 15,000 people gathered to make "the Run" south into what is now Oklahoma. Caldwell was 1 of 9 places where potential settlers awaited cavalry soldiers' gunshots to start the biggest land rush in the United States.

How Enid Got Its Name

Before the land run, the Rock Island trains had been stopping at what is now North Enid. They had a depot there and the railroad had named the town Enid. There has long been several versions of how Enid got its name, but clearly the most recognized and plausible theory was that Enid was named by M. A. Low who was a vice-president and general counsel for Rock Island.

In the early 1930s, George Rainey, who was one of the preeminent historians on the Cherokee Strip, in researching his book on the Cherokee Strip traced down several versions on how Enid got its name. He came to the clear conclusion that it was Low who named the station as an alternative to the its initial name Skeleton Station. Low felt that no town would ever want the name Skeleton. He had been reading Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King on the railroad trip from Kansas. Enid was a prominent character in Tennyson's book. She was the second most fair lady of the realm, second only to Guinevere. It is believed that Low named Enid after that character.

Becoming Cities

At the end of the run, farms were quickly being established, and the cities of Enid, Perry, Alva, and Woodward had been formed out of what had been only prairie land and train depots the day before.

The original train depot, before the run, was located in North Enid. Soon after the run, a second Enid town site was plotted south of the original one. In the beginning, the railroad refused to stop at the south township which caused a struggle between the two towns that were only three miles apart. The feud was eventually resolved through some unsavory tactics and the south Enid began to receive train service. Because a post office had already been established in the south town called Enid, a post office later built in the north town had to be designated North Enid.

7 Original Counties

At the time of the 1893 Land Run, there were 7 original counties called: O, L, K, P, Q, M and N. "O" County was provided with a county seat reserve of 320 acres, a plot of four acres for a court house, and one acre for a government land office. The county seat was Enid, and eventually "O" County became Garfield County. The settlers of each county were given the right to select the name of their county after the run. The names selected were Garfield, Grant, Kay, Noble, Pawnee, Woods and Woodward.

The first Methodist circuit rider to arrive in Enid was the Reverend O.R. Bryant. This courageous young minister preached to a small congregation of early settlers on Sunday, September 17, 1893, the day after the great run into the Cherokee Strip. The service was held on the courthouse lawn and was the first Protestant sermon delivered in Enid. This was the beginning of the First Methodist Church in Enid.

Through all the hardships of life on the prairie, including the Dust Bowl, Enid became the center of commerce for all of Northwest Oklahoma. Enid was the center for farming, cattle, oil and industry and even had an automobile called the Geronimo was once manufactured here.

Learn more Facts About Enid, OK HERE.

National Register of Historic Places in Enid, OK

Did you know there are 15 National Register of Historic Places Sites located within the City of Enid? The US Department of Interior recognizes these sites as being historically significant to our city, state, and Nation. The sites include:

1. Broadway Tower (114 E Broadway)
2. H.H. Champlin House (612 S Tyler)
3. T. T. Eason Mansion (1305 W Broadway)
4. Enid Armory; demolished to make way for Garfield Elementary (6th & Elm)
5. Enid Cemetery & Calvary Catholic Cemetery (200 Block of W Willow)
6. Enid Downtown Historic District
7. Enid Terminal Grain Elevators Historic District
8. Garfield County Courthouse (West Broadway)
9. Jackson School (415 E Illinois)
10. Kenwood Historic District
11. Lamerton House (1420 W Indian Dr)
12. McCristy-Knox Mansion (1323 W Broadway)
13. Rock Island Depot (200 Owen K. Garriott Rd)
14. Waverley Historic District
(Historic Roadside Marker located in 1300 block W Broadway)
15. H. L. Kaufman House is listed; however, home was demolished in 2005 by the Enid Public School System to make way for an expanded playground at McKinley School

1. Leonardo's Children's Museum/Adventure Quest

200 E. Maple
Completely renovated in 2015-2016, Leonardo’s Children's Museum is a hands-on art and science museum, dedicated to enriching and inspiring children of all ages by creating fun learning opportunities. Named after the famous fifteenth century artist and scientist Leonardo da Vinci, the museum celebrated its grand opening in September of 1995. Since then, approximately 70,000 to 80,000 guests have visited every year, making it one of Northwest Oklahoma's most popular destinations.

Adventure Quest is a three-story wooden castle features bridges, slides, swings, mazes, a water table, dinosaur dig, and tot lot designed to spark the imagination of the young and young at heart. Today, it remains the world’s largest community built outdoor playground.

2. Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center

507 S 4th Street
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center tells the history and development of the Cherokee Outlet. Discover what it was like to be in the saddle astride a galloping horse racing to stake a claim. See what it was like to live in a sod house, and see the importance of agriculture, oil and transportation to the region. On the grounds of the Heritage Center is Humphrey Heritage Village, a collection of four historically-significant buildings, including the only remaining 1893 U.S. Land office, a 1902 church, a 1905 Victorian home and an 1895 one-room school house. The Village provides educational programs and is available for rental for special events and weddings.

3. David Allen Memorial Ballpark

301 S Grand Ave.
The best time to see the ballpark is during spring or summer baseball. But even if you happen to hit a day when there are no games you still should make a trip to see this world class stadium.

David Allen Memorial Ballpark is located in downtown Enid, Oklahoma.  From the brick arches at the entrance of the stadium to the large video display board in the outfield, this is truly a magnificent facility. The stadium has a large concession stand as well as a local baseball museum. There is also an artificial turf practice infield and indoor batting cages. The stands include 359 chair-back seats that were imported from the old Baltimore Memorial Stadium as well as seating upstairs in the balcony area.

4. Woodring Wall of Honor & Memorial Park

One mile south of Highway 412 and 66th Street at the Woodring Airport
The Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park, Inc. honora all Oklahoma members of the Armed Forces who served honorably or who are serving their country. They pay tribute to those who gave their lives, were prisoners of war or missing in action throughout the year. They serve as an educational tool for the general public by preserving the history of veterans and events of war through programs, projects and static displays. The Wall of Honor is dedicated to the veterans who preserve the freedoms that we cherish.

Enid is now the home of an 80 percent scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. This replica Wall traveled the country with the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Mission and has now been retired, finding its permanent home here in Oklahoma thanks to the tireless efforts and donations of many people. Over 990 Oklahoma names are on this wall.

5. Enid Symphony Center

301 W. Broadway
Concerts from Oklahoma's longest-running professional symphony radiate inside this visually stunning symphony hall designed to put you in the middle of 18th-century Paris. It is one of four halls inside the former Masonic Temple decorated in their own unique period style. You may even see Enid native and internationally-celebrated opera star Leona Mitchell in the ESO spotlight. Call ahead to set up a tour of this magnificent jewel.

Eighteenth Century Paris is the theme for Enid Symphony Hall. The al fresco stage mural of Government Springs Park creates the illusion that you are seated in a palatial grand room that was always a part of Enid. The faux stone stage floor is a replication of many floors found in the Palace of Versailles. The floor is complemented by wall finishes which recreate an elegant eighteenth century Damask fabric.

6. Railroad Museum of Oklahoma

702 N. Washington
One of the largest collections of railroad material in the United States. Exhibits include over 1000 pieces of dining car china and silver service from passenger trains of the past, maps depicting various railroad lines, railroad paintings, depot clocks, steam engine bells, locks, keys, and a functioning telegraph system. A giant O-scale layout featuring circus trains and related equipment is a popular attraction for young and old alike. The model railroad room includes HO-gauge and N-gauge layouts.

Nine authentic cabooses are on display from various railroads that have served Enid, along with motor cars, five different kinds of box cars, a three dome tank car, a Frisco 1519 Steam Engine, an former Amtrak lounge car that is now used as a dinner car, traveling post office car, car krane, and a 50 ton G.E. switcher locomotive that is still being used to move the rolling stock around on the museum tracks. Two types of flatcars round out our collection of vintage freight cars. Contact railroadmuseumofoklahoma@gmail.com with questions.

7. Simpson's Old Time Museum

228 E. Randolph
Visit Simpson's Old Time Museum and Skeleton Creek Productions Movie Studio and step back into the old west. You'll find wide variety of collections and artifacts. Hop-a-long Cassidy memorabilia, baseball collectibles, train sets and wide range of military items from the cavalry days through WWII are just a few of the many displays found in the museum. Bring your camera and come join in on the fun! Located in downtown Enid.

8. Meadowlake Park - Train, Ferris Wheel & Carousel

Meadowlake Park at Van Buren and Rupe (Open May - Sept)
Although not open year round, the Meadowlake Train, Ferris Wheel and Carousel should be seen. The carousel has long been a signature piece of the park’s charm but was shut down for renovation and while the City of Enid built a new structure for it. Now the carousel stands next to the Train – both are operated by the Kiwanis Club of Enid – and near the miniature golf course and sno-cone shack.

Kiwanis volunteers run the carousel Thursday through Sunday during the months between May and September.

9. Planetarium/Observatory

Randolph & Michael Hedges (North of Briggs Auditorium)
The NOC observatory and Mackie planetarium provide a unique environment worth visiting.  The observatory has a modern 14" telescope on a remote controlled mount that can automatically lock on to any viewable celestial object.  Outdoor mounts are available for additional telescopes.  The planetarium can seat sixty (60) people for a normal show and can also be configured for an amazing dining experience.  Numerous professionally-produced shows are available  for viewing in the planetarium.

10. Midgley Museum

1001 Sequoyah Dr. (across from Champlin Park) (Closed Nov 1 - March 31)
Enid's Midgley Museum (a.k.a. The Rock House) is operated by Enid Masonic Lodge # 80 and the Eastern Star Chapter of Enid. The Midgley family collected rocks, fossils, and petrified wood that make up the exterior walls and interior fireplaces of the museum. There are thirty four different kinds of stones used in the building. The enormous stump at the front of the house near the street is fossilized redwood it was found near Woodward Oklahoma.

The museum contains display cases containing toys, gems, fossils, early tools and memorabilia. A bedroom and parlor are furnished as in the early years of the last century. There are also collections of stamps, coins, sharks teeth, and arrowheads. A trophy room includes buffalo, a Royal Canadian elk, moose, javelinas and other trophies. Another room is a closet filled with florescent rocks that only reveal their brilliance and beauty in black light.

The Trails Master Plan was developed by Enid in association with a steering committee of citizens, a trail planning consultant, and residents of the area. It responds to specific needs that were defined by residents through a series of public workshops. This executive summary describes the process that was used to prepare the Enid Trails Master Plan, as well as the major findings and recommendations of the plan.

See A Walking Trail Adventure with photos.

ENID TRAILS MASTER PLAN

TRAIL ORDINANCE

Multiuse conflict is a national problem for community and regional trail systems. Typically, conflicts are caused by overuse of a trail, however, other factors may be problematic including poorly designed and engineered trail alignments, inappropriate user behavior, or inadequate facility capacity. The most effective conflict resolution plan is a well conceived safety program that provides the individual user with a Code of Conduct for the Trail, sometimes called a Trail Ordinance. Several communities across the United States have adopted progressive trail ordinances to govern public use and keep trails safe for all users. The following Rules and Regulations shall be implemented for the Enid Trails System. These rules should be displayed both on brochures and information signs throughout the trails system.

1) Be Courteous: All Trail users, including bicyclist, joggers, walkers, wheel- chairs, skateboarders and skaters, should be respectful of other users regardless of their mode of travel, speed, or level of skill. Never spook animals; this can be dangerous for you and other users. Respect the privacy of adjacent landowners!

2) Keep Right: Always stay to the right as you use the Trail, or stay in the lane that has been designated for your user group. The exception to this rule occurs when you need to pass another user.

3) Pass on the Left: Pass others going in your direction on their left. Look ahead and behind to make sure that your lane is clear before you pull out an around the other user. Pass with ample separation. Do not move back to the right until you have safely gained distance and speed on the other user. Faster traffic should always yield to slower oncoming traffic.

4) Give Audible Signal When Passing: All users should give a clear warning signal before passing. This signal may be produced by voice, bell or soft horn. Voice signals might include “Passing on your left!” or “Cyclist on your left!” Always be courteous when providing the audible signal - profanity is unwarranted and unappreciated.

5) Be Predictable: Travel in a consistent and predictable manner. Always look behind before changing position on the Trail, regardless of your mode of travel.

6) Control Your Bicycle: Lack of attention, even for a second, can cause disaster - always stay alert! Maintain a safe and legal speed at all times.

7) Do Not Block the Trail: When in a group, including your pets, use no more than half the trail, so as not to block the flow of other users. If your group is approached by users from both directions, form a single line or stop and move to the far right edge of the Trail to allow safe passage by these users.

8) Yield when Entering or Crossing Trails: When entering or crossing the Trail at uncontrolled intersection, yield to traffic already using the other trail.

9) The Use of Lights: (where permitted) When using the Trail before dawn or after dusk be equipped with proper light. Cyclists should have a white light that is visible from five hundred feet to the front, and a red or amber light that is visible from five hundred feet to the rear. Other Trail users should use white lights (bright flashlights) visible two hundred fifty feet to the front, and wear light or reflective clothing.

10) Do not Use this Trail Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs: It is illegal to use this Trail if you have consumed alcohol in excess of the statutory limits, or if you have consumed illegal drugs. Persons who use a prescribed medication should check with their doctor or pharmacist to ensure that it will not impair their ability to safely operate a bicycle or other wheeled vehicle.

11) Clean-up Your Litter: Please keep this Trail clean and neat for other users to enjoy. Do not leave glass, paper, cans or any other debris on or near the Trail. Please clean up after your pets. Pack out what you bring in - and remember to always recycle your trash.

12) Keep Pets on Leashes: All pets must be kept on secure and tethered leashes. Keep pets off of adjacent private property. Failure to do so will result in a fine.

13) Prohibition on Camp Fires: Fires, for any purpose, are prohibited within the Trails System. Any person caught lighting a fire for any purpose will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.