Unexpected loud noises may cause some anxiety and distress to people and pets. Please help spread the word so that everyone can all enjoy the fireworks rather than be inconvenienced by them.

There will be a large fireworks show July 3 at Oakwood Country Club and a citywide fireworks show at Meadowlake on July 4. Both fireworks shows will be at around dusk.

Tips to keep your dog calm during fireworks shows

1. Keep An Eye Out
If your dog is outside, watch for neighborhood kids setting off fireworks in the area.

2. Keep Your Dog Inside
Avoid the possibility of escape and keep your dog indoors during July 4th fireworks.

3. Turn Up The TV Or Radio
This will muffle the bangs and booms. Soothing music may calm your pet. Start the sound early.

4. Let Your Dog Hide
If your dog hides under something do not try to pull them out and cause more stress.

5. Cover them With A Blanket
A light blanket, might help comfort and calm the dog down.

6. Give Them A Treat
Give your dog a treat after a loud noise and help them associate the noises with positive things.

7. Keep Windows, Doors, And Curtains Closed
Keeping everything closed will muffle noise.

8. Give Them Exercise
Walk your dog early in the day and get them a little tired and less full of energy.

9. Stay Calm
Stay calm and don't let your pet see you react to the noises or lights.

10. ID Your Pet
Make sure your dog has the correct ID in case he does get out and does get lost.

Flag Day is not a federal holiday but is observed all across the country. The holiday was officially established in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, and in 1949 Congress declared June 14 a national holiday.

20 Facts about the American Flag:

1. Pennsylvania is the only state that observes Flag Day as a state holiday.

2. The flag has been changed 27 times. The final star, for Hawaii, was added in 1960.

3. The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.

4. The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.

5. The first time the flag was flown after being adopted was on Aug. 3, 1777 in Rome, New York.

6. The designer of the American flag was Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the the Declaration of Independence as a delegate from New Jersey.

7. Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag.

8. There are six American flags on the moon. Five are standing, but Neil Armstrong's fell over.

9. The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.

10. After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's  called "half staff" on land ,and "half mast" on a ship.

11. When your flag is old and has seen  better days, it is time to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried.

12. The Flag Code bans the use of the flag as clothing. That’s right, not USA T-Shirts, bandanas or bikinis.

13. If you like to study flags, then you are a Vexillologist!

14. The colors of the flag have meaning. Red stands for hardiness and valor. White symbolizes purity and innocence. Blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

15. An American flag should never touch the floor or the ground.

16. When displayed on a wall or window the blue field should be in the upper left corner.

17. The military folds the flag with 13 folds, each with symbolic meaning.

18. 50 flags fly 24 hours a day around the Washington monument.

19. 95% of U.S. flags are made in the U.S.A.

20. The U.S. flag always flies at the top of a staff above any other flag.

Why do we even bother with DST? The main purpose is to take an hour of sunlight from the early morning, when most folks are sleeping, and move it to the evening, where most folks could better use the additional light. DST starts in March and ends in November.

Another reason often cited is that DST will save energy costs because people do not need to turn lights on as early in the evening. Experts can’t agree on whether that is actually a result in savings though.

This is always a great time to check your smoke-detector batteries. Three out of five home fire deaths are caused by fires in properties where the smoke alarms were not working, according to FEMA. It only takes a minute to check and change a fire alarm’s batteries, and this should be done frequently.

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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Without meeting the REAL ID Act regulations, federal agencies will be prohibited from accepting Oklahoma driver's licenses and identification cards, meaning those without identification that complies with the REAL ID Act won't be able to fly on a commercial airplane, enter a federal building, military base or courthouse.

Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to make driver's licenses harder to forge. Oklahoma legislators in 2007 passed a bill forbidding the state from meeting provisions of the act.

A Real ID-compliant form of identification requires several pieces of data. You can find the requirements at https://www.ok.gov/dps/Real_ID_Enforcement.html.

Cards must feature specific security features intended to prevent tampering, counterfeiting, or duplication of the document for fraudulent purposes. These cards must also present data in a common, machine-readable format (bar codes, smart card technology, etc.). Although the use of wireless RFID chips was offered for consideration in the proposed rulemaking process, it was not included in the latest rulemaking process. Plus each state must agree to share its motor vehicle database with all other states.

Here is a fun list of romantic movies mixed with dramatic and some comedic. Some of these are classics and some are more modern. Hopefully it's a list with something for everyone.

Grab your popcorn and a date and have fun watching a few of these romantic movies.

1. Roman Holiday
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2. Love Story
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3. Pretty Woman
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4. Ghost
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5. La La Land
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6. The Notebook
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7. Sweet Home Alabama
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8. Sleepless in Seattle
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9. Message in a Bottle
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10. You've Got Mail
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11. Breakfast at Tiffany's
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12. The Bridges of Madison County
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13. The Way We Were
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14. Love Actually
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15. An Officer and a Gentleman
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16. A Walk to Remember
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17. P.S. I Love You
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18. Titanic
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19 Notting Hill
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20. Phenomenon
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21. City of Angels
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22. The Lake House
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23. Serendipity
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24. The Way We Were
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25. The Vow
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26. Somewhere In Time
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27. When Harry Met Sally
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28. Casablanca
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29. Red, White & Royal Blue
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30. The Idea of You

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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Why is there an extra day every four years and who picked February 29 as that day?

The quick and simple reason is that our yearly calendar in made up of 365 days. The problem with calendars is that they do not take into consideration hours, minutes and seconds.  The time that the Sun actually takes to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons is called a tropical year and it is approximately 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 45 seconds.

Those extra 5 hours, 48 minutes, 45 seconds need to be made up somewhere or our yearly calendar dates would eventually stop coinciding with the tropical year. Meaning, both calendar year and tropical year want the seasons to begin and end at the same time every year.

Julius Caesar had astronomer Sosigenes tweak the original Roman calendar to make up for the discrepancy. The astronomer decided on a 365-day year with an extra day every four years to account for the extra hours, and so February 29th was born. The reason February 29 was chosen basically comes down to the fact that February had the fewest days at that time (that's a whole other story).

The Caveat

Although most of us consider there to be a leap year every four years that's not exactly true. There's actually a leap year every year that is divisible by four, except for years that are both divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400. This extra rule about centuries was an additional fix to make up for the fact that an extra day every four years is slightly too much of a correction. The year 2000 was a leap year, but the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not. Got it?

May Day is a public holiday usually celebrated on May 1. It is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival. It is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures. Dances, singing, and cake are usually part of the celebrations that the day includes. Cinco De Mayo is celebrated on May 5 and Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of the month.

The Indianapolis 500 car race is held each year during May and the Kentucky Derby, the world's most famous horse race, is also held on the second Saturday the month. In Enid, we celebrate May Fete, high school graduation and put on the Tri-State Music Festival in May.

Rain falls throughout the year in Enid. The wetter season lasts 5.6 months, from April 9 to September 27, with a greater than 23% chance of a given day being a wet day. The chance of a wet day peaks at 38% on May 31. The most rain falls during the 31 days centered around May 27, with an average total accumulation of 4.2 inches.

The windier part of the year lasts for 3.2 months, from February 21 to May 26, with average wind speeds of more than 5.9 miles per hour. The calmer time of year lasts for 8.8 months, from May 26 to February 21.

The average daily May temperature in Enid is 66 degrees. On average, 22 tornadoes occur in May. Shortest span of time recorded between EF5 tornadoes is only 11 days (May 20 to May 31).

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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The hot summer nights beckoned the fireflies from their hiding places and just as the sun went down you'd be able to see their short little bursts of light flickering all over the sky. Fireflies were one of the many mysteries we never understood as kids but we believed they were magical.

Firefly populations are on the decline so it may be harder to find them especially near populated areas. Here are some quick facts about fireflies to help you take the kids on a firefly hunt.

1.) Fireflies are not flies at all. Scientifically, fireflies are classified under Lampyridae, a family of insects within the beetle order Coleoptera, or winged beetles.

2.) Fireflies emit light mostly to attract mates, although they also communicate for other reasons as well.

3.) Firefly lights are the most efficient lights in the world—100% of the energy is emitted as light. Because it produces no heat, scientists refer to firefly lights as “cold lights.”

4.) Fireflies love warm, humid areas and come out in the summertime. Fireflies thrive in forests, fields and marshes near lakes, rivers, ponds, streams and vernal pools. They need a moist environment to survive.

5.) Researchers believe fireflies ore disappearing because of human expansion and development and light pollution. Turning lights off will help attract them.

6.) In the U.S., almost no species of fireflies are found west of Kansas — although there are also warm and humid areas to the west. Nobody is sure why.

7.) Fireflies also love long grass. They're nocturnal, and during the day they spend most of their time on the ground. At night, they crawl to the tops of blades of grass and fly into tree branches to signal for mates.

8.) Catch fireflies using a butterfly net. Place the fireflies you catch into a clear jar with a lid that's been pierced to let in air. You should also place a moistened paper towel inside to keep the air in the jar humid.

9.) Once you have a jar of fireflies, let them go after a day or two. Release them at night when they're most active and able to avoid predators. Keeping them longer, will cause them to die.

10.) In a firefly's tail, you'll find two chemicals: luciferase and luciferin. Luciferin is heat resistant, and it glows under the right conditions. Luciferase is an enzyme that triggers light emission. ATP, a chemical within the firefly's body, converts to energy and initiates the glow.

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

Rev. Devon Krause was raised in Okeene and completed his seminary studies at St. Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University. From 2007 to 2012 he served in Enid for the first time as youth director. He then went on to Elk City for five years and Norman for three years before making his way back to Enid.

Krause felt called to the ministry in seventh grade by a young pastor that had just gotten out of seminary. The new pastor used references that peaked the interest of Krause which made him feel like pastoring was something he could do.

By the time Krause entered his senior year in high school things were happening that left a bad taste in his mouth about church and he ended up going to college as an agnostic. He never really left the church but stayed connected through friends that were involved in campus ministries.

Krause said, "I think the greatest gift for me growing up was the opportunity to have the freedom to doubt and for people not to assume that I'm a bad person." The people in the campus ministries allowed him to ask the difficult questions about God, science and other faiths. This helped lead him back to the ministry.

"I'm not always here to give you the neat answer, we're on a journey of faith and so if I can encourage people in their walk with God that's probably my biggest goal," Krause said. Krause is only 35 and one of the youngest pastors FUMC has had.

Rev. Krause describes himself as a kinesthetic learner, so he always thinks about the different ways he can teach, from using ridiculous suits and slides to creating interactive opportunities for people to volunteer. One of the biggest compliments that he gets is that the kids are paying attention in church.

Krause summarizes his ministry with the word "relevance", staying relevant with an age old message that still speaks to people today. He enjoys bringing those messages to life.

First United Methodist Church is a beautiful building but can be intimidating, making some people assume that you have to fit a very fine mold to attend. Even though the church still has many important traditions Krause is creating a new relaunch. Services are now blended with traditional and contemporary pieces.

Krause is married to Lauran and they have two daughters — Audrey, 5, and Halle, 3. He's a huge Batman fan which you'll notice immediately as you enter his office. The walls are covered with Batman memorabilia and there's even a Batsuit!

Another of his offices is filled with props and costumes that Krause uses during his sermons. It looks more like a room you would find in a theater. He tries to engage different senses in the worship experience and adds a flare of suspense for good measure.

Church services can now be viewed live on YouTube for those that are not ready to leave their homes. Those that choose to attend in person will find a safe place for worship with masks being required and social distancing being used throughout the sanctuary. Worship times are 9:00am and 11:00am on Sundays.

First United Methodist Church is located near downtown Enid at 401 W. Randolph. Learn more about the church at Firstchurchenid.com or like their Facebook page here.

Rev. Devon Krause looks over just a few of the props he uses during his sermons.

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1.) Mini Flashlight or Keychain
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2.) Packs of Gum or Breath Mints
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3.) A Favorite Candy Bar or Bag of Candy
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4.) Gift Card to a Movie Theater or Store
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5.) Lip Balm or Lip Care
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6.) Fun Kitchen Gadget
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7.) Lottery Tickets
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8.) Backup Phone Charger
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9.) Warm Gloves or Scarf
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10.) Travel Umbrella
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11.) Travel Facial Tissues
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12.) Warm & Fuzzy Socks
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13.) Calculator
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14.) Loofah or Fun Soap
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15.) Selfie Stick
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16.) Scented Mini Candle
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17.) Air Freshener
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18.) Travel Lotion or Sanitizer
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19.) Massager or Nail Tools
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20.) Handwritten Note from Santa
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21.) Cookie Cutters or Cookie Stamps
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22.) Team Merchandise
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23.) Coffee Mug or Warmer
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24.) Back Scratcher
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25.) Bottle of Wine or Mini Liquor Bottles
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26.) Magazines or Paper Back Books
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27.) Hand Warmers
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28.) Jewelry or Jewelry Case
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29.) Book of Stamps
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30.) Ornament
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31.) Candle or Wooden Matches
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32.) Deck of Cards or Card Games
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33.) Photo Frame or Photo Album
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34.) Subscription to a Music Service
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Advice For The Graduates

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Carole Quigley-Driver - Don't grow up ...... it's a trap.!!! (smile emoticon)
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Rick Hassler - Practice personal responsibility...also... Things will change, deal with it.
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Chris Keener - One of two things: 1: Leave Enid and never return. Or 2: Stay in Enid, build it up to what you wanted it to be like while you were growing up. Cause there is a lot of people who want the same but never say or do anything about it that lives there. Make it the best place to live, to raise a family, to work and not be living off state assistance, to enjoy and be able to do things there without having to go to the big cities, but at the same time keep that small town feel.
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Brent Kroeker - Congratulations, not that you asked, You have met the states minimum standard for a high school diploma in the 48th rated education state in the union.
Nobody owes you anything. Figure that out for yourself quickly. Life isn't fair. Don't waste any time expecting it to be it complaining about it. Suck it up, put your head down, and get to work. There's no education degree that will out earn a person who will intersect hard work, good decisions, calculated risk, and a little luck. There is no guarantee that you will feel fulfilled or enjoy your work. That's why we call it work. Find someone who will trade his money for your time and get after it. Save your money. Pay with cash. Forgo immediate gratification for long term financial health. And above all, so help me God, marry a spouse of solid character who will partner with you the rest of your life. Most miserable old people didn't get this one right.
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Becky Wilson - The world is a tough place. Life may not turn out as you want it to. Nothing is given to you for free, you have to work for it and then you may not get it. Deal with it.
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Jack Ramey - Embrace change live a life of service.
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Austin Lee Miles - Always remember that everyone experiences life differently and will therefore have different interests, tastes, and opinions than you. This does not make one person (or viewpoint) any more valuable than another; rather, it should teach us love and acceptance.
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Mike Gillaspy - Join air force. Retire in 20 years.
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Tracey Polson - Just be kind.
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Kelly Sisk Tompkins - Wear sunscreen.
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Mike Klemme - Never eat seafood more than 100 miles from the ocean.
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Isaac WhiteRanger Perez - Join the army the USA is gonna need ya.
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Vicki Leslie Stuever - The best is yet to come! Work hard, and you will be richly rewarded. Never, never, never give up.
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Beverly Jones - Stand tall.
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Larry Horany - No one, on their death bed, ever said, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office." Enjoy, it goes by too fast.
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Lynn Spickelmier - To put away their phones.
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Mary Unruh Nelson - Whatever you choose to do in life, do it to the best of your ability!
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Jocelyn Miller - Put your cellular device down.
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Brenda Holland - Work to not get rich, but to retire comfortably. Enjoy each day.
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Herbie Champlin - Be skeptical and set goals if you want to be successful.
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Mark Blain - Wear sunscreen.
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Bruce Nichols - Try to bring this country back to the values it was founded with, and remember all men are created equal - always have a goal to strive for.
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Murray Elder - Yolo (You Only Live Once)
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Jerry Niles - Treat others as you would to be treated. Be honest in your dealing, follow your dreams, never stop learning, take time to smell the roses and share with others. Recognize that a higher power exist always striving to hit the mark.
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Melissa Bonniksen - Minimum wage is not enough to pay rent!
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Becky R Pemberton - Keep your head up ....keep your mind focus on the right path ...don't let anyone influence you to do something you don't want too.
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Angela Posey Andrews - Don't expect anything to be given to you,you have to work for it.
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Eric Emerson - Use a professional quality email address. Not johndoebangs69@yahoo.com. this came across my desk on an application. Something with just your name or initials. I recommend an email address you use only for employment. This keeps spam from making it hard to see email from business recruiters.
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Candace Solorio Hazlett - When going to college make it count!! Have fun but study hard. Find something you will enjoy career wise but make sure it is in demand in the area you want to live in. Otherwise you will have a lifetime of student loan debt and no job that allows you to use those skills.
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Carol Sue Mcneese - Have your priorities in the right order along with your focus on God being #1, and everything else goes into place.
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Aaron Schroeder - Don't talk about it, be about it. Go out and earn it. Don't believe anything you read on facebook, especially if it's "news". There are 3 sides to every story. It doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing with your life, be the best at it for as long as you are there. If you take a job at McDonald's to work through college, strive for upper management. If they tell you it takes 5 years working at McDonald's to become manager, and you graduate in 4...you should still work like you plan on being the manager. Who knows, you could be the exception and make manager in 3 1/2. Don't quit McDonald's no matter how much you hate it, until you have a start date for the new job. Always put in your two weeks notice...you never know when you need a job, any job. Your new employer will understand and they wouldn't want an employee who is willing to jump ship and leave them short handed either. It's ok to have fun while you are young, but a criminal record will follow you. Never settle for anything. Quit making excuses for everything and just go!
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Roberta Denton - Forgive everyone everything. Enid is a great place to live, but do try to experience other people and places. The best way to have anything is to take care of what you have. You don't need everything you want. Get out of your comfort zone. Treat everyone with kindness and respect. In the winter, park the nose of you auto facing south. The number one way to stay healthy is .. wash your hands.
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Teresa Floyd Felber - Find happiness within yourself.
Set your standards high and don't settle.
Take off your rose colored glasses.
Life is not fair, get used to it.
Hold your memories close.
Make new friends, but keep the old.
Call your mother (she worries)
Always remember, no matter your problem, someone in this world is far worse off than you.
Grab a straw, suck it up and move on.
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Edmund Schrag - Illegitimiis non carborundum.
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Rosie Pecha - Stay sober and stand by your neighbor.
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Leslie McCool - Always be grateful. No matter how bad you think you have it someone has it worse.....that's a promise. Life is short. Live it. Carpe diem. And love like there is NO tomorrow.
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Jill Patterson Phillips - Cell phone down, head up and be present. Don't just look at life through a handful of glass.
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Debbie Blanchett Lack - Make your life count, make a difference. Keep God first, work hard but take time for family and fun!
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Patje Lentz - Two simple rules: Be kind. Work hard.
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Christina Hicks Sly - Make wise choices financial choices. Credit scores are super important.
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Lore Reagh - Don't look for a path in life to find or find you. Blaze your own trail and make it your own.
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Sophia Wood - Know God! Get to work!
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Matthew McNew - Stop doing what the internet does. Put down the phone, tablet, controller and enjoy those around you and spend time outside.
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Jeremy Logsdon - Stay away from student loans you can pay for school by working a part time job and going to a school that u can afford.
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Tamara McGee - Be the best you and just go for it!
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Sherry Lane - Work hard; you never get anywhere by half-stepping. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Celebrate life by setting goals and priorities and strive to achieve them. Little things do count; enjoy the riches of day-to-day life. Family and friends are precious - make sure to let them know you love them!! Follow your heart in all you do, be it love, work, religion, etc. If your heart is happy, you will be too!!
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Lezlie Gilbert - Don't rush growing old. Enjoy life. Work hard, don't use credit cards. Be able to pay for what you want when you buy it or wait until you can.
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April Gabriel - Unplug and live life.
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DeeDee Arnold Nolan - "Trust, but verify" -Ronald Reagen
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Kristin Phillips Koehn - Stay true to yourself and let God be your pilot.
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Audrey Crum - Get involved in school activities, groups, and organizations. There are no losers or uncool clubs, so join what interests you. The rest will come with time.
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Eddie Mack - Your education is only half over!!?? First go home and chill for a day. Write down what u want. Avoid calls for one day. Serious thinking of your next ten years. Write many things down and then narrow it down to less than 6 or so??? Next day visit with close relatives or friends and say a prayer and u will find your job for a few years or many. Each year u will look back on what u learned at each job. For your education is only half over.
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Ruth McManemin Ryden - Other people don't have to be wrong for you to be right.
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Cat Hunt - Leave Enid. It's a big wide world, there is so much out there to experience! Come home at the end of the trip but explore beyond your comfort zone. Also, the only reason you should ever look into you're neighbors bowl, is to see if they have enough not if you have as much as them.
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Ruth McManemin Ryden - Make decisions based on what you know will happen, not what you wish will happen.
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Charles Pat Martin - When it comes to business trust nobody. It's always about the bottom line, money rules the world.
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Eli Berry - There's always a reason to work hard. There's always a reason to love everybody.
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Cindy Seiger - Take pride in all you do.
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Jeffrey Mullin - Move out of Enid as fast as you can.
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Katherine Ramey - To make something of yourself and to leave for something better.
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Elaine Ramey - Listen more than you talk, give more than you take, work at least as hard as you play.
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Sally Mummel - Have a relationship with the Lord.
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Willa Lane - Be yourself and use your head to make decisions.
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Chris Arnold - Be the best you can be at what ever your doing. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
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Becky Perring Arens - The road goes on forever...the party never ends. Spread your wings and fly!
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April Wallace - Get to know your parents - you'll never know when they will be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings- they're the best link to your past and the people that are most likely to stick with you in the future.
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Andrea Mcgee Crabb - Don't sweat the small stuff. Internal peace the best gift you can give yourself.
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Cheri Cox - Always be humble, kind, honest, forgiving. Look out for the good of others, respect and value them. Think out of the box. Read read read. Readers are smarter than many college graduates.....be informed and vote your conscience in every election.
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Shawn Bishop - Develop a long-lasting relationship with a bank. They can help you along in life with changes that can come your way. Such as buying a car, your first home and other unplanned things that can come up in life. Credit cards are not the answer to your financial needs. Run as far as you can from Enid. Best decision I ever made on graduation day.
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Jeff Adams - Make lots of money so you can take care of your parents.
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Daniel Bowser - Move.
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Chris Brintnall - Don't go to college until you know what you want to be/do and know that college is required to achieve it. Also, don't believe the lie that you HAVE to take out student loans. Colleges aren't going anywhere and nothing says you have to do it in 5 years.
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Barbara J. Moore - Never give up! Love many, trust a few, but learn to paddle your own canoe.
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Stan Ralstin - There are only two ways to obtain wealth. Have your money work for you to make money or have people work for you to make money.
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Lauryn Eileen - Always wear sunscreen, you are not as ugly as you think, NEVER be afraid to be yourself, live with compassion and integrity and travel, there's a HUGE world out there so explore , see how the rest of the world lives, absorb like a sponge, be happy be hopeful and love god above all else.
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Jennifer Goddard - Beauty fades but an education will last a lifetime. Nothing in life is free... someone paid for it. Your elders do not give you advice to steer you in the wrong direction, they have been where you are now and already learned from the mistakes your wanting to make.
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Fred Fowler - Let go of what you cannot control... But,.. Be able to discern the difference.
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Larry Horany - To quote a teacher friend of mine, "Brains, not breasts, young lady!"
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Joshua Imoe - Work hard. Millions on welfare will now be depending on you too.
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Debra Jarrett - Develop a great work ethic no matter what career you decide to follow.
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Robyn Guest - Life is not always going to be fair. In this country you have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but happiness is not a right or a promise. You are responsible for your own happiness. Find something you enjoy and find a way to earn money doing it, work to live don't live to work. Pay attention to the little joys in life because in the end the little things are what you remember.
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Louis Christian - Become a DOCTOR, NURSE, LAWYER, or ACCOUNTANT PERIOD!
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Shiela Humble - Do in life what makes you happy because you will be doing it for a long time.
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Ella Brown-Ridgway - If you want people to trust you! Always be honest!
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Micki Christmas Soper - Find a career that you enjoy. Be happy and thankful for everything you have.
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Ivan Azcue - Don't get married or have kids UNTIL you've done something for yourself. .... spread your wings first.... most get married and never even grew up.
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Stephanie Kuepfer - The best laid plans sometimes get derailed, have a backup plan just in case. Neither a borrower nor a lender be.... can't remember what Shakespeare play that was from. LOL!
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Karen Washburn - Follow the star that you have made, just be yourself and you can accomplish anything!
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Donna Mansker - You have SO much more to learn; be receptive to learning it. Do not feel entitled -- you aren't!
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Sunny Morris - Remember in life that it is important to have Ethics both personally and professionally. Respect others and live so that you can also respect yourself. Whether you are continuing your Education or jumping straight into The Work Force, work hard, believe in yourself and do the very best at whatever job you have chosen. When ask to take on a new task, do not say I don't' know how, learn to say, I've never done it before but I'll be happy to give it my best efforts and I'll learn how to do it! Believe in yourself and rely on Ethics, Honesty and Reliability to show people Who YOU ARE. It's what you give and what you expect in return.
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Liz Showalter - Keep your hands, feet and other objects to yourself. lol.
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August Specials

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August Membership - (half price memberships for the month) From $36 to $18 for your first month.
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Personal Training - first personal training session is free! Meet the trainers below.
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Michael's Bootcamp - Try 1 session for free in the month of August. Bootcamps are Mon-Wed-Fri from 5-6am or 6-7am. Continue your membership at $100 a month or $30 a week. Call for details.
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Onsite Bootcamps for Businesses or Schools - Let Iron Works Fitness make health and wellness a priority for your business or school. They can customize a program for your staff and faculty, provide onsite personal training, offer healthy body workshops for students and boost moral at your campus. More details below.
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Michael Sheets
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Michael was born and raised in Enid. He started working out in the US Marine Corps where he served for 6 years. He also played football at NWOSU. Michael has his ACE personal training certification. He specializes in training young athletes to be prepared for college athletics. Michael would love to help get you started on your fitness journey! Call the front desk today to schedule your first session 233-4766!
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Shayle Dejae Stone
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Shayle is there to hold you accountable, give you motivation, help you get fit, stay positive and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You do not have to be a member to train with her. Wanna bring a friend? One on one training? They have package deals! Email her at: Shaylestone@yahoo.com.

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