Oakwood history

Oakwood Oklahoma

"A town too proud to die"

 

 

1.

Oakwood was platted on May 16, 1903 by Milner P. Paret, a civil engineer of Jackson County, Missouri. The quarter of land was surveyed and laid out in 50 blocks of 12 lots each with streets and alleys.

2.

The first child born in Oakwood after it officially became a town was in 1903 to David and Margaret Edsall. He was named Oakwood Winlow Edsall.

3.

The first lot sold at public auction to Bill Hall. The lot later became a drugstore.

4.

By 1908, the population of Oakwood was over 200.

5.

Harvey Edsall was the town's first deputy sheriff.

6.

In 1907, E.L. Porter was appointed postmaster.

7.

The first rural route was established on May 16, 1907 and Lee Rosengrants was the first rural carrier. A second route was established on July 1, 1909 and Harris E. Weaton was carrier.

8.

The Oakwood Bank was opened in 1907 by John Stains and George Matthews. Clifford Shaw came from Clinton as cashier in 1921 and remained until the bank closed in 1933 during the depression days.

9.

In the fall of 1911, $75,000 worth of farm products were marketed in the Oakwood area.

10.

Oakwood claims the honor of being the greatest rabbit shipping station in Oklahoma. In 1913, Vaughn and Brundage shipped out 31,064 rabbits. The rabbits were packed into barrels, hide and all, and were shipped out by train, being sold for human consumption and also to mink raisers.

11.

Traveling shows were a popular form of entertainment. They came in on the train and their entertainment consisted of lectures, Shakespearian recitals and singing. Later came the Chautauqua who traveled in their own railroad car which they pulled off onto a spur where they performed the same type of entertainment.

12.

During the 1930's, the medicine shows came by truck equipped with a stage platform on the back.

13.

Tent shows began showing up in the late 30's. The Stanley Players being one attraction who put on three-act plays. They held amateur contests in which the community took part. In 1938, the Harley Wills Band competed, Otis Kerr sang, and (our own)  Tommy Wright  won the singing contest.

14.

The Masonic Lodge was established in Oakwood in 1908. It disbanded in 1960.

15.

Oakwood became incorporated on September 21, 1909.

16.

Frank Porter owned the first automobile. It was a two-wheel drive, gas powered and no fenders with clincher type tires. It looked more like a buggy than a car.

17.

Mr. And Mrs. J.W. Back moved to Oakwood around 1918 and established the Back Nursery which remained in business for 45 years.

18.

Oakwood reached it's peak in 1924 with 35 businesses.

19.

Oakwood began declining during the dust-bowl and depression days of the 1930's.

20.

U.S. Highway 270 was completed near Oakwood by 1940.

21.

The Oakwood Depot was built in 1907. The last passenger train called the "doodle bug" had run through Oakwood in April of 1958 and by 1960, the Oakwood Depot was closed. The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railroad Depot (formerly in Oakwood, Oklahoma) has been restored and is now located in Oklahoma City's Oklahoma Railway Museum. The museum is located at 3400 N.E. Grand Blvd. www.oklahomarailwaymuseum.org.

22.

The first film shown in Oakwood was a silent movie entitled "Ten Nights in a Bar Room"

23.

The windmill had been erected in the center of Main Street and remained there until the early thirties when it was accidentally hooked by a wagon driven by Mrs. Tillie Drake.

24.

Aaron Ford was driving too fast when he turned around the well and wrecked his car and that's when he became known as Gittney Ford.

 

 

 

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