bmonthly January 2023

Market President

Charles Allcott

Vice President

Victor Casey

We live, work, and play in Bartlesville, and we’re proud to serve our neighbors with integrity

Experienced, Honest, Local

upfrontWelcome to January friends and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wow! Where did 2022 go? It literally was a blink and it was gone.

Every January I write a two-page story about the previous year in the magazine. I write about crazy things we have done, behind the scenes, stories, and stuff you maybe didn’t know. We let you in on some of our personal life. It was fun to look back at this past year and remember some of the stories and the people we wrote about. Each month, Christy and I review the month along with the theme of the magazine, and I select what the Feature will be about. Then we put together 24 more stories for that month. We work two months ahead because we go to print every three weeks. When you look at a publication like Tulsa People, they have over 30 people on staff. We literally have five that put these issues together, not counting our writers. Each one of these issues is like our baby each month. The love we put in front of you — in the best city magazine in the state — is truly a blessing and honor to us.

Christy and I want to congratulate Justice for being “Baby New Year 2023.” She was picked by a panel of our 11 judges, and she won hands down over the other 11 top vote-getters. People often ask how we determine the winner for the cover. We take the top 12 babies with the most votes and send them to a panel of judges who select their top 3. Top vote gets three points, second gets two points, and third gets one point. What a beautiful baby she is and her eyes are just stunning! Our “People’s Choice” winner this year was Kolt. I wish I had his hair. What a handsome baby boy he is, and we just want to say congratulations Kolt!

I want to discuss some of the Baby New Year record-breaking numbers we had this year on our Facebook page and some of the controversy we also had with “BOTS.” At the start of the contest in October, parents go to our website and register their baby. It is promoted weeks before sign up all over our social media. However, we still get a lot of parents after the contest is over in December asking how do we sign up our baby?? This year we signed up 105 babies in 14 minutes. We had over a hundred parents waiting for over 30 minutes on our website refreshing the page for 12 noon to hit. These parents wanted to be the first to register their baby because every contest we do starts and finishes at 12 noon. It is truly the single most popular event in Bartlesville. Here are some numbers that I’m still shaking my head at. Of the 105 babies signed up, we had 95 that were scheduled for the photoshoot at the historic Johnstone-Sare building. We want to thank Crystal Sare for

sharing this space with us to take pictures of the most beautiful babies in Bartlesville.

Okay, here we go … the Baby album was seen by over 285,000 people, we had votes from all 50 states and votes from five different countries of the 14 countries that follow Bartlesville Monthly Magazine on Facebook. We had over 25,000 votes on all the babies and over 3,000 shares. I’m telling you that we have a lot of people who follow us on our Facebook page each year just to see these babies. In the month of December, Bartlesville, Oklahoma is a HOT SPOT on Facebook from the activity this contest draws in. This is what we want. We want to share all these beautiful babies with hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people across the US and the world. We want everyone to just have fun with it. This year we had the word “BOTS” come in and just throw the biggest wrench in what was supposed to be a fun contest. That word turned into a complete mess! We had babies going from 800 votes to 4000 votes in a matter of hours. This is not possible. Between our Social Media team and me, we spent all weekend going through all these questionable votes on four babies. After literally going through over 7000 votes between these babies, I was certain that Kolt had won the People’s Choice.

We want to thank all the parents who signed up and were part of this contest. For Christy and I it’s our favorite time of the year. We love spending time with these babies in our annual baby picture and enjoy seeing them on Facebook and in the magazine. We need to be grateful for our babies. There were some babies who didn’t get a chance to be in the contest because of illness or disease. We have seven kids and three grandbabies, and this is the most exciting part of our lives now. We are able to love these babies big and small. Know that no matter how many votes you get, you will always be number one to us. God bless and Happy New Year 2023!

Volume IX

Issue I

Bartlesville Monthly Magazine is published by

ENGEL

PUBLISHING

Offices located in Downtown Bartlesville in the historic Price Tower 510 Dewey Ave, Suite 400, Bartlesville, OK 74003 P.O. Box 603, Bartlesville, OK 74005 www.bartlesvillemonthly.com facebook.com/bartlesvillemonthly

Publisher

Brian Engel

brian@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Graphics

Copper Cup Images design@coppercupimages.com

Director of Sales & Marketing Keith McPhail keith@bartlesvillemonthly.com Community Liaison Christy McPhail christy@bartlesvillemonthly.com Project Manager Andrea Whitchurch andrea@bartlesvillemonthly.com Administration Shelley Greene Stewart

Delivery and Distribution Tim Hudson

Calendar/Social Media calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Contributing Writers

Sarah Leslie Gagan, Keith McPhail, Debbie Neece, Joe W. Colaw, Kay Little, Maria Gus, Jay Webster, Randy Standridge, Brent Taylor, Lori Kroh, Kelly Hurd, Lori Just, Rita Thurman Barnes, Jay Hastings

Contributing Photographers BJanis Blanton, Kathy Peaster, Eric Haschke, Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce, Shelley Holdman, DJ Carey, Karsyn Shalae

Kids Calendar

Smith

Bartlesville

ABOUT THE COVER

Congratulations to Justice, the Judges Choice winner in our Baby New Year 2023 contest! Photo by Karsyn Shalae.

Creative concept by Keith and Christy McPhail

Design by Copper Cup Images

Managing Editors Keith & Christy McPhail at the Baby New Year 2023 photo shoot.

Lisa Beeman Developing a Community, Leaving a Legacy

by Sarah Leslie Gagan

“The one thing that hooked me on Bartlesville, that I remember most from the very first impression, was driving south out of Kansas, and seeing the skyline. I knew this was much more than a small town.”

After serving the Bartlesville area as Community Development Director, Lisa Beeman recently retired after 30 years of sharing her skillful, wise influence all around our town.

Growing up in a small Kansas town, Lisa enjoyed the playgrounds and gathering spaces small town life offered her, but developed a curiosity and fascination for larger cities and the governments that made them tick.

Lisa taught secondary education after receiving her bachelor’s degree at Emporia State University. Because of her love of communities and city governments, she would later attend the University of Kansas to earn her master’s degree in Urban Planning. Her city planning career path eventually led her to work in the Bartlesville city government in 1992.

Lisa states, “People always say that we are a small town with big city amenities, but that’s so accurate. You have the culture, art, you have the heart of the community. We are self-sustaining here. We have everything we need to live, work, and play here. We have theater, culture, non-profit groups if you want to serve. We have everything.”

Lisa has always thought government was interesting, although she never desired to be a politician. She says she somewhat stumbled into city planning, but it has turned out to be a great career choice. Over the years, she was the one to advocate for what she calls “quality of life” projects. Lisa certainly

acknowledges the importance of streets and city infrastructure, but just as important are the parks, playgrounds, recreation and gathering spaces, and downtown aesthetics.

“With city government, we had a small budget and always prioritized the things we had to have, the “musts” and over the years. The quality of life projects got pushed to the back because there wasn’t the funds for them, and you just have to continually advocate for them, and I was the person that had to keep doing that, I feel like that was the most important thing about my job. It makes people happy.”

One great accomplishment of Lisa’s career, that perhaps brought her the most joy, was  saving and restoring the Sooner Park Play Tower. She recalls, “It was such an iconic structure, piece of architecture, part of the community history. When I got here it was closed, a wreck, many felt we needed to tear it down, that it wasn’t safe. We raised a lot of money for the restoration. It brought the community so much joy. Over all the years, I’ve seen so many things that the public pays for, sewers, storm drains, sidewalks, and those things are important, but restoring the Play Tower really brought the community together and brought so much joy. That project is one of the things I am most proud of.”

Another city improvement Lisa believes in is building and maintaining sidewalks. Sidewalks provide places for people to walk in the evenings, children can learn to ride their bikes, or toddlers can pedal their tricycles within the comfort and safety of a sidewalk. These images of safety in community are important to Lisa who has tirelessly advocated for sidewalks.

Regarding sidewalks, Lisa shares, “I used to argue with the engineers because they just see the street and curb. I wanted them to see the people on sidewalks, connectivity with their project, and envision the community around their projects. I don’t know how to explain it, but there is something about the “warm and fuzzy stuff” that makes a community alive. You just have to keep talking about them and advocating for them, otherwise they will not be top of mind. I want this town to be a great place to live, and it is, but I always believe it’s going to get better. History tells us we may go down, but we also go up. As a community, if we focus on the things that unite us rather than divide us, then the sky is the limit!”

This approach to city development has earned Lisa her reputation for honest, fair consistency in all she does. She reflects on her main philosophy, “Working at the city for so long, there is this belief that the government always says no, and that’s not true. I always told my employees, and I taught my son, that you’ve got to try to find a way to get to yes. If it’s not illegal, immoral or unethical, you want to try to help people. That’s what we should be doing, but especially in government. Try to find the way to get to yes. That’s the way I’ve tried to lead my 30 years here.

“Rules are rules and I’ve always been honest with people, and there are times you do have to say no, but there are ways to say no. You can be empathetic and do it with humility, and that is what I think made me successful here. I always believed I was a public servant and that I needed to approach my job with a servant’s heart. It easier to hide behind layers of government in big cities, but here you can’t. You

meet people face to face, you see them at church, you see them at the store. You can see the impact of your work here, and that is very rewarding.”

In retirement, Lisa is looking forward to the years ahead, spending time with her son and grandchild as often as she can. When not with family, she plans on staying busy serving the community at various non-profit organizations such as Hopestone Cancer Support Center and Mary Martha Outreach.

Lisa has a true servants heart, showing care and concern for her fellow citizens. “I’ve always thought that if we get up every day, and try to remember to be a little better every day, try to love a little more every day, be a little kinder and try to understand each other a little more — maybe we can’t be in their shoes, but we can try to understand where they are — that life would be better for all of us.”

What a beautiful model Lisa is for all of us with this mission for everyday living. She has improved so much more than safety, infrastructure, and aesthetics during her career serving  Bartlesville. She has left her fingerprints on the spirits of our citizens, in countless and often uncredited ways. That is true quality of life — investing yourself in people by bettering their environment.

Lisa, thank you for all you’ve helped us become over the past three decades. We are fortunate to have benefited from your service and so blessed that you continue to call our community home, even in retirement.

No one could sum up Lisa’s years of service better than she, and she so eloquently shares, “I generally believe that tomorrow will be better than today; that people are more good than bad; that difficult meetings go better with a tray of chocolates; that you should always treat people the way you want to be treated, especially when dealing with the public; and that as public servants, we should always approach matters with an attitude of ‘how to get to yes’ and failing that, there is an art to saying ‘no.’ I am very proud of the work that I have done in these 30 years and feel that when I am done, I will leave this place better than how I found it.”

LISA & HER BROTHER

FINANCIAL BABY NEW YEAR

Oh Baby!

We want to thank all the moms and dads who made this Baby New Year contest the biggest ever. The baby album photos reached nearly 300,000people on Facebook. We had over 30,000 votes for these 95 cuties! Bartlesville undoubtedly has some of the most beautiful babies around, which always makes choosing just one for the cover nearly impossible for our judges. We want to thank our sponsor, Sutterfield Financial Group, and our photographer, Karsyn Shalae, who takes the best pictures each year. We also want to thank Crystal Sare with the JohnstoneSare Building for providing the space to hang out with all these babies. Thank you!

ALIVIA

BENNETT

BOBBY

ANALEIGH

BENTLEY BOONE

ARIAH BLAKELY BRIANNA

BAIRETT

BOB BROCK

BRODY BROOKS CALLAN CAMERON

CANNON

COLTON

CANYON

CLAUDIE

SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL BABY

CONNOR

EMERSYN

FREDRICK

DEKLYN

EMMA

GRACE

DENVER EVA

GRAYSON

ELENA MARIE EZRA

SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL BABY NEW YEAR

GREY

HUDSON

JACK

HADLEY HUXLEY & HARLEE

IRIS

HENDRIX INDIANA JA’VONTIA

HENRY & ELLEIGH

IRELYN

JACOB

JUSTICE

KENDAL

JANEY

KAISLEY

KINSLEY

JED KEELAN

KODY

JULIAN KEENAN

KOLT

LETTY

MACIE

LAINEY LEVI

LANE & LUCAS LINCOLN

SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL BABY NEW

MADELINE

MILLIE

NORA

MAEVE MOLLIE

OAKLEIGH

MAYZIE NOEL

OBADIAH

MILLIE NOLAN

SUTTERFIELD FINANCIAL BABY NEW YEAR

OLIVER REX SLOAN

OLIVIA RHETT

PIPER RHETT

REMINGTON RILYNN

SOPHIA

WREN ZAYDEN

TAEGAN THAYNE WOODROW

Ralph Lehman’s Sporting Goods

Business Owner was Active in the Community

by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum

The name Lehman holds Oklahoma roots dating back to the Comanche-Arapahoe Land Run of 1892. Ohio born and raised Henry Adam Lehman traveled to Oklahoma Territory to make history and indeed he did. Staking a claim near Geary, Oklahoma, Henry became a charter member of the First Mennonite Church of Geary before selling his claim to his brother and returning to Ohio to marry Miss Carrie Wilkes. The couple returned to the Geary area in 1907 and to Bartlesville in 1916 where Henry worked at National Zinc, Union Machine, Y.M.C.A. and the Methodist Church.

Among the Lehman’s four children was Ralph Joice Lehman, born in Geary, OK in 1913. Ralph attended Bartlesville schools where he met Vallie Marie Stewart. The couple graduated in 1930 and married in Nowata that November.

Ralph was a caretaker at the Bartlesville Civic Center before becoming the Poundmaster at the City Dog Pound. In 1940, he began working as a fireman at Phillips Petroleum Company and continued to work at Phillips while he opened Lehman’s Bicycle Supply at his 1036 Hickory Ave. home, selling bicycles, tricycles, tires, parts and accessories.

building boat ramps, promoting all sporting adventures and enjoying “manly orneriness.”

According to Leslie Hill Hallaway, Lehman granddaughter, Ralph was very generous and well respected. He loved telling jokes and was always willing to help everyone. He even let Leslie ride tricycles in the store.

In 1959, the Lehman’s moved their residence to west of Bartlesville and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife’s Oklahoma Wildlife magazine stated,  “From 15-20 Mallards and two lesser Canadian geese are regular tenants at Ralph Lehman’s Pond near Bartlesville. According to Ronald Wilkerson, migratory waterfowl biologist at the state Wildlife Conservation Department, the occupants of the Lehman Pond may be taking up permanent quarters due to the bountiful rations provided by Lehman.” Always a joke!

In 1948, Ralph moved Lehman’s Bicycle Supply, the Schwinn Authorized Dealer, to 403 W. Third Street (renamed Frank Phillips Blvd. September 27, 1951), just west of the railroad tracks. Lehman’s expanded to occupy the store fronts of 403-405 S.W. Frank Phillips Blvd. about 19521953 and expanded again about 19611962 to occupy 401-407.

In October 1952, Dick Blair, Loren Basler, Ralph Lehman, Bob Hill and George Jones, Jr., met at Lehman’s Sporting Goods to organize what became the Bartlesville Sportsmen’s Club, with the goal of

Lehman’s was a one-stop sporting goods store; Ralph bought and sold new and used guns as well as selling bicycles, boats and motors, and fishing and hunting licenses. Lehman’s offered S&H Green Stamps with purchases and even supported a bowling league. Ralph and Vallie continued to operate the Lehman’s Cycle and Sporting Goods until retiring in 1977. From 1978-1987 Lehman’s was operated by Brad Parker and Robert Martin; and in 1988, the address became Marshall’s Bicycle Shop, operated by Bruce and Ann Marshall.

Ralph Lehman died on November 29, 2001 and Vallie on May 27, 2002, both are resting in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Ralph Lehman will be remembered as an Oklahoma entrepreneur who made Oklahoma history.

Ralph Lehman left Russell Byron Ellis.

JANUARY CALENDAR SPONSORED BY

Christmas In The Ville

1:00 PM; Downtown Bartlesville. Last night is January 2nd!

Second Day of the School Semester

Bruin 9th Grade Boys

Basketball vs Broken Arrow

5:00 PM; BA Freshman Academy

History and Haunts at the Dewey Motel

8:30 PM; Dewey Hotel Museum History and Haunts is held every Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

Bruin 9th Grade Boys Basketball vs Sand Springs

7:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse

50,000 Foot View: The Stratospheric Rise of Aviation in Washington County

8:30 AM; Bartlesville History Museum

The exhibit runs from January 3rd through March 31st. Featuring various artifacts from Washington County’s aviation history, BAHM’s new exhibit explores the impressive history of Aviation in Washington County. The Museum is open on weekdays Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 4pm.

Bruin Swimming vs Broken Arrow, Booker T Washington, Wesleyan and Homeschool

5:30 PM; Phillips 66 Aquatic Center (B&G)

Bruin JV Basketball vs Muskogee

4:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G) 5:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)

Bruin Varsity Basketball vs Muskogee

6:30 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G) 8:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)

OKWU Basketball vs Tabor

6:00 PM; OKWU Gym (W) 8:00 PM; OKWU Gym (M)

Bruin 9th Grade Boys

Basketball vs Broken Arrow Black

7:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse

OKWU Basketball vs McPherson

3:30 PM; OKWU Gym (W) 5:00 PM; OKWU Gym (M)

Bruin Varsity Wrestling Will Rogers Dual

7:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse

OKWU Basketball vs Bethel

6:30 PM; OKWU Gym (W) 8:00 PM; OKWU Gym (M)

Take Me Home

7:30 PM; The Center

Presented by the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. Free admission for students through high school wiht purchase of adult ticket.

Bruin JV Basketball vs Sand Springs

4:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G) 5:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)

Bruin Varsity Basketball vs Sand Springs

6:30 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (G) 8:00 PM; Bruin Fieldhouse (B)

Martin Luther King Day No Classes!

Sun, Jan 1

Welcome to 2023!

JANUARY EVENTS CALENDAR

5 PM

ELL Conversation Class

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

5:30 PM

Christmas In The Ville

Bartlesville Chamber of Commerce 201 S. Keeler

Outdoor ice rink! Games, Movies, Carriage Rides, Concessions with hot chocolate and more! Want to have a Private party, contact the Chamber of Commerce for more details. Admission price of $10 per person includes skates. Event runs through Jan. 2nd. For more information go to www. bartlesvillechristmas.com

Mon, Jan 2

8:30 AM

BAHM Exhibit

Bartlesville Area History Museum 401 S Johnstone Ave

his Winter, BAHM is proud to present: A 50,000-Foot View: The Stratospheric Rise of Aviation in Washington County. On display from January 3rd through March 31st, the exhibit takes visitors on a journey exploring the unique and impressive history of Aviation in Washington County. The exhibit will feature various artifacts from Washington County’s aviation endeavors over the years. In addition, youngsters and the “young at heart” may enjoy our history of aviation coloring station. If you have questions, you may reach BAHM staff at (918) 338-4290 or history@cityofbartlesville.org.

Free Spanish Classes

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

Free Spanish Class every Monday evening at 5:30pm in Meeting Room B on the first floor of the Bartlesville Public Library. This class is free and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918.338.4179 if you have any questions.

Tue, Jan 3

1 PM

Gentle Yoga At Elder Care Elder Care 1223 Swan Drive

Elder Care is offering a 10-week gentle yoga class beginning Tuesday, January 3 at two different times, from 1:00pm – 1:50pm and 2:00pm – 2:50pm. $100/ person, fee is pro-rated after the 2nd week. Open to all adults. Limited to 8 per class, with a minimum of 5 participants to make a class. Lesta Morrison, Instructor. Call Elder Care at (918) 3368500 to RSVP. Event runs Every Tuesday through February 28th.

ELL Conversation classes are held on Tuesdays at 5pm and Thursdays at 10am on the second floor of the Bartlesville Public Library in the Literacy Services office. These classes are FREE and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918.338.4179 for more information.

6 PM

Johnstone Irregulars Book Club Meeting

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S. Johnstone Avenue

The book club meets in the Literary Services Office on the 2nd floor of the library on the first Tuesday of every month.

Wed, Jan 4

TBD Online Auction to Benefit Elder Care

The Center’s Lyon Art Gallery 300 SE Adams Blvd.

6 PM

Free Citizenship Class

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

Citizenship classes are held on Tuesdays at 6pm, Wednesdays at 5:30pm, and Thursdays at 11am on the second floor of the Bartlesville Public Library in the Literacy Services office. These classes are FREE and open to the public. Please contact the Bartlesville Literacy Services office at 918.338.4179 for more information.

This event starts on January 4th and ends March 30rd. Jerry Poppenhouse, world photographer, donated a collection of his photographic art to Elder Care. Select pieces are being auctioned to benefit Elder Care. The entire donated collection will be displayed at The Center’s Lyon Art Gallery through January 29th. Elder Care will host an online auction featuring nine Poppenhouse photographic pieces. Artwork will remain available to bidders until the online auction ends, or until an item is purchased using the Buy-itnow option. Visit the Lyon Art Gallery during their regular hours in January to see the art collection and bid online at 32auctions.com/ART2023. Auction winners may pick up their winning pieces at Elder Care, following the close of the online auction in March. No shipping. Buy-it-now items will be available for pickup beginning February 6th.

3PM

Elder Care

1123 Swan Drive

Wednesday, January 4, 2023, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Elder Care, 1223 Swan Drive, featuring Laura Jensen, Bartlesville Community Foundation Executive Director. By 2023, the population of adults 65 and older will be larger than any other age group for the first time in history. Join us as we look at how this might affect how we work and provide services to our community. No cost to attend. Open to all adults. RSVP by 12/28/22 to Elder Care.

Sat, Jan 7

8 PM

History And Haunts At The Dewey Hotel

Dewey Hotel Museum

801 N Delaware St., Dewey

Spend an evening at the Dewey Hotel. They will go over some of the hotel’s unique histories and take a lantern guided small group tour. You will go into some of the rooms, usually blocked off access to guests. Each journey will be unique, as you can never predict what our fellow specters will do during the tour, or what you might hear or see. Tours are held every Saturday at 8pm.

Tue, Jan 10

Thu, Jan 19

7:30AM

Faith In Business Series Crossing 2nd 215 E Second St.

Faith in Business Series brings people together to network, share best practices, and promote mutual growth. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast, learn about a local nonprofit, and hear an inspiring guest speaker. Since June 1, 2019 Dr. Jim Dunn continues to serve as the President of Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Prior to this ministry assignment, Jim served as a Church Strategic Planning Consultant for the Wesleyan Investment Foundation. Jim is married to Wendy and they have a large family, including four children and two grandchildren. Jim’s passion is to witness the truth of Jesus Christ in individuals and churches, drawing all people to his saving grace.

Fri, Jan 20

10 AM

Tai Chi Tutorial Elder Care 1223 Swan Drive

Sat, Jan 21

10 AM

Monthly LEGO Club

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

LEGO Club is back! BPL’s monthly LEGO Club will meet the third Saturday of each month in the upstairs meeting room. The Club is for all ages and we provide the LEGOs! Each month, we will feature a fun challenge, project or game for all to participate in.

6 PM

Jesus Burger Get Real Ministries 411 W 14th St.

Get Real Ministries is having Jesus Burger every 3rd Saturday of the month. Come be fed spirituality and physically with others that have recovered from ALL kinds of addictions and life struggles that have been healed or are being healed. We will fight the fight with you! Come witness the “Miracles on 14th Street.” It’s a HOLY SPIRIT REVIVAL! Baptisms, free food, free clothes, and free love — all paid for by Jesus. You WILL leave changed! Get Real Ministries 411 w 14th st.

Sat, Jan 28

1 PM

Paint Your Pet Party

7:30 PM

BSO Take Me Home

The Center 300 SE Adams Blvd

The music of John Denver, with Jim Curry and band, featuring John Denver’s original orchestrations by Lee Holdridge. Free admission for students through high school with purchase of adult ticket. This offer is only available in person or over the phone. For seating questions or to purchase seats in the ADA area, please call the Box Office at 918337-2787.  For immediate assistance, after regular business hours or on weekends, please email eenterkin@ bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com

Sun, Jan 29

6 PM

Knit & Crochet Night

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S Johnstone Ave.

This free event is held in Meeting Room C on the second Tuesday of each month.

Learn more about the health benefits of Tai Chi from seasoned Tai Chi instructor Dixie Squires! Tai Chi has been helping its practitioners increase balance and focus for hundreds of years. The tutorial series will be held at Elder Care, and open to all ages at no cost. RSVP by January 15, 2023, to Elder Care. Call 918336-8500.

Bartlesville Art Association 500 S. Dewey Ave. Suite B Valerie Unruh’s classes here at the BAA last Fall were so much fun, she’s agreed to host another Paint Your Pet Party! In this 3 hour class you will create an acrylic painting of your pet with a little help from Valerie and the Bartlesville Art Association! Cost: $65.00, all supplies will be provided. This class fills up fast so register SOON! Deadline to register is Saturday, January 21. This class is for adults including high school age. ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE WELCOME! You do not have to be a member of BAA to take this class!

1 PM

Bartlesville Wedding Show

The Center 300 SE Adams Blvd

The Bartlesville Wedding Show will feature professional local businesses, a bridal fashion show, door prizes and giveaways. See the latest wedding trends and find the perfect vendors for your wedding! Tickets are free! For more information about this event, please visit www.facebook.com/bartlesvilleweddings

“Friendly dealers, great showroom and vehicles, very accommodating. Really appreciate being called by name.” — Matt from Wichita, KS

Seniors Connect - Seasons Of Change

Happy holidays happen when families come together, friends stop by, and the house is filled with laughter. Magic seems to linger in the air and warmth radiates from every smile shared. The nights may be long and cold, but everyone is grateful for time spent with loved ones.

Between the hustle and bustle, quiet moments allow stories to be shared. We cherish these moments as they become special memories.

Grace Hospice wants to help patients and families spend this holiday season together. No matter where eligible patients call home, we help them and their families enjoy this time of year together.

Let us help get your patients home for the holidays. Our team is working 24/7 to serve all patients and their loved ones who need and desire our care.

For more information or to make a referral, please call: 918.744.7223

There is no place like home for the holidays Happy New Year!

Responding to Adversity

Are You a Carrot, an Egg, or a Coffee Bean?

by Joe W. Colaw

How we respond to adversity reveals what we are. So, what are you?

There is legend that helps us gain perspective on the matter of adversity. I want to share the legend with some updated 2023 circumstances.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. COVID, flu, inflation, friends moving away, and the life circumstances were overwhelming. She did not know how she was going to make it; she wanted to give up.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water & placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

After the pots sufficiently boiled, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied. She brought her daughter closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted they were

mushy. She then asked her daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, her daughter observed the hardboiled egg. Finally, she asked her daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What are you telling me, Mom?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity — boiling water — but each reacted differently. The carrot was placed in the pot solid and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. “Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on yourdoor, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a flexible heart, but with adversity, I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? When we face adversity, we can become bitter or better.

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean? Count your blessings, not your problems. Look for ways to impact your circumstances for good! You can make a difference.

MAKE AN IMPACT

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Faith Integration

Many men and women are expressing their faith through a desire to align their values with their investing, finding ethical companies that not only avoid doing bad things, but impact humanity for good.

Dual Mandate Investing

MAKE AN IMPACT

WITH FAITH-BASED INVESTING IN REVO’S BR STRATEGIES

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Dual mandate investing is investing with two goals

Many men and women are expressing their faith through a desire to align their values with their investing, finding ethical companies that not only avoid doing bad things, but impact humanity for good.

- profitable financial return and a positive impact on the world. Dual mandate investing adds a second dimension of the impact your investments have on the world, to investing that traditionally focuses only on financial return.

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Investment Strategies

We choose funds we believe impact the world for good and manage how your assets are allocated over time.

Social Impact: Companies and funds that may include Community Development, Medical Research, Renewable Energy, Global Economic Development, Affordable Housing, etc.

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Dual mandate investing is investing with two goals - profitable financial return and a positive impact on the world. Dual mandate investing adds a second dimension of the impact your investments have on the world, to investing that traditionally focuses only on financial return.

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Good Profits: Companies that may create value by means of Energy Efficiency, Clean Water Supply, Cybersecurity, Healthy Food Supply, Biotechnology, Customer Loyalty, Employee Benefits, Fair Trade, etc.

We choose funds we believe impact the world for good and manage how your assets are allocated over time. Our biblically-responsible faith-based portfolios leverage keycore strategies to impact the world for good.

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Linger Longer Pool

Looking Back at Popular Dewey Hangout

by Debbie Neece, Bartlesville Area History Museum

Long before the thought of home air conditioning, residents cooled themselves in swimming holes like the Caney River or the little-known Linger Longer Pool, northwest of Dewey.

After the close of the Civil War, Confederate Captain Edward Requa made his way to Indian Territory. While Jacob Bartles and Requa served from opposite sides of the fence during the Civil War, Requa often joined local Grand Army of the Republic meetings to share war experiences and from their camp fire reminiscing grew a solid friendship. Requa even purchased the Bartles Farm, northwest of Dewey.

Oklahoma weather didn’t settle well with Requa so he often spent long periods of time at his son’s home in Texas. Then, August 1922, he held a farm auction selling 21 head of horses/ mules, 60 cattle involved in dairy operations, 44 hogs, and all of his farming equipment. He also sold the old Bartles’ farm to George Mader, Sr. In 1925, Edward Requa celebrated his 87th birthday at Dewey’s Dietrich Hotel surrounded by Union and

Confederate comrades. He died two years later and now rests in the Sunnyside Cemetery at Caney, KS.

George Edgar Mader, Sr. came to the Bartlesville area about 1920 and worked as a field foreman for the Three Link Oil Company. He established himself as a notable dairy farmer at the Lannom farm, west of Bartlesville, where he operated “Mader’s Baby Milk Dairy.” In 1922, the Maders purchased the Bartles/Requa farm in Dewey and moved the dairy operations. George established the Washington County Dairy Association, which inspected and documented the sanitary conditions of Washington County’s dairy farm processes, and he served as president.

“George Edgar Mader Sr. built one of the first cabins at Sunset Lake in Osage County. He was well loved and admired in the Dewey community and he managed paint crews at the Dewey Portland Cement Plant. His crowning jewel was building the Linger Longer swimming pool, a place of many social events with the community,”  — Memories from Mary Sue (Mader) Smith, granddaughter.

On March 5, 1925 George Mader sold the “Mader’s Baby Milk Dairy” consisting of 20 acres, 8-room home, 41 head of dairy cattle, 5 horses, 1 hog, 150 chickens and his entire milking and farming equipment located one mile north and one and one half mile west of Dewey, recognized as the old Requa farm. With lunch served by the ladies of the Christian Church, the Mader

Dairy operations ended that day. However, as one door closes, another opens…

In 1926, Mader opened the Linger Longer swimming pool and recreational park northwest of Dewey. Fifteen tons of sand and 40 wagon loads of rock were hauled to the site and the pool was filled with roughly 19,000 barrels of water which flowed through a two-inch pipe for 16 days and nights to complete the fill. The pool was 70ft wide by 120ft long, 10ft deep at the northern end and tapered to a shallow depth suitable for children to play with plenty of shade and parking available. The sandy bottomed pool was accompanied by a bath house, storage lockers and electric installed to illuminate the park for evening entertainment. By 1930, the original pool had been concreted and was being chilled in the heat of the summer with 400-pound blocks of ice.

The Linger Longer recreation area became a family affair with son George Mader, Jr. serving as the lifeguard and son Charles Lavern Mader caring for the concession stand. Admission was just fifteen-cents and taxi service was arranged at twenty-fivecents each way.

Linger Longer became the “place to be” with a children’s playground, pony rides, baseball, horseshoe pitching and other lawn games attracting alumni reunions, annual picnics, church gatherings, slumber parties with moonlight swims and offering swimming lessons. In addition, in 1932, the Delaware, Shawnee and Kaw Indians held their annual dances at Linger Longer and presented George Sr. with a native blanket in appreciation.

But wait…there was competition. Millie Smith came to Indian Territory about 1877 as the school teacher at Nelson Carr’s oneroom school, near the Caney River Black Dog Crossing, present Oak Park area. She married John Seidle, an employee at the Carr gristmill, and their first child, George, was born in 1884. George was a barber in Dewey for 30 years, Bartlesville six years and 13 years in his shop south of Copan.

Beginning in 1927, George Seidle’s Highway Park bathing beach and picnic grounds near Copan was heavily visited during July 4th holidays with swimming, dancing and, of course, fireworks. The spring-fed, mostly 12ft deep pool, had a limited shallow area with several diving boards, water-basketball and water-polo. The playground area also had tennis courts, horseshoe pitching, bath houses and concessions. However, the Seidle’s closed the park and moved into Dewey in 1932, where George continued his barber business.

May 2, 1942, a deadly tornado left miles of destruction throughout the Copan/Dewey area and ended the Linger Longer summer entertainment. The Bartles/Requa/Mader walnut home was left in splinters. And, after the tornado, the Maders moved to North Creek in Dewey.

In 1932, girlfriends arranged a surprise picnic shower for Miss Margaret Easter with the premise of a swimming party at the Linger Longer Pool. Afterwards, picnic baskets were disbursed containing lunch and shower gifts for the bride-to-be of Mr. Garland C. Richardson, well known Washington County rancher.

George and Naomi Mader owned the Mader Paint Store at 410 E. Eighth Street in Dewey where George was a painter, wallpaper hanger and interior decorator for many years while Naomi operated the paint store. George also served as Dewey’s Deputy Marshal for a while. George Mader, Sr. died December 4, 1964, Naomi followed him on January 14, 1987 and they rest in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Bartlesville…ending an entertainment era gone and mostly forgotten.

~ In loving memory of Susie Mader Smith. ~

Did You Know?

Wes Cleveland swam at the Mader’s Linger Longer Pool as a youngster and, nearly 30 years ago, Wes and his wife, Pat Cleveland, opened the Linger Longer Antique Store in Dewey inspired by Wes’ memories. Located at 814 N Shawnee Avenue in Dewey, the building was originally home of the Diamond Food Store and currently has a oneof-a-kind old-fashion soda fountain.

Now You Know *

Located in the heart of Downtown Bartlesville

Located in the heart of Downtown Bartlesville

100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd

100 SW Frank Phillips Blvd

Reserve your spot at the top (918)440-6773

Reserve your spot at the top (918)440-6773

JOHNSTONE-SARE

JOHNSTONE-SARE

The Room at the Top www.johnstone-sare-theroomatthetop.com johnstone.sare@gmail.comjohnstone.sare.building

The Room at the Top www.johnstone-sare-theroomatthetop.com johnstone.sare@gmail.comjohnstone.sare.building

Ruby Cranor

Remembering Bartlesville’s Excellent Recorder of History

by Kay Little, Little History Adventures

Bartlesville turns 126 years old this month. Bartlesville has such a rich history — and thanks to Ruby Cranor, we can know a lot about our early years. Her persistence and relentless pursuit of facts for her books have made it possible for us to have valuable reference materials on our county, much like our local historian, Debbie Neece.

I saw similarities between the two as I studied Ruby’s life. I did not know Ruby, but I have used her books many times in my research.

Ruby was born in 1917 in Nebraska, but moved around quite a bit with her parents before they came to this area to work at Philson Farms. Ruby’s mother was from the Phillips family, as her mother’s father, Charles, was Frank Phillips’ uncle.

Ruby’s father was a poor farmer from a large family. He built a sod house for them while they lived in South Dakota. He had a hard time finding a long-term job, which is why they moved quite a bit. Because of all the moves, Ruby did not finish her schooling. She did not realize they were poor until she was married and raising her own family.

James Cranor and Ruby got married while she was in high school, after a two-week engagement. They worked a dairy farm. Once the babies started coming, Ruby stayed home to raise them. She was very involved in the Home Demonstration Club. She also participated in 4-H when her daughters were involved.

The Cranors had 15 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Twins were very prominent in the Cranor family through many generations. Ruby and James had four sets of twins in their family.

Ruby wanted to know more about her family and became very involved in genealogy. She would go to the library to do her genealogy work and became good friends with the history room curator, Wilma Berry. In fact, when Wilma became sick, Ruby worked in her place. After Wilma died, Ruby became the curator on September 4, 1973. During her 10 years as curator,

Ruby rearranged the History Room displays, gathered all the Delaware photos and artifacts to make a special exhibit, made card files of all the pioneers, of obituaries, historical places, and the local government officials. She gave tours to children and adults. She set up special displays in the Fine Arts Room of the Library. She clipped all the historical information from the newspapers and cataloged the Frank Griggs photos.

Ruby and James lived south of town in what was then the Fish Creek Community. She eventually wrote a book about the history of Fish Creek School and Community. Ruby and James liked to ride their horses all over the country. One of their friends who rode with them was Francis Johnson, better known as Ben Johnson Jr.

In 1977, Ruby was honored as the Historian of the year for the Washington County Historical Society. She retired in September 1983. Gene Winn, a former BPL Librarian said, “All in all, Ruby has a genuine grasp and appreciation of local history. She records it well and has been an asset to our community.” Ruby continued to write more books after retirement, until her death in 2005.

Thank you Ruby!

Bartlesville Weddings

by Maria Gus

What makes a beautiful wedding destination? Is it scenic views? Classic architecture? Unique venues? A group of wedding and event professionals in the community believe Bartlesville has all of these features — and more.

The Bartlesville Wedding Association is made up of local wedding vendors dedicated to making a wedding experience that is unforgettable. Brides, grooms, and wedding planners of all varieties can find just the right blend of professionals to make their matrimony memorable.

The group started not long ago in order to grow the industry in Bartlesville and the surrounding area. “We wanted people to know what a talented pool of vendors we have here,” said Amy Warehime, Bartlesville Wedding Association vice president and owner of Sand Creek Bridal. Warehime said the association is about growing the wedding industry in Bartlesville and helping wedding planners have an easier time pulling together resources. “We hope we can help people see how much we have right here in Bartlesville. There’s no need to go to a big city when we have so many great options right at home.”

Warehime said the BWA hopes to educate the community in how to plan a wedding, too. The goal is to not only help wedding vendors excel at what they do but to also educate people about the industry. Bartlesville Wedding Association can help potential brides and grooms understand things like timelines for ordering invitations, when to hire a caterer, or how to choose a venue.

The group plans to highlight even more at the Bartlesville Wedding Show taking place at The Center for Arts, Event, and Community on January 29, 2023. The show takes place from 1-4 p.m. and will include over 20 vendors from various services in the community. Vendors will include venues, florists, bridal boutiques, photographers, videographers, lighting professionals, bakers, and make up artists.  “We are most excited to showcase over 20 vendors in the local community,” said Whitney Virden, BWA president

and owner of Roots + Blooms. “We will have many door prizes and the first 50 brides will get a free tote bag with five extra tickets for the promotional offerings by vendors, and those who pre-register will receive 10 extra tickets for the grand prize drawing of $1,000 bridal buckets to be used with Bartlesville Wedding Association vendors.”

Amanda Stratford, secretary of BWA, said she noticed the talented wedding industry in Bartlesville when she moved here in 2020. “All the members of this group realize how unique and beautiful Bartlesville is for weddings and are working hard to make this town a wedding destination,” said Stratford.  “We have the best venues, florists, photographers, caterers — you can have an amazing wedding here on a smaller budget than other markets.” From the Tallgrass Prairie across the beautiful Osage Hills to Bartlesville, there is so much for event planners to choose from for a picture perfect celebration.

In these times of rising prices, people are still seeking the highest in quality, value, and style, said Crystal Sare, of the Johnstone-Sare Building. “To understand Bartlesville as a wedding destination is to understand that you can have the most elegant and bespoke wedding in truly amazing locations with top notch vendors for 25% less or more than in Tulsa (and the surrounding area).”

Sare said the quality of experience isn’t only enhanced by beautiful architecture nestled in the Osage Hills but is also about the quantity of time you get with vendors. “Time spent in your venue, spent on your photography and flowers and every last touch, and speaking of time, you also save it in Bartlesville, because your vendors are all only minutes apart, no long waits or bad traffic, many are tucked right into our downtown in walking distance from one another.”

For more information on the Bartlesville Wedding Association, check them out on their Facebook page or you can learn more about the Bartlesville Wedding Show at bartlesvilleweddings.com.

Get On Your Feet!

The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan to Play in Bartlesville

Broadway in Bartlesville! will present a brand-new production of the smash-hit musical ON YOUR FEET! THE STORY OF EMILIO & GLORIA ESTEFAN. This inspiring true story about heart, heritage, and two people who believed in their talent — and each other — has already won the hearts of audiences and critics alike. ON YOUR FEET! will play The Center on Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m.

“Not only is ON YOUR FEET! another addition to the popular Broadway in Bartlesville! series, it also offers something special for Bartlesville residents,” said The Center Managing Director Val Callaghan. One of the show’s vibrant cast members is Children’s Musical Theatre of Bartlesville alum, Katie McCollum . She stars as Young Gloria, and is absolutely thrilled to be making her national tour debut in ON YOUR FEET! Her previous credits include Company, A Little Night Music, Little Women and Seussical. She is a 2021 Music Theater graduate of Oklahoma City University.

This exciting new production, directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado, features a book by Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Alexander Dinelaris and a score made up of some of the most loved and iconic songs of the past quartercentury including “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Don’t Want To Lose You Now,” “1-2-3,” and “Coming Out of the Dark.” Having begun in Chicago in the summer of 2015, ON YOUR FEET! made its Broadway debut that November, played for two years, and received seven Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, three Drama League Award nominations and a Tony Award® nomination for Best Choreography.

Luis Salgado said, “This story exemplifies the American Dream through the eyes and work ethic of Cuban immigrants. The Estefans have given us permission

to dare to dream bigger. They allowed their truth to resonate through their music, penetrating all of us, whether you’re Latine or not. This joy is a gift we want to give to our audiences.”

This great gift is brought to Bartlesville area residents by a cast from around the world.

“We’re bringing a multicultural group of people to our new national tour. I’m proud of this cast and of the musicians who are joining us from around the world: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Mexico and everywhere in between. We are so proud of this dynamic company,” said Salgado.

Tickets for ON YOUR FEET! are available by phone at 918-337-2787 and in person at The Center box office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com for 24/7 ticket sales.

Special thanks goes to The National Endowment for the Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the following local sponsors who make the Broadway in Bartlesville! 2022-2023 series possible: Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Adams

American Heritage Bank

Arvest Wealth Management

bMonthly Magazine

Visit Bartlesville.

Photo: DJ Corey

KATIE Mc COLLUM

by Jay Webster

What do you remember about 1993? It was 30 years ago.

For perspective, Gary Gibbs and Pat Jones were coaching at OU and OSU. The singer Meatloaf had declared he’d do anything for love (but he won’t do that). And the Cold War was reported to be over.

On the other side of town, I was 20 years old and making good on a promise I’d committed to roughly six months earlier. The whole thing went something like this:

I was home on break from school at OU. That evening I’d gone out with friends to a movie and just dropped my girlfriend, Ann-Janette, off for the night. We were pretty serious. In fact, I’d already dressed up in an ill-fitting, hand-me-down suit and

asked her Dad for permission to marry her. Somehow he agreed. Now I just needed the right plan to ask her.

For days I wracked my brain for a “grand gesture” that would say, “spend the rest of your life with me.” I reviewed sentimental songs and sentimental places. I rehearsed words and poems and petitions.

Even so, the when and how remained out there in the ether somewhere, purposefully avoiding me.

Occasionally on big moments like this I was like a kid on a dirt bike getting ready to jump the Grand Canyon. I would race to the edge of the ramp only to slow just before getting there, look over the edge and go back to the start. Then in an unplanned,

impulsive and slightly anxious hurry, I’d race for the ramp and take the leap, only in mid-air to realize I had no helmet, no net, and no real landing strategy either.

That’s what happened here.

On my way home from dropping Ann-Janette from the movie, impulse hit. I turned my bike toward the ramp over the Grand Canyon.

While I scrambled to change clothes, I repeated the freshlyminted plan over and over in my head. Step One, pick up AnnJanette, blindfold her and get her in the car. Step two, slowly fade up the song she said she wanted as the processional in our wedding on the way to the place we first kissed. Step three, flawlessly deliver the most amazing proposal ever. Step four, cue the “happily ever after.”

Here’s where my dirt bike hit the first pothole on the way to the ramp. My cassette player in my car was broken. But the house where I was staying had a good sized “boombox.” Problem solved. I unplugged it, cued the tape and headed for the car, peddling hard for the canyon.

We crested the hill and the trees opened like a stage curtain revealing a glorious full moon. The curtains also revealed a three bedroom house and two country dogs out front. I guess it really had been years since we’d been there. I hummed feverishly to cover the sound of barking dogs as I backed down the hill and through the trees ... quickly. It’s hard to hum when you’re also dropping expletives.

Meanwhile, Ann-Janette was still blindfolded and descending backwards down the heal with the boombox reviving and dying sporadically, pulsed by the voice of a melodic serial killer. I assume this is just what she dreamed of as a girl laying in her bed, imagining her magical marriage proposal.

Occasionally on big moments like this I was like a kid on a dirt bike getting ready to jump the Grand Canyon. I would race to the edge of the ramp only to slow just before getting there, look over the edge and go back to the start. Then in an unplanned, impulsive and slightly anxious hurry, I’d race for the ramp and take the leap, only in mid-air to realize I had no helmet, no net, and no real landing strategy either.

From the bottom of the hill I could see the dogs rimmed in moonlight still showing their teeth. Where am I? I’m still on my dirt bike but I’ve lost a lot of speed. Do I stop at the base of the ramp having pedaled this far? I stood up and pushed the pedals over and over, racing hard to the jump.

Outside the car I opened the passenger door and led AnnJanette by hand into the night. “I know you remember this place.”

I reached the door of her apartment where I had just dropped her off 20 minutes earlier. I placed a blindfold over her eyes, deflecting all inquiries and questions. My bike was picking up speed. With all the smoothness of a four-year-old magician I leaned back between the two front seats and stretched far enough to hit the play button on the boom box. Those instantly recognizable chords began. Now I was praying I wouldn’t run out of song before I ran out of road. (Impulse doesn’t allow for test runs.)

It didn’t matter. My grand gesture was off to a beautiful start. Ann-Janette knew in a moment this was something special. The Say Anything boom box only added to the sentimentality. Right up to the moment when the batteries started to die.

Everything in my body went hot. I was freaking out. The cassette gears were grinding slower with each revolution. The song actually changed keys twice between stop lights. I began to hum along to compensate. It was all I could think to do.

Then I sang.

I was hoping she would think I was only caught up in the moment ... the rapture of her song ... not that I had failed to check the batteries before the most important night of our lives. With a mile left to go, the gears groaned into a halt but not before turning her processional into a Barry White song. I kept humming. I doubt she even noticed the change.

The ramp was approaching. What if I pull a hamstring?

On a quiet county road, I made one final turn up a small summit that led to the clearing where we first kisse … for a very long time. It had been a magical experience that had cemented our connection to each other back when we were still in High School. It had been years since we’d been here, but I knew she’d recognize it instantly.

“I can’t see anything.” Blindfold!

I took her blindfold off and she looked for all the clues the night sky would give her. Then she turned back toward the hill and the clearing. She smiled. “Why are we down here? Our spot was at the top of that hill, in the clearing...”

I dropped to one knee. “That’s where we have been,” I said “Tonight is about where we are going.” My bike left the ramp. I was suspended over the canyon, one loose shoelace dancing in the wind.

With poetic offerings I told her how much I loved her and that I didn’t want to wait to start spending the rest of my life with her. I placed a ring around her finger and asked if she’d marry me. We kissed. And I held her and celebrated that she loved me enough not to laugh in my face, yet.

“Whose dogs are those coming down the hill?”

“We should probably get going.”

The landing was rough, but I managed to stay on the bike and clear the canyon.

On New Year’s Day, 1993, we stood on the stage of the (Community) Center, exchanged vows and made good on our promise to marry each other.

Life is better with (good) stories. At least I’m glad my wife believes that.

CHRISTMAS IN BARTLESVILLE

Coach Holbrook

by Randy Standridge

In thinking back over the years, I try to remember folks who had an impact on my career at Phillips Petroleum and just my life in general. There are many, but one who not only greatly impacted me but many others was Coach Bill Holbrook. I know there was an article about him last year in this magazine and it covered some of his life, especially the fact that he was one of the Greatest Generation heroes who served in World War II. That young soldier of 18 is now 98 and lives in Leakey, Texas.

I’ve recently seen a number of testimonials written about Coach Holbrook and they all talked about the influence he had on their lives. After 26 years of coaching in Bartlesville, 12 years as an assistant at College High, four years as head coach there and then 10 years at Sooner High, he had the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of many young Bartians. Here is a testimonial from Bob Thomas, a 1970 graduate of Sooner High and a successful businessman in Tulsa, who wrote this to Marty Lowe and I this past year:

Thank you for the opportunity to weigh-in on behalf of Coach Holbrook. I find myself thinking, if in these fifty years away from Bartlesville, if not Coach Holbrook for the Hall of Fame, then who? That statement does not take away from all of the special recipients over the years. Bartlesville has a very rich history around competitive sports and exceptional coaches. Rather, the fact that Coach Holbrook was not included in the HOF long ago leaves me thinking how important things and people over the years can be overlooked. So again, thank you for the opportunity to join you in shining the light on Coach Holbrook.

I played football in the 1968-69 and 1969-70 seasons at Sooner High School which had opened to only the sophomorejunior classes in the 1966-67 school year. Accordingly, 1967-68 provided the first graduating class. For whatever circumstances at the time, Coach Holbrook left the head coaching job at College High School to build and lead football at Sooner High. As you can imagine or remember, it was quite a rivalry and Sooner beat a couple of very good College High teams in both of those inaugural years.

From a coaching viewpoint, I recall how well prepared we were for games. In the Wildcat rivalry we played them relatively early in one season. They were averaging over 200 yards/ game on a series of interesting screen plays. Coach Holbrook diagnosed every one of their screen options and told us on Monday of game week that we were not going to get beaten by screen plays. By Friday, we knew them in detail. They tried several. I was a defensive end and on two occasions almost smiled watching the play unfold and positioning myself in their backfield for the tackle and loss. Coach Holbrook was expressive in his accolades, but was dutiful during subsequent film work in the following week showing how

easy it could have been to have stepped in front and made the interception on those two plays. He wanted me to be better. He had high expectations.

I called him Coach Holbrook. Not Coach or Bill or whatever — he was simply Coach Holbrook to me — the full name because of a certain air about him that anything less than that did not match up to the relationship and respect I had for him. It wasn’t because he was not approachable, because he was.

In one off-season I worked for him hauling hay. I already had a good work ethic because of my dad — I think Coach Holbrook appreciated that and I remember that he made me feel good about what I was doing in an awfully hard job. He turned over a lot of freedom and responsibility to our all high school crew to get the job done. Whether in business or coaching he had a gift for recognizing and influencing leaders in that way. I also damaged a brand new hay truck that summer and was both intimidated and embarrassed to tell him. He took it in stride.

I played a lot of sports up through high school and continued football through four years at the University of Tulsa. Coaches make differences which can last a lifetime. Coach Holbrook is the standout. I had the blessing of family and a good upbringing which shaped my life including perseverance and work ethic. Coach Holbrook was a factor in my journey who no doubt helped polish these attributes in my life.

He was a great coach — he knew the game well. Moreover, he inspired me and all of us to be the best we can be. I have deep appreciation and respect for Coach Holbrook and am grateful to recommend him to the Bartlesville Sports Commission Hall of Fame.

BILL & BOB THOMAS

Dad’s Walk Fundraiser Shows Helping Comes One Step at a Time

by Maria Gus

Sometimes the biggest gift of all is giving back to the community. That’s the spirit of Dewayne Bryan and what he calls “Dad’s Walk,” a fundraiser that has been giving back since 2021. The walks and events Bryan has helped organize are all about remembering those fighting cancer and showing that helping others comes one step at a time.

It all started when Bryan heard about a friend who was battling cancer and needed some help. “I thought, I can do something about that, and that’s literally how it all started,” said Bryan. He said he believes all of us can do something about anything. So he walked from Claremore to Copan and raised money for someone with cancer who needed the help. Half of the funds went to pay medical bills and the other half went to Copan Public Schools’ special education program.

Bryan sees walking as almost like a meditation, a clearing of the mind, something simple that so many can do, and a way to bring attention to the terrible struggle so many have with cancer. Once he finished his first “Dad’s Walk” he already started planning more ways to help. The effort to bring attention to those fighting cancer seemed to attract more and more people to the cause.

“Sometimes things like this do bring out the common good of man,” said Bryan. He said last year when he was walking between Talala and Nowata, his feet started blistering and a gentleman by the name of Ron Harvey drove by and asked him if he needed anything. “My feet were blistering and hurting so I told him I could use a good set of insoles and pickle juice. And he ran and got it for me,” said Bryan with a chuckle, “a gallon jar of pickles!”

Bryan described many acts of kindness along his walk from Claremore to Copan, donations, help with accommodations, or walking along his path with him. Bryan calls them his “wingmen” and said the spirit of giving and kindness brings out the best in people. Bryan also remembers his father, who died of cancer, with every step. He tries to mention the names of those he’s walking for, keeping all of them close to his heart as he makes his journey.

The best has been seen in everyone, from the kind folks at the Rudd Motel in Nowata, to Jake Marland, an Army veteran, and

Shane Savage, an Army and Marine Corp veteran. “Jake walked to Bartlesville with me, Shane is an amputee and came along in his wheelchair,” said Bryan. Others have helped him along his journey to help cancer patients like his daughter, Mackenzie; Brett Mackey; Bart Mackey; and Dillon Irvin, who walked along in his cowboy boots. His wingmen like Trey Fraley and William Fraley help keep him going and support him and others that join him as he walks.

After the walk for Hopestone on December 3, Bryan had a cookout to celebrate the event. Melanie Henderson helped get food donated, and others are invited to give if they can. What’s most important to Bryan is doing good for others and the good it does for the people who are helping.

Debbie Halpin, from Hopestone Cancer Support Center, is especially grateful for Bryan and the attention he has brought to cancer patients in the area. “He’s a really cool guy who will do anything for others,” said Halpin. “And he’s a veteran; he’s just amazing. He just wants to help people and make the world a little bit better a place, a really good guy who wants to make life better for people who are struggling through things.” Bryan’s walk in December of 2022 raised over $11,000 for Hopestone Cancer Support Center.

Bryan said his walk was inspired by the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

“Walking really clears my mind and gives me a reset and a reminder,” said Bryan. “There’s nothing like being out there, it’s like hunting or fishing, it’s an opportunity to clear your mind. Instead of spending money I was redirecting money. I made it very intentional this year that all donations go directly to Hopestone.”

On Saturday night, while Bryan and supporters were celebrating his walk, he got a call from his mom. “My mom called me and she was crying and someone put us over our goal.”

For Bryan, one step in front of the other has led to a whole lot of kindness spread along his way. He hopes his walk will continue to bring others to join him in supporting cancer patients and survivors and, most of all, to keep moving forward.

A Mother’s Gaze

Awareness Begins with the Love of a Mother

by Brent Taylor

Karen and I are freshly-minted grandparents. We spent a week with Jenna, Andrew, and their newborn girl, Charlie Ann, at their home in Marietta, Georgia. Charlie seems to have a strong opinion about most things, and sometimes it seems as if she is screaming. Which reminds me of Charlie’s mom, who gave us a pretty good go of it 30 years ago while she struggled with colic.

Yogi Berra once said, “It is tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” But grandparents do it anyway. Charlie is beautiful! I think she will be a novelist, a scientist, or perhaps a World Cup Soccer hero! These are the moments of limitless dreams, where anything is possible for this child. But the grind of daily effort comes before dreams are realized. The moments of bliss are mingled with the vigorous struggles of a tiny human still working out the digestive patterns of ruthless hunger and serpentine elimination.

Before flying home from Georgia, Charlie and I made another dozen circuits through the dining room to the kitchen to the hallway and around again to the living room. Songs without words came from my lips and landed against her delicate ear as she cried. She sought only the comfort of tone and pitch. The hum and meter of a comforting voice seemed to compete for room in her mind, driving away tiny tears. She gulped in a deep staccato breath and closed her eyes, and settled her downy head against my chest. Charlie slept and I stared at her. I hugged her momma and kissed her on the forehead and told her that I love her. Jenna and I did this same dance once upon a time. That was a lifetime ago, and yet only yesterday.

The drive to the Atlanta airport was throttled with humans incessantly changing lanes. A man talked on his cell phone in the security line impatiently asking why his motion for appeal had been denied. I sat by a disgruntled man on the plane who also talked on his cell phone, complaining to his wife that she left $200 on the kitchen table, which he considered careless. I wonder what kind of man Charlie will date once she turns 28. (This Debutante age will steadily dwindle down to 14 and is the first of many rules Andrew will one day find broken like shattered glass on the pavement of his patriarchal rule).

My favorite moments of the week came observing Andrew and Jenna caring for Charlie. Something remarkable seemed to happen in the moments when Charlie gazed into the eyes of her mother. Can a child see herself in her mother’s eyes? And can she also see her mother looking at her? In the midst of this staring, a child perhaps gains a sense of consciousness and perhaps a sense of otherness, and that the world is about warmth and milk and sleep and self-comfort but also about something beyond self. This awareness begins with the love of a mother.

I wonder what she will do in her life and if one day she will walk me around the circuit of rooms consoling me as I cry out against time because I can’t find the three pairs of glasses on my head. With each passing day I come closer to the idea of Heaven in tiny bodies and loving gazes. In the words of Wendell Berry, Heaven is enough for me if it is this world, but redeemed of our abuse of it and one another.

Berry writes, “I would like to know my children again, all my family, all my dear ones, to see, to hear, to hold, more carefully than before, to study them lingeringly as one studies old verses, committing them to heart forever. I would like again to know my friends, my old companions, men and women, horses and dogs, in all the ages of our lives, here in this place that I have watched over all my life in all its moods and seasons, never enough. I will be leaving how many beauties overlooked? I have not paid enough attention, I have not been grateful enough. And yet this pain would be the measure of my love. In eternity’s once and now, pain would place me surely in the Heaven of my earthly love.”

— Sabbaths 2006, Wendell Berry

Jarrett Farm Resort & Events

Local Retreat Celebrating a Grand Opening

by Sarah Leslie Gagan

Twenty years after Dave and Amber Stewart spent their wedding night at Jarrett Farm, they returned to the resort as owners. Purchasing the 114-acre property in April 2022 was the fulfillment of a long-held dream for the Stewarts. It was Amber who first had the vision of someday owning and operating the Jarrett Farm Resort. When the opportunity presented itself, they took the leap of faith, purchased the farm, and dedicated themselves into transforming the property into everything they dreamed it could be.

In the 1940’s, upon returning home to Oklahoma after

World War II, a young soldier married his sweetheart and bought a gorgeous piece of land midway between Tulsa and Bartlesville, in the Ramona area. The enterprising son of a sharecropper began a family dairy farm on the property and made the land his home. Five generations of family faithfully worked the land, passing the farm down to their children and grandchildren for many years.

In 1984, the picturesque dairy farm was sold to Jerry and Shauna Agnew, a couple who had dreams of their own. They took the rocky hilltop overlooking a 230-acre horse farm and

transformed it to Jarrett Farm Country Inn, building a 7,200 square foot main house, and two duplex cabins behind. The first guests arrived in October 1989. The Inn quickly became a much-loved retreat and gourmet dining experience in northeast Oklahoma.

After several successful years of operation, two businessmen, Marvin Luke and Gary Dennis, partnered with the Agnew family, purchased the property, and the venue became “Jarrett Farm”. Marvin and Gary continued to honor the vision held by the Agnews while implementing

positive changes that would enhance the guest’s experience. Gary described the transition as seamless as they assumed ownership of the inn.

Together, Gary and Marvin offered visitors the same uncompromising standards of elegance, hospitality and fine dining that earned raves from the likes of Southern Living magazine and the Mobil Travel Guide. During this season, enhancements were made to Jarrett Farm to broaden the appeal to larger groups and businesses looking for retreat locations, such as the addition of four additional duplex

cabins. The commercial kitchen was expanded, and a conference room was added. The overall atmosphere was welcoming, inviting and warm. It was elegant, but at the same time, felt like home, and had a well-known reputation for impeccable accommodations and outstanding cuisine.

Jarrett Farm was thriving in December of 2007 when a devastating ice storm hit, crippling the farm with repairs, leaving the owners no choice but to close in early 2008, and list the property for sale. After being on the market for a couple years with no sale, the owners reopened at the request of the community. The reprise was short lived, and Jarrett Farm sold in 2014 to private owners and was not open to the public.

The property would sell yet again in 2018 to Tri-County Technology Center, with plans to become a professional retreat center. The property would, however, sit dormant due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led Tri-County to cancel their plans for the property, and list it on the market.

The Stewarts were living in Houston when they attended a high school reunion back home in Bartlesville in 2021 and heard the Jarrett Farm property was for sale. “Dave and I had wanted to buy the farm for years and years,” Amber Stewart shares. “It was something that we had talked about, dreamed about, and didn’t really think would come to fruition. But when we found out the property was for sale, we were feeling like this is the Lord’s will for us.” And everything fell into place.

Dave and Amber were high school sweethearts, who grew up in Bartlesville and married in 2002. Their sentimental attachment with Jarrett Farm began on a high school date

where they fell in love with what they call the “modern elegance and bucolic charm” of the property. Life had led them away from Bartlesville, landing in Houston, Texas where Dave was employed with ConocoPhillips, and Amber worked in real estate. The Stewarts were thrilled to move back to the Bartlesville area with their five children, not only to renovate Jarrett Farm, but to be closer to family.

Dave and Amber are the perfect team, with Amber’s gift for hospitality and eye for design and Dave’s talent for managing finances and overseeing contractors, it’s as if they were created for this opportunity. Dave continues to work for ConocoPhillips and Amber continues to sell real estate, and homeschools their five children while they both participate in the farm renovation and Airbnb management of the cabins. They are a Christ-following family who cherishes the fact that God has entrusted them to manage so many blessings, from their children, to their work, to their hospitality on the farm.

The Stewarts have big plans for the future of Jarrett Farms Resort and Events. They are creating a community-oriented venue with a wide variety of offerings. While they have no plans to revive the restaurant, Jarrett Farm is a space with room for lodging, retreat hosting, reunions, receptions, weddings and much more. The property also has hiking trails and a pond for fishing while taking in the serene view of the Oklahoma prairie. Dave and Amber plan on honoring the history of the land by continuing the tradition of providing a meaningful place to create lasting memories.

Seasonal events will be open to the community such as a New Year’s Eve bash, Easter egg hunt, Mother’s Day brunch,

Summer party with inflatable water slides, Fall Festival, Family camping events, Christmas lighting celebration, and breakfast with Santa Claus.

Jarrett Farm’s location on the west side of Highway 75 provides a perfect spot for the Stewarts to host a variety of food trucks. Future expansion plans include an RV camping area, building a chapel and prayer garden, and making improvements and additions to the hiking trails.

Wedding rentals include an available bridal cabin with a salon area for the bride and bridesmaids to prepare. A groom’s suite is also available, complete with shuffleboard, television, and leather couches.

The renovation of Jarrett Farm continues to be a huge undertaking with daily challenges for Dave and Amber, but they remain strong in the vision God has placed in their heart. It’s a journey for their entire family as they include their children in the renovation and maintenance of the property. The family of seven currently lives in a 1,300 square foot cabin but has plans to eventually build a home on the farm.

The Stewarts will host a Grand Opening event at Jarrett Farm on Saturday January 14th, 2023, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00

P.M. The public is welcome to come visit the farm and learn all they have to offer. There will be live music, food trucks and tours of the cabins and event spaces. Dave and Amber are excited for the future, and northeast Oklahoma is so blessed to have them settle here and share the farm with us.  The Stewart family is creating a peaceful escape from the world’s chaos, and as they like to say, “Relax…you are home when you are at the farm.”

Celebrating Success

December Students of the Month

Tri County Tech and Downtown Kiwanis Club are proud to name the December Students of the Month. Our students of the month are chosen based on their character, leadership, and contribution to our community.

We are proud of their performance as students, role models, and future professionals.

About Tri County Tech

Have a Vision for 2023

You Can Be the Most Awesome Version of You in 2023

by Lori Kroh

Happy New Year of 2023! Yes! I still do Vision Boards for each year. I still believe that what I focus on and dream of and hope for will happen. I want you to know that your entire life can change when you become open to believing that you are here for a BIG purpose. We need each other to achieve our dreams. I keep feeling like this year will be one of connection for many of us.

The pendulum always swings and what is old is new. Connection within ourselves and with others was perhaps what we took for granted. Now, we realize how very much we need each other. I speak to so many that are feeling the effects of not really living up to their potential the last few years. There was this cloud of contentment amidst chaos and it grayed out so many days for us. Little gestures make a big impact. Please don’t let the past with people, stuff, and hurts limit you for the future that could happen. I do believe you have to sit for a while and reflect on what you really and truly want for your life. Then, you have to react and make a plan for how you will take action. Your entire life can change and I do think you have to visualize a new and bigger version of the current you. You have to see yourself as God sees you … with so much potential and it is already there ready to be connected with others.

“Congratulations! You get to be the most awesome you that ever could be in 2023!”

A lot of us focus on what we cannot do … rather than what we can. What you believe about yourself is more important than the board. It is the mindset that makes all the difference.

What you say to yourself matters and how you approach the day matters. When you encounter others…it is a chance to be seen and heard, yet more importantly, to see and hear them.

Connection creates opportunities. I hope you leave them better than when you found them. When you walk away from someone usually a thought occurs — I want more of that person in my life or I want less. All we have to do is be the ones that others want more. I always think of magnetic people who just are so exhilarating they change the room when they are there.

After 25 years of doing mindset work, I found that you have to work at creating an environment within yourself that allows for possibilities. Most of us are told what we cannot do all of our lives. We have to change the idea of no to it is possible, then to Yes . It starts with our internal thoughts and being open to allowing ourselves the gift of curiosity.

I made a list of things that help me with my mindset and thought I would share with you. It is my way of connecting to myself so that I can better connect with others.

1. Look at the stars at midnight. Then you will truly see how Big the Universe is and how your problems seem relevantly small. Somehow, the vastness helps your soul in unspeakable ways.

2. Find a way to sing. Let your voice come out and be Happy in that moment. We all have songs that have a deep memory for

us. Sing like you used to when you were young and free from the knowledge of anguish in this world. Just try it. Your voice has a frequency that changes the air around you.

3. Bake a pie. There are so many ways to make one. Rolling out the dough gives you power and control, and when you need to feel empowered there is nothing like making a pie to cure all. Then, try and share it with someone. You get to say, “hey, I  made this” and it opens up your life with generosity.

4. A fresh cup of tea or coffee will usually help you refocus. Take time to savor a sip and remember that this too shall pass. The clinking of a spoon lets you know that time is short and there is goodness in life’s little pleasures.

5. If you can read - you can learn anything. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you cannot do something. I once fixed my dishwasher by reading how and it gave me such a good feeling to realize that I did it. Be open to learning new things. It is good to overcome what we thought we could not do.

6. Never call it quits unless it’s bad habits, bad influences or bad thoughts that trap you in a cycle of negativity. Then, by all means quit those!

7. Cherish your good friends. A friend is always there and they are worth more than gold. Life is too hard to go it alone. As the saying goes, to have a friend is to be one first. Also, learn to extend mercy and grace as you would want extended to you. It really makes a difference.

I hope this year brings you what you truly want and that the connections you create open you to all the possibilities where your best YOU shines brighter than the glitter left over from New Years Eve.

The Cowboy Way

Cherish the Good and Teach it to the Next Generation

by Kelly Hurd

Merle Haggard asks that in his ballad And many folks, dismayed by what they see on the news, ask themselves the same thing. Nope, a Ford and a Chevy don’t last 10 years like they should, and it might seem like we’ve entered the days when a man could still work, but won’t. Boy, that’s an uplifting way to start an article, but let’s not end it here!

It’s in times like these where perspective sets the sails, and if you’re looking for brighter skies — and maybe the way things used to be — all you had to do was let the wind blow you to Amarillo, Texas the week of November 10th, and you would have been encouraged.

Osage County’s best were on deck and decked out at the Working Ranch Cowboy Association World Finals Rodeo. Throughout the year, ranches travel and compete at sanctioned ranch rodeos, just hoping to snag a spot in the most coveted event in the working cowboy world of rodeo. This year it was the Sooner Cattle Company that caught my eye and had me clapping and cheering from the arena seats.

It was their first year to qualify, but more than that, their junior youth team also qualified! Two Sooner teams took on Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and other states, competed, and proudly carried the Oklahoma flag into the arena night after night.

At the venue throughout the week, young ranch kids in cowboy hats wandered through the trade show

enjoying corn dogs and tall tales. You could buy handmade boots, spurs, saddles, and more. Kids gathered over in the corner to play with the Happy Toy Maker’s array of stock trailers, pickups, pens, and livestock.

No one checked my purse when I entered. I didn’t have to wear a facemask. Kids were safe to go to the restroom by themselves. Night after night the event began with prayer and the National Anthem as folks stood, bowed their heads, and took off their hats. Respect ruled.

It was as if I stepped back in time to the days of yesteryear, when a gal could still cook and still would, and I’m pretty sure I saw a couple Fords and Chevys from the 1980s pulling stock trailers in the parking lot, too!

And in the midst of it all, I began to think. These rarities are qualities I used to take for granted, but now realize how precious and foundational they are to our world — things like family values, morality, good work ethic, earning something, and paying your own way.

There’s still good if you know where to look for it, but I think it’s also time to start cherishing it and continue teaching it to the next generation to ensure that it will be a cold day in hell before we lose this part of America.

P.S. Congrats to the Sooner’s youth team! They placed third overall. And way to ride a bronc, Corey Hurd, who also came out third in the world in the ranch bronc riding event!

“Are we rolling downhill like a snowball headed for hell?”

White Rose Centenarians

Cemetery Full of Residents with Colorful Life Stories

by Lori Just

Cemeteries are full of colorful and historic life stories. The White Rose Cemetery is just that sort of cemetery.

White Rose Cemetery History

All of the southwest part of what is now Bartlesville was a large wheat field in the early days, owned by Jacob Bartles. In 1886, a small child of the Thompson family had died and the family buried it on a high spot about a mile southwest of the Bartlesville settlement. Bartles rode out there on horseback and tried to stop the burial, but was too late as the baby was already buried. Later others were buried nearby and the place became known as the old Indian cemetery.

In October 1898, the City of Bartlesville, including Keeler and the town fathers, started looking for a site for a town cemetery it was natural for them to pick that site. On February 24, 1899 this cemetery was originally called the City Cemetery, later Union Cemetery and then in 1905 it became White Rose Cemetery.

In 1900, the first Memorial Day celebration to honor service men and women who are buried at White Rose was held. These services are still held each year on Memorial Day.

On April 29, 1904, the Cherokee Nation deeded ten acres known as McCaleb’s Addition to the Incorporated town of Bartlesville, Indian Territory for land to be used for a cemetery. The cemetery now totals about twenty acres and holds over 12,000 graves. Because they were buried before official records were kept, many of the remains of the early city’s dead lie in graves that are unmarked.

In March 1907, the Bartlesville Ladies Cemetery Association was organized to cooperate in the care and improvement of the cemetery.

A 22-foot bell tower in the northwest corner of the cemetery, located on 11th Street and Virginia Avenue was installed in 2012. The tower contains a notable 605-pound bell from an early-day church in the community and is on public display thanks to the

generosity of the Todd family. It stands as a reminder of the rich history that still echoes in Bartlesville today.

Bartlesville City Council appointed a White Rose Cemetery Board in October 1999 as an advisory board to the City in connection with preservation, beautification and enhancement of the grounds.

Those interested in taking part in the continuing effort to restore and beautify the historic White Rose Cemetery, please send donations White Rose Cemetery Beautification Project, 401 South Johnstone, Bartlesville, OK 74003.

Notable Individuals in White Rose Cemetery

William Wayne Keeler was laid to rest in 1987. President Harry S. Truman appointed Keeler as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1949.

U.S. Congressman, Postmaster and lawyer, William Tyndall became a resident of the White Rose Mausoleum in 1928.

Jane Phillips, wife of Frank Phillips, was entombed in the White Rose Mausoleum while the Phillips family mausoleum at Woolaroc was being constructed.

Melvel and Lorene Murphy, local restaurant owners, has a tombstone that reads “Murphy’s Steak House, Home of the World-Famous Hot Hamburger, Gravy Over All.”

Mausoleum History

On April 20, 1921, the Bartlesville city commissioners and C.E. Bryan, manager of the Bartlesville Mausoleum Company, reached an agreement to begin the construction of a mausoleum at White Rose Cemetery. Hugh Bryant, Bartlesville merchant, financier and pioneer businessman was the founder and owner of the mausoleum.

The 15,000 square foot Mausoleum is in the Greek Neoclassic style housing over 500 crypts. It is constructed of concrete with white stone exterior, the roof of vitrified tile and the entire interior

made of white marble. The windows are made of ornamental leaded glass and the doors and gates of bronze.

This beautiful white marble mausoleum was dedicated on July 11, 1923. The earliest known burial in the mausoleum was the body of Cyprene Tayrien who died on Oct. 18, 1922 and was entombed even before the mausoleum was finished.

Other early Bartlesville notables that now reside in the Mausoleum include C.E. Burlingame, Nelson  and Susan Carr (Nelson and Sarah Ann (Rogers) Carr), Howard and Nellie (Johnstone) Cannon, Arthur Armstrong, George Keeler, the Lannoms, Revards, Tinkers and Webers.

In 1954, the Mausoleum Association entered into a trust agreement with the City of Bartlesville, whereby the mausoleum was turned over to the city. Bryant died in 1958 and was buried in the mausoleum with Masonic Rites.

Notable Centenarians Interred at White Rose Cemetery

NAME / AGE / DATE OF DEATH

TONY

GEORGE ALLEN, 101, 3/20/1982

Allen was born in Floza, Feneow Korinthias, Greece on January 17, 1881. He came to the United States as an immigrant when he was 13 years old. He made his first home in New York City later living in Chicago, Saint Louis, Kansas City before he came to Pawhuska to operate a café. In 1910, he came to Bartlesville and opened the Victoria Café on 2nd Street and later owned and operated the Utopia Restaurants and the Blatz Cafe with George Galanis. He was married to Angie Phillips in Bartlesville on September 28, 1914. They had one son, George, two daughters, Kathleen and Darnelle and 12 grands. He was a member of the Oak Hill Country Club, Sunset Golf Club, Bartlesville Gun Club and Knights of Pythias. He passed at the Ponca City Hospital from complications of pneumonia.

WILDA (CRAWFORD) CUSTER, 100, 8/10/1961

Custer was born May 19, 1861 in Rushville, Missouri. She passed away at the home of her son in Kansas City following a lengthy illness.

ENOCH JONATHAN “RED” PIERCE, 101, 11/2/1991

A native of Pennsylvania, Piece (Pierce) was born in Ned Greene on August 3, 1890. He married Anna Belle Foster in Oakland, Maryland on April 1, 1911. That same year, they came to the Woodrow community near Nowata, OK and he was active in oil production for Prairie Oil and Gas Corporation for six years. In 1919, the family moved to Akron, Ohio, and they were both employed in rubber factory work for Kelly Springfield and Goodyear Tire Companies. Following four years in Ohio, the Pierces returned to Bartlesville where he was active in oil field interests in Washing and Osage Counties. He was preceded in death by two sons, William, at the age of 7 years old, and Everett, at the age of 59. And survived by four remaining sons, Russell, Robert, Raymond and Leo. He had 23 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren. He was a member of the Bartlesville First Ward of The Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

MARY ESTELLA WARREN, 101, 4/25/1987

Warren was born September 7, 1885 in Springfield, MO. She attended school in the area. She married Rufus Warren on June 13, 1902 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They lived most of their married lives in Harrah, OK before moving to Copan, OK in 1918. Rufus preceded her in death in 1933, and she continued her residence in the area until 1983 when she moved to Ardmore to be near her daughter. She passed at the Lakeland Nursing Home in Ardmore, OK following an extended illness. She was preceded in death by one son, Ralph, and survived by four daughters, Nellie, Katie, Fontella and Jean. She had 12 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 15 great-great grandchildren.

JOSEPHONE

VERONICA (KOCOJ) SZALA ,101, 05/01/1992

ABNER BENJAMIN GARDNER, 100, 5/10/1977

A native of Oklahoma Indian Territory days, Gardner was born March 28, 1877 in Bokchito, Choctaw Nation, and received normal schooling. He came to Bartlesville before statehood and was married on November 29, 1917 to Viola Ophelia Hatter in Independence, KS. They made a home in Bartlesville where he was a landscape Gardner (gardener) for many years. They had no children but had a large extended family of nephews and nieces. He was a resident at Forrest Manor Nursing Home for the six years prior to his passing. His services were held at the Bethel A.M.E. Church where he was an active member of the church.

Szala was born February 14, 1891 in Blazowa, Poland. She began her education in Poland before immigrating to the United States in 1909 through Ellis Island and established in St. Louis, MO. She married George (Wojciech) on February 21, 1911 in St. Louis. The following year they moved to Neodesha, KS and George was employed by Smelter until 1913 when they moved to Chicago two years prior to moving to Bartlesville in 1915 when he continued association as a Smelter (smelter) worker. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Helen and Pauline and one son, Julius. And survived by two sons, Walter and Frank, and two daughters, Angeline and Anna. Mass of the resurrection was held at St. John’s Catholic Church.

Abby Says “It’s a Wonderful Life”

by Rita Thurman Barnes

Wow! Where did 2022 go and what are we going to do with this brand spanking new gift of yet another New Year? A rhetorical question of course, because no one really knows what he or she is going to do with it or what the New Year is going to do with them.

We like to think we have some control over our manifest destinies but the older I get; the more convinced I am that there is someone up there rolling the dice on my behalf. Well, maybe not really but it does feel that way sometimes. Sometimes we just don’t get what we bargained for or counted on and sometimes we have to be content with that.

Do you ever wish you could know what the future holds for you or those you care about? I’ve thought about that quite often and when I do, it brings to mind the old Jimmy Stewart movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. He got to see what life would have been like for the people he loved if he had never been born but he didn’t really get to see what his future would be “with” him included.  He had to put one foot in front of the other just as we do and take one day at a time to learn what the future held for him. Oh, did you watch that movie over the holidays? If not, get it out and give it a gander. One of my favorite scenes is the scene in the bar/café where the camera zooms in to a close-up of Stewart’s face and he sheds real tears. That scene was done in one take and is my very favorite.

The director, Frank Capra, did however make a timeless film chock full of mistakes. For instance, when George (Jimmy Stewart) and Mary (Donna Reed) are children she whispers into his deaf ear, knowing he can’t hear with it. Then after they’re married, she also whispers to him in the same ear he still can’t hear out of. Do these mistakes mean Capra shouldn’t have made this classic movie - of course not. It simply points out that in real life whether it’s yours or mine or Frank Capra’s, we have to learn to accept what comes our way. Personally, and going from past experiences, I don’t think knowing about what’s coming down the pike for me is something I’d want to take advantage of even if I could. It would also allow us to see the not-so-pleasant things that await each of us as vulnerable human beings trying to make our way through our day-to-day lives; things such as an illness or the loss of a loved one.

I think that’s where my dog, Abby Marie, has it all over me. She doesn’t expect anything of the New Year, so she won’t be

disappointed. She makes no New Year’s resolutions and therefore doesn’t have to bother breaking them. She just gets up every day and does what dogs are supposed to do. She spends a lot of time trying to persuade someone to feed her the little packet of soft food she loves, and she eagerly awaits her daily brushing. She is content to be where we are, and she lets us know she cares about us in her own fashion, and she knows a good friend when she meets one. In other words, she is content.

I could probably learn a lesson or two from my little dog. Life is like a good work of fiction; we don’t know all the answers till we get to the end of the story. But there lies the rub; I love to sneak a peek at the end of a good story. Maybe I need to have a long talk with Miss Abby. She’s sitting by my side right now and says to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Oh, What a Year!

Looking Back at 2022

by Keith McPhail

Each time this year I like to look back at the year we just finished and recap stories, behind the scenes stuff, and personal things that Christy and I have gone through and experienced… and OH, what a year we had!

JANUARY

Each year at bmonthly starts off like every other year… BABIES. Last year we had a glitch in our website, and our world and phones BLEW up! Moms and dads couldn’t get on our website to sign up for the baby contest. Our site crashed because of the volume of parents trying to get on it. We did a video on Facebook describing what happened and explained that we were going to have the sign up again the next day. In 9 minutes, we had 70 babies entered on top of the 35 we already had before the website crashed. At the end with a tie breaker vote, Kysen pulled it off and won Baby New Year 2022.

FEBRUARY

This is one of our favorite months to put together the magazine because of what we learn…the Black History issue. This was our 4th issue on Black History, and we had Natasha Mitchell again write about “Black Towns of Oklahoma.” WOW! What we learned about this! I love to pick out feature stories about what not only helped shape this great city, but also our historic state. Each year we learn so much from our past. During this month we again opened up a Warming Center for the homeless, who are less fortunate and sometimes lost and broken. For the two times we opened the Warming Center, we had a total of 27 souls. We sent six people to different treatment centers in Texas and Missouri. Almost a year later, four of those individuals have completely changed their lives.

MARCH

In this month’s issue, we celebrated Christy’s grandfather Don Tyler, who — along with his dad — in 1905 started the Dewey Portland Cement Company. This was before we were even a state. This cement plant changed many lives in this area, and Mr Tyler provided many benefits for his employees. These benefits, like a Dental Client where he would cover all dental costs, weren’t being offered by any other company in the area. He also helped with the purchase of homes for newlyweds just starting their families.

APRIL

Every April we have our very popular “Best of Pets” issue, and this year we had our biggest pet issue, gathering the most votes ever on our Facebook page. When all the counting was over, Dexter pulled it out and was selected by nine judges to be on the cover. Axel won the People’s Choice. This month, Christy celebrated her 53rd birthday. One of the most interesting facts about Christy’s birthday is that she shares this day with my mom, who is in Heaven. It is hard to believe that she has been gone for six years. I miss her so much.

MAY

This month we had our second annual concert, “Gracefest on the Green.” We created this event for the community to enjoy a Christian concert on Mother’s Day weekend in the free, public green space. We donated all the proceeds to The Journey Home, which is an end-of-life facility set in a home. All services are free to the guest and their family for as long as they are there. We are very passionate about helping raise money for them and bringing awareness to the community. The concert lineup included Tim Timmons, Stars Go Dim, and Sanctus Real. With all of our incredible sponsors and you, we were able to give The Journey Home a check for $11,000.

JUNE

I have always wanted to know more about the over 14 car dealerships, which I called “Auto Alley,” located in downtown Bartlesville before our city expanded east. One of the cool things is just seeing where they were located and what businesses are there now. I also wrote a two-page story called “Love you…Dad.” I dedicated this story to all of my kids who went through so much HELL because of my addiction and the loss of their brother, Tyler. Being a dad is the greatest gift and let your kids know every day that you love them.

This issue was our third year for our newest contest to get you — our readers — involved in the magazine. Christy and I selected a building for you to go take pictures of and then you voted on our Facebook page for the People’s Choice and 10 judges selected the cover. This year we chose the Community Center as the subject, which was also celebrating its 40th anniversary. We had 33 pictures submitted of the Community Center. Ben Adams, who serves our country and loves photography, had not picked up his camera in over 10 years. His wife encouraged him to go take pictures. He submitted one of the best pictures I had ever seen of the Community Center. The judges hands down selected his picture I called The Reflection as the winner.

AUGUST

Every August is a special month for me because in 2017 I started to design the covers for the magazine. Over the past five years, I believe it’s the most important part of the magazine. This was also the first month we started with our new printer. The quality of our magazine now is the best of any city magazine in the state. This was also the month I talked about our granddaughter, Scottie, who had just received her new liver. We had thousands of people praying for her, and as of today she is a beautiful, healthy little girl living with her new liver. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!

SEPTEMBER

For the last three years we have been dedicating this month as our Native American Tribe issue. We selected the Choctaw Nation as our subject, and the cover for this issue is just stunning. The Choctaws were the first of the Five Civilized Tribes to come to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). When we put the cover on our Facebook page, like we always do, we had some real haters commenting on the picture we used which we received from the Choctaw Nation. In the end, it’s the first time we had to file a police report on someone because of their hate speech towards us on our Facebook page.

OCTOBER

In this issue our feature story “Wings over Bartlesville,” Sarah Gagan, who writes most of our feature stories, told us about the incredible history of aviation. Some of the first events in aviation were held right here in Bartlesville. This month marked the 13th year of our son Tyler going to heaven because of an accidental shooting, which took his life at the young age of 17. It’s hard to believe that today he would be 30 years old. We just miss him like crazy.

NOVEMBER

We celebrated our Veterans this month, and have since we started. Debbie Neece wrote the feature story on Radar Hill, just west of town. I did not know this base was here even after all the years I have lived in Bartlesville. Today we have less than 167,000 WWII Veterans out of the 16 million who served this great country. If you look at these numbers it’s almost a certainty that in the next 10 years all these brave men and women will be gone.

DECEMBER

The final issue of the year is my favorite cover to design each year … Santa. This picture of Santa was taken at the Frank Phillips mansion in the library at the exact spot where Frank and Jane would have had their Christmas tree set up. It’s my favorite Santa cover with our dear friend Ron Adams, who has graced our cover for 12 years straight.

Christy and I want to thank you for making bmonthly Magazine the largest media source in Bartlesville. We love this city and all of her people. We have so much to be proud of as citizens of Bartlesville. We live in the most unique city, and, like I always say, Bartlesville is the best little city in America. We look forward to 2023 and all the uncovered stories and the people we get to brag about. Thank you and God bless! Keith and Christy

Prohibition...

...The Path to and From One of America’s Early Laws

by Jay Hastings

As early as 1838, the State of Massachusetts passed a law banning the sale of “spirits” in less than 15-gallon quantities. The law was repealed just two years later, but set a precedence for similar legislation. The State of Maine passed its first prohibition laws in 1846, followed by stricter law in 1851. A number of other states had followed suit by the time the Civil War began in 1861.

Most of the organized efforts supporting prohibition involved religious coalitions that linked alcohol to immorality, criminality, and, with the advent of World War I, unpatriotic citizenship. “Temperance societies” like the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) were common fixtures in communities across the United States. Women played a strong role in the temperance movement, as alcohol was seen as a destructive force in families and marriages.

A new wave of attacks began on the sale of liquor in 1906, led by the Anti-Saloon League, established in 1893.The AntiSaloon Leagues viewed saloon culture as corrupt and unGodly. During the Industrial Revolution, many factory owners also supported prohibition in their pursuit to prevent accidents and increase the efficiency of their workforce.

In 1917, after the United States entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson instituted a temporary wartime prohibition on alcohol in order to save grain for producing food. By 1919, there was an amendment to the Constitution imposing the federal prohibition of alcohol. The language called for Congress to pass enforcement legislation, championed by Andrew Volstead, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Volstead engineered the passage of the National Prohibition Act, which was commonly referred to as “The Volstead Act.” The act was conceived by Anti-Saloon League leader Wayne Wheeler and passed over the veto of then-President Woodrow Wilson.

Neither the Volstead Act nor the Amendment were enforced with great success. In fact, the illegal economies of bootlegging, speakeasies, and distilling operations flourished during prohibition. Initially, enforcement was assigned to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), but was later transferred to the Justice Department and the Bureau of Prohibition, or Prohibition Bureau.

In 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for president on a platform calling for prohibition’s repeal, and easily won victory over incumbent President Herbert Hoover.

In March 1933, shortly after taking office, President Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, which amended the Volstead Act and permitted the manufacturing and sale of low-alcohol beer and wines, up to 3.2 percent alcohol by volume. Nine months later, on December 5, 1933, federal prohibition was repealed with ratification of the 21st Amendment,  which allowed prohibition to be maintained at the state and local levels. Accordingly, the 18th Amendment is the only amendment to have secured ratification and later been repealed. It is rumored FDR celebrated the repeal of Prohibition by enjoying a dirty martini, which was his preferred drink. A few states continued to prohibit alcohol after Prohibition’s end, but all had abandoned the ban by 1966.

Number of liquor permits applied for and granted 1959 Oklahoma.

Interesting enough, Oklahoma had been a dry state since the beginning and in fact included the prohibition of alcohol in its original 1907 Constitution. Oklahoma’s first governor, Charles N. Haskell, and several subsequent governors were strong supporters of prohibition. Eventually Oklahomans would vote to repeal prohibition, but not until April 7, 1959.