Winter Edition 2022
I n s i de stori es
Lodge feel of home one of favorite features for family Mountains, bodies of water give picturesque view MUSKOGEE muskogeephoenix.com
Subject matter important to native artist Jon Tiger Harmony House owner gives peek behind curtain
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Winter Edition 2022 Issue 65
Editor Elizabeth Ridenour
Contributing editor Angela Jackson Layout & Design Joshua Cagle
WRITERS Cathy Spaulding, Ronn Rowland,
Melony Carey
PHOTOGRAPHERS Mandy Corbell, Cliff Moore,
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Chris Cummings, Cathy Spaulding
ADVERTISING Director Brenda Adams
ADVERTISING SALES Kris Hight, Angela Jackson,
Therese Lewis
Green Country Living is published by the Muskogee Phoenix. Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix. Green Country Living, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee OK 74402. email eridenour@muskogeephoenix.com - Editorial: (918) 684-2929 Advertising and distribution: (918) 684-2804
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On the Cover
Featured
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Knack home
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Family loves home for warm, cozy feel.
Frazier home Two-story home calls attention to surroundings.
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Beyond the Listing Home good for entertaining, or relaxing.
Inside
36 Art of the Matter Award-winning artist uses history to tell stories.
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Cook’s Pantry Harmony House owner lives dream of running restaurant.
50 Scene & Be Seen Chat, have fun and relax because you’re on camera.
Bobbi and Jeff Knack enjoy the rustic coziness of their house, where they have lived since August. Photo by Chris Cummings
YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTHCARE, CLOSE TO HOME.
As part of Saint Francis Health System, Oklahoma’s largest healthcare network, Warren Clinic offers an extensive range of high-quality primary care and specialty services in Muskogee and Fort Gibson. For more information about Warren Clinic or to make an appointment, please call 918-910-4306 or visit saintfrancis.com/muskogee. CARDIOLOGY/CARDIOVASCULAR CARE 3340 West Okmulgee Avenue Debasish Chaudhuri, M.D. Satish Kohli, M.D. Tammy Stiles, APRN-CNP
101 Rockefeller Drive John Evans, D.O. Bryan Lucenta, M.D. Jackson Wong-Sick-Hong, M.D. FAMILY MEDICINE 108 Lone Oak Circle, Fort Gibson Charity Johnson, D.O. Alicia Childs, APRN-CNP Bradley Littleton, APRN-CNP
3332 West Okmulgee Avenue Sr. Gianna Marie Savidge, R.S.M., M.D. 3506 West Okmulgee Avenue Rebekah Kriegsman, D.O. GENERAL SURGERY 101 Rockefeller Drive Richenda Herren, M.D. Sumit Kumar, M.D. Patrick Ross, M.D.
OB/GYN 3504 West Okmulgee Avenue Jonathan Baldwin, M.D. Edwin Henslee, M.D.
PODIATRY 101 Rockefeller Drive, Suite 204 Patrick Branagan, D.P.M. Kevin Dux, D.P.M.
108 Lone Oak Circle, Fort Gibson Sarah Poplin, APRN-CNM
PSYCHIATRY 211 South 36th Street Paul Matthews, D.O.
ONCOLOGY 300 Rockefeller Drive Fuad Hassany, M.D. ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE 2900 North Main Street Peter Fast, M.D. Ronald Hood, M.D. Deborah McAlister, M.D. OTOLARYNGOLOGY (EAR, NOSE AND THROAT) 101 Rockefeller Drive Edgar Boyd, M.D.
RADIATION ONCOLOGY 300 Rockefeller Drive Selamawit Negusse, M.D. RHEUMATOLOGY 2900 North Main Street Isabel Vega, M.D. WALK-IN CLINIC 108 Lone Oak Circle, Fort Gibson Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
INTERNAL MEDICINE 3332 West Okmulgee Avenue David Kyger, M.D. Sr. Grace Miriam Usala, R.S.M., M.D.
Green Country Living
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The best of ‘Green Country’
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From the Editor Elizabeth Ridenour
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Winter Edition 2022
reen Country Living magazine has been the area’s premier magazine in the area since it began publishing in 2005. Homeowners allow all of us into their homes to share their home’s beauty, their construction and their personal touches that make each one unique. But the magazine offers more than that. It shares views of our area of the state dubbed “Green Country,” and we think it shows off the
best the state of Oklahoma has to offer. As a native Muskogee resident, I can tell you that we have the best of what Oklahoma has to offer. We have the natural beauty of the rivers, multiple lakes for fishing, swimming and boating, and some of the most beautiful, scenic backroads in the country — lush, green fields, creeks and streams and more. Jump in the car for a day trip and you will find that you need much more than one day
to take in all of the sights on a map. And branch away from the map and you will find that you stumble upon many more interesting, beautiful things along the way. The magazine also allows us to go into local and area kitchens so that we may get the feel of cooking with some great folks — some are chefs, and some are our neighbors. You can almost smell the dishes as the cooks describe the background of the dishes and how important they are to their families. It gives readers an opportunity to try something new, something unusual or sometimes, just
really great home-cooking. We get the chance to peer into their kitchens and learn new things and try foods and drinks new to us. And, if you’re interested in art, Green Country has always been known for its outstanding variety of art — local artists can be found everywhere you look. The area is rich in art and has a distinct place in our history. We also have featured works in local museums and art shows. We have featured artists who share with us their love for art, their inspirations and their studios where they create their one-ofa-kind pieces.
In the end, it’s the people who make Green Country Living a success. It’s not just the writers and photographers, but the people included in the magazine — builders, homeowners, and businesses that contribute to make each home the showplace homeowners strive to put forth. The staff at Green Country Living hope that you get as much pleasure from the magazine as we have putting it together for you. It’s always an exciting feature that we enjoy. — Elizabeth Ridenour, Editor eridenour@muskogeephoenix.com (918) 684-2929
Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e K n ack
lodge feel Cozy home has
Two-story home highlights bay windows, pine features
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t didn’t take much to attract Jeff and Bobbi Knack to their new house near Muskogee Golf Club. But then, they didn’t need much. “It’s very not fancy, which is what we like,” said Bobbi Knack, who works with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The family showed a knack for giving these nonfancy spaces their own feel.
This is a house with a view. Three of five bay windows offer views of the wide front yard. The two-story entry has two eye-catching features. A driftwood table, from Woodland Creek furniture in Tulsa, rests near the base of the stairway. Halfway up the curving stairs, a corner shelf holds potted plants from Poppy’s Garden. A skylight brightens the entry even more.
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Chris Cummings
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Jeff and Bobbi Knack’s house abounds with bay windows that offer views of nature and Muskogee Golf Club.
Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e K n ack
Bobbi and Jeff Knack enjoy the rustic coziness of their house, where they have lived since August.
Other rooms feel warm and cozy with natural wood trim and dark blue paint. Bobbi Knack said they liked the lodge feel of the house, where they have lived since August. The open living room and kitchen
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space features knotty pine crown molding, as well as trim around doors and windows and along floors. Kitchen cabinets and built-in chests on both sides of the stone fireplace also are pine. However this isn’t the kitschy dated pine from grandpa’s 1950s cabin.
“It’s a little more refined,” Knack said. The living room is painted in a dusty blue, which contrasts with the brown of unusual accent chairs from Loftis Furniture. The ceramic tile floor is an ash gray.
A wood bannister curves with the stairway up the two-story entry, which features a corner ledge.
Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e K n ack
The stone fireplace is gas lit and features a wood beam mantle and stone hearth. Knack said she also likes all the space in the kitchen. “We have lots of get-togethers,” she said. “We love the cabinets.” The gas range and a food preparation sink are on the kitchen’s island. Black appliances came with the house. The dishwashing sink is in a corner where two windows meet. The sink features a spout with filtered water. One kitchen wall features a built-in desk with overhanging glass-front cabinets. Cubbyholes over the desk display printed tiles from Dal-tile. The dining room table features a wood stump base and a copper top. It also came from Woodland Creek. The dining room has bay windows with sliding doors. Off the kitchen is a cozy sitting room with four matching chairs, ABOVE: The dining room’s bay window offers a golf course panorama.
LEFT: A cozy sitting room is a great place for conversation, sitting and bird watching.
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THINKING ABOUT SELLING? NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME! SIT BACK AND LET ME TAKE CARE OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS
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Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e K n ack
ABOVE: Kitchen cabinets and a matching desk are done in a warming knotty pine.
RIGHT: Knotty pine trim, crown molding and cabinets contrast with the dark walls and stone fireplace to make the living room cozy.
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left by the previous owner. The center table came from Cooper’s Furniture. Jeff Knack, who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the sitting room’s bay window is a great place to watch birds. They keep binoculars on window sills. He said they saw cardinals, blue jays, juncos and bluebirds earlier in the fall. “We have three different types of woodpeckers, nuthatches and titmice,” Bobbi Knack said. “We watch lots of birds and have lots of bird feeders.” A cedar chest in the sitting room belonged to Bobbi’s grandmother. The dining room has far more family heirlooms. A family
We watch lots of “birds and have lots of bird feeders. ” — Bobbi Knack
Bible rests on an end table with a lyre base. It belonged to Jeff ’s grandmother. “I can’t begin to tell you how old it is.” he said. “My greatgrandmother passed away 30 years ago. It’s been in our family since then.” A hutch with glass doors lights up inside when the hinges are touched, Jeff said. Fine family china fills the hutch. The dining room also features a gas fireplace. Bay windows look onto the front yard. The dining room set came from Mathis Brothers. A home office on the other side of the entry also features a bay window. Bobbi’s workspace features an adjustable wobble seat she ordered online.
Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e K n ack
White furniture and trim contrast with the blue walls in the master bedroom.
“You just kind of lean on it,” she said. The office also features space where Bobbi can do sketches. A full bathroom is near the office, which can double as a bedroom. The four bedrooms are upstairs. One of the rooms has the fifth bay window. French doors open onto the master bedroom. The navy blue paint contrasts with white crown molding,
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window and door frames and furniture. The room also has a wood floor. Bedroom furnishings come from Cooper’s. The master bathroom features a spacious corner bathtub. Another bathroom has a molded plastic and shower module. An upstairs deck spreads across the back of the house. Stairs lead down to the backyard. The covered downstairs back porch
has ample space for dining. A back shed and a pool also are in the backyard. Jeff said he loves the neighborhood. “It’s really pleasant to look out and see the golf course,” he said, adding that he’s not a golfer. Bobbi is more drawn to the neighborhood wildlife. “We love to watch the birds,” she said. “We see a couple of deer, and lots of squirrels and birds.”
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Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e F r a zier
A limestone exterior and two-story entry porch offers a welcoming warmth to Brandon and Cathy Frazier’s home overlooking the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
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Stunning
inside and out Family builds home on hillside with view in mind
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iews from Cathy and Brandon Frazier’s hillside home south of Vian go on for miles. The Arkansas River flows along the southwest, becoming Sally Jones Lake, then the Robert S. Kerr Reservoir toward the east. The panorama takes in nearly all of the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. Far beyond, lining
the horizon in gentle blue waves, are the Sans Bois Mountains and, even farther, the Ouchitas. Cathy Frazier, who manages rentals in the area, said the family was attracted by the view several years ago — or at least what they hoped would be a view. “We bought 900 acres here, and we were going to build a house out here, but we never could find a spot,” Frazier said.
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Cliff Moore
Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e F r a zier Trees blocked the view of the water. “One day we were just riding, and my mother pulls all these trees apart and says, ‘you have a water view’,” she said. “We cleared all the land. We actually dug the mountain out.” Frazier said they designed and built the house mostly on their own. “We took two houses, split them in half and put them together, she said, adding that they drew from builders Chance Parker and K.C. Sullivan. “We had somebody come in and frame it, we had sheet-rockers do their part,” she said. “Other than that, we kind of did it ourselves. Every night we’d be working for a full year.” She said much of the work was done by her husband, who builds swimming pools and does concrete work, and their son, J.T. Frazier, who does construction. The 6,400-square-foot two-story white limestone house can be seen from the wildlife refuge, observers say. The Fraziers live there with J.T. and their 14-year-old daughter Jayden.
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LEFT: A limestone fireplace rises two stories in the Frazier living room.
BELOW: Two floors of windows show a panorama of the Arkansas River, Robert S. Kerr Reservoir and Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
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Fe at u r e d Hom e F r a zier
The Arkansas River surrounds the exterior view from the Frazier’s dining area.
Wood beams reaching two stories support roofs for the front and back porches. Inside the entry, visitors are greeted by a see-through gas fireplace and the living room beyond. Frazier said the fireplace, which can be ignited using a remote, originally was along a living room wall, but they decided that made the living room too big. “Then I thought, ‘can I have a
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see-through fireplace.’ Then we shifted it right to the middle of the room,” she said. The entry features unique decor, including a tree made with driftwood slats, which Frazier said came from Morning Star boutique in Vian. In the living room, massive, two-story bay windows offer the house’s most dramatic panorama of the river, refuge and faraway mountains.
Two accent chairs from T.J. Maxx sit by the window. A stained cedar beam stretches across the kitchen entrance. The kitchen island has a quartz countertop and a phone charger. “You lay your phone on it and it will charge,” Frazier said. “Or if you need a plug-in, you can have a plug-in.” The kitchen also features a farmhouse sink and stainless steel Frigidaire
ABOVE: A see-through fireplace features a limestone hearth and wood mantle. RIGHT: The same see-through fireplace greets visitors entering the Frazier home. BELOW: The kitchen offers a variety of dining options at the table or at the island bar.
Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e F r a zier
The sun sets dramatically through windows on the second-floor gameroom.
appliances from Bates Appliances in Poteau. Tall swinging doors open into a walk-in pantry. The laundry room is big enough to live in. Frazier recalled having a laundry room so small the dryer door bumped the washer. The huge new laundry space features a sink and a movable island. There’s plenty of shelf space and cabinets. A built-in bench and shelves, similar to a mud room, is by the entrance to the garage. The house has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, plus two offices. Frazier said such space has come in handy. “When we had snow last year, I had 17 people in this house when it snowed for four days,” she said. “We all just hung out and played in the snow.” Three bedrooms are downstairs. Obviously, the master suite has the best view from a bedroom. A sliding door opens onto a back patio and looks out onto the refuge.
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White cabinets reach high behind chairs in the living room.
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Green Country Living
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Fe at u r e d Hom e F r a zier
ABOVE: The upstairs gameroom has spaces to play, snack, chat and unwind. RIGHT: Candlelight lamps brighten a corner table. BOTTOM LEFT: A conversation area in the upstairs gameroom features an electric fireplace. BOTTOM RIGHT: Nobody will feel cramped in a laundry room this large.
The bedroom furniture came from Ashley Furniture. The bathroom has a freestanding tub. The shower has a his-and-her entrance, two wall-mounted shower heads, a spray hose and ceiling rain shower head. The master bath also has his-and-her walk-in closets. Her closet has a window,
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bench vanity and a double-decker washer and dryer. His walk-in closet is lined with cedar and can be used as a safe room, because it is completely poured in concrete. Jayden’s room has a cubby hole under the stairs, which can be used for storage or as a personal space with pillows for chilling
out. A gray storage bench is built in by the window. The bathroom has a spa tub, separate shower and a walk-in closet. Another downstairs bedroom has threequarter bath with a walk-in shower. Three more bedrooms and a game room are upstairs. The game room has an electric
A balcony offers a sweeping view of the Frazier’s living room.
Each bedroom in the Frazier home has a different accent wall.
fireplace, plus a corner kitchenette with a mini refrigerator and sink. Barn doors open onto a view of the living room. One bedroom has cedar plank walls and the head of a deer J.T. shot in Texas, Frazier said. Another bedroom, used by Frazier’s parents, has a clawfoot tub. The sixth bedroom is across a catwalk. The second floor also has a deck, which has not yet been furnished. The first floor patio has a limestone brick fireplace and furnishings from Ashley. The views are not the only sights the Fraziers see. “Refuge animals come right through the yard,” Frazier said. “We get deer, we have a fox that stays and watches us.”
Green Country Living
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S m a l l To w n Welcome
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Winter Edition 2022
Fort Gibson
Fort Gibson S m a l l To w n W e l c o m e
Green Country Living
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BEYOND The Listing
The Hilton home on Putter Place offers a warm, inviting setting surrounded by trees.
FEATURES »» ADDRESS: 4113 Putter Place. »» ASKING PRICE: $650,000. »» SQUARE FOOTAGE: 4,697. »» BEDROOMS: Four. »» BATHROOMS: Three full, one half. »» HEATING AND COOLING: Gas heating, multiple heating units. »» APPLIANCES: Double oven, dishwasher, disposal, indoor grill, ice maker, oven, range, refrigerator,
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stove, water heater, some electric appliances, dryer, electric oven, gas range, gas water heater. »» FLOORS: Carpet, wood. »» OTHER FEATURES: Fire pit; four fireplaces; wet bar, granite counters, high ceilings, hot tub/spa; Muskogee Public Schools. »» INFORMATION: Holly Rosser Miller, Interstate Properties. (918) 348-9848.
Home designed for entertaining ‘One of a kind house’ located at Golf Club’s Hole number 3
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on’t let the largeness of Nick and Laura Hilton’s Putter Place house mislead you. “For such a big house, it’s very inviting and warm,” said real estate agent Holly Rosser Miller of Interstate Properties. “It’s a one of a kind house, custom built.” The 4,697-square-foot
house offers all sorts of places for entertaining, dining or just relaxing in the sun. There’s even room for a couple of lounge chairs right by the front driveway. “It’s at the end of the street, so there’s lots of privacy,” Rosser Miller said. The house is at Muskogee Golf Club’s Hole number 3, said homeowner Nick Hilton.
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos submitted by Holly Rosser Miller
Green Country Living
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Beyond The Listing
He said he loves the home’s character. “They used century-old hardwood floors, the beams are all reclaimed from an old warehouse,” he said. “It’s a great house.” Hilton said he especially likes the layout of the house. “It has nice little rooms,” he said. “There’s a nice little room that comes off the kitchen.” The old hardwood floors can be seen upon entering the house. The two-story entry features a staircase with wood steps and curved iron railings — glamorous enough to make an entrance. “It’s a great house to entertain in, it flows from one room to the other,” Rosser Miller said. “There’s a ton of space to entertain inside the house and also multiple porches and outdoor space.” A formal dining room is to the right of the entry. The for mal dining room’s
A balcony offers a view of the expansive living room.
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A sitting area near the kitchen has one of the house’s several fireplaces.
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Green Country Living
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Beyond The Listing The large kitchen is wide enough for its own dining area. A sitting area beyond opens onto the backyard.
The house offers seclusion along with space.
massive window offers a view of the front yard. A porch is just off the dining room. A library or den is to the left of the entry. Shelves, backed by ash-colored paneling, line two walls. It features one of four fireplaces. The main living room features a vaulted ceiling crossed with wood beams. French doors on either side of a second fireplace open onto the back porch.
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A back deck features several sunny and shady areas to dine and relax.
The French kitchen features ample space for dining or a sitting area. This is the “nice little room” Hilton mentioned. Here, too, French doors open to the back are on either side of a third fireplace. The gas range and oven has a whiteceramic finish that gives it a vintage look. Other appliances, including the refrigerator and dishwasher, match the cabinetry. A farmhouse sink is across the kitchen
from another, smaller sink that could be used for beverages or food preparation. The kitchen is wide enough for an island or dinette set. The walk-in pantry is like a hallway of shelves. Some are deep enough for a small freezer and tabletop appliances. “There are lots of unique features you don’t find every day,” Rosser Miller said. The laundry room, loaded with
Wood beams across the ceiling and repurposed wood floors give unity to several rooms, including the library/den.
People can rest and play in many levels of the multi-tiered backyard.
cabinets, is an example. A double sink is big enough to hand-wash and rinse quilts. A double decker washer and dryer come with the house. A dutch door opens onto a breezeway to the garage. The master bedroom has a cathedral ceiling with natural wood beams. A window opens onto a broad back yard. The master bath features his and her sinks, custom cabinetry, a walk-in shower
A breezy screened porch is off one room.
with a rain-shower shower head and a spray hose. A clawfoot tub adds to the French country character. Two upstairs bedrooms also have vaulted ceilings with beams. The hallway between the two has a balcony overlooking the main living room. An upstairs loft over the garage can be its own apartment or guest room. It has its own bathroom, a vaulted ceiling, plus
a space with a refrigerator, microwave and sink. “It’s like a studio,” Rosser Miller said. “That’s the fourth bedroom, essentially.” The seemingly endless backyard has several spaces to lounge and play. Hilton said that’s his favorite space. “Right there on the deck,” he said. “The multiple decks looks into the woods.”
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Beyond The Listing
Homeowners can make a grand entrance coming down these stairs in the entry.
The house has all sorts of different decks and porches. A sunny main deck features the fourth fireplace, plus massive dining and entertaining space. Down a couple of steps, a shady porch looks great for lounging and conversation. A screened porch off a bedroom is
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open on three sides, allowing breezes in all directions. The yard has several levels. One level offers space to lounge and get some sun, as well as space for a little playhouse or she-shed. Down another level, a broad lawn has room for playgrounds and ball games. Mature trees line the back and sides of
the lot. Hilton said a small creek runs along the yard, as well. He said he sees a lot of deer. There are historic land markers beyond the property, Hilton said. “It’s not on our land, but you can see them from the house,” he said.
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A r t o f T h e M a tt e r
Jon Tiger is proud of his heritage and uses that history as his muse for his artwork.
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Tiger portrays message, story with art History serves as Eufaula artist’s inspiration
J
on Tiger remembers the advice his grandmother told him. “Take care of your hands and your head,” he said. “My grandmother encouraged me to stay with the arts. My brothers were boxers, and she would never let me go to town.” Tiger lived with his grandparents growing up and put that advice to good use in his
award-winning artwork. The 67-year-old Eufaula native, cousin of world-renowned artist Jerome Tiger and member of the Muscogee Nation, said he draws most of his inspiration from the history of his people. “Story telling is behind much of native art in the past,” he said. My work…I try to portray a message or fact behind my images.”
By Ronn Rowland • Photos by Chris Cummings
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A r t Of t he M at t e r Jon Tiger, a member of the Muscogee Nation, creates artwork reflecting on that heritage, including his painting of “The Man in Peace” on the right.
Tiger first got interested in drawing as a little boy living with his grandparents. His family would take cardboard boxes and use them for insulation, and at night he would sit in bed and draw on the cardboard. “My grandmother would have some pencils laying around,” he said. “So I would grab a handful and draw on the wall. It’s kind of a native practice with me. I would go outside and play but when I was in the bed, that’s when I would start expressing myself.” Tiger attended the American Institute of Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for three months until his grandfather got sick. He returned home to take care of his Tiger creates his many pieces using different media, from acrylics to pencil to pottery.
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Green Country Living
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A r t Of t he M at t e r
Jon Tiger proudly displays some of his pieces in his Eufaula home, and some are on display at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum.
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Green Country Living
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Tiger reflects on the spirit of the Native American in a lot of his artwork.
grandparents but never gave up his art production. “There wasn’t no scholarship,” he said. “They offered attendance to anyone who wanted to go. But when I came home I told my grandma that I would stay here. “After my grandpa died, I transferred to Sequoyah Indian School in 1972
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and graduated in 1973. They had an art department up there, and that’s one thing I liked about it.” One piece on display at his home is a 2-inch by 4-inch miniature titled “Beloved Old Men,” which won first place in the Chickasaw Southeastern Art Market show two years ago. It depicts five Native American men
representing the Five Civilized Tribes. “I did it using a magnifying glass,” Tiger said. “I did it in watercolor.” Artistic talent runs through his veins. In front of his house is proudly displayed a keco, pronounced KAY-jo, an artifact that one of his ancestors made in 1965. “The bottom part is made out of
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Jon Tiger has created artwork is all shapes and sizes, including his “Beloved Old Men” which is 3 inches by 5 inches. Tiger said he used a magnifying glass and water color to paint that piece.
cedar,” Tiger said. “And the top is made from either pecan or oak. We had an older keco when I lived with Bennie Scott, my grandfather, and this is all his land around here.” One of his historical pieces is a pencil drawing he calls “What was left behind.” “The top part is the Natives leaving
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their lands,” he said. “The bottom part shows the things the people could not take, the parts of their souls that were in the land. That’s why I called it ‘What was left behind.’” Tiger entered his first competition in 1971 at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in a student art show winning the Grand Heritage award. From
that time on, he knew he had a talent to create. “I’ve been doing this for 50 years,” he said. “I don’t have anything really in particular I like to work with. I do a lot of watercolors. Subject matter has a lot to do with it. “When I grew up, I wanted to do something besides haul hay.”
On The Menu Guide to Area Restaurants
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Food & Drink Cook’s Pantry
A white wedding cupcake sits atop a place setting in the wedding and event venue next door to the restaurant.
Living her
dream Harmony House owner always wanted to run own restaurant Photos by Mandy Corbell
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M
andy Scott always dreamed of owning a restaurant. Her father had owned a restaurant and later a doughnut shop when she was a child. She grew up acquainted with the joy of cooking, taught by her mother and grandmother. Eventually she learned The Cook’s Pantry the business from the ground up as a Melony Carey waitress in college. When she found out that Beth Stacy, founder of Harmony House, was looking to sell the business, she set her life’s dream into motion.
On most days owner Mandy Scott can be found behind the dessert counter at Harmony House.
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Food & Drink Cook’s Pantry
The Harmony House wedding venue, Harmony Hall, has also been outfitted with a kitchen where baked goods for the restaurant are produced.
ABOVE: The soup and salad combo is a customer favorite on cold winter days.
RIGHT: Harmony House is the only restaurant in Muskogee that bakes its own bread from scratch daily. Here the popular clover leaf rolls, hamburger buns, and sandwich rolls rise on racks.
Scott and her co-worker at the time, Jana Taylor, daydreamed about opening a bakery and café called Crumbs. Instead, Scott bought Harmony House, and Jana became her first baker, bringing their plan to fruition. Rather than change the already well-established and popular menu, Scott obtained the rights to use some of the original recipes with only a few additions. “This was one of my favorite places to eat,” Scott said. “I wanted to make sure the original quality and menu items remained the same.” With degrees in psychology and organizational management from Northeastern State University, Scott used her
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training to adjust to owning a restaurant. Through a mentor during her employment with the Cherokee Nation, she learned a different way of understanding customer service. “Switching from being an employee to being an employer meant learning to deal with adversity in a different way,” Scott stressed. “You have to realize some things can’t be controlled in a day-to-day operation, but you have to keep going.” Helping her with the daily operations are her dedicated employees, some of whom started at Harmony House when the restaurant first opened. Scott also lauded the wait staff who are the
front-of-the-house face of Harmony House and know customers by name. In addition, a loyal customer base serves as inspiration for quality assurance. Scott has noticed one difference is that more men are frequenting the restaurant. “We are more than just a tearoom. We have a classic menu that appeals to everyone,” Scott said. Making the restaurant searchable on Google has added to her clientele. Many out-of-towners passing along U.S. 69 make their way to Harmony House. “I am a people pleaser,” Scott stated. “Cooking is an expression of love for people, and I also love that I get to live
Stephen Taylor decorates a batch of white wedding cupcakes for Valentine’s Day. These are a customer favorite at the restaurant.
my dream.” Here she shares some of the most requested dishes at Harmony House.
Taco Soup
2 lbs. ground beef, browned 1 can Rotel 1 can chili beans 1 package taco seasoning 1 package Ranch seasoning 1 can corn
Mix all together in saucepan and heat through. When ready to serve top with tortilla chips and grated cheddar cheese.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Tortilla chips
2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, shredded 1 can Cream of Chicken soup 1 can Rotel 1 teaspoon cumin 2 cups chicken broth 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Mix chicken, soup, Rotel, cumin and chicken broth together in large bowl. Layer tortilla chips in 9x13 casserole dish. Top with half the chicken mixture followed by half the cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until bubbly.
Toll House Pie
2 eggs 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 3/4 cup butter 1 cup chopped nuts 1 cup chocolate chips 1 9-inch frozen pie crust, thawed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add eggs to a mixing bowl; with a handheld electric mixer beat eggs on high until foamy. Mix in remaining ingredients until well combined. Pour filling into pie crust. Bake 1 hour until crust is browned and filling is set.
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Scene & Be Seen
Veterans Day Muskogee Veterans Day ceremony at Depot Green. Photos by Cathy Spaulding
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Make Music Muskogee Make Music Muskogee brought a variety of musicians to the Depot District for Make Music Winter. Photos by Cathy Spaulding
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Scene & Be Seen
Christmas Home Tour, tree auction Proceeds from the Christmas by Candlelight Home Tour and tree auction benefit the Kelly B. Todd Cerebral Palsy and Neuro-Muscular Center. Photos by Cathy Spaulding
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Birthplace of Girl Scout Cookies
M u s k o g e e , OK
Birth of a national tradition
Marion Brown Troop leader of 80 eager girls in Muskogee’s Mistletoe Troop formed in 1914.
Cookie prices and fast facts »» Girl Scout Cookies prices
and varieties have changed over the years. »» Jennifer Simmons, of Muskogee, recalls selling chocolate mint, sandwich and shortbread cookies at 50 cents a box from 1962-64. By 1984, cookies sold for $2 a box. In 2012, Hagan Baccus sold them for $4 a box. »» For 2022 Girl Scout Cookies are $5 per box, except the Toffee-tastic™ and Girl Scout S’mores™ varieties, which are $6. »» Nine varieties of cookies are offered this year: Thin Mints®, Samoas®, Tag-
alongs®, Trefoils®, Do-SiDos®, Lemon-Ups™, glutenfree Toffee-tastic™, and Girl Scout S’mores™ and the new one, Adventurefuls. »» The newest cookie, Adventurefuls, have a brownie base with caramel flavored cream, drizzled in chocolate with a hint of sea salt. »» Girl Scouts sell about 200 million boxes of cookies — nearly $800 million worth — during each cookie season. »» The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the world.
In 1917, Muskogee’s first Girl Scouts used ingenuity – and their mothers’ sugar cookie recipes – to raise money. They met in the Central High School home economics room to bake the cookies and sell them around town. Little did members know that their cookie sales would decades later become a yearly tradition enjoyed by those who love Thin Mints and Samoas.
Girl Scout memories Former Muskogee health department administrator Linda Hattaway found an effective way to meet a challenge while selling cookies in the 1950s. “I had polio in 1951, wore a full leg brace and walked with difficulty,” Hattaway said. “My younger brother went door to door and sold all my cookies. I remember counting the money, which consisted mostly of coins, when he came home. We were a good team.”
Tyler Baccus, of Muskogee, recalls helping her daughter sell cookies in 2012. “We spent many weekends on the corner at Walgreens holding signs selling cookies, pulling a wagon around our neighborhood in Grandview going door to door selling lots of cookies,” Baccus said.
“A Promise to Keep” made by Phyllis Mantik stands in front of the Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee, OK.
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