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CLOUD CHIEF - CORDELL MEMORIES
information compiled by
John C. McCornack of Yukon, Oklahoma
CORDELL TODAY
The February 27, 1994 edition of the "Sunday Oklahoma" had the following headline: Cordell's Faithful Roll on in Wake of Oil Bust". The article reported that all three of the local banks went belly-up in 1986-87, and the future looked bleak to many of the proud farmers and businessmen in this rural Washita County community of 3000 people.
Rather than roll up the sidewalks and sell their plows, the locals met and devised a plan for civic improvements, architectural restoration and economic diversity. Now they hope that by the turn of the century Cordell will be an attractive option for the younger generation which for years has been lured to metropolitan America. It will certainly be interesting to follow the success of these ambitious plans.
Three buildings are already on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Courthouse, the former Carnegie Library and the former First National Bank. The city now wants to get 50 or 60 buildings in a nine-block areas around the square designated as national Historic District. Most of these buildings have changed very little since 1910.
HAMBURGERS AND MALTS
Cordell, Oklahoma has always been the "town" for me to visit. As a youth, I sometimes traveled to Cordell on a Saturday night with my parents just like all the other farmers for some town shopping, Principle stores were the Dixie, TG&Y, Anthonys, Molen Brothers, Pucketts, Safeway, and the Cinderella Dress Shop. Often the Cordell merchants would have large drawings for prizes and money to encourage business. Generally you would get a red token for each dollar spent and you would place it in a large drum and hope it was drawn.
My favorite spot to stop with my father was the Chamlee Drug Store, where we would go in and have a chocolate malt. It was served in a tall glass with an extra special serving which came in the metal container in which it was made. This was a fantastic treat on a hot summer day.
One the of most pleasant treats of Cordell, was a visit to Shorty Bauman's cafe down on east main street. There you could enjoy the world's best hamburger for 15 cents. During my world travels, I am positive I have never found a gourmet delicacy which could compare with the fantastic taste of a Shorty's hamburger.
BABY CHICKS AND JIGGS
In the spring one of the merchants I always enjoyed visiting was Jiggs. He sold chicken feed, blocks of salt for our cattle, and bought cream from the farmers. Spring time was the most interesting as Jiggs always had a good supply of newly hatched baby chicks. It was always fun for the children to stick their fingers in the little vent holes on the boxes in which the farmers carried the chickens home.
PIONEER AND KIWASH DAYS
There always seemed to be a special celebration in Cordell. Every four years there would be a Pioneers Day parade with plenty of covered wagons and native dressed Indians. Horses were always a big part of the parade.
Each year there was a Kiwash Day in which our local electric utility gave away many prizes to their customers in a large drawing. The highlight of event was the professional entertainment. The favorite entertainers were the Stamps quartet who sang religious songs.
COUNTY FAIR AND ELECTION RESULTS
The other big event of the year was the County fair. Farmers, 4-H Club members, and FFA members came from all the county with their livestock and crops to show in the fair. For every kid, the main excitement was the carnival which came to town during the fair. Each town in the County usually had a booth where you could buy home ice cream and pie as well as hamburgers. Our family always brought many items from our big garden and we won many blue ribbons. Usually I would show a black Angus calf or some of my Berkshire hogs. One year, I had five different kinds of pigs at the fair at one time, Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc, Hampshire, and Poland China.
Me and my 5 pigs in the McCornack feedlot
Another event which I remember was the announcement of the election results at the Court House. I remember my father used to always go to Cordell and sit out on the Court House lawn and wait until the local and state results were announced over a loud speaker. It was always a time of great excitement to see if your candidate won.
TURKEYS AND MORE TURKEYS
The event that by far was the most exciting occurred in the fall of the year. It was when the local Chamber of Commerce tossed live turkeys, geese, and an occasionally guinea hen off the four story Court House into a throng of people that had gathered on the Court House lawn below. Everyone would come to town in hopes of catching a treat for Thanksgiving dinner.
Many times a large turkey would end up in two or three peoples hands at the same time. Two separate people would have a leg and one would have the neck and all would be hollering and claiming the turkey was theirs. Many hours were spent sitting around pot belly stoves analyzing how they just about caught a prize. But with age of politically correctness and animal rights this rather barbaric tradition was discontinued.
COURT HOUSE AND INDOOR PLUMBING
The County Court House was always the center of activity when we went to town. As a kid it was always fun to climb the large steps on east and west side of the building. The steps were formed by what every kid considered to be a natural slide from the second to first floor.
It was always fun to go inside the Court House and see the large hole that existed in the center of the Court House. You could lean on the bannister and call to your friends on any of the three floors and of course it was always tempting to throw something from the higher floors to the lower floors.
But the Court House also served as a more basic need. It had indoor plumbing and a heated public toilet. My what luxury for a poor old farm boy on a cold winter day. It always made any trip to town in the winter time a special treat.
CORDELL COURT HOUSE
As a youth, we cruised main street and circled the square on which the Court House is located. I can still remember the day the town's only stop light was installed. In recent years, my most pleasant experience has been to visit the old shoe cobbler who still does everything the old fashion way, including the prices.
CLOUD CHIEF SITS ON HER OLD GYP HILL
The early day life is probably best documented by the following poem written by T. A. Edwards:
Cloud Chief sits on her old gyp hill,
And hot winds blow as hot winds will.
The sun beats down with fervent glare
the gullied street and dusty square;
On the ragged row of cottonwood shacks,
Where the horses gnaw at the hitching racks,
Gnaw and paw and fight the flies
Or sagging stand with sleeping eyes.
Here's big George Gordon a-tendin' bar,
As cowmen gather from near and far;
Their snaffles jingle, the saddles squeak
For the Williams riders from the Turkey Creek,
The Hughes boys down on the Washita
And rustlers out of the Kiowa,
The rollicking crowd of Quarles and Teel;
Chaps and boots, and spur at heel,
A poker game or a bit of fun,
A-cussin' some herd-law son-of-a-gun,
On the vacant lots the nester meet,
With a little jag of cotton or wheat,
Butter and eggs and prairie hay:
The liveliest town in the C and A!
The night grows old, the street is still.
Cloud Chief sits on her old gyp hill.
MAJOR WHIPPINGS
I am sure I received many whippings as a kid growing up in the wide open spaces of Cloud Chief, but after 50 years of life I can only vividly remember two.
One was a classic whipping which involved the whole neighborhood. It all started out rather innocently by me playing with a pair of scissors and cutting a hole in my mother's favorite bed spread. This obviously did not make my mother very happy and she proceeded to try to give me a whipping to express her displeasure. But I remember I had a better idea, I bolted out the front door, took out across the neighbors field to the east, and continued on to the Washita river which was about a mile and half from our house.
Knowing I was in big trouble I was not in a hurry to return home. Before long the entire neighborhood was out looking for me, as I was just a small child and everyone was worried that I would get lost. But I knew how to stay out of sight. After about 4 hours, I decided to accept a ride from one of our neighbors who brought me home. I remember that my mother and grandmother were greatly relieved to see that I was safe and not hurt. My mother put me to bed. It all ended with my father returning home, removing me from my warm bed and giving a major whipping.
The other major whipping was administered by my mother. We had just finished milking the cows and had separated the cream from the milk. I was assigned to watch the cream bucket (which was our source of income) and to make sure nothing happened to it. But being a kid, I was distracted and one of our cats knocked over the cream bucket spilling the cream on the ground. My mother promptly gave me a major whipping to reinforce her directions.
MINOR ACCIDENTS
In general I was very lucky growing up, as the opportunity for major accidents was prevalent, but I did succeed in getting into some minor scrapes. One involved driving our John Deere tractor. For some reason I fell off the back seat of the tractor, and succeeded in hitting the hitch of the tractor with my head. This probably resulted in a cracked skull. To this day I still have a rather deep depression in my head where the hitch hit.
Another one involved returning home one night from a basketball game and promptly sticking my head through the glass in our inside "outside" door. This resulted in rearranging my nose on my face and since we didn't believe in going to doctors, that is the reason I am carrying around such a unique looking nose today.
One other incident which left a major scar involved "heading feed". This process involves walking down a row of feed, grabbing the head on the stalk, and cutting it off with a large knife and throwing the heads in a trailer. After several hours, my right hand got really tired, and I started to head with my left hand. But due to lack of coordination, I slashed my right index finger with the large knife. I still carry a large scar to remind me of this experience.
One time may dad and I were vaccinating our young calves for "Blackleg". My dad was handling the rope and I was handling the syringe with the blackleg medicine. The calf being worked on bolted, hitting me just right and the long needle on the syringe ended up deep inside in leg. For many nights I worried as to what side effects the blackleg medicine might have on me.
One time while attended school, some malicious young girl, drove her pencil deep into my arm and left the pencil lead imbedded. For about 30 years, I was able to see the lead underneath my skin.
One time while playing around with a small firecracker, it exploded in my hand and left large blisters on both my thumb and forefinger. This reminds me of one of my favorite stories about our local blacksmith named Fleming located north of Cloud Chief. One day a local farmer came in and picked up a hot horseshoe. The farmer quickly dropped it back onto the table. Fleming asked "Some thing wrong? The farmer just smiled and reply: "It doesn't take me long to inspect a horseshoe."
DIFFICULT JOBS
On the farm there were always difficult jobs to perform. Some of the more difficult ones included stacking hay in a tin barn when the outside temperature was over 100 degrees; Milking a cow by hand when the temperature was below zero; Plowing a field to prevent blowing with the wind over 40 mph and visibility near zero from the dirt in the air.
Some of the jobs were very long. Like hoeing cotton all day, or pulling cotton while dragging large sacks through the fields. These types of jobs stress your body to the limit and they certainly motivate you to try to find a better way of making a living.
Other jobs also stressed you to the limits of your capability. Ones like vaccinating, dehorning and castrating the cattle. This brought to use the skills of being a real life cowboy with a rope and the use of brute force to man handle the cattle. I was happy when we started raising Black Angus with no horns as it eliminated the dehorning function. Dehorning with a large scissors like shear very close to a cow's head always resulted in a stream of blood being sprayed into the air. As a result, you were always covered with blood after this job.
Castration always seemed rather a rather cruel way of treating a young bull. My dad always used a knife. But probably the most disgusting of all jobs was that sometimes after a castration, maggots would invade the traumatize area and we would have to remove them with a can of gasoline and other medicine. Not a job for the weak hearted.
MAP OF CLOUD CHIEF
Recently at work, we purchased a CD ROM disc entitled "Maps of the United States". I typed in "Cloud Chief" and to my surprise the Cloud Chief area appeared on the computer screen. There on the screen were the streets of Cloud Chief, but of course they had no names because as far as I know they never had any official names. On the screen I could follow the road out of Cloud Chief to the east and all the way to my old Cloud Chief farm home. On the screen was every little turn in the road. It was very rewarding to know the computer age has not forgotten Cloud Chief.
ANIMALS AND MORE ANIMALS
While living on a farm you always had the opportunity to come in daily contact with a wide variety of animals. The day always started with a greeting from my favorite dog. In my case this was Bozo, a full blooded collie who was my faithful companion for over 15 years.
Before long it was milking time, and I must say you learn to know the milk cows very well. Like their habits, and their attitude when you milk them by hand which we always did. After getting the warm milk, our cats were always eager for their breakfast. We usually kept a great array of cats which varied between 2 and 20, most of them were barn cats and were not very friendly. Excess milk was usually shared with a few pigs. We always raised pigs for our meat.
Being very active in 4-H, I usually either had a special calf or several pigs to show in the county fair. Trying to train a pig to behave in a show ring is quite a challenge. Probably some of my most memorable experiences in life involved showing pigs at fairs. At the county fair, we used to sleep above the pig pens on the rafters, so we could watch our pigs. One time in the middle of the night, someone went around and opened up all the pig pen gates, letting loose all the pigs to run wild into the night. Trying to recover your pig and getting him back into your pen became a major challenge.
One time at the State Fair, I was washing a pig in a common pen with a lot of other pigs. I had the pig completely lathered up, when someone opened the gate and the pig bolted out of the pen with me in hot pursuit. I remember the pig ran directly at the back side of a lady that was all dressed up in pretty dress. The pig went right between her legs, she fell backwards on the soaped up pig, and ended sprawled in a big mud hole.
But by far, the most famous animal of all at the old McCornack farm home was a deer named Bambi. He was brought to our home as very young fawn and was fed on a baby's milk bottle. He soon had the run of the farm and competed with the cats for milk when they were fed in the barn. One Christmas we brought him into the house to take photos under the Christmas tree. Bambi promptly tried to eat the Christmas ornaments. Bambi was tame and would follow you around just like a dog.
OVERALLS AND MORE OVERALLS
My grandfather always wore overalls when he was working on the farm and I suppose it was only natural that my father continued the tradition. It was the same for me, my parents always told me I would not be able to keep blue jeans up and therefore for the first 10 years of my life, I wore overalls.
Me, John, with my overalls - Age 9
ELECTRIC LIGHTS AND SILVER DOLLARS
I still remember the excitement when we had the opportunity to get electricity at our early day 2 room McCornack home. My father set the height of the switch in kitchen at point where I could just stand on my tip toes and turn on the light.
On cold winter nights before TV, my father and I used to throw silver dollars against the kitchen door to see who could come closest to the door. One night a silver dollar hit just right and fell down a crack by the door. To this day this dollar remains in its hiding place.
CREAM SEPARATOR
The cream separator which sat in the northeast corner of the round tin barn had a significantly impact on my life. Whether the temperature was over 110 degrees or 20 degrees below zero, we had to milk cows each morning and each night. And after we milked the cows by hand we had to separate the cream which we sold from the milk which we fed to the cats and pigs. To accomplish this process we used a cream separator which was powered by turning a crank by hand.
The cream separator separated the cream from the milk by centrifugal action. Turning the crank at a constant speed, the milk moved through some 28 to 30 disk in a spinning bowl sending the lighter cram out through the top spout into our cream bucket and the skim milk out through the lower spout as the skim milk was heavier than the cream.
Before starting the milking process, we would heat up a teakettle of boiling water and carry the teakettle to the barn. After separating the milk, we would than wash each disk in the cream separator and leave it to dry until the next milking. As a youth, I was very impressed as my grandfather had a electric cream separator and you did not have to turn it by hand.
GOLD FEVER
No one knows who first struck gold in the red sandstone hills of present-day Washita County on a hot summer day in 1895. Perhaps no one cared, for the gold fever swept the plains. Sodbuster-turned-miners deserted their fields, and soon it appeared that there were thirty-five hundred gold seekers in the hills.
The stores of Cloud Chief were almost emptied of their goods, and fifty wagons loaded with lumber left for the gold diggings in the northern part of the county. From Golden, a bustling camp, one reporter penned these words for a "Special Gold Edition" of the Cloud Chief Herald-Sentinel: "Town alive with excitement! Shovels worth $5 each! Picks can't be had! Gold assays $500 to the ton!. The reporter declared that the country was staked with mining claims for ten miles square.
Little by little evidence was accumulating about a story of much earlier quest for gold-- and untimely deaths for its seekers. Less than a week later two other prospectors rushed into Cloud Chief with human bones, brass trinkets, several old implements, and thirty-two Mexican dollars they had found in a ravine near their diggings. They believed that there was more such treasure and were hiring men to help them dig.
In little over a month's time seven human skeletons and forty-nine Mexican coins had been reported found. By that time it had become obvious that the Spaniards had discovered the area long before and had mined it for years.
RED BUCK
A Cordell attorney named Charles Rainbolt provides a Texas peace officer's account in the opening of Cloud Chief is his book called "Red Buck". He describes the scene of the run for "H" County (Washita) with approximately 2,500 participants at Oak Creek 9 miles south of present-day Cloud Chief.
"When the hand of my watch reached twelve, I laid steel to my horse, and we all made a break for the county seat, after crossing Oak Creek, which was about 50 steps from us. Men from all sides of the strips were headed for the new county seat, under full speed. Wild cats, loboes, coyotes, antelopes and badgers were running in every direction. One of our posse roped a deer and another one killed one, while they were all running in the every direction. This was about as exciting a time as I ever experienced; horses falling on every side, from stepping in gopher and salamander holes, and dust so thick that a man could hardly see in front of him. Our crowd made the run of 9 miles in 25 minutes..."
During my youth, we had plenty coyotes, skunks, possums, turtles, and jack rabbits. Wild cats, loboes and antelopes had disappeared. In later years when the population disappeared, armadillos invaded the country. And with help of some government agencies, wild turkey, bobcats, and deer have been introduced in the area.
THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO!
While growing up on the farm near Cloud Chief, you quickly learn about things you should not do. For example, when handling a 22 rifle you must always be aware that the bullet can go up to mile and therefore you should not shoot at small private aircraft. Others things are less obvious and you only learn from experience.
One lesson I learned the hard way was in regards to snakes. While plowing a wheat field, I came across two large snakes about 7 feet in length. At that time, I had a large fear of snakes so my natural instinct was to kill the snakes and hang them from a barb wire fence. But when my grandpa found out, he was very angry and he quickly pointing out all the benefits of having snakes on the farm. From that day on, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for snakes.
As a teenager, I used to attend several school parties and one of our favorite activities was for all of us to ride in the back of a pickup truck, but in rare instances we used to ride side saddle on the front fender hanging on to the hood ornament. I learned the hard way that with side saddle riding, if there is a panic stop your body keeps going forward, and it will slide along the gravel road, and depending on the skill of the pickup truck driver, the pickup may or may not drive over the top of you while you are sprawled in the road.
WORDS TO LIVE BY
During my early days, in the Cloud Chief, Oklahoma area, I heard many interesting sayings. Some of my favorites are:
My mom's favorite: "It went to bad"
"This hoe handle is going to make an Engineer out of me."
"It is raining cats and dogs"
"Don't let the bed bugs bite."
" He has got a lot of horse sense."
"He didn't amount to a hill of beans."
"He is living high on the hog."
"He has been on a wild goose chase."
COW IN THE CISTERN
When I was small child, I remember my father returning home one Sunday morning and telling us that one of our cows was in a cistern at our North Place. Before long we were all gathered around the cistern along with many of our neighbors trying to figure out how we could get the cow out of an old abandoned cistern that was about twenty five feet deep. Soon someone arrived with a block and tackle in the back of pickup, and it was promptly placed above the cistern.
Before long a make-shift hoist was constructed and my father was slowly being let down inside the cistern with his favorite lariat rope around his waist. About 10 feet into the cistern, he ran into natural gas which promptly made him very weak and almost lose consciousness. After much discussion by local farmers, it was decided that the only chance was to rope the cow from the top of cistern and to drag her out dead or alive.
After much effort, a rope was dropped over the cow's head and tied securely to the block and tackle. The cow which weighed about 800 pounds was slowly hoisted to the top and before long she was laying next to cistern with much speculation as to whether she was dead or alive. She suddenly gave a small kick, stood up on her feet, and slowly walked off to join the other cows in her herd, apparently with no ill effect from her Sunday morning experience.
MY MAIL CARRIER
During my early days at Cloud Chief, our mail was always delivered by Emmett Emerson. Emmett retired in 1963 after completed 42 years as a rural mail carrier at Cloud Chief.
During his 42 years of service he used eight head of horses, two mail hacks, four Model-T Fords, two V-8 Fords, three Chevrolets, two jeeps, three pickups, two tractors and one small boat used for crossing the Washita river when it was flooded. It is estimated Emmett traveled over 400,000 miles in his career delivering mail on his Cloud Chief routes.
Emmett was very dependable. You could set your watch by when he arrived at our mail box. Our mail box was located almost 1/2 mile north of our home and I made the trip many times as a small child to pick up the mail.
MY ARTIST
Ara Emerson was well known in the Cloud Chief Community for her artistic abilities. Sometimes she would draw or paint a picture during a local gathering at the local high school auditorium for the entertainment of the school children and their parents.
In later years, Ara painted four pictures for me. One is a beautiful bouquet of red flowers in a pretty vase, one is a rural scene with a small home with mountains in the background, one is a bold close-up of a windmill, and my favorite is a realistic rendition of Cloud Chief from a south hill. In the foreground is a windmill and water tank with black angus cattle, next to the pasture is a cotton field ready for gathering with a cotton trailer. In the background is the Cloud Chief School, the local churches, the cotton gin, the garage, my grandmother's house and many of the other homes in Cloud Chief. It hangs above my bed and each night it is like going to sleep in Cloud Chief.
SKINNY DIPPING IN FEBRUARY
Cloud Chief is noted for its rapid changing weather. In the spring time there is always a threat for a tornado to visit the area. Many nights of my early childhood was spent in a crowded dirt cellar which was located about 15 feet from the back door of our home. It was always interesting to speculate on what was happening outside while huddled in the cold damp cellar. One thing for sure is that we always got wet when we decided the storm was over and it was time to return to the house.
Another prime ingredient of the Cloud Chief weather is the south wind. On most summer days you could always count on a good southerly flow of air, but unfortunately some days the wind was very hot and usually laden with excessive dirt particles.
During the winter time, sometimes the wind blew from the north and it was often bitterly cold. One of the favorite sayings of one of the residents was that "There was nothing between the North Pole and Cloud Chief except a barbed wire fence and it is down in many areas."
But in between the cold days in the winter time, we could have perfect weather. In fact I remember one late February day that the weather was so warm and perfect that my best friend, Alvis Richey and I decided it was a perfect day to go skinny dipping in Price's pond located about 3/4 mile northeast from my home.
SIMPLE GAMES
Children in the Cloud Chief area had simple toys, but often received great pleasure from the creativity associated with the made up games. One of my favorites was to find a corn cob, break it in half, stick two chicken feathers in the flat end, and hurl the missile into the air. A more simple game was to find some flat rocks and skip them across a pond of water. The one with the most skips won.
Of course playing marbles was always a favorite at school. We always played for "keeps" which added a element of excitement to the game. In later years, I added a basketball hoop to the east side of the old red barn. Many hours were spent trying to fine tune my shooting touch. Sometimes in the summer time, I would draw a batting zone box on the old red barn and hurl a badly worn tennis ball against the barn, dreaming that I would become another Bob Feller.
THE ROCK HOLE
One of the most famous landmarks in the Cloud Chief area was known as the 'Rock Hole". In a letter dated 8 April 1995, Doyle Fenn provides some interesting an interesting insight to this famous place.
"The Rock Hole was located on the Charlie Maddox homestead in the bend of the Washita River north of Cloud Chief. Community and family picnics were held there frequently during the summer months. A large rock in the river was a favorite place to dive from into the muddy water of the Washita.
Students who skipped (played hooky) school often went to the hole. On April Fools, it was always a dare to everyone who played hooky to swim - in the cold water even if they had to break ice. On some occasions, the boys were greeted by the superintendent or principal when they went off the bank to the Rock Hole."
The Rock Hole in November 1997
During the time, I attended the Cloud Chief School. This was always our favorite spot for our many parties. Today there is about 3 times more water flowing down the Washita River than when I was kid.
SINGING CONVENTIONS
Doyle Fenn provides the following:
"Singing conventions were a major exhibition of talent to the enjoyment to all. GERNET'S BULLETIN reports a singing convention at Valley View on the second Sunday in July. During the 1930's and 1940's a singing convention was held in the Cloud Chief School auditorium on the 5th Sunday of each month. The auditorium usually would not hold all the people. Some had to stand outside and listen to the singing. Emmit I. Emerson was the prime mover in keeping the singing convention going. As time passed and people moved away from Cloud Chief, the activity finally was discontinued. In the absence of television, money for movies, and for most other activities, the singing convention provided a wholesome activity for the entire family.
As youth, I remember attending the singing convention many times. My recollections included a gentleman from far away Eakly who played the piano with out any sheet music. He always played very lively tunes and the audience always stood and clapped when he finished playing.
BOX SUPPERS
In order to raise money for school activities, a box supper was a common way to raise money. The girls and ladies would prepare a box of food and wrap it in colorful paper, making sure their name did not appear on the box.
An auctioneer would be present to conduct the bidding. The highest bidder had the right to share the box of food with the lady who prepared it. This created many interesting couples sharing food with each. Sometimes when a young lady brought a box, she would tell her boy friend what the box looked like. When he started bidding, other members of audience would bid against him and make him pay a "extra" amount for the box.
MY 4-H CLUB ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXPERIENCES
John Calvin McCornack Cloud Chief 4-H Club
WRITTEN - SPRING 1955
My 4-H Club experience has been a great source of joy and pleasure for me and has given me opportunities to find my place in society, I have received great help and encouragement from Mr. and Mrs. G. I. Patterson, together with the county agents, Mr. James V. Son, Mr.. Gaylord Haynes, Mr. Harold Liles, and Mr. Ted Smith, also my father who was in 4-H work when he was a boy.
1946
In the fall of 1946, when I was only nine years old, I enrolled in the Cloud Chief 4-H Club in three projects. They were Cotton, Kafier, and Health. This was the beginning of my 4-H Club activities.
1947
In the spring of 1947 I entered the timely topics contest. I won a blue ribbon and the county championship on my first timely topic. It was on Soil Conservation. This timely topic was written for me by my father.
1948
During the year 1948 my cotton was destroyed by hail on June 29th and since it was to late to replant, I planted mung beans and plowed them under to improve the soil. I only completed my Health project in this year.
1949
In 1949 I had my first calf, a farm-to-market project, as well as my cotton and health projects. I sold my calf after 6 months for a nice profit. The greatest day of my club year was the day I spent at the Soil Conservation Field day at Mr. View, Oklahoma judging soil. I placed second in this contest.
.During the year I gave a timely topic on "Soil Erosion and Its Effects on the People". I also entered the dress review, and won a blue ribbon on sports wear. In the fall my father purchased a new tractor for me to help with the farming.
1950
In 1950, I increased my projects to include Poultry. Having bought 25 chickens, I raised 24 of them, 23 were roosters and only one was a pullet. Carried on my farm-to-market beef project in which I had a Hereford Steer. Entered my cotton in the cotton improvement contest and won third prize of $10.00. Also attended the mechanical harvesting demonstration of cotton held at Hobart and inspected the new gin equipment at Cordell Farmers Gin.
1951
My 1951 4-H Club was more complete than previous years of club work. I rented 40 acres from Mrs. Chapplear for wheat and my father bought a farm with 40 acres in cultivation and turned the complete management of this place to me. I am to pay customary rent of one-third and one-fourth. He is to keep the pasture and pasture crops, but I am to have at least three head of grown cattle. I am to pay for gas and oil on the tractors and all other expenses in making a crop on this land. This gave me a chance to enter the Soil and Water Conservation project as I started practicing soil conservation as soon as I had control of this farm. Twenty-one acres of this farm was planted to oats and sweet clover for pasture to improve the soil.
During the year I was selected to attend Turner's Field Day at Sulphur, Oklahoma, while we were there we entered the judging contest. The trip was very educational, but Oh brother ! that water. I also was in the group chosen for a trip to a livestock judging school at Hobart, Oklahoma.
Made fourteen entries in the county fair and won a total of $23.75 in prize money, also made five entries in the State fair and $4.00 in prize money. Won third prize in the county cotton improvement contest for the second time, a $10.00 cash prize. My income from my years 4-H club work was sufficient until I had to file my first income tax returns.
1952
In 1952, I was elected vice-president of my local club and served as a delegate to the county meeting for the election of county officers.
Fed two barrows and sold them on farm-to-market day at the stockyards at Oklahoma City, where I appeared on a farm television show on WKY-TV. Also fed five barrows for the county livestock show and had two of them place in the show. Made only $4.29 profit on them including the prize money.
Attended the county club camp, took part in the flag raising and in a demonstration on water safety. Also attended the cotton classing school at Elk City and the grain judging school at Cordell. Gave a timely topic on "Use of Commercial Fertilizer on Our Farm" and won a blue ribbon, also entered the dress review winning another blue ribbon.
1953
Purchased three Angus heifers to start a herd of breeding cows. These heifers were purchased on the recommendation of Mr. Gaylord Haynes, assistant county agent at the time. One of the heifers was registered. Made seven entries in crops and my Angus heifer in the county fair, together with six entries at the state fair, five of which were on grass in the open class. Winnings amounted to $17.50. My entry in the cotton improvement contest won second in the county for a cash prize of $17.50.
During the year, I was chosen to attend the state Fair school taking part in land judging, cotton classing, and crop judging. I place in all three as an individual and as a team. Also was a delegate to the American Royal at Kansas City, Missouri. This was a five day trip and I really did enjoy it as it was my first major 4-H Club trip. Was chosen as a delegate to the Oklahoma Club Congress at Oklahoma City, this was a three day trip. It was very educational and we did enjoy the food and hospitality shown us.
I gave the principle talk at the Home Demonstration clubs 4-H Banquet, it was on my trips to Kansas City and Club Congress at Oklahoma city. Also was on the program at the 4-H Achievement Meeting, where I received two medals, one on Achievement and one on field Crops.
In 1953, 1 was elected President of my local club. We enrolled thirty-six in club work. This was the largest number ever to enroll. We had two parties and I participated in several community programs.
Fed three barrows for the spring livestock show and sold them on the farm-to-market day at Oklahoma City. Made a nice profit on my pigs, but lost on my farm-to-market calf. Attended the tractor maintenance school where I won first in the Senior Division. Attended two record book schools where I served as Chairman on the round table discussion at one. Also participated in the cotton classing school at Elk City.
Was chosen as a delegate to the State 4-H Club Roundup at Stillwater where I gave my demonstration on "Water Penetration of Organic Soils". I received the award of being the outstanding boy of the county at the 4-H Club Camp. Was chosen to attend the Oklahoma State Fair school where I participated in the judging contests, Cotton Classing, Crops, and Soil and Water Conservation. Made 10 entries in the county fair and 12 entries in the State Fair, both in the open and 4-H Club Divisions.
Entered the State 4-H Cotton Improvement contest and received a trip to the National 4-H Club Congress at Chicago, Illinois as a state winner. The trip was furnished by the Santa Fe Railroad Company. Received one of the highest honors of my 4-H Club work when I received the "Key Award" at achievement night, also received three county medals.
Served as vice-president, later President, of my local club and was elected to serve as President of Washita County Federation of 4-H Clubs for the year of 1954.
Gave timely speech and team demonstration at county contests and placed first in a tractor driving contest for the second straight year. Fed out three pigs for the county livestock show and participated in the livestock judging contest. Entered two of my pigs in the State Livestock Show at Oklahoma City and was in charge of all county 4-H livestock at the show. Also purchased an Registered Angus Heifer at the State Angus Sale.
Attended the State 4-H Club Roundup at Stillwater, where I participated in the Recreation program and gave a timely speech. Appeared on the two television shows and two radio programs pertaining to my 4-H Club work. Also was in charge of all 4-H meetings at County 4-H Camp.
1954
Beginning of 1954, rented a 160 acre farm from Mrs. Chapplear and began practicing soil conservation as soon as I got control of this farm. Ran terrace lines on 40 acres of severely eroded land and made fills and have begun to plow up terraces.
During the fall I made 27 entries in the District, County and State Fairs making winnings of $51.00. Was chosen to attend state Fair school and also helped to make entries and displays of county exhibits at the State Fair.
My record book was entered in State and National competition winning first in state and also chosen as a sectional winner in Soil and Water Conservation. Prizes were a gold wrist watch and a trip to the National 4-H Club Congress at Chicago. This was my second trip to the National Congress, also was elected as one of the top ten in the Blue Award Group for boys record books. Also received a $50.00 war bond for my livestock achievements.
During the year I was elected President of my local 4-H club and also re-elected President of the Washita County 4-H Federation. We have started several new projects on a county basis. Plans call for a recreation night each month through the summer. As county President, I have visited nearly all 4-H local clubs. Have given numerous talks at various meetings and served as Master of Ceremonies at the Coaches Banquet, Achievement night, and have been the Chairman of all our local club meetings.
1946 - 1955
Now serve as Class President for the sixth consecutive year, member of the National Honor Society and Editorial writer for our school paper, "The Warrior" which was recently voted "highest honors" in state competition being the only paper from a Class C school so honored. Was vice-president of Student Council in 1954.
Lettered in Basketball and Baseball for four years. was the starting guard on basketball team that won the Invitational, Conference, County, District, Regional and went to the semi-finals of the state tournament before being defeated. Played American Legion Baseball in 1953 with the Cordell Legion team. I currently serve as an usher in the First Christian Church. Was chosen Junior Leader in charge of the boys at Church Camp last summer.
My 4-H club work has been very interesting and has given me numerous opportunities to make trips, find new friends, and to learn how to get along with people. My club work has been curtailed especially in my livestock projects due to the droughts during the last 3 years, but as I near the close of my club work and begin my preparation for college to study Agricultural Engineering. I am thankful for all the interests shown to me by my leaders and I know that I have learned many valuable lessons from my 4-H Club work.
CLOUD CHIEF SCHOOL IN OLD DAYS
After reading over my achievements in 4-H forty years later, I can't help but be reminded of the tremendous education we received from the Cloud Chief School System. I am sure by any politically correct University Professor's analysis, he or she would find that our school system was lacking in the things that are supposed to be good for you. But I am not aware of any other school system that provided the opportunities for its pupils to rise to their ultimate capability like Cloud Chief.
Every where I have traveled is this world, I have always maintained the feeling that I have had the advantage over all other people because of my education at Cloud Chief. Thanks to all my teachers.. Mrs. Ackers, Mrs. Nelson, Ms. Wanda Maude Banks, Mrs. Herrin (my all time favorite), Mr. G. I. Patterson, Mr. Colbert, Mr. Ted Crider (My Coach), and Miss Krause (My English Teacher) plus all the others that I have forgotten with time.
CLOUD CHIEF REVISITED - 1972
It was December 24,, 1972, one day before Christmas. The Peoria McCornack family had just survived the 25th return trip to Cloud Chief on the 23rd. After spending a restful night, we participated in the main meal of the day, a typical Cloud Chief McCornack family breakfast of fried potatoes, my favorite home made catsup, eggs, sausage, fresh made home made bread warn from the oven and freshly frozen peaches from one of the fully stocked family freezers. Most all the food was grown on the McCornack farm. On the kitchen counter their was at least two freshly baked pies, coconut, chocolate, or cherry.
Coconut and Chocolate Pie on the Counter
My mother was complaining that she had overslept, and only got up at 4:00 o'clock. My mother always believed in the philosophy of early to bed and early to rise. Very seldom do I ever remember her sleeping past 5:00 AM in the morning.
ARRIVING AT CHURCH
After the usual confused bustle of activity with two families joined together, it was time to leave for the Sunday morning worship service at the Cloud Chief Church. It was an unusually warn bright sunshiny day for December, the temperature was in the middle 60's with no wind as I pulled the big Buick up to the front steps of the Church. As usual we were the first people on the scene even though we were 30 minutes late. Since I had just survived one of the more depressing months because of the weather in Peoria, it was particularly uplifting to take my boy, Steve, and to start walking up the road towards the Old Cloud Chief School.
DONKEY ON THE SCHOOL STEPS
I had walked this road many times during the 12 years from 1942 through 1955 during the time I attended the school. This time 17 years later there were a lot of changes. The first thing encountered was a gate with a sign which said " Posted Keep Out". This was the result of closing the school and selling the property to a private individual (Maddox). I quickly opened the gate assuring Steve it was all right and continued towards the school. I was intrigued by an animal which was standing on the front steps of the school, a full grown donkey. For some strange reason I thought this to be a highly symbolic sight although I was unsure as to what it really meant. By this time I knew it was time to return to Church as two other cars had arrived.
AFTER SAVE LOTION
The Church service was what you might consider typical. There were the McCornack’s, Maude and Claude and one other older couple who I did not know. Maude who is nearly blind did not recognize me and Claude was shaking so much she could not hold a song book. The service started with my brother, Robert, who is a senior in college leading the singing with sister Clara playing the out of tune 150 year old piano. Following the singing my father went through his usual exercise of teaching and preaching the Sunday School class. This was followed by more songs, communion, and exchanging of gifts which is a custom at Christmas time. I received two bottles of after shave lotion even though no one knew I was to be at the Church. After Church, Maude got in her car and drove home, I am not sure how,, maybe from memory, as she is almost blind. Of course everyone in the Community knows this and she has the right away on all the roads.
CHURCH REVIVAL
As I sat through the services I tried to recall what this Church had meant to me and to what a contrast it was to the First Methodist Church in Peoria with its 1000's of middle to upper class members.
I also remember more serious occasions......... like the night I came forward in the neighboring Methodist Church where a community Church Revival was being held. I still remember the old fashion converted Catholic preacher who preached hell and brimstones. I also remember being baptized in the Washita River and almost drowning. It was at this time I made a commitment to God that I would say a prayer each night and try to live a good life.
BRICK OUTHOUSE
Since we were invited to dinner at my sister's home which used to be my grandmother's home ( Located across the road from the Church), I had sufficient time to make a walking tour of Cloud Chief with my camera. I quickly returned to the school house where I took a couple pictures of the donkey and couple of other horses who were standing close to the school. One picture which I prize the most consisted of the donkey standing next to the boys brick outhouse.
As I inspected and photographed the inside of the well constructed outhouse, it brought back memories as to how important the outhouse was in the Cloud Chief History. I was a junior in high school when the school went modem (indoor) and I can still remember the complaints from the community citizens as to how the students were being pampered. It had also been a school custom to turn over the girls wooden structure during the last few days of school, creating some interesting problems.
THE GYM
The gym which was always the center of fun activities is now inhabited by the horses. The floor had been removed and dirt added. It is now used for breaking horses and roping calves. It was in this gym we won every basketball game we played during the last 6 years of school. It was in this gym I spent many nights practicing basketball. At Cloud Chief all the girls played basketball and always had a game before the boy's game.
THE AUDITORIUM and A SMALL ONION
I unwired the door to the auditorium and walked in to find the stage half full of hay and some of the seats removed for additional hay bales. Standing on the stage I remembered some of the plays in which I had acted during my high school career. Also, the night I gave the Valedictorian address for the senior class. Also, the more humorous incidents such as the time a 4-H calf which was being used in a 4-H demonstration.
Walking out of the auditorium to the hall reminded me of my Freshman initiation which required all male members of the class to wear a dress and an onion around their neck. Being smart I chose a small onion only to find out we were required to push the onion down the entire hall of the school house with our nose. I still remember trying to get the splinters from my nose. The hall is now cluttered with all sorts of items including a mattress.
SCHOOL MEMORIES
Entering the I - 2 grade room, I found the room half full of wheat. It was during these years the teachers wanted me to skip a grade because I was too advanced for the class. The 3 - 4 grade room was completely empty.
The 5 - 6 grade room stands empty with all the north windows missing. It was in the fifth grade that our teacher, Wanda Banks, had a love affair with a high school senior boy (A. J. Price) and she later married A. J. after he graduated and they are still living together in Washita County.
The 7 - 8 grade room is full of maize. It was in this room that we had a new young beautiful teacher who did not know how to discipline kids. Almost daily she ended up in tears and the kids did as the pleased. We were always careful to be on our best behavior when other teachers approached. Many times her husband would come to the school to plead with us not to bother his wife. During the 8th grade we had Micky Colbert as our teacher and he ruled with an iron hand.
Entering the high school portion we again find feed grains in most of the rooms, including the home economics room. It was during these years in which we had both good and bad teachers. One of the most delightful teachers was Mrs. Herron who taught freshman algebra.
GRADUATION
By the time we graduated from high school in 1955, we had succeeded in eliminating all the girls from our class (about 10) and there were only seven boys left. Wilma Nall, who had moved away during her senior year.
1955 Cloud Chief Graduating Class
Top Row L>R Herman Regier, Elmer Taylor, Larry Deutschendorf, Dwayne Strader
Botton Row L>R Wilma Ruth Nall, John Calvin McCornack, Kenneth Gillihan, Dale Maddox
By graduation time, the class had accumulated over $ 1,000 in various class projects which was a lot of money in 1955. On graduation night we left with four sponsors who paid their way on a 16 day senior trip to Old Mexico, Los Angles, Las Vegas, Colorado, and all the places in between. It was from the Cloud Chief School,, that I graduated with a straight A average, being a starting member of both the baseball and basketball teams, plus receiving the highest honors in my 4-H club work.
The last senior class was in 1958 with the grade school operating for a few more years and than the school ground was sold at public auction.
MARBLES AND RED ROVER
Before I left the school yard, I paused to reflect on all the competitive games that was played on the yards during my school career. When I was very young, we had see-saws, merry-go-rounds, and swings. Before long we were engaged in competitive games of marbles. As course we always played "keeps" making sure the teachers were not aware of this prohibited activity. Sometimes the boys would also play "Spend the Tops", a particularly viscous game when someone was able to spike an opposing players top and split the top in half.
Later on we played "Red Rover, Red Rover, Let Larry come over!" A game here the person called was to come running as fast as possible and break through the tightly held arms of the opposing team. If successful, the person was able to take one of the opposing team members back to his side. If he failed, he had to join the opposing team. The one with the longest line at the end of game was the winner.
During our 7 or 8 grade, the most popular game became "Shoot my Potunus!". A game played in which one person was "it" and if he saw any other person and said "Shoot my Potunus", the person had to go to a confined area if which he could not escape until the person that was "it" disappeared behind the school building. This game which didn't make much sense, involved miles of running around the school building which resulted in great excitement with everyone playing the game.
As we entered high school, most of our time was spend playing baseball and basketball, but occasionally we would get into a good game of ping pong on a table in the home economics room. Sometimes during lunch hour or after school, several of us would get into a hot game of dominoes at the local grocery store. We would set around the old pot belly coal stove and play "Shoot the moon!"
Cloud Chief Finest - 1954
L>R Agnes Regier, Jimmy Don Weaver, O. A. Ladd, Billie Laxson, Jack Nabors
THE FINAL FAREWELL
I walked back through the auditorium, rewired the door, and walked slowly towards the country store which I had done so many times before. After the school folded the store was not far behind. At this time (1972) all that is left standing is a lonely brick wall in the middle of a thistle patch. When the store folded, the post office was closed and Cloud Chief did not exist as a legitimate mailing address. Afterwards the last remaining businesses, the garage and the cotton gin were closed ending for all practical purpose the existence of Cloud Chief. I walked the deserted streets of Cloud Chief stopping at each house to reflect on its memory. The best I can tell is that there is about 23 people now living Cloud Chief. This includes 3 children. During its heyday at the turn of the century, there were reported to be as many as 3000 people.
The last part of my tour included a visit to the cemetery where the remains of most of the people of Cloud Chief ended up. I did not linger long because I knew dinner was almost ready and my family was probably wondering where I was. Little did they know that I had just relived a life time of good times and rededicated my life to the good of mankind so I can repay just a little of what Cloud Chief had given to me.
PHONE CALL TO CLOUD CHIEF
If you tried to phone Cloud Chief, Oklahoma today, the first thing you would learn is that you must go through the Gotebo exchange. But once you got the right number, you would find a small collection of about 20 people living in the area where Cloud Chief once was a thriving town. There are no schools or businesses, but two churches do remain and there is a community center where people still gather and discuss the early days. A local farmer now raises Angora goats in the School House. One of the last remaining business was the garage which was run by my Uncle Walter Stutzman.
Walter's garage with my grandmother's house in background, further back is Walter's home.
After his death, the garage remain open on a self service basis. People could stop by and hand pump up the old fashion glass gas containers and leave the correct money on the desk in the garage. No one would be in the area. This was the true start of the self service operation. But with progress, someone stole the gas pumps and the last business in Cloud Chief is now only a memory.
RETURNING TO CLOUD CHIEF
After "leaving" Cloud Chief in 1960, I have had the opportunity to return to Cloud Chief each year for the last 37 years. Alice B. Wallace provides some words which helps describe what you think about when you "Return to Cloud Chief".
"According to the pioneers' work attitude, work was a virtue in itself, and unless a person kept himself busy at useful tasks during the daylight hours, he was worthless. From this has come my attitude of disrespect for a man, lying around on the bed, napping in the middle of the day, or sleeping after sun up. I never saw an adult in pioneer days sprawled out on the bed sleeping in 'broad daylight' unless he were ill. Even on rainy days, there were certain jobs for a man to do."
"My life of seclusion on the prairies certainly developed an appreciation for all natural phenomena. The call of the bob white, the strange cry of the bullbat in the early twilight, the 'throaty' ripple of a meadowlark in the early spring mornings, the wind rustling the leaves of the cottonwood still charm me. I shall never cease to be thrilled at the sight of the perfect arc of a rainbow, both ends seeming to rest on the horizon, one appearing to be very near me."
SUNSETS
"I am sure that it was from viewing the many gorgeous sunsets on the prairies of western Oklahoma, where the air was heavy with fine dust to form colors and where there were no mountains or forests to obstruct my view, that I have acquired my appreciation for colorful sunsets. One of my main hobbies now is to drive out to a high hill and watch a sunset, marveling at the sight of various shaped clouds turned to flaming red, dark purple, light pink and bright yellow and green, and lining a few dark gray or blue ones with gold."
DON'T FENCE ME IN!
Expansive views of the distant landscapes from the front yard of our old McCornack home still excites me. While viewing the stars and distant twinkling lights at night, it seems that life has its most deepest meaning. I have the same attitude as the author expressed in his song 'Don't Fence Me In', a feeling which, I am certain, comes from living in the wide open spaces of Cloud Chief.
I am extremely grateful for the opportunities of business travel to many foreign countries like Russia, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, England, Scotland, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Belgium, Holland, and Austria. Travel in my own country has also enriched my life. Getting wet at Niagara Falls; looking down into the Grand Canyon; looking up at a Redwood tree; riding in an Amish buggy; riding a rubber raft in the Snake river while observing the Grand Tetons; and seeing a bear in Yellowstone have all been fantastic experiences.
But in spite of all these marvelous experiences encountered in my many travels, I am sure that my impressions and experiences as a child in the wide open spaces of Cloud Chief, where the coyotes howl, have by far influenced me the most.
"CLOUD CHIEF STILL SITS ON HER OLD GYP HILL"
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