A letter written in an old style that was usual for the 1840s merchants, trappers and traders.

26 FEBy, 2009
Coffee's Station
on Red river, at the mouth of cache creek
in the comanche country

Ladies & gentlemen, ne'er-do-wells, & other interested parties,

I take pen in hand, hoping a kind & munificient Creator bestoes health & joy & good fortune upon each & all.

I recently passed thru NE Texas, returning from Ft. Smith, on a trip refered to in a previous missive. I encountered several Caddos & some Wichitas along my way, & even travelled in their company when we both advanced the same direction. They were pleasantly dissposed individuals, & were fine travelling companions. But the most enjoyable portion of the entire foray occured, when, on the return segment of the trip, I happened, for a brief time, to throw in with a Red River fur brigade, out-bound for the Double Mtn & Clear Forks of the Brazos. Though the majority were scoundrels, they made fine companions, nontheless, & I count myself fortunate to have traveled in their company, even if for such a short interlude. Among their number was a Cajun fellow, who was the cheif cook for the entire party, & was very adept at culinary concoctions. I was invarialby invited to their mess with an open-handed generosity, and consider the fare set before me as "Fust Rate Doin's!"

Also in the "previous missive", alluded to above, I mentioned Col Coffee had procured some building materials, & that I wood advise upon their arrival at this place. They are here. The freighter conveying said materials crept upon us with all the stealth of a bobcat prowling for supper. We had no idea said materials were even in the area; yet this AM, here they were. The freighter, who was driving several fine yoke of mechanical oxen, was a Choctaw. He conversed quite capapbly in both his natural tounge and English, and was dressed as is common among Americans occupied in the same enterprise. He also was well versed in both Chickasaw and Comanche, a result, he explained, of frequent business interactions with those people & hisself. He had quite a sense of humor about him, & it Seems he first became acquainted with Mssrs. Colville & Coffee in Ft.Smith several years ago, due to sundry business arraingments between the 3 men. As I am unaware, exactly, of the nature of this business, other than it was mutually profitable for all parties involved, I will with hold comment or speculation upon it. As for this most recent transaction, said acquaintence was, as those prior, to mutual advantage of all concerned, as is, I suppose, evident in the fact that the logs are here.

From here, the Choctaw fellow related, he was bound for the Washita, to fullfil yet another business obligation, engaged in with others thayn the proprieters of this place, & for which, he indicated, the remuneration would be handsome. No small wonder, considering the types of goods, distance, rough country & risk involved.

Many have been anxiously awaiting the arrivel of these logs and this news. I request that, at your convience, you would inform me as to when the handling of these logs would be most suitable & best coincied with your social agenda. I will anticipate your reply with the return post. As the few Wichita women who were here to trade this morning have concluded their business, I shall venture out into the sunshine, which is bathing the trade room porch with a brite warmth, unseasonal for FebY. There I will enjoy myself a pipeful, wishing that you are ever mindful that I am

Sincerely yores

Tim Poteete

Planning the Spring Encampment 2009

Lawton Public School's Executive Director of Public Relations and Communication, Keith Mitchell, helped me to distribute yet another survey to teachers last week. This one to inquire which week in April we should have the annual Spring Encampment program. So far April 20-25 has the most votes. This living history program is really neat, if I do say so myself! There's absolutely nothing like it for miles and miles around. One reason being that the program takes place in a replicated southern Plains trading post! I mean, this trading post was built according to a actual description written in the diary of a 1840s traveler! It's as close to the real thing as you can get! And, the trade store is full of the actual sorts of 1840s trade items you would find in such a place. Strings of red, yellow, white and turquoise glass beads hang from hooks nailed into the ceiling beams, (I think they're ceiling beams...). Also hanging along the beams are light weight tin lanterns and heavy metal traps. On the shelves behind the counter are little round mirrors, triangular packets of red rouge, hair combs made of bone, playing cards and dice. On the other end you'll find sacks of coffee, sugar, and flour; red and black wool blankets, and calico printed fabric. That's not all, but I won't go on. You really should see it for yourself! The only thing else I must say is concerning the interpreters, who will always be the most amazing part of the whole event. Not only because of their expertise on the history of 1830s-1840s fur trade in the southern Plains, and their ability to relate this history to guests of all ages, but because of their unbelievable generosity. I'll tell you right here and now, we have never and will never have the money to repay them for their time and worth. We are truly indebted to them.

More History on the Museum

This research on the Museum's history has really been interesting. According to "Our Historical Society Heritage or How We Started" by Arthur R. Lawrence, written for the Chronicles of Comanche County, the Museum can trace its beginnings back to the Comanche County Historical Society, which you could say traces its beginnings back to 1930 when the first efforts to establish such a society was made! These dates and activities were confirmed by articles printed in the Lawton Constitution. Such as one dated April 11, 1930 which reads, "first steps in the formation of a Comanche County Historical Society were made at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon when a temporary organization was created at a meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce headquarters." The article goes on to list the temporary officers as John Shields, chairman and Harry Stroud, secretary. The article also notes that a committee comprised of John Hopps, Dan Becker and Harry Stroud was selected to draw up a constitution and by-laws; the membership committee included Arthur Lawrence, C. E. Price of Cache, and Fred Call. While off to a great start - fine banquets, outings to the Wichita Mountains, interviews of old prospectors and miners of the mountains-the society did not last much longer than a couple of years. Perhaps the depression years had something to do with it. More than twenty years would pass before "a foutunate occurance" led to the re-establishment of the Commanche County Historical Society.

MGPs History

I'm currently working on a General Operating Statement for the Museum which has given me reason to investigate more thoroughly, the Museum's origins. I thought I'd share this interesting excerpt from a Great Plains Journal. (This was written shortly after MGP opened in 1961.)


"RESEARCH CENTER: MUSEUM OF THE GREAT PLAINS
Great Plains Journal - published in Lawton, Oklahoma by the Great Plains Historical Association
1/1
A.M. Gibson, Head, Manuscripts Division, University of Oklahoma.

The Great Plains as a socio-economic region is coming of age. Evidence of this emerging maturity is becoming increasingly apparent - a notable example being the very concept of the Museum of the Great Plains and its stated objectives. Finally a synthesis of regional culture will be provided where before there has been a curious and misleading dissection. At long last through the Museum of the Great Plains there will be a vehicle to explain this land, its history and people."

Picture of the Museum's soon to be, new palisade!

Finally! After a few days of working through some computer problems, here is the picture I promised!

The Logs Are Here!

The logs are here!
They were delivered today! Well, not all 500, but 150 of them ! They were delivered today from Comanche Lumber! (I'll post a picture tomorrow.)

These are the logs that were purchased by the students (teachers, counselors, principals and parents too) of Pat Henry, Lincoln Elementary, John Adams, Brockland, Country Club Heights, Sheridan Road, Almor West, Eisenhower Elementary, Jackson, Elgin Elementary and High School, Horace Mann and Plato in Duncan, Indiahoma, Elmor City-Pernell, Ardmore High School, and HERO Homeschool, Faithwalkers Homeschool, CHESCO Homeschool, (and others) to be used to rebuild the Trading Post stockade.

I'll have more on this tomorrow!
Thanks to everyone who has helped us with this project! Thank you, thank you!