For a full list of events/details visit: www.okhistory.org/calendar/ohs

History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip January 7, 2023, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.|Recurring Event. Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 South 4th Street Enid, OK 73701. History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip takes place throughout the year on the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On those days, the historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village at Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) come to life with reenactors. These folks dressed in period clothing will have you convinced you have stepped back in time to 1893! Sit at school desks while lessons are taught at the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse, hear a pioneer tale from those tending their shops, and watch as craftsmen and women work their trades. For more information, please call the CSRHC at 580-237-1907
“Architecture of the Capitol” presentation by Trait Thompson January 7, 2023, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73105. On Saturday, January 7, from 1 to 2 p.m., learn more about the restoration of the Oklahoma State Capitol and the architectural design behind it from Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director Trait Thompson. He will make a presentation, sharing his insights about the Oklahoma Capitol Restoration Project. Before becoming director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, Thompson was the project manager of the Oklahoma Capitol Restoration Project. Share his specialized knowledge of the history of the Oklahoma State Capitol and how this monumental restoration project was achieved. This discussion will take place in the Clark and Kay Musser Learning Lab on the first floor of the Oklahoma History Center. Free with admission to the Oklahoma History Center. Call 405-522-0765 for more information.

Quilting workshop with Martha Ray January 14, 2023, 9 a.m.–11 a.m.|Recurring Event. Sod House Museum, 4628 State Highway 8 near Aline, OK 73716. The Quilting workshop with Martha Ray meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Sod House Museum at a cost of $5 per person. Martha Ray teaches how to create appliqué designs, traditional block patterns, original designs, crazy quilts, landscape designs, and paper piecing. New members of any skill level are always encouraged to attend! Share in the happy exchange of shared skills, fun, and camaraderie, door prizes, refreshments, discussions, and quilt patterns, along with old-fashioned bed turnings at the next meeting of the Quilting workshop. Proceeds directly fund Sod House Museum renovations. The Sod House Museum is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the museum is located southeast of Aline on State Highway 8. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information call 580-463-2441 or email [email protected].
“Researching Legal Documents” presentation by Dr. Le’Shawn Turner January 14, 2023, 12 p.m.–2 p.m. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Dr. Le’Shawn Turner, the reference librarian for the Oklahoma City University School of Law will guide non-lawyers on the process of researching legal sources effectively. This class will be beneficial to college students, genealogists, and people with specific research interests. OHS Archival Collections Manager Mallory Covington will also share the various legal materials of the Eleanor and John Kirkpatrick Research Center in the Oklahoma History Center where the class will take place. This class is free with registration.

Modern Wall Hangings workshop January 14, 2023, 1 p.m.–4 p.m. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73105. On Saturday, learn the art of weaving while creating a modern piece of wall art to take home! The hands-on program for ages 12 and up will teach about various types of fibers, basic techniques, and historic practices of weaving. The cost of the make-and-take modern wall-hanging workshop will be $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers. All materials are included in the class cost. Registration is required and is limited to 15 participants. The workshop will be taking place in Classrooms A and B on the first floor of the Oklahoma History Center.
Museum OKademy volunteer training class and lecture January 21, 2023, 9 a.m.–11 a.m. Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 South 4th Street Enid, OK 73701. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) will host a six-session Museum OKademy course in 2023 to train volunteers and provide lectures on history. The classes will be held at 9 and 10 a.m., beginning on Saturday, January 21, and concluding on Saturday, April 1. The six-part lecture/workshop series, Museum OKademy, will be led by Jake Krumwiede (Executive Director), Neal Matherne (Director of Education), and CSRHC staff. These classes are aimed at both prospective volunteers and other adult learners who wish to broaden their knowledge base about the history of our area and the materials from which we learn. Reserve by emailing [email protected] for more information. Attendance is limited so please contact us as soon as possible. Classes are free with regular museum admission. CSRHC members always visit free.
Museum After Dark: Village Sounds featuring singer/songwriter duo Desi and Cody January 27, 2023, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 South 4th Street Enid, OK 73701. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is hosting the Tulsa-based musical duo, Desi and Cody on Friday, January 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. for Village Sounds, a part of the center’s “Museum After Dark” programming. Desi & Cody, a Tulsa-based singer-songwriter duo, focus their music on life and experiences in Oklahoma. The group’s performance at the Heritage Center will be a two-hour acoustic set. “Museum After Dark: Village Sounds” events are intimate listening experiences held at the Village Church on the grounds of the Humphrey Heritage Village at CSRHC. This series explores the Oklahoma story from the perspective of musicians and songwriters from our state who are authentic interpreters of the past. The concert is included with the cost of admission to the CSRHC. Members of the CSRHC or the Oklahoma Historical Society always visit the center for free. This event is made possible through the financial support of CSRHC’s community partner, Park Avenue Thrift. For more information about this series, please call 580-237-1907.
Introduction to Botanical Embroidery January 28, 2023, 1 p.m.–4 p.m. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73105. On Saturday, January 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. join Oklahoma embroidery artist Lacey Plana as she leads this introductory class full of botanical inspiration. She will teach guests to stitch a vibrant Oklahoma-inspired bouquet of Oklahoma roses, firewheels, and yarrows. This is a great class to learn or brush up on embroidery basics such as how to create a variety of stitches and how to transfer your favorite designs onto fabric. Many stitches will be demonstrated, including the back stitch, French knots, woven wheel stitch, seed stitch, and single/detached chain stitch. The cost is $45 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $55 for non-members. The class will take place in the Clark and Kay Musser Learning Lab on the first floor of the Oklahoma History Center. Each person taking part in the class will receive a pattern of the design, a stitch guide, and take home their botanical embroidery creations. All materials are included in the class cost. Ages 12+. Registration is limited to 15.
“On a Great Battlefield: The History of Gettysburg National Military Park, 1863–2022” presentation by Dr. Jennifer Murray January 28, 2023, 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Honey Springs Battlefield, 423159 E 1030 Road Checotah, OK 74426. On Saturday, January 28, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Dr. Jennifer Murray author and teaching associate professor at Oklahoma State University (OSU) will present a history of the Gettysburg National Military Park at the Honey Springs Visitor Center. Dr. Jennifer M. Murray is a military historian, with a specialization in the American Civil War at OSU. Murray’s most recent publication On a Great Battlefield: The Making, Management, and Memory of Gettysburg National Military Park, 1933–2013 (2014, University of Tennessee Press). Dr. Murray’s program explores the landscape of the infamous battlefield and the first preservation and commemorative efforts of the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association and the US War Department. Her main focus is the history of the Gettysburg battlefield in the 20th century, during the administrative era of the National Park Service (1933–present). In her words: “The history of the Gettysburg battlefield underscores the complicated relationship between race and reunion, public and private interests, between preservation theories and utilitarian uses, between the National Park Service and the American people, and between fact and fiction.” Murray is also the author of The Civil War Begins (2012). For more information regarding the presentation and Honey Springs Battlefield, please email [email protected] or [email protected] or call 918-617-7125.
Antique Doll exhibit opens February 1, 2023. Fred and Addie Drummond Home, 305 North Price Avenue Hominy, OK 74035. The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will host an exhibit of antique dolls throughout the month of February. Beginning on Wednesday, February 1, and ending on Sunday, February 26, this exhibit is sure to delight doll collectors and doll lovers alike. The exhibit will feature a wide array of German-made dolls, including dolls by Armand Marseille, Kestner, and Koppelsdorf. There also will be a large group of china and porcelain dolls. During your visit, you are encouraged to tour the rest of the beautiful, historic Drummond Home. The three-story, Victorian-style house was built in 1905 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The antique doll exhibit is included with the regular admission fee. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors ages 62 and older, $4 for students, and free for children five and under. As always, OHS members receive free admission. Regular hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, please call 918-885-2374. The Fred and Addie Drummond Home is located at 305 North Price Avenue in Hominy.
Christmas Open House December 10, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Sod House Museum, 4628 State Highway 8 near Aline, OK 73716. The Sod House Museum’s Christmas Open House will be held on Saturday, December 10, from 1–3 p.m. Enjoy the holidays in Oklahoma’s only remaining sod house that will be decorated for the season in the style of a traditional 1890s Pioneer Christmas.
Photos with Santa at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum December 10, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.|Recurring Event. Will Rogers Memorial Museum, 1720 West Will Rogers Boulevard Claremore, OK 74017. The Heritage Gallery at Will Rogers Memorial Museum will be the perfect backdrop for Photos with Santa on Saturday, December 3, and Saturday, December 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your family and your camera to take beautiful family pictures with Santa. Admission is free to take photos. For more information, please visit willrogers.com or call 918-341-0719.
Christmas Open House Hunter’s Home, 19479 East Murrell Home Road Park Hill, OK 74451. On Sunday, December 11, from 1 to 4 p.m., Hunter’s Home will host its annual Christmas Open House. Visitors will see the home and general store decorated for the holiday season and will enjoy cider and snacks while sitting around a roaring fire. For more information, please call 918-456-2751.
Holiday Candlelight Tours December 15, 4 p.m.–8 p.m.|Recurring Event . Hunter’s Home, 19479 East Murrell Home Road Park Hill, OK 74451. Oklahoma’s only remaining pre-Civil War plantation home will host five nights of candlelight tours in December. The tours of Hunter’s Home will take place from Tuesday, December 13, through Saturday, December 17, from 4–8 p.m. each day. The 177-year-old home will be decorated in a Victorian holiday style. Period Christmas decorations and candlelight will adorn the home’s lavish parlor, sitting room, and dining room. Costumed reenactors will share the history of the home. For more information please call 918-456-2751.
December Bake Day and Gingerbread Decorations Fort Gibson Historic Site, 907 North Garrison Avenue Fort Gibson, OK 74434. Visit Fort Gibson Historic Site for a special holiday-themed bake day on Saturday, December 17, at 10 a.m. Fresh bread and batches of giant gingerbread men will be baked in the historic Fort Gibson ovens just in time for the holidays! Fresh batches of each will be ready at noon and again at 3 p.m. Gingerbread men will be ready for decorations throughout the day starting at 11 a.m.
History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip December 17, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.|Recurring Event. Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 South 4th Street Enid, OK 73701. Step back in time and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come alive with reenactors who are tending their shops, working their trades, or socializing at the Village Church.
“Shut the Door! Barns in Oklahoma: The Significance of Barns in the Oklahoma Cultural Landscape” webinar December 27, 6 p.m. The State Historic Preservation Office is hosting a webinar series entitled “Shut the Door! Barns in Oklahoma,” featuring presenters who specialize in barn history, construction, and restoration. On Tuesday, December 27, the topic will be “The Significance of Barns in the Oklahoma Cultural Landscape.” This December webinar will be the last of the 2022 series. These presentations will be held on the last Tuesday of every other month, beginning at 6 p.m.
Movie Night featuring Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) December 30, 6 p.m.–9 p.m. Will Rogers Memorial Museum, 1720 West Will Rogers Boulevard Claremore, OK 74017. Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a Movie Night featuring the film Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) in its theater on Friday, December 30, at 7 p.m. “Horsing Around with Will” will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., during which families can enjoy activities and crafts relating to the movie’s theme. Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested.
Observing with NASA Smithsonian exhibit kiosk closes December 31. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73105. Observing With NASA, an authentic data experience with astronomical imaging will be on display at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) until December 31, 2022. This exhibit kiosk from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory engages visitors in the art and science of NASA imagery. Observing With NASA offers an introduction to the tools, data, and skills that NASA space scientists and data visualization experts use to create the images of deep space objects that we all know and love.

Betsy (Goff) Willman Anderson

Betsy (Goff) Willman Anderson celebrated her 100th birthday in Pawnee. In Tulsa, Betsy graduated Class of 1939 from Central High, attended TU, was a member of 1st Baptist & Parkview Baptist Churches, Chi Omega Sorority & volunteered at Gilcrease Museum. She says anything fattening is her favorite food!

Louise (Noels) Green

Louise (Noels) Green of Tulsa was born December 16, 1919. She was a lifelong educator, teacher and counselor in McAlester & stayed very actively involved in the Beebe Chapel CME Church, L’Ouverture High School Alumni & American Legion Post 250. Louise’s life advice: “Education. History. Treat people the way you want to be treated!”

WWII Veteran Paul Romanello

WWII Veteran Paul Romanello of Tulsa having 100th birthday fun with him family and friends. He was a man before his time, never said an unkind word about anyone, loves people and was always the center of attention with his good looks and charming magnetic personality. His words of wisdom are to enjoy your family and life to the fullest! Thank you for your service!

KNOW A CENTENARIAN?
If you know of a Centenarian you would like to honor, please visit
http://centenariansok.com/ and download, complete and submit our form. One of our team members will contact you directly with the next steps.

From Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn [email protected]
text and photo provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society

I think it was in the fifth grade when I first heard about Albany, New York. We were studying all the capitols of all of the US cities. It was a bit of a mystery this state capitol so far north of New York City, yet so important to the state’s history and in current affairs. Decades later I discovered Albany in a personal way with a weekend excursion.
Most striking about Albany is the site, inside and out, of this historic capitol building itself which took thirty years to complete. It stands on a hill and overlooks the city, and the nearby Empire State Plaza with its monolithic office buildings and the unusual egg shaped theater complex. The plaza complete with reflecting pool and with ice skating in the winter, is popular for public events. On one end is the State capitol building and on the opposite side the New York State History Museum (www.nysm.nysed.gov). The extensive museum houses several sections, including homage to the Civil War (with a life mask of Abraham Lincoln), and more recently artifacts from the World Trade Center disaster. Be sure and visit the observation deck of the 42 storied Corning Tower.
State Street which could be called Albany’s’ main street, runs down from the capitol, pointing toward the Hudson River. Near the base of the street stands, 74State Street Hotel, which was my pleasant home base and my oasis for my discoveries. 74 State offers several breakfast menu items, and my guests and I enjoyed their Eggs Benedict more than once. This Ascent Hotel Collection provides wireless internet, room service in the morning and evenings and supplies free coffee in the lobby from 6 am to 10 am. The fitness center is open 24 hours. The property also has the Bistro/Bar venue on the second floor, with an expansive picture window overlooking busy STATE street. While the hotel is upscale it features recycled New York State wood and granite.
Just down the hill a bit is the upscale Jacks Oyster House (www.jacksoysterhouse.com) where without a doubt I had the best meal of my visit. As a steak person I tested their expertise and they passed with high marks, as they did for the Martini. My other companions had a variety of entrées including oysters on the half shell and a Lobster tale prepared with gourmet expertise. The service was as exceptional as you would have expected at a fine old world restaurant, and it was a near shame we had to leave to catch a theatrical presentation in Schenectady, NY at the Proctor Theater, which was a treat.
Be sure your discovery of Albany includes a visit to Speak Easy 518 (www.Speakeasy518.com) where you will have unique cocktail tastes accentuated by a variety of herbs and vintage concoctions. You are admonished: “The bar is open to anyone, but not for everyone. In order to maintain our peaceful, secretive existence beneath the city we require the respect of the following house rules which include: Please dress sharply and speak easy. Mind your manners.” Live jazz may be there on your night, and while they offer a variety of wines and beers the experience is in tasting the Prohibition Era Cocktails or the New World Concoctions. You might try the Midnight in the Italian Alps, of Braulio Amaro, Cardamaro Amaro, JFB Sorrel Liqueur, with Flamed Orange Zest, or the Papa Doble made with ADC Quackenbush House Rum, Maraschino Liqueur, and Fresh Grapefruit Juice. Many of the flavors are earthy and perhaps so usual you may have to develop a taste over several visits. To keep the ambiance low, no photography is permitted.
Other recommend dining venues include: Albany Pump Station (www.evansale.com), A Better Bite Deli (www.abetterbitealbany.com), Jake Moon Café (www.jakemoon.net) and the popular New World Bistro Bar (www.newworldbistrobar.com).
Albany has more to offer than space allows- but be sure to include the Albany Heritage Center (www.albany.org/visitors-center), the Albany Institute of History and Art (www.albanyinstitute.org), and weather permitting a visit to John Boyd Thacher State Park (www.nysparks.com/parks.com), and Goolds Orchards and Brookview Station Winery (www.goold.com). If you are lucky you might get to view a replica of Henry Hudson’s “Half Moon” Ship, which is the symbol of Albany.
Upcoming dates of interest and for more information: www.albany.com

Hospitals Helping Patients Quit (HHPQ), an Oklahoma Hospital Association (OHA) initiative, recognized 11 hospitals and clinic partners at OHA’s recent Connect 22 annual conference that have achieved notable benchmarks in reducing tobacco use in Oklahoma. These visionary hospitals and clinics have implemented a permanent and standard best-practice protocol for identifying, counseling, and referring individuals to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (OTH) for coaching support and nicotine replacement therapy.
OHA recognized these hospital leaders for achieving notable benchmarks in clinical tobacco treatment:

Helpline Referrals 100-499
Great Plains Regional Medical Center, Elk City – 100 referrals

McAlester Regional Health Center – 150 referrals
Cedar Ridge Behavioral Hospital, Oklahoma City– 275 referrals

Helpline Referrals 500-999

AllianceHealth Ponca City – 500 referrals

Stillwater Medical Center – 600 referrals
INTEGRIS Health Edmond – 600 referrals

Helpline Referrals 1000-1999
OU Health, Oklahoma City – 1,000 referrals

Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Lawton – 1,100 referrals

Helpline Referrals 2000 or more

SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Oklahoma City – 2,850 referrals

Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, Ada – 5,000 referrals

INTEGRIS Outpatient Clinics – 8,600 referrals
Through effective, health care provider-driven tobacco treatment services, HHPQ partner hospitals and clinics have referred 55,000 patients to the OTH, resulting in an estimated 39,000 years of life saved and $19.5 million dollars in reduced health care costs as well as personal spending on tobacco products.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) supports OHA’s Hospitals Helping Patients Quit and the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. For more information the HHPQ initiative, go to https://www.okoha.com/hhpq. For information on the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline,
http://okhelpline.com.

Dear Savvy Senior,

What steps need to be taken after a loved one dies? My 71-year-old uncle, who’s divorced with no children, has terminal cancer. He’s asked me to take care of his affairs so I would like to find out what I need to do after he passes away.– Unsure Nephew

Dear Unsure,
I’m very sorry to hear about your uncle. The death of a loved of can bring about a host of different tasks and responsibilities. Here’s a list of some things you can do now, and after his death, that can help keep a sad event from becoming even more difficult.
Before Death Occurs
There are several tasks you can do now while your uncle is still living that will make things easier for you after he dies.
For starters, find out where he keeps all his important papers like his trust and/or will (also make sure it’s updated), birth certificate, Social Security information, life-insurance policies, military discharge papers, financial documents, key or combination to a safe deposit box or a home safe. Also make a list of his digital assets (including usernames and passwords) like his email account, online banking accounts, social media accounts, etc.
If your uncle doesn’t have an advanced directive, help him make one (see CaringInfo.org for free state-specific forms and instructions). An advanced directive includes a living will that specifies his end-of-life medical treatments and appoints a health-care proxy to make medical decisions if he becomes incapacitated. In addition, you should also make a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. Your uncle’s doctor can help you with this.
You should also pre-arrange his funeral, memorial service, and burial or cremation.
Immediately After Death
Once your uncle dies, you’ll need to get a legal pronouncement of death. If no doctor is present, you’ll need to contact someone to do this.
If he dies at home under hospice care, call the hospice nurse, who can declare his death and help facilitate the transport of the body.
If he dies at home without hospice care, call your uncle’s doctor. You’ll then need to call the funeral home, mortuary or crematorium to pick up the body. If your uncle is an organ or tissue donor, contact the funeral home or the county coroner immediately.
Within a Few Days
If funeral plans were not pre-arranged, you’ll need to make arrangements and prepare an obituary. If your uncle was in the military or belonged to a fraternal or religious group, you should contact those organizations too, because they may have burial benefits or conduct funeral services.
You should also notify family members, close friends and his employer if he was still working, and make sure his home is secured.
Up to 10 Days After Death
To wind down your uncle’s financial affairs, you’ll need to get multiple copies of his death certificate, which are typically ordered by the funeral home.
If you’re the executor of your uncle’s estate, take his will to the appropriate county or city office to have it accepted for probate. And open a bank account for your uncle’s estate to pay bills, including taxes, funeral costs, etc.
You also need to contact your uncle’s estate attorney if he has one; tax preparer to see if estate or final income taxes should be filed; financial advisor for information on financial holdings; life insurance agent to get claim forms; his bank to locate and close accounts; and Social Security, the VA (if he’s a veteran) and other agencies that provided benefits in order to stop payments.
You should also cancel his credit cards, delete or memorialize his social media accounts and, if relevant, stop household services like utilities, mail, etc. His home and personal belonging will also need to be dealt with in the coming weeks.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

*Includes 15 hospitalizations in pediatric beds.
**Focus, Rehabilitation and Tribal Facilities numbers are not assigned to a specific region as their patient populations reside across the state. Information provided through survey of Oklahoma hospitals as reported to HHS as of the time of this report. Response rate affects data. Facilities may update previously reported information as necessary.
Data Source: Acute Disease Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health. *As of 2022-12-29 at 7:00 a.m.

The Oklahoma Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are pleased to announce the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) designation for two properties in Oklahoma. The NRHP is our nation’s official list of properties significant in our past.
Oklahoma County, St. Ann’s Home for the Aged at 3825 NW 19th St., Oklahoma City. Designed by architect Charles Lester (C.L.) Monnot Sr. and constructed in 1950 by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City-Tulsa, St. Ann’s Home for the Aged met a growing need for senior housing within Oklahoma City. The property is significant for its association with the social history of Oklahoma City, as no formal housing for senior citizens existed at the time of St. Ann’s construction. Although a charity of the Catholic diocese, St. Ann’s Home welcomed seniors of all ages and faiths, who had few other options for decent housing. The facility offered dormitory-style accommodations with shared bathrooms, a communal dining hall, gathering spaces and a chapel. The facility also housed a small infirmary and provided basic nursing care for residents. St. Ann’s became a licensed nursing facility with the state in 1980 when Oklahoma enacted its first nursing home laws. State regulations required major interior alterations for the building to remain a licensed facility. Rather than update the building, the diocese opted to build a new nursing home and assisted living center. St. Ann’s Home closed in January 1991 when its last residents moved to the new facility.

Woods County, Alva Municipal Swimming Pool and Bathhouse, 1402 Flynn St., Alva
Once known as the “Little Ocean,” the Alva Municipal Swimming Pool and Bathhouse is an important landmark that symbolizes the importance of New Deal programs to Alva’s historic development. Completed by the Works Projects Administration (WPA) in 1940, the property served a dual purpose of alleviating economic hardship resulting from the Great Depression and providing Alva with a recreational facility. The swimming pool is 200 feet long with a capacity of over 500,000 gallons of water. A smaller, circular-shaped wading pool and concrete gazebo are also on the property. The one-story bathhouse is notable for its poured concrete construction and Art Moderne features that include fluted pilasters with beveled corners, horizontal fenestration, and low relief ornamentation around the main entrance. Together, the swimming pool and bathhouse are exemplary examples of the WPA’s efforts to utilize modern architectural designs in their construction of municipal structures for local communities in northwest Oklahoma. Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is an honorific designation that provides recognition, limited protection, and, in some cases, financial incentives for these important properties. The SHPO identifies, evaluates and nominates properties for this special designation.

For more information contact Dr. Matthew Pearce, National Register of Historic Places coordinator, at 405-522-4479 or [email protected].

The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.

story and photo by Bobby Anderson, RN, Staff Writer

older weather means more layers of clothing, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging rays.
Dr. Elise Brantley is a board-certified dermatologist who has been practicing since 2009.
Her practice at Scissortail Dermatology focuses on protecting your skin year-round.
“Even though it’s chilly, it doesn’t really change the amount of UV light coming through,” Brantley said. “Even if it’s cloudy you’re still getting UV light. People may not get as intense of a burn, but they’re still accumulating sun damage. Even when you’re not thinking about it you still need to be wearing your hats and sunscreen.”
It’s all fun in the sun when you’re young.
But as you start to age all that exposure to the sun can begin to take its toll, resulting in blemishes and forms of skin cancer.
Brantley’s practice focus is the evaluation and treatment of growths of the skin with an emphasis on detecting and treating skin cancer.
She is a native Oklahoman from Broken Arrow.
After graduating high school from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics she attended the University of Tulsa for undergraduate studies.
She received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and completed her residency training at the University of Cincinnati where she served as chief resident.
She has been serving the Oklahoma City metro area for nearly 10 years.
“Usually if there is any question I say to come in and get a baseline and we can determine what your risk is based on different factors,” Brantley said.
Risk factors include your skin cancer history, your family history, and your history of sun exposure as well as any burns that have occurred in the past.
“Little things like that can increase your risk so that will help decide when you need to come in for regular checks,” Brantley said. “I have some people that have to come every three months, but some qualify for annual checks.”
While most are aware of the harmful effects burns can have during the summer, winter presents its own set of challenges for your skin.
Brantley notes that skiing can be a time for increased sun absorption as you are exposed to the sun’s rays twice, once from above and then again from UV light reflected back up from the snow.
“The other thing we like to remind people when they are skiing is to wear lip balm with SPF in it because (UV light) can cause sun damage and also herpes outbreaks (common cold sores),” Brantley said.
When it comes to sun exposure, Brantley said most people often don’t realize their lips need protection, too.
She says almost every month she catches a squamous cell cancer that has formed on a lip.
“Unfortunately, those are more aggressive, too. Those need to be diagnosed quickly with any lip changes. That’s semi-emergent,” she said.
Chronic chapping on one area of the lip or a noticeable bump or knot can be a sign that something abnormal is going on.
Even if you limit your sun exposure and take all the necessary precautions, sometimes the medications you take can increase your risk of skin cancer.
Immunosuppresives that treat organ transplant patients as well as Lupus, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis drugs can be problematic.
“Your immune system is used to protect our bodies and repair DNA damage,” Brantley said. “When that is suppressed skin cancers are able to grow.”
Dopamine drugs used to prevent and treat Parkinson’s disease can also promote the growth of melanomas.
Another risk factor Brantley sees frequently in her older patients is those who underwent radiation therapy for the treatment of cystic acne.
She says that treatment history is popping up more and more in her skin cancer patients.
According to the non-profit Skin Foundation, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world. In the U.S., more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day and:
* 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
* More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.
* Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
* When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.
The annual cost of treating skin cancers in the U.S. is estimated at $8.1 billion: about $4.8 billion for nonmelanoma skin cancers and $3.3 billion for melanoma, according to the Foundation.
Thanks to increased education and screening by dermatologists like Brantley, the diagnosis and treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers in the U.S. increased by 77 percent between 1994 and 2014.
For more information visit: https://scissortaildermatology.com/

Story by Darl Devault, Contributing Editor

At 74, Richard W. Amend, M.Ed., has always shown a passion for working with senior adults by dedicating his life to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and its elders for the past 40 years.
He was the Director of Senior Adult Ministry at Christ the King Catholic Church for 25 years. Then Archbishop Eusebius Beltran appointed him the mission and community relations director at Saint Ann Assisted and Independent Living Community 15 years ago.
“I truly felt called to this type of ministry after pursuing my master’s degree in Gerontology,” Amend said. “We just celebrated our 20th anniversary in this building in June. We have been blessed to help many seniors during those 20 years and are proud of our role in our community. They also bless us each day with their presence.”
While serving at Christ the King as a member of the Knights of Columbus, Amend helped host an annual “Breakfast with Santa Claus.” The unique feature of the breakfast was Santa Claus sitting in a real sleigh. The sleigh was donated by a generous parishioner who collected antique toys. All the children loved climbing up in the sleigh to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.
When Amend started working at Saint Ann, he transported the sleigh there after Breakfast with Santa. That began a new tradition. Every year residents marvel at the sleigh’s vintage charm. It is in a special location where everyone can see and enjoy it.
As Christmas approaches, anticipation builds for the day Santa Claus will arrive. Residents have their picture taken with Santa while telling him about their Christmas wish list. For many, that photo becomes the resident’s Christmas card.
Age never matters. Sometimes a centenarian will climb up in the sleigh or pose for their photo. They are just as excited as the children who come to whisper in Santa’s ear.
Amend was so fascinated with 100-year-old seniors that he started the first Centenarian Club of Oklahoma in 1991 with the help of volunteers from Christ the King. Hundreds of centenarians have since been inducted into the club. The excitement of Christmas can continue at any age. Several centenarians have sat beside him in the sleigh, still exuding excitement about Christmas and never losing their child-like anticipation of talking with Santa in his sleigh. I always call them “Wisdom Walkers” because they exude wisdom daily.
All of Saint Ann’s assisted and independent living residents are invited to participate in the annual Santa visit. There are 120 independent and 50 assisted living apartments in the lively community. They are joined by the attached convent for the Carmelite Sisters of Villa Teresa. Its nine nuns are an active part of the campus and enjoy Santa in his sleigh as much as everyone.
Many people have fond memories of seeing Santa Claus as a child and may even have photographs of themselves sitting on Santa’s lap. During the interview with Amend, it was obvious he exudes the positivity and joy Santa Claus brings to others during the holiday season.
Amend says it is a privilege to don the Santa suit again this year. “Our residents are full of life,” Amend said. “They invigorate me with their enthusiasm for the season. People say their time with Santa is special, but it is even more so for me. You are playing the role of one of the most oversized icons in our culture that conveys kindness and gifting of special things at Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Amend is not the only staff member who helps make the Christmas season cheerful. “Our life enrichment team, concierge, assisted living director, marketing, maintenance, dining service, housekeeping, and everyone helps in numerous ways. We also have those who dress up as Santa’s helpers, elves, a reindeer, and a snowman to make Saint Ann’s winter wonderland more festive,” Amend said.
“Playing Santa Claus allows me to spread cheer with others and find personal enjoyment and satisfaction in my role,” Amend said. “Making everyone happy that they are interacting with Santa can be an exciting treat. “This sense of magic and wonder during the holidays can spread joy and make everyone smile during our interactions.”
Saint Ann is located at 7501 W. Britton Road in northwest Oklahoma City. The community is open to all faiths and has a beautiful St. Joachim Chapel and a Grand Theater. Guests are invited to call (405) 721-0747 #322 to schedule a picture in the sleigh. Kris Kringle might even be there to greet you.

Story and photos by Darl DeVault, Contributing Editor

Four presidential reenactors celebrated Oklahoma Statehood Day before a mostly senior capacity crowd of 300, where President Theodore Roosevelt gave an enthusiastic historical perspective 117 years to the day after he signed the Oklahoma Statehood Proclamation.
The senior historical reenactors portraying presidents who appear on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota gave speeches and answered questions in the free matinee on November 16 at the Oklahoma History Center. The audience listened intently to experienced actor-interpreters playing the “Rushmore Four.” A 7 p.m. ticketed performance saw a more mixed-age crowd attend. The events continue a long-standing initiative by the OHC to share world-class interpreters and their stories with the public.
Professional reenactors portrayed Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Roosevelt dressed in top hats and tails in period attire. The actors have worked together in many previous appearances around the country.
Each president stood as they offered remarks of historical perspective from their eras in the order of their time as president. They invited and answered wide-ranging questions. The men only spoke of modern politics a few times when it applied directly to a significant point in their speeches. The actors stayed in character throughout their session and while posing for photos after the event.
Dan Shippey portrayed President George Washington in a full Revolutionary War uniform and three-cornered hat. The actor founded and directs The Breed’s Hill Institute, an educational nonprofit teaching the history of American liberty. Shippey works as a writer, director and actor in commercial film and theater.
Washington expressed his admiration for the 260-270 brave Maryland soldiers who stood fast during the Battle of Long Island, allowing his main force to withdraw to fight another day. He mentioned several of the dozen survivors of that largest battle of the Revolutionary War by name, calling the men his Marylanders.
The general and commander in chief of the Continental Army spoke the most about how courageous men from all the colonies fought for others’ rights to be free throughout the Revolutionary War. He said he took great pride in how those men grasped the need for unity in fighting for our new democracy.
After answering several questions, the historical interpreter was asked if Washington liked to speak before crowds. He paused for effect, empathically answered “No,” and sat down as the audience reacted with laughter.
President Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, stressed in his speech the importance of the first words of the preamble to the Constitution, “We the people.” The actor explained that this marked the first time those words were expressed worldwide in a formal government document.
Portraying Jefferson since 1983, professional actor and theater director Bill Barker depicts Jefferson on television, in film and many historical locations. His main reenactment venue as Jefferson is the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello.
Asked about his devotion to science as president, Jefferson spoke at length about founding a university and the patent office in support of citizens receiving credit for their scientific inventions. Before election to the presidency, he was the first examiner of American patents. An inventor, he said a president’s primary role is to celebrate others’ achievements.
President Abraham Lincoln provided the audience with an overview of America in the years before running for the presidency. Fritz Klein, 74, bears a strikingly uncanny physical resemblance to Lincoln. He spoke at length about the Missouri Compromise of 1820’s failure to stop the spread of slavery.
Klein portrays Lincoln as an actor and speaker since being recruited to do so for a small, local celebration during the bicentennial year. One of the nation’s best-known Lincoln reenactors, he has appeared in 43 states and a variety of films since 1981. He is a member of the National Speakers Association as a full-time actor traveling internationally to portray Lincoln on stage, in feature films, documentaries and speaking engagements.
Klein convinced the actor playing President Theodore Roosevelt to become a professional interpreter in 2003 after watching him perform and noting his physical resemblance to a circa 1915 version of the president.
Roosevelt, retired Huntington, Indiana businessman Gib Young, was the most energetic speaker of the four presidents. He wove many mentions of his associations with Oklahomans and his visit to Comanche peacetime leader Quanah Parker at his Star House in Cache into his speech. He delighted the audience with his “bully” rendition of Roosevelt’s personality, intellect, and zest for life. He said it was proper to speak at length because Roosevelt visited Oklahoma before and after signing the proclamation making Oklahoma a state.
Roosevelt gave a reverent accounting of Oklahomans who had volunteered to charge up San Juan Hill with him in the Spanish-American War.
Not noted in the actors’ speeches is the distinction that Roosevelt is the only president ever awarded the Medal of Honor. In 2001 he was posthumously honored for courage under fire described as “…acts of bravery on 1 July 1898, near Santiago de Cuba, Republic of Cuba, while leading a daring charge up San Juan Hill.”
Roosevelt cited the important dates leading up to Oklahoma’s Statehood Day and engaged members of the audience by asking them questions about American history during his question session.
His zest for the president’s job rose to a zeal of patriotism as he discussed Roosevelt’s role in setting aside large parts of America for its citizens as national parks. In citing his authority as president to protect wildlife and public lands by creating the United States Forest Service, he reeled off a litany of accomplishments for the audience. Starting in 1901, Roosevelt established 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and 18 national monuments. Roosevelt’s enabling of the 1906 American Antiquities Act protected approximately 230 million acres of public land.
Although the National Park Service was established 106 years ago with just 35 sites, the actor listed those five parks he had helped include long before the more formal act of Congress created the service. He finished his speech by pointing out how proud Roosevelt would be that America now has more than 400 parks and monuments under what he termed the amazing National Park Service.
The Inasmuch Foundation sponsored the program, coinciding with the OHC’s 17th anniversary and Oklahoma’s 117th Statehood Day in 1907.
The OHC is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society, seeking public engagement through its affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution and National Archives. It is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The OHS’s mission is to collect, preserve and share the State’s history and culture of its people. The Territorial Press Association founded the OHS in 1893 to maintain museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. It chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs, and publications. For more information, visit okhistory.org.