Wetumka, Ok? (Bessie, Mead: tornado, hotel, work)

[mld87]

I haven't lived in Wetumka in 20 years and it doesn't look any different. It looks like Quickway is closed across from the Grocery Store. That was a "hangout" place before we would start draggin' main every Saturday night! Kids probably don't do that anymore with gas at $3.00 a gallon! We would go through a 1/2 tank of gas in a weekend just driving up and down main...turn around at the railroad tracks on north main all the way down Hwy 9 to the old Chieftain restaurant drive thru. To have those simple days back again!

[mld87]

Wetumka has a lot of interesting history from the plague that took out everyone at the old boarding school east of town to the Osborn murders in the mid-70's. I remember my dad tried to fix up my sisters with of the Osborn boys about two months before he and his friend killed his entire family at the breakfast room table.

We also owned about 1000 acres north east of Wetumka (FM Hill for the locals) that at one time had an entire town that was destroyed during the OK dust bowl. We use to love exploring the area because there were old house foundations and cellars that remained. It was also a great place to find arrowheads and handmade pottery. It was never very dull living in a small town even though we thought it was at the time!

[peggydavis]

Wetumka is a nice, peaceful town, most times. They are getting a new factory there so maybe things will look up for them.

Thanks for sharing the stories of the past in Wetumka. I haven't lived here very long so I don't know much.

[mld87]

I know the Wes Watkins Vo-Tech School was build right after I left in the late 80's. I think that was a great draw for the area. Wes was the state Rep from Okemah for such a long time and worked very hard to strengthen the economy. I am glad to hear about the factory. There was a auto parts factory on the north side of town that closed in the 70's and there hasn't been anything to replace it as far as I know.

[peggydavis]

I don't know how long ago the peanut place closed, but I am sure that was a blow too.

The Creek Nation is starting to take an interest in Wetumka. They are the ones who are starting the modular home factory. They are also opening up some sort of clinic there. I would like to see Wetumka improve.

[mld87]

The peanut place closed sometime after 1996. I used to have a good friend who worked there. They didn't employ alot of people but I know it was a central resource for local farmers.

[barracudawife]

Does anyone know much about the tornado in or around Wetumka in May of 1924? My Great Grandparents and one of their daughters, her husband and one of their children died in that tornado. I think 11 people total lost their lives in that storm. I have only seen a few things about it, some in the Holdenville newspaper and the Okmulgee newspaper. My mother was born in Wetumka in 1927 and lived there a good deal of her life. I have been trying to get some pictures from that time. I am going to Wetumka soon, I have many family members, including my parents buried there.

[peggydavis]

The Wetumka newspaper has been publishing a series of history stories. While you are visiting you could visit the newspaper office and they might be able to help you.

[barracudawife]

Thank you I will do that

[mld87]

Peggy,

Is Bill Morgan still alive? He use to be the publisher for the Hughes County Times and was good friends with my parents. Just curious...