To my surprise, I had the day off before speaking to the Edmond (Oklahoma) Quilt Guild in the evening.  So, I decided to follow the advice I was given by the great people at the Prairie Quilt Shop in Hennessey, OK and tour Guthrie, OK.  It being outside of tourist season and it not being a weekend, I pretty much had the town to myself; although, I have to admit that being so alone made it feel just a little like a Twilight Zone episode.  Nonetheless, I had a great time.  The day was all I could hope for - warm with a clear blue sky.  So, I walked around town and even toured the Territory Museum and Carnegie Library. 

HISTORIC INTERLUDE: Interestingly enough, in 1907 the state capital moved from Guthrie to Oklahoma City - evidently in an overnight shady move.  The governor at that time sent his personal assistant, Mr. Anthony, to get the state seal for the vault at the current capital (relocation of the physical location of the capital took a move of the governor and the state seal).  Mr. Anthony presented the order given to him the governor to the clerk on duty.  The clerk promptly fetched the seal, wrapped it in Kraft paper, typed a receipt and gave the seal to Mr. Anthony.  Thus, this clerk play a small role in facilitating the move of the capital to Oklahoma City.  Now, the reason for the historic interlude, the clerk on duty was "Earl Keys."  Yet again, I wonder if my ancestors unwittingly participated in history.  Oh, well.


BACK TO THE STORY: My touring kind of wore me out.  So, I grabbed a coffee and decided to rest on a bench under the shade of the trees outside of the post office.  I light breeze made this so pleasant.  I enjoyed watching the pickups coated with red Oklahoma mud go past.  People pulled into the mail drop off lane and nodded politely at me.  A few folks wandered into the bank across the street.  Then I noticed the sign behind me.  I was sitting at the location of one of the two land offices where people had to personally come to file their land claim from the Land Run of 1889.  This lonely location of 1889 overnight soared to 20,000 people waiting to file their land claim.  This town appeared out of nowhere.

I let my mind wandering back in time.  I wondered what it was like in the Gaffney building in 1890 or the neighboring J. B. Beadles building.  Suddenly, these old buildings with the beautiful cornices and moldings represented the hopes and dreams of real people.  In my mind, I heard the clomp of horses passing along the streets and the laughter of children playing in the distance.

I slowly came back to 2010 and just relished participating in this day in Guthrie.  I guess I am becoming one of those old guys that sits on benches in the town square of so many small towns and dreams about the days of long ago.  I used to make fun of those old guys.  I guess I deserve this fate - and it's really not so bad.


If you are in Oklahoma, I encourage you to make time to visit Guthrie.