Hennessey, OK - Depot Postcard, 1965

Picture postcard featuring the Hennessey, Oklahoma railroad depot in 1965. This building served the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway.

From Ebay auction listing.
Location: Perryville, Maryland.

Christian Endeavor Temperance Badge 1904

This momento comes from the Christian Endeavor Convention and its 14th Annual Territorial Convention in Kingfisher, Okla., May 27-29, 1904, as indicated on the back side. It is described as a celluloid disc, measuring 2.5" in height (including the brass fleur-de-lis emblem pin). The disc itself is approximately 1.5" in diameter.

(Image from Ebay auction posting by seller in Lebanon, Kentucky)

Kingfisher Police Patch

Police patch from the Kingfisher, Okla., city police department. This particular patch is no longer used.

(From Ebay Auction posting)

PLANNED PROJECT: Kingfisher Welcome Center

A project primarily headed by Kingfisher artist John Gooden, the Kingfisher [Tourist] Welcome Center will be located on the northeast corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 81 and State Highway 33 in Kingfisher. Gooden has already completed the massive bronze statue of trailblazer Jesse Chisholm and landscaping has been under way.
In 2006, Gooden unveiled an architect's rendition of the planned welcome center, (bottom right) but in September 2008, a new version has appeared (top), which conjures a vision of the county's grand 1901 courthouse, though in smaller scale.

Kingfisher First Baptist Church: "The ConneXtion"

KINGFISHER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH has completed construction in its newest building, dubbed the "ConneXtion," on their 13th Street property in west Kingfisher. The finished structure ended up looking pretty much as it was first presented in the Kingfisher Times & Free Press in Sept. 17, 2008. Groundbreaking was held Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008 with an open house celebration date of Sunday, August 30, 2009.

Pictured are the original architect's rendition of the building, and the actual completed structure, Aug. 25, 2009

ORIGINAL STORY:

KINGFISHER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH is beginning construction on its new building, a 15,000 square-foot multipurpose center featuring a gymnasium, worship center for capacity of 125 people, 10 classrooms and a commons area. The project is expected to cost $1,900,000.00 and will be located at the church's existing South 13th Street property. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008. (Architect's rendition pictured; featured in the Sept. 17, 2008 issue of the Kingfisher Times & Free Press)

Kingfisher County Courthouse (No. 3: 1901-1959)

KINGFISHER COUNTY has had four "official" courthouses since settlement here in the Land Run of 1889. The most famous of the bunch was courthouse No. 3, which was built beginning with the laying of the cornerstone in October, 1901. The grand building was used until 1959 when it was demolished to make way for a "more modern" structure.
This yellowed print of Kingfisher County's "Old Lady" was purchased on Ebay in mid-2008 and is now in the collection of KCHR. Its age and origin are uncertain, but it appears to have been clipped from a larger piece. As is, it measures 6"x3" and was glued to a backing board before KCHR purchased it.

Hennessey, OK - First National Bank postcard (1909)

Another colorful postcard featuring the First National Bank building in Hennessey, from 1909.

(Image from Ebay auction posting)

~ THE HISTORIAN'S CREED ~

~ The Historian's Creed ~

History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time.
It illumines reality, vitalizes memory,
provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.

The first law for the historian is that he shall never dare utter an untruth.
The second is the he shall suppress nothing that is true.
Moreover, there shall be no suspicion of partiality in his writings, or of malice.

~ Marcus Tillius Cicero ~
106 ~ 46 B.C.

Hennessey, OK - First National Bank postcard (1911)

A great Hennessey color postcard from 1911, featuring the old First National Bank building downtown. This German-made "Litho-Chrome" postcard was purchased in 2008 by KCHR.

We are always on the lookout for Hennessey postcards, pictures and memorabilia to add to our files. If you have images you'd like to share, send them, along with a description, to KingCoHistory@yahoo.com. Be sure to include the subject line "KFR Historical Item," even if it is for a town or community other than Kingfisher.

People's National Bank encased penny (1965)

This aluminum-encased 1965 Lincoln Penny was given as a premium to patrons of The Peoples National Bank in Kingfisher, presumably in 1965. The front of the coin (right) has the penny surrounded by a horseshoe design with the words "Keep me and you will have good luck." A four-leaf clover rests below. The reverse side reads "The Peoples National Bank; Dependable banking since 1891; Kingfisher, Okla."
This item was purchased on Ebay in mid-2008 by KCHR.

Pioneers of Kingfisher County, Vol. II

As an official Oklahoma Centennial project, the Chisholm Trail Museum in Kingfisher, OK compiled a second volume to their popular 1976 local history book "Pioneers of Kingfisher County." Appropriately, the new volume was called "Pioneers of Kingfisher County, Vol. II."

Those of us working on this book, beginning in 2005, devoted a great deal of our otherwise "free-time" to collect, organize and compile county family stories so that the people of today and the generations of tomorrow will have this research tool available. Although Vol. II comes 31 years after Vol. I, we don't want to wait that long for a Vol. III and hope to be able to compile it at least before 2017.

This 429-page hard-bound book is available at the Chisholm Trail Museum, 605 Zellers Ave., Kingfisher, OK. Cost: $60 (plus tax).

Visit the official Chisholm Trail Museum website: www.ChisholmAndSeay.com

KT&FP Oklahoma State Centennial Edition (2007)

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Oklahoma's statehood (Nov. 16, 1907), the Kingfisher Times & Free Press newspaper published the "Oklahoma State Centennial Edition." This full-color 208-page paper-back features local historical tidbids, family stories and advertising for the first 100 years of Oklahoma (1907-2007) along with some "back-story" of the years before statehood. Kingfisher County 120 early-day school districts are covered, as well as a cluster of family Centennial Farms, historical markers, and county and city maps. This book is still available in the Times & Free Press office at 323 N. Main in Kingfisher. Cost: $20. (Phone: 405-375-3220)

OKARCHE, OK - Police Patch

An Okarche, OK Police Department patch, date unknown.

The name of this southern-most Kingfisher County town is derived from three different words. "OK-lahoma, AR-apaho and CHE-yenne"

Okarche stradles the southern border of Kingfisher County and the northern border of Canadian County.

(Image from E-bay Auction Posting)