Please alert us to any events you know of that would be of interest to our visitors.  Our contact info is listed to the left, under "Contact the Museum."

The February, 2010 meeting of the AHSMC was well-attended by members and other interested residents.  The speaker was Dr. John Geiger, who spoke and presented a PowerPoint slide program to illustrate his remarks.  His subject was "Railroads of Murray County."  He has done extensive research on the three railroads which once served Murray Co. and concentrated on the ones that came through Sulphur.  

Shown above, Dr. Geiger(left) and Roland Earsom.
The audience learned a lot of interesting details about the routes and services.  Too bad we don't have rail service to Sulphur, anymore.  The Amtrak Heartland Flyer does pass through Davis on its way from OKC to Ft. Worth, but no trains run through Sulphur.  At one time,  several passenger trains daily brought visitors to the "medicinal" springs.  Dr. Geiger's father played in a band that entertained passengers on the excursion trains. 

On Nov. 3, 2009, we had a very interesting visitor.  Michael Harrison, a historian with the Historic American Engineering Record division of the National Park Service, came from Washington, D.C. to the museum, and used our collection of old city and county record books to do research on the building of Veteran's Lake. It was built during the 1930's by the WPA, with cooperation by the city of Sulphur. He was pleased that he was able to find the records that he had hoped to and we were pleased to meet such a friendly and informative representative of our NPS!

The Sept. 21, 2009 meeting of AHSMC was held on a stormy night at the museum.  We did not have an entertainment program but attended to necessary business.  Among other business, new officers were elected.

Officers for 2009-10 shown above, left to right, are Kay Rather, Secretary, Doris Donaho, Treasurer (continuing), Jewel Earsom, Vice President and Randi Crawford, President.  We're researching the history of the historical society to see if there has been a previous slate of all-female officers; We may be setting a historic precedent! 

We are sorry to report that our President, Joseph (Joe) Wright passed away unexpectedly on July 7, 2009. His family has a long history in Murray County.  He was a descendant of Mazeppa Turner, the namesake of Turner Falls, and Joe's father, Arnold Wright, is the oldest alumni of the OK School for the Deaf at Sulphur. Joe will be much missed around here for his kindness, willingness to lend a hand in any project and his wry sense of humor.  His wife, Jerri, has suggested memorial donations be sent to the Arbuckle Historical Society of Murray County, 402 W. Muskogee Ave. Sulphur OK 73086.

Elevator initiative!  The museum needs an elevator to serve the approximately 62% of veterans residing in the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Sulphur who are physically unable to climb stairs, as well as all handicapped visitors to the museum.  The 2nd floor exhibits are inaccessible to these visitors.  On May 13, 2009, members of the community and museum met with representatives from the ThyssenKrup Elevator Corporation, out of Oklahoma City, to discuss feasibility and costs. 
Pictured above, left to right, Joe Wright, AHSMC President; Reverend Joe Howard, of the First Christian Church; Phyllis Myers, executive director, Sulphur Mainstreet; Twyla June Adams-Miller. AHSMC member; Kenny Cobb, superintendent, ThyssenKrup: Ryan Tipps. sales rep, ThyssenKrup, and Roland Earsom, AHSMC member. Stay tuned for more news!

Monthly Meetings: The AHSMC has regular meetings on the 3rd Monday of each month, at 7 pm, at the Historical Society Museum building.  We try to have a guest speaker for each meeting,  usually focusing on Murray County history.  Feel free to join us;  membership is not required and the meetings are open to all.

The March 15, 2010 monthly meeting of AHSMC will be held at the museum at 7 pm.  
Our guest speaker will be Pat Lowrance Taylor, who will speak about the Lowrance family's long, distinguished history in Murray County.  Her great-grandfather, Willis Burgess Lowrance, settled on the Boiling Springs land, near Buckhorn, southeast of Sulphur, in 1877.  

The Lowrance Ranch house, built about 1890.  The house was destroyed by fire in recent years.
He was one of the first permanent white settlers that we know of in this area and his ranch pre-dated the establishment of the town of Sulphur Springs, which later became Sulphur.  Willis' second wife was full-blood Chickasaw and their son, Oscar, (Pat's grandfather) was a State Representative and Senator, as well as a rancher and rodeo cowboy. I hope you all can join us for this special event! 

The November 16 meeting was held at the museum at 7 pm.  Our guest speaker was Phyllis Myers, the director of Sulphur Mainstreet, who spoke on the many projects and services that Mainstreet provides.  Phyllis is a lively and interesting speaker and we were informed and entertained by her talk. and impressed by all the projects that she implements and carries out.

Oct. 19 - AHSMC Picnic meeting was held at the Bromide Pavilion area in Chickasaw National Recreation Area.  The informal meeting began about 5:30 pm, and a potluck buffet was served.  We were so pleased to have as special guest-performers, Nancy and James Singleterry, known as The Lamplighters, who specialize in playing old-timey music on dulcimer, banjo, guitar and fiddle. 
 They played such songs as "The Gypsy's Warning," "Eatin' Goober Peas," "The Rosewood Casket" and "Nelly Bly" by Stephen Foster. About 30 people attended and enjoyed a wonderful fall evening and great music and fellowship.  You can see more pictures on Facebook, under Arbuckle Historical Society.

UPDATE: Despite a cold, rainy day, the plaque dedication at American Legion Post 148, 910 W. 5th St. Sulphur, OK in honor of Lt. Col. Raymond Harvey, a former Sulphur resident and member of the Chickasaw Tribe was a great event.  Two of LTC Harvey's daughters, Cynthia Pereira and Johnece Firestone came long distances to attend.  Other family members, including his nephew James Harvey, Jr. and wife, Donna, made the trip to be part of the tribute to the family hero.  Judge Stuart Namm and wife, Nancy Ann Parmenter Namm, sponsors of the plaque, and producers of a documentary, "Men of Truth And Courage," about the 17th Inf. Regiment in Korea came from their home in North Carolina to be in attendance, as well as state, local, tribal and military dignitaries.  Col. Ron Little was Master of Ceremonies. LTC. Raymond Harvey is the only Chickasaw tribal member to be awarded our Nation's highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Following the dedication, a reception was held at the AHSMC Historical Museum,402 W. Muskogee and attendees enjoyed visiting, viewing the plaque and pictures of Col. Harvey and military images.  Roland Earsom, of the historical society, did a tremendous amount of work motivating and coordinating this honor to LTC. Harvey.   Thanks also to volunteers, Jo Crone, Jewel Earsom, Maxine Lannom, Sybil Oliver, Randi Crawford, Joe and Jerri Wright. 

Shown in the photo above, at the reception after the plaque dedication, from left to right, Donna Harvey, James Harvey, Jr, and Cynthia Pereira, standing, Johnece Firestone, seated.  Mr. Harvey is the nephew of Lt. Col. Harvey, and Ms. Pereira and Ms. Firestone are Lt. Col. Harvey's