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ALBflRTI, GKORGE. INTiSVIJEW 10B57 375
- 8 - Form JORM "*)RK3 PROGRESS Indian-Planner History l?**o«ct f»r Oklahoma 376 JLHBHTX, GJSUMHU XNHBRTCE1I. 10367 Field forker»8 name This report mad* on (date) tt r 1938 * 1. Nfime ilbcrti. 2. Post Office Address 3. Residence address (or location)j 4. DATE OF BIRTH: Month Day 20 5. Place of birth Qinariy. 6. Name of Father Qy>rge Place ef 7. Naran»f Motherpox'jg Kruge.'J.bertl. Place»f Other information about m o t h e r ; Tuthmx was a cabinet nator. Notes or complete narrative by the fi«ld worker dealing with the life and story of the person interviewed. Refer to Manual ftr suggested subjects and questions. Continue on blank sheets if nocessary «and attach fjraly to this formv Number of sheets
377 AIBEBTI, GEORGE. INTERVIEW, 1055?. Robert W. S&aU, InYeati gator, March 0, 1938. Interview Aith George Newkirk, Oklahoma. I was bora ~ay 20t/i, ldd.;, in Genoany *JUU ay parents ceme to America when 1 was three years old tuai settled in Iwhraska in 1373. Whan the Cherokee Strip wae opened to eettlemeut ay father and I came to Oklahoma. On. the day of the Opening agr father nnd i cud the Run, goiiig fas far south us the Salt?ork River, but bei:.g unable to find a rucoiit claim we stayed all night near the Salt Fork Hirer t\ia the next day we came to ^evkirk which was the new county eeat town of Kay County*»e put in a furniture and undertaking boainees* X have followed- th«undertaki-ig buaineas here in Hewkirk for the past 4'c yeera end I aere seen i^iewkirk d«ralop fro a raw prairie to a city* The firat buildings erected in the town ware scattered here and there in Yiew of ilk* fact that no particular pert of towii heti been designated ea the principal buaineaa diatrict* The firat
378 GS)K». IlflSRVIiW, 10357. buildings were of wooden construction and Inexpensive as a role* Stone being found in different plaoes / accessible to the town, the first substantial business houses were asde of etone and were begun abrjcljlfcooend during the years ol 1901, l&qii^tfd'j,90? about eignty or ninety atone buildings were erected. Ike first bank established In Newkirk was the Santa Fe Bank, now the Eastman National Bank. The First national Bank was erected and started soon after. I was the town's first osyor tinder an aldenaanie form ot Government Our town lows were about the sane ^ as adopted in other towns of similar siae in the county. In the early days the town was nade up of grocery, dry floods, hardware, furniture and general stores In addition to which there were three or four llrery barns and feed yards, several bl&ekaiuith shops, about ten or eleven saloons and other businesses* A cheese factory was built about 1900 and a flour mill about 1901. The Saloons were the principal sources of rerenua for the oity in the early days*
379 ALBEREt, 'GKHKII, IHTEHTCIW. 10357, -5- In addition to tho mayor and aldermen, tbtre was a oity marshal, street conrcisu*o»tr end a city clerk, a l l Of whom were appointed oy the town board for th«first tmt years* The merchants of the towu hired a nigrtwatoh* van whom they paid vitnout expense to the town* Tho tow^. built a school building, and a Tew churches of differ eat <iersoiai nations were built soon after the town started. The first County Fair was held about 1898 at Newkirk. }uite a display of wheat, oats, kaffir, com and other grain products, aa well us all kinds of forage feeds, were on exhibit, as well as all kinds of stock* This wooer: had attractive dj splays of ejiilts, needle work and fancy work of various kinds; alno the fruit display was splendid* There were lots of horse races with $1000 purses for the winner* The tomission charge was only & «The fair continued to be held at I^ewkirk for about ten years when a County Free lair was established by the County Conmieai oners to be located at Slack well, Gklahoos* I serred the Fair as Secretary for two or three year* while it was located In
380 ALBEPTI, QEOBGE. INTERVIEW 10357. - 4 - I also served as Secretary of the County Election Board in 1918* In the earl, daya of Newkirk, kerosene and water ware aold from wagona that supplied the town regularly each day* Water was scarce in the early daya of the town, and kerosene was used by a great many people for furnishing light from kerosene lamps and lanterns* Our town Installed a water and sever systea In 1901* During the years from 1904 to 1910 I served as "ounty "oaoissloner of the Hewkirk District* During ay taras of office as Coaodssioner, a steal bridge was built acvwm the Arkansas River east of Newkirk, at a coat of $84,000.00, the county paying the entire cost* Other less expenaivs bridges were built In different parts of the county. I own a piece of solid walnut furniture, a commode, aade b. n grandfather in Nebraska in the y-ar of 1873*