OHS EXTRA! - Where there's smoke...

Oklahoma Historical Society sent this bulletin at 05/11/2022 05:00 AM CDT

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History Center Research Museums & Sites Preservation Publications

May 11, 2022

A steam pumper fire engine, Oklahoma City No. 9, c. 1910 (16820, Oklahoma Historical Society Photograph Collection, OHS).

Becoming Fearless exhibit opens

On Monday, May 16, a new photography exhibit, Becoming Fearless, is opening in the Chesapeake Event Center and Gallery at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC).

Becoming Fearless explores 70 years of firefighting in Oklahoma. 25 black-and-white images trace the evolution of the profession from the early days of acrobatics, antics, and volunteerism in the 1900s to the sophisticated fire safety systems in use today. Photographs from the early days of firefighting often depicted feats of agility—along with a bit of humor. Some of the images are great examples of the firehouses, equipment, and uniforms from across the state. Guthrie established its fire department in 1889, the same year as Oklahoma City. Tulsa followed in 1900, Enid in 1902, and Edmond in 1903. Most started with volunteers only, as is still the case in some rural areas today. Horse-drawn fire equipment was common from 1889, when the Oklahoma City Fire Department (OCFD) was originally established, until 1910 when the first motorized firefighting vehicle was introduced.

Due to long shifts, firefighters made the fire station a second home. Sometimes this included stations adopting pets or house mascots such as dogs, goats, and sheep, which are also depicted in the exhibit.

A small selection of artifacts from the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) collection will be featured, including the Class A uniform worn by Marvin O. Nelson in 1951. He was one of the first 12 Black OCFD firefighters.

The Chesapeake Event Center and Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is also used to hold meetings and events, so patrons should call 405-522-0765 in advance to make sure the room is open to the public on the day of a visit.

The OHC is a division of the OHS and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives, and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums.

six firemen standing on the rungs of a 40 foot ladder

Second Saturday Demo: Herb Gardening this Saturday

Fort Towson Historic Site will host the next program in its Second Saturday Demo series to teach about the practice of growing an herb garden on Saturday, May 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. This program will be led by master gardeners Jean Maninger and Billie Paskin.

Fort Towson had three main gardens from 1824 to 1854: the hospital garden, the officers’ garden, and the company garden. Growing herbs and fresh vegetables at the fort provided soldiers with important vitamins and minerals—something often missing from a frontier diet of salted meats, beans, and flour.

For more information about the event, please call 580-873-2634. Fort Towson Historic Site is located north of US 70 near Fort Towson.

photographs of pierre tartoue, indigenous family, man and mother holding a child

On Saturday, May 21, the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will open the OHS traveling exhibit Family Album: Photographs by Pierre Tartoue.

Pierre Tartoue (1885–1976) was born in the harbor town of Saint-Nazaire on the western shores of France, and in his lifetime made his way across most of the continental United States. From the late 1930s to early 1950s he spent most of his time in Oklahoma, painting and producing photographs that witnessed a tremendous renaissance in Indigenous communities, including the emergence of large intertribal expositions and sacred gatherings. This rebirth would not have been possible without strong multigenerational Indigenous families. This exhibit was curated by Matt Reed and Jacquelyn Sparks.

The exhibit will be on display at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum until Sunday, July 31.

Fort Gibson living history program to focus on frontier foodways

On May 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site will host a living history program titled “Beans to Bullets: Frontier Foodways.”

Soldiers, settlers, and pioneers of Oklahoma had to gather, hunt, grow, and prepare food to sustain their lives on the frontier. Visitors will see Fort Gibson’s hunting equipment and hear about various methods of food preparation, including how to make items that were easy to preserve such as salted meats and hardtack. Guests will also have the opportunity to go inside the Fort Gibson bake house to see how soldiers prepared loaves of bread that were a staple in their diet. To learn more about the Civil War–era stone oven, experience the “Feeding an Army” issue of Crossroads, the OHS’s online publication. At Fort Gibson, vegetable gardens also were planted in the warmer months to grow fresh ingredients that staved off scurvy and sustained the fort’s inhabitants through the harsh winter.

This program is free with paid admission, which can be purchased at the commissary located at 907 N. Garrison Ave. or at the office located within the palisade grounds. Please call 918-478-4088 for more information. Fort Gibson Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark.

Blue skies and Day lilies in foreground, Overholser Mansion stands beyond

Volunteer Training Day

The Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion, in partnership with Preservation Oklahoma, will host a volunteer training day on Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Have you ever wanted to give tours of a historic house museum? Maybe giving tours is not your cup of tea, but helping with maintaining the splendor of a historic home is more your speed. Or perhaps you would prefer to volunteer for events. This program will cover a number of options for volunteer opportunities, including giving tours, assisting with various maintenance activities, and possibilities to volunteer for special events.

Prospective volunteers will learn the history and basic tour guidelines for the 1903 Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion, located at 405 NW 15th St. in Oklahoma City. Beginning at 10 a.m., the morning session will introduce best practices and requirements for volunteering. Lunch will be provided. After lunch, participants will tour the home with Museum Coordinator Lisa Escalon. For more information, please contact Chantry Banks, Preservation Oklahoma executive director, at director@preservationok.org or 405-525-5325.

Register online

The Importance of Being Earnest poster and image of couple sipping tea near a Victorian home

Too important to miss!

There is still time to purchase tickets for the final two shows of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest! The Gaslight Theatre of Enid is performing an adaptation of Wilde’s play using all of the buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center as their stage. Join them May 13 and 14 for this creative staging of a classic play by clicking here. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is located at 507 S. Fourth St. in Enid.

OHS COVID-19 safety measures

We recommend that visitors who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 wear face masks in indoor public areas. We ask that you avoid visiting OHS museums, sites, and affiliates if you have COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms, have a fever, or are otherwise feeling sick or unwell.