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Since prehistoric times, commerce has been one of the engines that made Oklahoma run. This began with the Indigenous peoples who lived at Spiro Mounds. They had a vast trade network and obtained goods from across the country, a practice that was continued by their descendants. In the 1700s, French traders moved into eastern Oklahoma, opening up trade to St. Louis and New Orleans. As towns began to develop, enterprising merchants provided goods that were in demand such as salt, lumber, banking services, and food. Later, iconic stores such as Anthony’s, OTASCO, and TG&Y met the needs of the consumer.
Our guest on this episode is Ed Threatt Sr.—grandson of Allen Threatt Sr.—who opened the only known Black-owned filling station on Route 66, the Threatt Filling Station, in 1915. The station became a haven for Black travelers on the Mother Road. Today, the Threatt family is working to restore the building and educate travelers on the importance of this historic filling station. To learn more about the project click here.
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An Evening with James Armistead Lafayette
The Oklahoma History Center is honored to present Colonial Williamsburg’s Stephen Seals in a portrayal of James Armistead Lafayette. This evening presentation will take place in the Chesapeake Event Center and Gallery on Friday, January 27, at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for nonmembers. There is no reserved seating, so early arrival is recommended. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
James Armistead Lafayette was born in 1748. He met the Marquis de Lafayette in 1780, who enlisted him as a spy for the Continental forces. The living history program will be presented by Stephen Seals, manager of curated programs at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Click here to purchase tickets.
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Block-Printed Valentine's Day cards workshop
Learn the art of linocut while making your own block-printed Valentine’s Day cards at the Oklahoma History Center on Saturday, February 4, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Linocut is a printmaking technique in which a sheet of linoleum is carved out to make a design and then stamped with ink onto paper. The workshop will be held at the Oklahoma History Center, and is $45 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $55 for nonmembers. The fee includes all materials. Participants must be 16 years of age or older. Registration is required, and is limited to 12 participants. For more information call 405-522-0765.
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Click event listings below for more information.
19 - Historic Preservation Review Committee meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
21 - Museum OKademy volunteer training class and lecture, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
21 - Stained Glass Preservation and Restoration workshop, Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion, Oklahoma City
21 - History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
25 - Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
27 - “History and Hops: The Case for Saving Abandoned Properties” presentation by Michael Schwarz, Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion, Oklahoma City
27 - Movie Night featuring Mr. Skitch (1933), Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
27 - Museum After Dark: Village Sounds featuring singer-songwriter duo Desi and Cody, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
27 - History Alive!: An Evening with James Armistead Lafayette, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
28 - Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined exhibit opens, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
28 - Introduction to Botanical Embroidery workshop, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
28 - “On A Great Battlefield: The History of Gettysburg National Military Park, 1863–2022” presentation by Dr. Jennifer Murray, Honey Springs Battlefield, Checotah
1 - Antique Doll exhibit opens, Fred and Addie Drummond Home, Hominy
4 - Museum OKademy volunteer training class and lecture, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
4 - Block-Printed Valentine’s Day Card workshop, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
4 - History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
10 - Museum After Dark: Date Night at the Museum, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
11 - Quilting workshop with Martha Ray, Sod House Museum, Aline
11 - Hammered Moon and Star Earrings workshop, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
11 - Second Saturday Sewing Circle, Fort Towson Historic Site, Fort Towson
15 - Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
18 - Museum OKademy volunteer training class and lecture, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
18 - History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
18 - Kids Make History, Fort Towson Historic Site, Fort Towson
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Masthead photo: A ledger page with handwritten entries for Mr. Lylie Caldwell, detailing purchases he made at the Threatt Filling Station. These transactions were recorded at a time when gasoline cost 22 to 30 cents per gallon! In addition to serving as a safe haven for Black travelers in the Jim Crow era, the station was also an important lifeline to the people who lived in the area. A grocery store was added in 1935, which served as a place where visitors could buy refreshments and locals could purchase necessary sundries like milk, bread, and canned goods without having to travel to towns further away (image courtesy of the Threatt family). |
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