Bryan Co., OK; Historic Sites in Bryan County - History --------------------------------- Submitted by the Bryan County Heritage Library Located in Calera, OK Written by Raymond A. Scott Typed for the archives by Trudy Marlow --------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ---------------------------------------------------- HISTORIC SITES IN BRYAN COUNTY The purpose of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to preserve and perpetuate the history of Oklahoma and its people. The Society has a historical marker program to make all Oklahoman's aware of their history. The Oklahoma Historical Society has Identified seven historical sites in Bryan County. ARMSTRONG ACADEMY Armstrong Academy was opened on the 2nd day of December 1845 by the Choctaw Nation. It was named for the Indian Agent, William Armstrong. During the Civil War it served as the Confederate capitol. It was the Choctaw capitol between 1863 and 1883. The academy was located northeast of Bokchito. The site is also known as Chahta Tamaha which means Choctaw Town or City. After serving as the Choctaw capitol the academy continued as a school for Choctaw boys until it burned in 1919. A small cemetery remains at the site. BLOOMFIELD ACADEMY Bloomfield Academy was established in 1853 by the Chickasaw Council as a Seminary for Indian girls. The site is located near Achille. The academy was located on two different sites about three-quarters of a mile apart. Near the second location of the academy is the Bloomfield Cemetery where many prominent Chickasaws and missionaries are buried. Fire destroyed the buildings at Bloomfield in 1914. In 1917 the academy was moved to Ardmore (Carter County) and renamed the Carter Seminary. COLBERT'S FERRY AND STATION Near the town of Colbert is the location of Colbert's Ferry and home of the Benjamin F. Colbert. Colbert built his ferry on the Texas Road in 1853. It was at this point that the Butterfield Overland Mail Route crossed the Red River into Texas. The house is located about three-fourths of a mile northeast of the ferry site. Nearby the house is a burial plot which includes a monument to Benjamin F. Colbert. The Butterfield Overland Mail was created by an act of Congress on March 3, 1857. It carried passengers and mail from Missouri to California. The company maintained twelve stations within the state. The last three (Nail's, Fisher's, and Colbert's Ferry) are located in Bryan County. FISHER'S STATION This station was located west of Durant. It was the eleventh of twelve stations of the route of the Butterfield Overland Mail in Oklahoma. The company was ready to carry passengers west on September 15, 1858. The Butterfield Stage made the first trip to California in 24 days, 18 hours and 26 minutes. For the first time in history, a traveler could ride from Missouri to California. The cost of a ticket was $200. FORT McCULLOCH This earthen fortification was constructed in 1862 by General Albert Pike, C.S.A. The remains of the earthen walls can still be seen near the town of Kenefic. The garrison consisted of one regiment of infantry and two companies of artillery from Arkansas, two regiments of cavalry from Texas, and eighteen unassigned pieces of artillery. On paper this should have totaled 3,000 men but on June 1, 1862 the Confederate commander reported approximately 1,000 men on the duty roster. FORT WASHITA The site and name of the Fort was selected by General Zachary Taylor in 1842. It was garrisoned by U.S. troops until the time of the Civil War. The Fort is located on State Highway 199, approximately 15 miles northwest of Durant. The Oklahoma Historical Society acquired the property in 1962. Since that time extensive restoration and stabilization work has been done by the staff of the Society. Fort Washita is one of Oklahoma's most important and most visited historic sites. Also located on the grounds of Fort Washita is a marker dedicated to General Douglas Hancock Cooper. Cooper was appointed Indian Agent in 1853. He also served as the Confederate Indian Agent, and as the commander of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles during the Civil War. He continued his work as Indian Agent after the war. He died at the Fort in 1879. His log cabin home still stands on the parade grounds of the Fort. The Oklahoma Historical Society has also constructed markers on the grounds of the Fort at the Chickasaw Indian Burial Grounds and the Colbert Family Cemetery. NAIL'S STATION Running through Oklahoma for 197 miles the Butterfield Overland Mail route stopped at this station near Kenefic. This station was a link in the 139 relay stations which were spread over the 2,800 mile route of the company. The Butterfield was the first transcontinental link between the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. At the start of the Civil War, Butterfield stages were delivery more mail to the west than all of the ships at sea. The Missouri to Texas Road forded the Blue River at Nail's Crossing. Across the river from Nail's Station is the earthen fortification of Fort McCulloch. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Written by Raymond A. Scott