Bryan Co., OK; Town of Mead - History --------------------------------- Submitted by the Bryan County Heritage Library Located in Calera, OK Written by Mrs. Head White 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. ---------------------------------------------------- MEAD HISTORY Old Double Springs, Indian Territory was off Highway 70, South and West of the Mead Cemetery. The School house was also used for a church. The stores were run by John Finch and J.B. Cox. The name was changed to Meade, Indian Territory. Meade had a one room school for colored children. It was located across Highway 70 from McCollum Store, where Frisco Park now stands. The year, 1902, Meade was moved Northeast on Highway 70 and the name was spelled Mead, Indian Territory. A new school house was built. A one room school North and West of Cottingham's store. A new two story school was built a block East and a block North of the old school. Mrs. Ella Davis Cox taught in this school. Mr. West was the first superintendent, then Mike Rowland, McCready, Fox, R.H. Van Meter and Whitley. Johnie Bishop was primary teacher and now resides in Tishomingo. In 1917 a brick school was built in South East part of town, it was used until the school was consolidated with Cobb in 1969 and a new school was built at Silo. Some of the teachers in this new brick school were Mr. and Mrs. Ryle, Mrs. Bell White, Bradley, Bowden Rains, C.D. Parrish and Mrs. Bartlett, Mrs. Juinita Anderson, Geraldine Mercer and Mr. Cottingham. The first 10 grades were taught at first, then later the 12 grades. Later Mead Cemetery was made where Double Springs once stood. Mrs. Davis played the organ for the church. She was buried where the organ once stood. Mrs. Jennie Adcock wanted to be buried where the church steps stood. In 1903, the first train, Frisco ran 4 trains a day. Passenger trains went West to Ardmore, Indian Territory and two went East to Hugo, Indian Territory. Then the railroad took all passenger trains off and put a small train "The Little Dinkie." Mead had a large depot. The First depot agent was C. G. Cline. Mr. Free was section foreman. Some of the children rode the train to school. The roads, were too bad for a bus to run. Later in the year, 1960 the "Dinkie" was discontinued. New Mead, Indian Territory at one time had: Two Shows-run by Sparks, Gibson's and Meeks. A Mattress factory. A Garage-Albert Adcock and he was Justice of the Peace. Bakery owned by Big Jack. Bank-Mr. Templeton, Stubba and Ralph Ownby. Drug Store-Dr. Kenney, Dr. Beech and Dr. Creswell. Newspaper-called Mead Messenger, Grocery Store and Dry Goods, Bee and Bob Edelen, Farris Brothers, Mr. Moore. The Edelen store sold on some Saturdays $1,000 cash and bought 30 cases of eggs, not counting credit and checks for the Saturday. Mead started a mail route and C. G. Cline was the First rural carrier. The other carriers to follow were Thomas Tillery, Renard Looyengoed, Pepper Childers, Chic Childers, and Wendell Sexton. Church was held in the school house. It was all or non- denominational, mostly Methodist and Presbyterians. Brother Haskins, Moore and Morrison were some of the early day preachers. The first Post Office was run by Lewis Krause, Where Mrs. Presley lives. It was moved across the street to Moore's Grocery and Hardware Store. Mr. Moore was Postmaster. Later it moved back across the street on corner, Earnest Davis was Postmaster a short time. Then Earnest Scott was Postmaster. The next Postmaster was Lewis Krause, Vivian Kenney, 1945, Walter Boothe, Mrs. Sallee was acting Postmaster for a while then Vern James, and he is now the Postmaster. Mary and Levi Kemp had a boarding house. It was called "Kemp's College." John McAlester ran a restaurant. A cafe was owned by Gibson's and a meat market owned by Street Davis. Hotel was owned by Mr. Moore and Mrs. Moore fixed lunch for the train men and delivered it to the depot. The Horton's ran the hotel for years until it closed. Mead bad two cotton gins. Mr. Inge owned one and Mr. Henry Gammons ran one for a gin company. There were five doctors in Mead, Dr. F. A. Sadler, Dr. Tony, Dr. Jackman, Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Austin. Dr. Armstrong moved to Durant the others stayed in Mead until they passed away. Dr. Creawell ran the Drug Store for years. A barber shop came to Mead in 1903. Murce Katy was first barber. He moved to Durant and George James was the barber for years. The first black smith shop was run by Hank Brown, then W. R. Davis and it had a griss mill run by Mr. Ridenhour, Bill Minor and Emit Canard. Taxie or Jitney-Street Davis, Luther Rowland and E.Q. Franklin. A Lumber Yard was owned by Fensley Brothers, Bruce Ellis ran the yard. They made brick North of Mead for a while. Highway 70 was first built about 1918. Grocery Stores-Jack Tierce-Tom Rowland, Luther Davis-Dry Goods-W.L. Ray-Livery Barn-Ben Cox-Blue Front Cafe. ------------------------------------------------- Written by Mrs. Head White