Verden's Centennial - Grady County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Sandi Carter 10 May 2005 Return to Grady County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/grady/grady.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== The Chickasha Express-Star 13 March 2005 VERDEN PREPARES FOR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION By Laura McKay Staff Writer If a wandering mind were to consider the way of life 100 years ago, what would it look like? Would there be endless fields of rolling prairie dotted with countless bison? Would dust be stirred by men flooding the territories in search of oil? Or would the vision include growth, where streets, and alleys were plotted and new businesses emerged as the population grew? Residents of Verden, are faced with the question of what life was like 100 years ago as they prepare for their centennial celebration. “We thought maybe we missed it. Verden became incorporated in 1907 when Oklahoma became a state” said Dian Winkler. “Some people thought that’s when the centennial was. That’s not true because Verden was already a town. “The plating of the blocks was notarized on Jan. 7, 1905.” said Winkler, officially making Verden a town. The historically rich community has experienced change since its earliest days. Nestled between Anadarko and Chickasha, the town was originally referred to as Cottonwood or Cottonwood Grove, and was re-named Verden in 1906 for the man credited for mapping the town site, A. N. Verden. The town of Verden changed hands several times before it was platted and dedicated by E. J. Kelly. “The Indian Territory, 158.3 acres, was given to James N. Jones by the President of the United States of America, William McKinley: said Winkler. “James N. Jones gave the land to his son James E. Jones, who gave it to E. J. Kelly in 1904.” Initially located in Caddo County, Verden was made a part of Grady County shortly after becomming a town. One hundred years later, members of the Town Council and supporters of the centennial celebration are hoping the event can be planned for late summer or early fall 2005. Winkler said they are looking at calendars so the centennial celebration doesn’t coincide with other activities or festivals. “We don’t know a lot of the details yet. We are hoping that’s what a committee gets to working on,” said Winkler. Preliminary plans have the celebration as a one-and-a-half-day blowout beginning on Friday afternoon and going until Saturday night. “There is lots of planning still to be done,” said Winkler. The planners of the celebration hope the event will include carnival rides, vendors and booths, children’s games, a street dance, cake walks, a dunking booth, bingo, a basketball shoot, face painting, a car show and live music. “We need volunteers to set up a committee. We’re wanting bands to volunteer their time,” said Diedrea Holder, “and we definitely want sponsors.” Anyone interested in taking part in Verden’s centennial celebration is urged to attend a special meeting held on March 22 at 7 p.m. in the Verden Community Building, located next to Verden City Hall. For more information call Verden City Hall at (405) 453-7235 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Grady County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/grady/grady.html