A color postcard with a 1912 postmark. The photo was probably taken around 1909-1911. The card caption says 'Dow Lake, McAlester, Oklahoma', but is actually at Dow, Oklahoma. Dow is about 10-12 miles southeast of McAlester and 2-4 miles northwest of Haileyville. Dow Lake Park was a very popular recreation spot in the early 1900's. The Pittsburg County Railway (streetcar) was based in McAlester and extended as far as Hartshorne (about 14-15 miles southeast of McAlester, 1 mile east of and adjoining Haileyville). Hundreds of people would disembark at Dow Lake Park on occasions when festivals were held. The structure in the background was the Owl Club. It was a recreation/dance hall. According to old Hartshorne Sun newspapers, live bands would play on the weekends at Dow Lake in the summers. The park also had waterslides and contained an amusement park. The streetcar line began operations some time in the late 1890's and ceased passenger service in 1946 or 1947. The streetcar was instrumental in transporting some students and teachers to school in Haileyville. You can still see some of these streetcars today. Trolley's Restaurant (now closed) in McAlester still has one on display. Others have been used as storage buildings in various locations in Pittsburg County. (Photo and information courtesy of Vivian Sternenberg from her website http://www.rootsweb.com/~okpitts2/. Originally submitted by Steve Defrange. Some information courtesy of the Hartshorne Sun and interviews with various Haileyville residents.) |
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This cannon was located in front of and just to the west of the old YMCA building. This is the same old cannon that still sits today on Main Street near City Hall. You can see the Rock Island Viaduct and some trains in the background. This picture was taken looking to the northeast. Today, Highway 270 runs where the trains in this picture are. (Photo from 1921 Haileyville Yearbook courtesy of Ouida Wilder-Dixon) |
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The Haileyville Railroad YMCA. This building stood where the current Haileyville City Hall is located on the corner of Main & Riley. (Photo from 1921 Haileyville Yearbook courtesy of Ouida Wilder-Dixon) |
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The following 4 pictures of Haileyville students seem to have all been taken in roughly the same spot looking east/northeast toward Hartshorne. The Rock Island Viaduct and railroads can be seen in the backgrounds. The YMCA building (where Haileyville City Hall sits today) and Main Street are just up the slope to the right of the pictures. Today, Highway 270 is located where the railroad tracks used to run. (Photos from 1921 Haileyville Yearbook courtesy of Ouida Wilder-Dixon) |
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Look closely in the background and you can see an old car crossing the viaduct. |
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This bridge (north-south crossing) was one of the few safe places to cross the railroad yards running through Haileyville. The background ramp was somewhere in the vicinity of the present day post office. The foreground ramp was somewhere on the hill between Horine and Riley streets in front of the present day City Hall. This picture is a drawing by an unknown artist. (Picture courtesy of Debbie Reynolds) |
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Haileyville in the 1920's - A group of men (railroad workers?) holds a sign saying "Welcome to H & L Service R & Y" with the Rock Island logo on it. Some of the buildings on the right still stand. The old city hall building can be seen standing taller on the hill than it stands today. The Rock Island Viaduct bridge that linked south side and north side can be seen behind the railroad depot. Trolley car tracks are running on the right side of the group of people. This picture shows the town in its prime. When the coal and railroad industries declined, so to did many southeast Oklahoma towns. (Photo taken from Hartshorne Sun newspaper courtesy of Pat Moore) |
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Brushy Creek Bridge - This is either an old highway bridge near Dow Lake or one of the old railroad bridges that used to span the creek. Although this bridge is gone, the remains of all of the old bridges can still be seen if you know where to look. (Photo from 1921 Haileyville Yearbook courtesy of Ouida Wilder-Dixon) |
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Dow Lake 1921. This photo shows 2 students sitting near the Owl Club (out of picture, see Trolley photo above). The photo was taken looking west-southwest. Haileyville is off to the left. Remnants of some of the old buildings like the one in the background can still be seen. (Photo from 1921 Haileyville Yearbook courtesy of Ouida Wilder-Dixon) |
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Pittsburg County Railway trolley car number 35 heading west in McAlester at the east side of the 'Public Service' electric utility company facility, which contained the main garage of the streetcar line. Electric Street (also known as Gene Stipe Blvd. for a few years) is just to the left of the streetcar. The house at the left of the trolley was demolished in the 1980's. This photo was taken around 1944-45. Other interesting items in this photo include a barracks visible just to the left of the house and just to right of the streetcar is a guard tower of the World War II prisoner-of-war internment camp. German POW's were incarcerated here untill end of the war. (Photo and information courtesy of Vivian Sternenberg from her website http://www.rootsweb.com/~okpitts2/. Originally submitted by Steve Defrange.) |
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Street car in downtown Krebs heading for McAlester - Pittsburg County Railway Company trolley car #35 is stopped in downtown Krebs on Washington Avenue (31 Highway) heading West. At the far left is 'Jabara's Dry Goods' and next door is 'Milwee Drug Store'. Krebs City Hall is obscured behind the streetcar. A highway 31 sign is visible at the far right by the automobile. The Krebs KATY depot is just out of sight at the right of the photo. The streetcar line which was operated by the electric power generating company in McAlester, began operation in the late 1890's and had extended as far as Hartshorne by late 1904. The line ceased operation in early 1947. This photo was taken around 1945-46. (Photo and information courtesy of Krebs Heritage Museum website www.krebsmuseum.com) |
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Clanton's Drug Store 1966. This business was located on what is now a parking area for the Rebel Bait Shop across the street from Baldwin's Variety Store. This photo was taken looking northeast from in front of what is now Baldwin's. (Photo courtesy of Florence Forrester-Stockton) |
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Haileyville First Christian Church circa 1966. The church stood on the corner of 3rd & Walcott right next to Haileyville Public Schools. The church moved north to a new building off of Highway 270 in 1985. The old building was sold to Haileyville Public Schools. The school used it for classes before tearing it down in 2003. The lot now serves as a student lounge area. (Photo courtesy of Florence Forrester-Stockton) |
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Front view of Haileyville First Christian Church looking north circa 1966. (Photo courtesy of Florence Forrester-Stockton) |
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Haileyville Post Office 1966. This building stood roughly where Car Pros now stands at 408 Main in Haileyville just a few buildings to the east of where Clanton's Drug Store stood. This building burned down in the late 1970s. (Photo courtesy of Florence Forrester-Stockton) |
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If you have pictures or information to share about Haileyville School or town history, please use the contact form or call (918)297-2626 ext. 1002. You can send copies of pictures, scans, send them on disk, or email them. |
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