OKMCCURT-L Archives

From: Lou Ann and Woody Lunsford <>
Subject: [OKMCCURT-L] HAWORTH, OKLAHOMA - Page 81
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 1998 10:11:35 -0500

Haworth traces its origins to the trading center of Norwood which
existed about a mile west of the present town prior to Oklahoma
statehood. W.A.Coleman, C.J. Stewart and J.R. White had business
interest at Norwood and a post office was established there in March
1902 with Stewart as postmaster.

When the Choctaw and Arkansas Railroad was built through the area in
1902, the route bypassed Norwood and the Townsite Commison platted the
town of Harrington to the east of Norwood. When a post office charter
was sought for the new town, it was found that a town by the same name
already existed over in Oklahoma Territory. Finally in 1906, the new
post office charter was issued under the name of Haworth as it is know
today. One authority states that Haworth was named for an official of
the Frisco Railroad, successor of the Choctaw and Arkansas.

Little building was done in Haworth until 1907 but the influx of
settlers after statehood and the growth of the timeber industry made
Haworth thrive and grow. At the height of its development, the town
boasted two banks, a newspaper, four doctors, a large two-story brick
school, its own telephone, water and electric systems.

The Great Depression of the 1930s marked the decline of Haworth as a
trading center. Many of the businesses and professional people moved to
Idabel or Broken Bow.

Picture:
A Haworth street scene in 1910 before any brick business buildings had
been constructed. The two-story brick school, then under construction,
can be seen in the left background. The building on the right is the
D.C. Whiteman and Sons store. Next to it is G.W. May's general
merchandise establishment. The large structure in the center background
is Pat Rankin's Skating Rink. Note the wagons loaded with cotton bales,
awaiting buyers. (Bertha Presson)

Page 82, two pictures
Another early street scene in Haworth shows the G.W. May Store and the
D.C. Whiteman and Sons Store, two of the earliest business
establishments in the new town. (S.B. Helms)

This early street scene was photographed sometime after 1910 since the
brick structures in the background were constructed after that date.
(Lorrie Williams)

Page 83, two pictures
Dr. W. H. McBrayer opened the first drug store in Hawroth in 1905. Here
he is seen in the store with John Storey. (S. B. Helms)

The Haworth Drug Store in 1918, then owned by Dr. McBrayer and S.B.
Helms. There are six people in this picture, but no names noted. (S.B.
Helms)

Page 84, two pictures
Street scene in Haworth shows the Bank of Haworth and adjoining stores.
The bank building is the only surviving structue of the two-block long
brick business district which was built prior to World War I by John
DeGroot, Haworth builder. (Evelin Sanders)

The John Westmoreland tie yard at Haworth in 1910 with the railroad
depot in the background. (Harry Westmoreland)

Page 85, two pictures
By the early 1930s Haworth had faded as a business center and many of
the brick business buildings were vacant as this 1939 photo shows.
(Soil Conservation Service)

By 1946 many of the brick buildings had been torn down. This photo
shows the remnants of a once bustling business district. The two-story
building in the center background is the only surviving brick
structure. It once housed a bank, telephone system, professional
offices and later the post office. (Soil Conservation Service)

Page 86, two pictures
This spring, west of town was at one time a principal source of the
Haworth water supply. (Soil Conservation Service)

Haworth had a modern water system which included this water tank near
the site of the first school building. Water was pumped from a spring
which yielded 13,000 gallons a day. (Soil Conservation Service)

Page 87, two pictures
Haworth had two of the earliest automobiles in the county. The first
was that of Lester Walters, shown in front of the Walters Hotel.
Various members of the Walters family are also pictured. Anna Jane
Walters, is believed to have been the first woman driver in the county.
(Lorrie Walters Williams)

The Dr. W.H. McBrayer family in their automobile which was also one of
the earliest cars in the county. (Bill McBrayer)

Page 88, two pictures
During Haworth's heyday it boasted many impressive homes such as this
one of John Westmoreland, built before 1910. The home was later moved
to Idabel. (Harry Westmoreland)

The Wylie Lumber Company at Haworth, date unknown. Note the old
horsedrawn road grader in the foreground. This type of equipment was
used to maintain the gravelled roads from statehood until the 1940s.
(Joe Hendrix)

Page 89, two pictures
A photo of the Bolt Hotel at Haworth, year unknown though probably
before World War I. This was one of four hotels then operating in the
thriving town. A portion of the hotel building still stand though since
modified as a family dwelling. There are 13 people on the porch of this
building, no names noted. (Exa Bolt Coffman)

Sim Nelson's barbershop at Haworth in the late 1920s or early 1930s.
Nelson, who later served as Idabel mayor, is standing behind the chair
on the left and Tom Cox is in the chair. The other barber is unknown
but the man in the chair is John Denny. (Helen Mitchell)

To be continued..............

--
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During our research trips, when a book is purchased relating to our
family's history or listing information of the area, we buy two: One
to keep and one to donate to our Clayton Genealogical Library in the
family's name or a member of the family.
Lou Ann & Woody Lunsford
NATIVE TEXAN 8310 Werner, Houston, TX 77037 TEXAS PROUD
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• [OKMCCURT-L] HAWORTH, OKLAHOMA - Page 81 by Lou Ann and Woody Lunsford <>