If the hustle and bustle of big city life is getting you down there IS a place here on planet Earth that a man can effectively gather his thoughts: Hooker, Oklahoma.
Named for OX ranch foreman John "Hooker" Threlkeld. John earned his nickname by being able to snatch calves from their mamas' shadows with just a rope and a flick of the wrist. Just a good cowboy.
This town is a survivor of a day when Texas County, Oklahoma wasn't anywhere. It had been ceded from Texas, and it only showed up on maps with the name "No Man's Land".
It finally became part of the Oklahoma Territory and finally the State of Oklahoma. Having spent some time up there with the locals I'm not sure they're really keen on being a part of anybody's State. A highly independent bunch they are.
The town burned down years ago and they have survived. They've survived dust storms, horrible winters, bad farm prices and ecological induced political disaster...Optima Dam, about 13 miles SE of town. Or, if you're fluent in Okie, "levensouth 'n foureast".
The latter being the COE construction of Optima Dam in 1978:
The earthen Optima Lake Dam (National ID # OK20510) was constructed in 1978 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, with a height of 120 feet, and a length at its crest of 16,875 feet. Although designed to contain a maximum of 618,500 acre-feet, the lake has never reached more than 5 percent of its design capacity, and now is effectively empty. Rapid declines in streamflow (related to large-scale pumping from the High Plains Aquifer) coincided with the completion of dam construction to make this lake a dramatic example of unanticipated environmental impacts.
The US Army Corps of Engineers states (emphasis added):
Visitors should be aware that the lake's level can be very low. Depending on rainfall and evaporation rates, the lake may offer no water-based recreation and may not be suitable for swimming, fishing, boating or other activities.
Now you know why it's called Optima Dam, not Optima Lake.
But not wanting to leave you all with a hint of despair, Hooker has homes, schools, churches and commerce.
And if it's pizza you're hankerin' for while enjoying the scenery, try:
PIZZA ON BROADWAY
103 Broadway St Hooker, OK 73945?
(580) 652-3200
They do not deliver, but you can walk there from anywhere in town in a minute or two.
Several years back I was out in that neck of the "woods". I had flown into Elkhart, KS, where a bunch of us from NSPS and local surveyors had gathered to remonument the KS - CO corner on the OK line. Had a good time on that trip.
Just looked at Google Earth and the windmill off to the side of the road is still there.
Anyone else here that was there?
Pics from OK-KS-CO corner
This was a big event out there - after all it is the middle of no where. The folks in Elkhart had a big dinner for us, there were lots of dignitaries present, a big crowd, and even had some cattlemen drive in a small herd of cattle.
It was a great time had by all present.
Do you recognize anyone?
Done been there several times.
Hooker that is. I've also been to the KS-CO-OK monument. That's one pretty manhole lid. Heard sometime back that it had been stolen. Wonder if it was found or eventually replaced with another pretty lid. Those Eastern types may not believe it but it falls in the middle of a road. Here it is on GoogleEarth. Note that the lines they are using to indicate the State lines do not match the big black dot in the white square in the middle of the east-west road.
Only in Hooker, Oklahoma
Does the street connecting the school and the church get the name Johns Street.
Hooker's slogan
In an attempt to throw some positive light on their name "Hooker" a few years back the locals came up with a snappy ditty to identify their town:
"It's a location, not a vocation."
I guess every little bit helps.
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I use to work with an accomplished photogrammetrist that was from Hooker. Born and raised there. Married her HS sweetheart (out of a graduating class of 12). They wound up down here in the Big Town.
She told me her husband's father was having health problems and that he was considering retiring and moving back home to help his father with the wheat farm. I asked her what she thought about that.
"I told him I hoped he and his new wife would be happy..." was her reply.
Hooker's slogan
"It's a location, not a vocation."
I guess every little bit helps.
Done been there several times.
Which is one real OBVIOUS reason to not trust property lines as indicated on a GIS system.B-)
I just wonder what exactly they sell in the "Hooker Hardware" store. :-S
Sounds like the sales circular would require a plain brown wrapper. 😀
Whoopy in the Oklahoma Panhandle
I can't speak for everybody in "No Man's Land"...but I'm pretty sure all the staunch folks I've met up there have a definition for kinky:
"Turn the light on..."
Whoopy in the Oklahoma Panhandle
I've been told by more than one Baptist that they're not allowed to do it with the light on and while standing because anyone who happens to witness the activity might think they were dancing.
