Rodessa High School was one of several Northwest Louisiana high schools designed by architect Seymour Van Os (1893-1974).  A native of New Orleans, Mr. Van Os was educated in New Orleans public schools and graduated from Tulane University in 1913 with a degree in architecture.  He worked in various architects’ offices in New Orleans and came to Shreveport as a draftsman. In association with J. Y. Snyder, he opened an office in January of 1915, and continued the practice of architecture until April of 1917 when he entered the U.S. Army.  His office was responsible for the design and construction of numerous schools in various parishes in Northwest Louisiana, as well as banks, libraries, commercial and industrial buildings and many buildings at Barksdale and England Air Force Bases.
He later accepted a reserve commission in the Corps of Engineers and was recalled to active duty as a major in December 1940, remaining on active duty for the duration of World War II. According to his son, Seymour Van Os, Jr., “He served overseas in the European Theater of Operations, then was ordered to serve overseas again to be on the American Engineering Staff of Admiral “Lord” Louis Mountbatten in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations. As I recall, he had to do with some of the Military Engineering of the Ledo Road/and/or the noted Burma Road. I do recall (he) was awarded a Bronze Star Distinguished Award for excellence of his Military Engineering Planning.”  He commanded an Engineers Construction group until his retirement in 1953.
Mr. Van Os formed a partnership with T. A. Flaxman from 1939 until his retirement in 1970. He was instrumental in gathering and organizing a group of local architects into the North Louisiana branch of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. From 1952 to 1964, he served as a member of the Louisiana State Board of Architectural Examiners.

Great Western Coal & Coke Building, 701 E. Main Street, Wilburton, OK

The building was one of the last surviving coal company store buildings in southeastern Oklahoma. Built shortly after 1900 to house the company store and company offices, the building was the center of commercial activity for miners and their families. Social and religious functions were also held on the second floor for the multiethnic mining population that included Irish, English, Scottish, Italian, Slovakian and Lithuanian immigrants. The building served as a county courthouse until 1936 and since that time had been used as an armory, grocery store, furniture store, restaurant and discotheque.

According to Maryellen Mooney, Program Manager of Wilburton Main Street, Inc., “the building burned to the ground in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s”.  For additional information, Ms. Mooney’s contact information is provided below:

Landmarks publishes books, purchases historic properties such as the old Fort Site, additional space adjacent to the Opera House, the Opera House Annex Building and helps to restore and maintain Council Bluff School.  In addition, Landmarks presents a variety of musical shows and drama presentations during the year and hopes to keep the stage lights glowing for years to come.

All accomplishments by Landmarks are made possible through volunteer labor and the financial support of citizens interested in the preservation of arts and the sponsorship of cultural events.

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The Pittsburg County Genealogical and
Historical Society, Inc., is located in the old Busby Office Building. The
building was built in 1903 by the Great Western Coal and Coke Company. It was
placed on the National Register of Historical Places on 9 December 1979. Elmer
“Bud” Hale, Jr. donated the building to the City of McAlester on 18 March 1987
for the specific purpose of housing the Society.

The Pittsburg County Court
House is adjacent to the Society’s building.

New Items

Pittsburg County Naturalization Documents 1890 -
1960

CTN Marriages 1863 -
1899

This structure was built in 1910.  By 1911, Albion had a population of 300 and a hotel and a general store.

Albion’s future commercial success seemed assured to the town’s businessmen, one of whom, John T. Bailey—who also named the town—built Albion State Bank in 1910. Bailey built the bank on the northwest corner of the public square—no longer extant as a square; it has been bisected by U.S. Highway 271—at the corner of Pearl Street. Bailey’s brother, Edgar Bailey, operated a dentist office in the rear two rooms.

Continued and enduring prosperity eluded Albion, however, and in approximately 1927 banker Bailey transferred the bank to Talihina, Oklahoma. The building remained empty until 1930, when J.M. (John Melvin)Armstrong, another prominent Albion businessman, purchased it and opened a grocery store. He closed the store in 1950, converting it into his family residence, where he lived until his death in 1963. His widow continued living there until her death in 1972.

In 1975 the building was purchased by Mrs. Lorene Barnett, who operated a succession of small businesses there. In 1979, at the time of an architectural survey, the building was vacant but in good condition. Its wood plank flooring was original, and also in good condition.

The building was a one story structure constructed of red brick in a rectangular footprint. It measured 40 feet long and 25 feet wide. The windows were originally arched. The interior ceilings were of pressed copper bearing a decorative design. The original bank vault painted with the words, “Albion State Bank” was mounted in a brick wall and was still present during the survey in 1979.

A water well dug in approximately 1933 was outside the back door.

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.  It was demolished after 1980.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps Streetview, accessed 10/15/2011

The New Fork town site consists of several log and wood frame structures representing one of the
earliest settlements and commercial centers in the isolated upper Green River
Valley. The small ranching settlement was established by John Vible and Louis
Broderson in 1888 near the New Fork and East Fork Rivers. Both men were Danish
emigrants who had come to America in 1884. They met while working on the Oregon
Short Line railroad in western Wyoming and Idaho. The two men pooled their
meager resources into an informal partnership. They planned to file on
homesteads in order to raise cattle and to start a mercantile business by
locating a store close to the Lander Cut-off of the Oregon Trail. The partners
built a small log structure which served as the store, trading post, and living
quarters. The location became known as New Fork.

By the end of 1908, the town boasted a school, a saloon, a hotel, a barbershop, a livery and a
blacksmith shop, and a wood-frame house with a bay window owned by the saloon
keeper Frank Seabolt, in addition to the Vible stores and residence. In 1909
and 1910, John Vible contracted with locally prominent carpenters to build a
large frame dance hall. He named it Valhalla after the Norse Heaven populated
by heroes slain in battle. The dance hall became the focal point of community
activity including dances and political rallies.

By 1918, the post office was discontinued and mail was then delivered to nearby Boulder. New Fork had
gradually been eclipsed by other communities, including Pinedale which became
the county seat when Sublette County was created in 1921. Transportation
patterns had changed over the years, and the Lander Cut-off fell into disuse.
Railroad transportation never reached the upper Green River Valley. A scarlet
fever and diphtheria epidemic struck the Vible family in late 1915, and John
Vible, his daughter and two elder sons died within a period of two weeks. These
factors contributed to the demise of New Fork.[i]

        Society members gather
once a year on August’s fourth Saturday to visit area attractions and share
tales of the miners and the mining era.

If you have pictures or stories you’d like to submit for inclusion, please go to
the Miner’s Delight Inn B&B’s “Reach us” page and send
the inn an email; Barbara and Bob will ensure your information gets into the
right hands.

Site of
Juana Briones de Miranda Home on Rancho La Purisma Concepcion (4157 Old
Adobe Road)

In
1843, Apolinario Miranda, husband of Juana Briones de Miranda, was sent before
the sub prefect for not living harmoniously with his wife and, shortly
thereafter, Juana and her seven children arrived at Rancho la Purísima
Concepción. In 1856 this property was duly confirmed to her, and she lived in
this adobe until, crippled by rheumatism, she was forced to move[i].

Updated Information from the National Trust for Historical Preservation’s Preservation Magazine (September/October 2011 issue):

“Beginning in the 1900’s, the core of the vernacular ranch house was significantly renovated and altered.  In recent decades, the structure sat vacant and deteriorating despite local landmark status.  After a demolition permit was filed by new owners, the National Trust named the site to its 2010 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.  An appeals court ultimately concluded that the permit was valid, and crews demolished the house in June (2011).”

Operating Water- Powered
Grain Mill and Museum
Belvidere, Tennessee

Nestled in a lush green cove along the banks of beautiful Factory Creek stands historic Falls Mill. Built in 1873 as a cotton and woolen factory, the mill was later converted for use as a cotton gin, then as a woodworking shop. Today the water wheel powers millstones that grind cornmeal, flour, and grits.

Join us in supporting John and Jane Lovett in their restoration and operation of the mill. www.fallsmill.com