Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum

10/14/2026

Hey everyone... it's that time of year again! The Muse's Annual Fresh Greenery Fundraiser is coming up! Details are in the graphic below. Orders are due by November 3rd.

You can find order forms on the PIPM website at https://www.nwok-pipm.org/2026-fresh-greenery-fundraiser

Online ordering option at https://omt.sffwa.com/minisite/pipm

10/14/2026

Just to prove to you, the PIPM FB follower, that we, The Muse, are ahead of our time, we offer this morning’s post from newspapers past.

So, a few years ago, during the Twister Alley Film Festival here in town, we rolled out the name, HollyWoodward in connection with some Muse activities and exhibits. Who knew we were being prescient at the time? Okay, it wasn’t actually prescience, or maybe it was…but…oh well…on with the post.

The Woodward News-Bulletin of October 14, 1921 ran an article on its front page about a feature film that was written, acted in, and produced right here in Woodward. After hearing the name, “Good Roads Joe,” our first thought was that it was an ODOT propaganda film. Nope, this was a Woodward Chamber of Commerce propaganda film. Seriously, they financed the entire thing.

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WOODWARD FILM TO BE SHOWN NEXT WEEK

There will be presented next Wednesday night at the Convention Hall, by the Woodward Chamber of Commerce, the Woodward motion picture “Good Roads Joe.” The picture in its finished form will arrive Tuesday from Chicago where the “print” is being made.

The directors, Messrs. Crowley and Gerhart, have spent the past few days in detail work of the finishing titles and arranging the scenes in their continuity so that the people who witness the picture next week will be given the treat of their lives in the line of motion pictures.

Very few towns the size of Woodward, and in fact very few cities in the United States, have attempted such an achievement outside of the film cities of California which have been built for that particular purpose.

The story portrayed in the five-reel film was written by Eugene Sharp, of this city, and begins in the earlier days of the development of Woodward County in northwestern Oklahoma.

Harold Street plays the role of Good Roads Joe and is shown first as a mere lad pioneering into this country with his parents, who settle on a claim near Woodward. The early day hardships of those who made possible the development of this wonderful country are depicted in many of the first pioneer scenes. After Joe's parents have moved to Woodward for the purpose of educating him the episodes close in quick succession until the story brings the reader to the present time and allows Woodward to be shown as it really is today.

The basic principle promoted through the film is, however, the importance of the building of good roads, and the story lacks nothing in portraying the dire necessity of these present day, modern arteries of traffic.

Of course, Joe has a little love affair also and necessarily has a good-looking rival to contend with. The rival goes far enough to even oppose Joe in his race for mayor.

The talent in the supporting cast, all of which is by Woodward people, so localizes the action that local scenes fit naturally in the scheme of the picture. The story is a good one and everyone is very anxious for the date of the first showing.

The picture will be run four nights beginning next Wednesday in order that every person in the city and surrounding country will have the opportunity of seeing it. The prices to be charged are 25c for children and 50c for adults.

The production of the film has cost the Chamber of Commerce many hundred dollars but the value of the production as an advertisement of the city and its resources is beyond measure. It is planned that the picture be shown in all the cities of the state and parts of Texas and Kansas within the next few months.

The first show will begin at 7:45 each night and the second show will be run so that anyone coming late will be able to see the entire program.

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Stop by the Muse sometime soon and view the list of prominent Hollywood types with ties to this region.

We are propaganda-, modern arteries-, and admission-free. Stop in and hear how the social media guy is planning to produce a send-up of the classic film “Casablanca” tentatively entitled “Tangier”. The film will tell the story of a couple trying to find their way out of Oklahoma, but with roads so bad there is no escape. They seek out the help of Mick, a local…umm…entrepreneur who lives among the rubble that was the Tangier School and has a map of driveable back roads leading out of state. Friends, you won’t want to miss this. If you’re interested in appearing in “Tangier”, let the nice lady in the Muse gift shop know.

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And, let’s be careful out there!

10/14/2026

We’re always giddy to be featured in an article and more than happy to share! If you have a moment, give this one a read!! Read more: https://myfamilytravels.com/how-a-tiny-woodward-oklahoma-museum-packs-plains-pioneer-life-into-five-full-galleries-735c057e/?utm_campaign=run-735c057e&utm_source=fb-explore-oklahoma

The best free afternoon on the northwest Oklahoma plains hides inside a modest brick museum that holds more frontier than most towns twice its size: Cheyenne and Arapaho heritage, a real log cabin, and a recreated main street. Admission costs nothing, so plan on an afternoon, not a quick stretch break.

10/13/2026

BOO! What better way to close out the Spooky Season than an evening of Yin Yoga followed by adult refreshments? Details are in the graphic. Make plans to reserve your spot today!

See you there!

10/13/2026

Today's post comes from an article printed in the LaKemp Mirror (LaKemp, Beaver Co., Oklahoma) on October 13, 1910.

Never heard of LaKemp, OK? There's a good reason for that... it no longer exists. The entire town, to a person, picked up and moved several miles southeast to establish what became Booker, Texas in 1919 when the railroad failed to run its line through LaKemp. We aren't making this up! These folks had a train to catch!

The article concerns the death of O. Henry, whose real name was William Sydney Porter. He was a very popular short story writer who died in June 1910 of cirrhosis of the liver and complications from diabetes. His stories were known for unexpected endings, humorous narration, and a delightful rhythm of prose.

And Mr. Porter MAY have a tie to Northwest Oklahoma through none other than the ne’er-do-well Alphonso “Al” Jennings: former attorney and prosecutor; sworn arch enemy of Temple Houston; notorious (in his own mind) gunfighter; inept Plains Pirate; convicted felon; failed gubernatorial candidate; shameless self-promoter; and Hollywood darling. Supposedly, Al met O. Henry first in Honduras when they were both on the run from the law and then again in prison some years later. Given Jennings’ propensity of stretching the truth when it suited his legend (again, in his own mind), it’s difficult to say how much of the association, if any, is true.

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SENSE OF HUMOR EVEN AT THE END

The Late Humorist O. Henry, Met Death With a Jest

" 'Now,' said the doctor, ' I am going to show you the effect of alcohol upon your circulation.' I think it was 'circulation' he said; it may have been 'advertising.' "
This is one of the opening paragraphs in the very last story that O. Henry wrote. He completed it only a few days before his death and he got the material from his experiences in seeking relief from the very illness that was fatal to him. Like the very last line of one of his deep, whimsical stories, were the last conscious words he said. It was dark on Sunday morning, and he knew that he was going, "Turn on the lights, doctor," he said, and smiled. "I'm afraid to go home in the dark."

The last volume of stories from his pen were gone over by him not a month before his death. They will be published next fall under the title of "Whirligigs." In less than ten years this man became unquestionably the most popular and, according to known critics, the best short-story writer in America. He left behind him ten volumes, a permanent contribution to the native literature of this country.

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Stop by the Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum sometime soon and we’ll show you back to the secret office of our social media guy, Mr. Robin, wherein he maintains “the wall” … the wall is papered with thousands of rejection slips he has received over the years for short stories he wrote that editors despised. In fact, in a surprisingly magnanimous gesture, he has started a rejection hot line to help other writers who struggle to get their work published. The only problem being that Mr. Robin has that weird, twisted sense of humor. He answers the hot line with a curt, “Yeah?” The person on the other end usually asks if they have reached the “rejection” hot line to which Mr. Robin responds, “No! Go away! Don’t call here again! You smell weird!”

Mr. Robin is the antithesis of empathy. Don't be like Mr. Robin.

We are gubernatorial-, felon-, and admission-free. Stop in anytime.

Please share these posts and follow us on Facebook. We can’t handle rejection!

10/12/2026

Hey everyone... it's that time of year again! The Muse's Annual Fresh Greenery Fundraiser is coming up! Details are in the graphic below. Orders are due by November 3rd.

You can find order forms on the PIPM website at https://www.nwok-pipm.org/2026-fresh-greenery-fundraiser
Online ordering option at https://omt.sffwa.com/minisite/pipm

10/08/2026

It's Oct 8...131 years since the shoot-out in the back room of the Cabinet Saloon in 1895 when Temple Houston and Jack Love tried to resolve a dispute with Ed and John Jennings with their Peacemakers. Love wasn't actually involved in the dispute, but was there, presumably, to back his close friend's play.

On October 11, 1895, Billy Bolton, publisher/editor of the WOODWARD NEWS saw fit to set the record straight as what happened 48 hours prior. It must have been a huge disappointment for Bolton. He always used a great deal of space in his paper promoting the growing city of Woodward and especially his friend, Temple Houston, for whom he likely had territorial and national political aspirations. For Bolton, it seems almost painful to even publish an account of the events of October 8 on the front page of the NEWS. But publish he did...

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THE DEMON OF DEATH CASTS ITS BALEFUL SHADOW OVER WOODWARD.

Deadly Encounter Between Respected and Honored Citizens.

It is not the purpose of the NEWS to gratify the idle curiosity of gossips by detailing to them the incidents which have occurred within the past forty-eight hours in our usually quiet and peaceful little city. It is with exceeding regret that it performs its duty as a newspaper in relating the occurrence which sends a thrill of horror to its readers.

On Tuesday night at 9 p.m. a most deplorable affair occurred in our little city, resulting in the instant death of one man and the horribly fatal wounding of another. As near as we can learn the facts appear as follows: On the evening prior to the shooting, in the trial of a law suit wherein Hon. Temple Houston attorney here for the A. T. & S. F. railroad was prosecuting a case for that company and Ed. Jennings and John Jennings represented defendants, a violent altercation arose and heated language passed, weapons were drawn and nothing but the presence of a crowd and interference of bystanders prevented a shooting.

In the evening about 9 p.m., Mr. Houston and Capt. J. E. Love, ex-sheriff of this county went in the Cabinet saloon and passed to the rear room and were seated at a table when the two Jennings also came back into the same part of the building, when the difficulty between Mr. Houston and Mr. Ed. Jennings was renewed, resulting in Mr. Houston firing at him and Mr. John Jennings and Mr. Love also joining in the shooting. Between 15 and 20 shots were fired the prints of 11 being visible in the room and one shot passing across the street and hitting the Gerlach Bank. The room was said to have become filled with smoke and succession of shots extinguished the lights, leaving the parties nothing but the flash of weapons at which to fire. Ed. Jennings was instantly killed being shot twice in the head and John Jennings was shot in the left shoulder, seriously wounded and will probably lose an arm. Mr. Houston and Mr. Love were unhurt.

The NEWS only states the facts as it hears them and deeply regrets this unhappy affair, the saddest that ever occurred in our city. Mr. Ed. Jennings was buried on Wednesday at 3 p.m., the largest funeral ever held here. Mr. Houston and Mr. Love surrendered to the officers and are in custody, awaiting the action of the authorities.

BRIEF SKETCHES.

The parties directly concerned in the affair are all well-known citizens of Woodward.

Hon. Temple Houston is a lawyer of high repute all over the western country; is a son of General Sam Houston the idol of the Lone Star State; has served with credit in the state senate of Texas; and has been since the opening associated with the late appointed register of the Land Office in the practice of his profession here, under the firm name of Houston & Ray.

Ex-sheriff Love came here from Oklahoma City on the day of the opening of the Cherokee Strip as an appointee of Governor Renfrow; was the democratic nominee for representative of the county to the last session of the legislature being defeated by only two votes by G. W. Bradfield, republican nominee; is a leaser of large tracts of school lands and owns considerable live stock.
Jno. Jennings is the eldest son of Probate Judge J. D. F. Jennings; came to Woodward last fall and engaged in the law practice. Ed. Jennings, deceased, came here from El Reno last June and in August formed a partnership with the first named under the firm name of Jennings & Jennings. Both were natives of Virginia. The elder brother is unmarried. The deceased was a widower and his death orphans a little son of about nine years of age.

The condition of the wounded man as the NEWS goes to press is reported slightly improving. The ball entered the left side near his shoulder, ranging upward and out into the arm, breaking the bone between elbow and shoulder. His condition is critical and only a strong constitution can save him.

LATER: Since the above was put in type, Messrs. Houston and Love have each waived preliminary examination and been placed under bonds of $2,000 to await the action of a hearing the next term of the District Court.

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It should be pointed out that there are different reports as to when the fight occurred. Glenn Shirley, in his seminal biography of Houston, puts the time at 10 p.m. Walter Younger, a witness to the events that unfolded, also put the time at around 10:00.
Further Glenn Shirley stated the bonds were $5,000 rather than $2,000.

To learn more about that fateful night and view the C**t .45 SAA (aka, the Peacemaker... I know, ironic isn't it) that Temple Houston reportedly used in the fight, visit the Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum in Woodward.

Let's be careful out there!

10/03/2026

By the time October 1907 rolled around, if you were a saloon keeper, you were probably getting nervous. Statehood in November of that year brought state-wide prohibition.

The Curtis Courier of October 3, 1907, reported as much on its front page.

The photo shows Main St in Curtis around 1900. The first building on the left is the B & W Saloon (where all the men are out on the street looking… well, forlorn). At Statehood, it became a discount carpet emporium (okay, we made up that part).

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The thirst satisfiers all over Oklahoma are getting ready to depart for green pastures. They know that it will be only a few weeks until their business will be black balled and these fellows will have to move on or turn bootleggers.

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Visit the Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum in Woodward, where none of the staff is currently involved in bootlegging. We seem to always miss the best opportunities.

We are thirst-, saloon-, and admission-free. Stop in at the Muse one of these days and ask to meet Fast Eddie our favorite 102-year-old former thirst satisfier/bootlegger. He'll regale you with tales of hot cars and illegal adult refreshments.

For Fast Eddie, his career in contraband liquor came to a halt when the bootleggers were unable to find enough decent roads upon which to ply their trade. Who ever thought of O-DOT as temperance warriors?

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And let’s be careful out there!