Braman in Kay County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Braman
⎯⎯⎯
Braman Business Leaders 1898 — 1930

Braman Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, August 2, 2016

1. Braman Marker

Inscription.
Front
Braman

When the Santa Fe Railroad was extended from Hunnewell, Kansas to Tonkawa, a railroad promoter named J.W. Whistler chose the midway point as a good location for a town. With B.J. Templeton he bought the 160-acre Sam Garrison farm and platted 80 acres of it as a townsite. Dwight Braman, a surveyor for the railroad offered to survey the land free of charge if the town was named after him. On January 9, 1889 more than 5 years after the land run which opened the Cherokee Outlet to homesteaders, the town was incorporated. The citizens of the area donated $3,000 to build the railroad depot. The business district soon had a general store, bank, grocery, meat market, lumber yard, three elevators, implement and hardware company, two saloons, hotel, livery barn, two doctors, and three barbers. The post office opened April 11, 1898 and the first newspaper was published December 30, 1899. The Masonic Lodge was founded in 1904, by this date four churches, Baptist, Methodist, Christian and Church of Christ had been established. The Royal neighbors and modern woodmen were active. Every Saturday night during the summer there was a band concert and parades were staged to celebrate the Fourth of July and the anniversary of the land run.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

One of the first schools had three teachers and 121 students. A new building which cost $15,000 was dedicated in 1915. It had eight class rooms an auditorium and a gymnasium. A new high school was built in 1926. With the discovery of oil in the nearby fields the city officals began to modernize the town. Between 1924-1927 an electric light and water sytem was installed, a water storage tank constructed, sanitary sewers built and the highway between Blackwell to Braman paved. Then on May 21, 1925 the Herbert Oil Company Community test well No.1 on the J.H. Belmer tract at the northeast corner of town blew in. Initially the gusher produced 40 barrels per hour form the Tonkawa sand. By June 19 the local paper reported that more than one million dollars had been spent for drilling within the corporate limits of the town. By the end of the first week in June half the town was under lease. Heavy drilling equipment was parked on church yards and on the school grounds. At one time during the year there were 38 derricks on the Braman 25 blocks. The population grew from less than 400 to 5,000 in just 40 days. Business hours were open 24 hours a day. Every room in the hotels, rooming houses, and residences were filled with people camped in parks and along the roadside.

Braman Business Leaders (Rear) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, August 2, 2016

2. Braman Business Leaders (Rear)

In July derricks were built on every available location in and around town, but the boom was over by Nov. 1928. The first Mayor of Braman was Bert Payne, John Smith was probably the scond followed in 1924 by Ed "Hog" Miller. In 1927 Horace Kline was mayor, then Hyle Horne, Ed Johnston was elected in 1932 and served the community for 40 years. More oil was found in 1937, but the boom did not return.

Rear

Braman Business Leaders 1898 — 1930

Implements, Hardware & General Merchandise: B.G.Payne, Mr. Jerone, Monyes & Salem, F. Pree, H.C. Scott & Sam L. Garrison, Hugh W. Hutton, Priboth & Brown, V.C. Van Geison & Collins, Raymond Hutton & Roy Miller, R.T. Peck, D.F. Mooter.
Groceries & Meat Markets: L.J. Bibbler, Quince Brown, Hugh Johnston, Moore's, Chappel's, W.L. Williams, Garrison & Carter, L.R. Willey, C.H. Lucas & Warnecke, George Miller, O.E. Lincoln, Herman Easterday, Reynolds & Symonds, Page & Thompson, Felibles, E.E. Steeves, Homer Trummel, D. Walcher & Son, Igert & Hines, Furber's.
Dry Goods & Clothing: Kalif & Waris, Max Gunther: Manning: Tepee Ladies Shop: Mrs. M.P.. Fair
Bankers: Citizens State Bank, W.J. Whistler, B.J. Templeton, W.A. Stough, J.M. Searles, L.W Hamton, D.L. Wetmore: A.O. Via R.E. Burks, Farmers State

Marker at Braman Post Office. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, August 2, 2016

3. Marker at Braman Post Office.

Bank, William Orr, A.D. Garrison, Ruby Jones, Hugh H. Hutton, H.C.Scott, L.B. Lenker, Aaron Bierbower.
Elevators & Mills: H.E. Horne, Lampert & Duncan Mill, Eben & Frank Decker's, Braman Mill, Geo B. Foltz, Mgr. Blackwell Mill and Elevator, Deer Creek Elevator, Dick Farrah, Oper., Braman Elevator, Levi Seaboch, Oper, Ed Johnston's Feed Store & Produce.
Lumber Yards: Bert & Charles Duncan, Wommack & Hanna: Harry Cragin, C.N. Simmons Mgr: Rock Island, Gene Cox, E.R. Franks, Mgrs: Rounds & Porter, W.R. Pickering, Ben F. Browning, Mgr. Bill & Sam Orr Lumber.
Drug Stores: Yeager & Fulton: City; Haunschild's; Paul Hanson's; Smith's; L.B. Lenker's; Fred H. Bacher; Palace; Ogg & McCullough, Worthy Wiles.
Hotels: Buckle, T.K. Ricker, Sante Fe; J.W. Dinnewell, Broadway Hotel with dining room, Mr. & Mrs. Horace Kline owners, Getters, Braman Hotel, H.B. Jones, York & West Mgrs., Dick & Artie Farrah.
Restaurants & Cafes: John & Carrie Rider, American, Sunkist, U.C. Chadwell: Oil Man's Cafe; Chili Bill's Cafe.
Auto Agencies: Reo & Chalmers, V.C. Van Gieson; Fords, J.C. Moore & Bill Doenges; Chevrolets, E.B. Baum Jr.; New Era Cars, A.P. Talkington, Orville Harvel Fords & Cleveland Tractors, John Orr & Clarence Hood.
Service Stations: Miller's; Kelle's;

Braman mural with marker in deep background. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, August 2, 2016

4. Braman mural with marker in deep background.

Clarence Hood's; Will Orr's; Taylor and Sheets; A.L. Hampton; Ed Johnston's Broadway Tire Shop, Clarence Pickard Mgr.
Physicians: Dr. Cooper, Dr. Fisher, C.V. Downs, A.P. Gearhart, S.S. McCullough, W.M. Howsley, Dr. Matthews, John Hudson, Dr. Northrup, Dr. Patterson.
Saloons: Sam Jones, Robert, Roy & Earl Bebb; Sam Brogan
Bakeries: Durham's Confectionary, Showalter's, City, Purity (Home of Mother's Bread) Edith Johnston's Home Bakery.
Blacksmith's: George Oliager, Frank & Aul Holt, J.L.Wise, L.C. House
Shoe & Harness Shops: John Felible, John Colville, Goodyear
Livery Barns: Mr. Taylor. Byron Tate, Edward R. Kohler, Steve Rawlings.
Barbers: Mr. Brooks, Archie & Charlei Peel, H.B. Jones; K.C. Barber Shop, Noble & Evans Mgrs; G.W.Dutton, John Bloss.
Newspapermen: W.J. Krebs, The Braman Star, A.H. Knox, W.C. & H.B. Wallace, James A. Davis, F.M. Colville, E.L. Shadholtzer, H. L. DeVillers, The Braman Leader.
Postmasters: Jery Crowley, Mr. Lambden, Mr. King, Russell Dickerson
Rural Carriers: Ed Atheton, Ed Stevens, Dave & Marr & Mel Dickerson
Depot Agents: Mr. Griswell, H.G. Wells, Walter Matthews, & J.R. Hosey
Miscellany: Lee Rosenberry, Plumber & Produce House, Carl Rosenberry, Driller, Pump & Windmill Repair, Cement Work,

Paid Advertisement

Mr. Ray & E.D. Smith, Electricians, Fred Duncan, Telephone Lineman, Lee Vines Sewing Machine Repair, Jess Hudson's Tailor Shop, F.B. Lackey's Enterprise Cleaners, Hemstitching shop & News Stand, Thompson Jewelry, Lehman Ice Co. Francis Theatre later the Olympia Braman Theatre, Arcade Billiard Parlor, Eader Tent Show, Roses Beauty Shop, Bowling Alley, V.T. Browns Taxi Line & Crystal Water Co., G.T. Ray produce, Henry Wise, Bill & Homer Brown, Wesley Hall, Jeff Murray Draymen.

Erected 1985 by Cher-Ok-Kan Gateway Association, Founded 1970 Chester and Francine Hasslbring, Mrs. Glen Peel, Mrs. Hope Sober Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is January 9, 1889.

Location. 36° 55.389′ N, 97° 20.081′ W. Marker is in Braman, Oklahoma, in Kay County. It is on Broadway Avenue (U.S. 177) south of Main Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 410 Broadway Avenue, Braman OK 74632, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northwest Oklahoma — Red Carpet Country.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and Cherokee Outlet.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Oklahoma War Chief (approx. 3.2 miles away); The "Real" Cherokee Strip / Hunnewell (approx. 6.7 miles away in Kansas); Blackwell Zinc Company WWII Memorial (approx. 8.9 miles away); 100 Beautiful Years (approx. 8.9 miles away); Homesteaders (approx. 8.9 miles away); Oklahoma Baptist College (approx. 8.9 miles away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 9.6 miles away).

Also see . . . Oklahoma History Society article on Braman. (Submitted on August 8, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,301 times since then and 99 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 8, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Braman⎯⎯⎯Braman Business Leaders 1898 — 1930

Braman
⎯⎯⎯
Braman Business Leaders 1898 — 1930