Carlton Place - Old Tulsa

This is Cheyenne Avenue just South of 15th Street. This lovely old residential area is almost in the middle of downtown Tulsa. It is typical of neighborhoods built prior to 1920 with solid homes on tree lined streets.


Big front porches, flags, and sidewalks are of an older time when prople walked around after dinner and visited with their neighbors.




This photo was taken in 1913. The brick pillars and wrought iron arch were built in 1909.


The pillars are still standing but the arch is gone. Most of the old houses are still here. Because it is so close to the center of Tulsa it is a very desirable place to live if you work downtown. We think we are close to down town but we are 3 miles south of here. We were out in the country when these houses were built. Now we are "mid-town".

Space Camp - The Cartesian Diver

Molly and Will are attending "AeroSpace Camp" at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. They are learning a lot and having a great time. Today they studied Boyle's Law of Gases and made a Cartesian Diver as a demonstration.

You may notice that Willy is sporting a new haircut courtesy of Grandpa Bill. I buzzed him with dog clippers.


A weighted eyedropper is placed inside a plastic bottle of water and the bottle is tightly capped. At normal pressure the eyedropper floats at the surface of the water.


When pressure is applied to the bottle the air inside the eyedropper becomes more dense and the dropper slowly sinks to the bottom of the bottle. They were very excited to show us the marvel. If my explanation was not clear you can see a better explanation HERE.

They are doing all sorts of things at the camp including flying in a real airplane simulator. Yesterday they made a simple rocket using an Alka-Seltzer tablet. They put a little water into an empty 35mm film canister, dropped an Alka-Seltzer tablet in it, quickly put the lid on the canister and turned it upside down. The expanding gas blew the canister up over their heads. They said it was really cool. If you are interested in knowing more about the Museum and Planetarium look HERE.

Tulsa VFW Hall Post 577

The Tulsa Veteran of Foreign War (VFW) chapter was founded in 1921. It was not originally in this building but it has been in this spot on 6th Street just west of Peoria for as long as I can remember. It is familiar to a lot of people in Tulsa because it is available to be rented for private parties and dances. A lot of good times have been had at the VFW Hall. I did find a little history of its origin.

The First Meeting of Tulsa Post 577 was held on January 4, 1921 in the Superior Court Room of the County Court House, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The roll call was made with an increase in membership from 28 to 60. The oath was administered to all new members. The dues were discussed and voted on. Some were in favor of 25 cents and others a higher rate. After much discussion it was recommended the dues be 25 cents. A motion was made and seconded to that effect.

Tulsa Driller Baseball

The final score was Tulsa Drillers 3, Springfield Cardinals 0. Go Drillers!


Anthony Jackson, Driller center fielder just as he makes contact with the ball. We had good seats, midway up the stands and just left of home plate. I was able to take a lot of good photos (too many to post) but had the shoot through the big net that protects the fans from foul balls.


We all stand and sing the National Anthem. A little league team is chosen for each game to join the big guys for the opening. There are few things so typical of the USA than a baseball game. If you did not grow up in this country you might not understand it but it is a great game.


There was a good crowd for last night's game. It is a great evening for baseball; warm but with a nice breeze, lots of cold soda and beer, great ballpark food.


Last night (Saturday) was Cancer Survivors Night sponsored by St Francis hospital. Free hamburgers and hot dogs, soft drinks, a t-shirt, and a pair of tickets to the ball game for those of us who have survived cancer surgery and treatment. It is an annual event that I have enjoyed for the past 10 years.

The Grandkids are Here!

In celebration of a visit by Molly and Will, we went out to breakfast at our favorite restaurant, the Blue Dome Diner, where my son Luke is the first cook.

Susan's daughter Jennifer and her two kids Willy and Molly arrived last evening and will stay for the summer. Husband and father Jeff will stay in Missouri to look for a job. US unemployment is growing and approaching 10%. Unfortunately, Jeff is one of the 14.5 million Americans who were laid off and are looking for work. Knowing that a lot of other people are in the same situation is not much compensation. Jeff is a very bright and capable guy and we are hoping things will turn around soon. In the meantime, Susan gets to fuss over her grandchildren.

Heavy Rain

Although the heavy rain lasted only about one hour, we got a little over 2 inches (6 mm). By early afternoon the sun was out and the sky was blue. Weather in Oklahoma is never monotonous.


Poor Smokey, he does not like thunder. When it storms he stays very close and shivers. If it thunders loudly he begins to pant. Even if we go to the bathroom, he insists on following us. No matter what the weather man of TV says, if Smokey comes close and begins to shiver, we know it is getting ready to rain. We call him Smokey the Weather dog.


The sky was very dark. It rained so hard that even the birds took shelter. It was raining even harder before I looked out of the back door to take this picture.


The orange area is under a thunderstorm warning. The red area in the center is the Dopler Radar of the actual storm. As you can see, Tulsa is in the center.

Nightingale Theatre

The Nightingale Theater is an affordable, alternative venue available to local and touring companies. Since February 2000, the theater has been host to over 275 individual theatrical events, with more than 750 actual performance dates; that averages to over 100 performances per calendar year, making us one of the busiest stages in the region.

The Nightingale Theater is located in a small industrial park on Fourth Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma; the theater's rounded metal facade immediately sets it apart from the surrounding brick and concrete buildings. One block East of Peoria, the theater borders both the East Village and downtown, and is easily accessible to the Brady and Blue Dome districts. Inside, our stadium-style seating is mobile to accommodate any type of traditional or non-traditional seating arrangements, and the backstage area has a 40-foot ceiling ideal for set and prop construction. For more information look HERE

Tulsa Ballet Center

It may surprise you to know that Tulsa has an excellent ballet company. Their offices and rehearsal facilities are on 45th Street just west of Peoria, just a few blocks away from our home. I am sorry to say that we do not have season tickets to the ballet, but try to attend at least one of their performances each season. For more information look HERE.


The Tulsa Ballet performs a full season every year. The resident dancers are wonderful. Almost every season they perform an original piece choreographed by a member of the company.

Tulsa Ballet was founded in 1956 by husband and wife, Roman Jasinski and Moscelyne Larkin, dancers internationally known for their style in the grand Ballet Russe tradition, and musician Rosalie Talbot. The artistic mission of the Company has remained constant throughout the years: To combine the beauty and joy expressed by dance with the drama and entertainment of the theater. The Company has toured in thirty states, from California to New York, and throughout the world and has received consistent critical acclaim.

Elves Live in Trees Like This

When I was a little boy my mother wrote stories for me. As I recall they were about families of elves who lived in old gnarley trees. She knew an artist who did some drawings for a future book. I think what I remember most was the ink drawings of gnarly old trees covered with little stairs leading to small thatched huts with little chimneys and shuttered windows. I don't know what happened to the stories or the drawings but when I see a gnarly old tree I always look for elves and their little houses.

Smokey's Birthday Party

Smokey enjoyed his birthday cake very much! He is nine years old.


Every Monday evening a small group of men come to my house to take part in a little Men's prayer and share group. We are of different Christian denominations, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Methodist and Baptist, but are all involved in the Kairos Prison Ministry. These men have been coming here for about 13 years so far and were here when Smokey arrived as a little pup.

Over the years we have collectively taught him to sit up, shake hands, roll over, and such. He seems to know when it is Monday and excitedly greets each man at the front door and escorts them back to the garden room where we meet. He is very much part of our group. So tonight we had a cake and ice cream and sang happy birthday to him. He was not impressed with the singing but liked the cake and ice cream.

Trinity Sunday

This is Trinity Sunday. Of the 7 major festivals of the church, three come in successive Sundays: Sunday after the Ascension, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday. The other four, Easter, Christmas, All Saints and the Epiphany, get spread out over many months.

To emphasize the importance of these days, the church seating has been rearranged. The congregation processes in and sits in rows of seats facing each other during the ministry of the word, that is, for the readings from scripture, the prayers of the people, and the sermon.


After the passing of the peace, the congregation moves forward closer to the sanctuary and celebrates the Eucharist. Please excuse the music stands in the foreground as I sit with the choir where I add a drum to the guitars, piano, and singing.


The celebration of the Eucharist is always the highlight of an Episcopal (Anglican) service. Different denominations use different names for this sacrament depending on their custom. For Roman Catholics it is the Mass, for many protestant churches it is Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper. We Episcopalians consider ourselves to be Anglo-catholic, as we have retained the liturgy and many of the customs and practices of the Catholic church, yet we are also protestants. Confusing? We consider that we have the best of both worlds.


Before the service this morning the congregation gathered in the cloister garden just off the narthex. The garden has recently been renovated and the pool and fountain redone. This beautiful addition the the church was due to the generous efforts of Carl and Kathryn Melnick. The garden was blessed by Fr. Rick Brewer then the congregation processed into the building.

Sunday Jigsaw Puzzle

This is a Mandala, a meditation tool. Gaze at it while you meditate and empty your mind of any other thoughts. Sometimes these are rendered in black and white to be colored in while the person meditates.

Boston Avenue Methodist Church

Located at 13th and South Boston, the soaring modern design of this magnificant downtown Tulsa church can be seen from all directions. It is art deco influenced by gothic cathedrals. Construction began in 1927 and was completed in 1929. Click to enlarge and see detail.

The inside is very interesting too, but I don't have any photos inside. The only time I was inside was for a funeral and that was not a good time for taking pictures. I do remember that the organ was magnificent. As usual an excellent article about it can be found in Wikipedia. You can read it HERE.

There are several versions of the story of how the distinctive architecture was created. Here is the version from the church's own web site.

Miss Adah Robinson, a University of Tulsa art instructor, was asked to sketch an initial design for the church. The sketch Robinson produced a few days later was a real shock to committee members, but her idea gradually caught on. The design was done in a new art deco style rather than the then-popular Gothic architecture, and included a round sanctuary and a slender 15-story tower. With the 1920's oil boom at its peak, church members were optimistic enough about the future to embrace both the new look and the $1,500,000 commitment. Robinson's design was approved, and Rush, Endacott, & Rush architectural firm was hired. A young man named Bruce Goff , one of Robinson's students and an employee of the firm, did the drafting and another former student, Robert Garrison, created the sculptures. Robinson supervised the project, working closely with church members and construction workers through the building's completion. Construction took over two years, and finally on June 9, 1929, church members moved into the twentieth-century art deco masterpiece that still houses the Boston Avenue congregation today

Mini Moo Cards

When I am taking photos for this blog people are sometimes curious. Zhu mentioned this and said that she has some little cards to give them inviting them to look at her blog. I thought this was a good idea so I had some made for myself. They look very nice and are inexpensive. They have pictures for the back or will use your pictures if you prefer. They just came in the mail this afternoon and I am very pleased with them. If you would like to have some made for yourself, visit moo.com

Picnic with Smokey

Best of all, Smokey likes to sniff.  Let no tree go un-sniffed.


Smokey gets some chicken strips.


Today was a nice day for an little picnic.  Susan and I took Smokey for a little ride.  We drove through a KFC Chicken place and got 2 chicken dinners - grilled chicken, mashed potatos, cole slaw, a biscuit, and sodas.   We went up to Chandler Park and found a secluded picnic table for our quiet lunch.

Warehouse Market Building

The facade on the entry of the Warehouse Market Building is an excellent example of Art Deco.


In July 1938 Clint V. Cox and his son CLint V. Cox Jr., opened the first Warehouse Market store in a building considered one of Tulsa's most notable landmarks.

OSU Tulsa

Clik the images to enlarge.

Just North of the Greenwood Cultural Center is the Tulsa campus of Oklahoma State University. The main campus is in Stillwater , Oklahoma. That is where I went to college and got a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics way back in 1964. OSU now has campuses in several locations, Tulsa being the newest and was established in 1999.

Education for Ministry

Education for Ministry is a four year course of theological study offered by extention from the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. Susan and I went through this and graduated several years ago. Leading the study has been our mentor and dear friend Maggie Taliaferro. Maggie will be moving to Amarillo, Texas at the end of the month and we and several other former students joined the current group for its final session tonight to say goodbye to Maggie.


Everyone brought something to eat and we ate dinner and told stories rather than discuss the lesson.




Maggie and her co-mentor Keith Fallis presented Dale Billam with his certificate.  Keith will carry on next year after Maggie leaves.


Greg West led us in celebrating the Eucharist.

Maggie was presented with a shawl made for her by the Yarnsters at Christ Church.  We love Maggie and will miss her very much.

Baseball Moves Downtown

Tulsa has a fine AA Baseball Club which plays in a stadium on the Tulsa Fair Grounds. As part of an overall plan to revitalize the downtown area, a new state of the art stadium is being built in the Greenwood area just west of Greenwood Avenue on Archer Street.


Here is a panorama of the construction so far as seen from the south side of Archer.


Here is the same construction area seen from the north looking south

By coincidence the Tulsa World had a front page article on the new stadium just this morning. See the article HERE, and a very interesting review of progress on the new baseball stadium HERE.  UPDATE:  On Tuesday June 2 another article came out in the Tulsa World, HERE. 

The Greenwood area will be the center of a new Downtown Tulsa.

Bye-bye Birdies

We watched our little House Finches as they quickly grew up. Ten days from hatchling to fledgling - that's quick. I took this photo on Friday and by this morning the nest was empty. They didn't even say goodbye.

Greenwood Cultural Center

Another view looking north on Greenwood Avenue just above Archer. The overpass is Interstate 244.


On the north side of the overpass is the Mabel B. Little Heritage House. The former home of Sam and Lucy Mackey, this was one of the few houses left standing after the 1921 race riots. It is now part of the larger Greenwood Cultural Center. At the moment it is displaying an exhibition of paintings by black artists.


A few days ago I showed reproductions of posters for the annual Juneteenth Festival painted on a cement wall. That is the north side of Interstate 244 which crosses just north of Greenwood and Archer. It is hard to visualize all this so I hope this panorama will help put it all together. Click to enlarge.

This panorama looks South on Greenwood towards Archer with the Juneteenth murals visible on the wall of the overpass, then to the Mabel B. Little Heritage House and Greenwood Cultural Center with the marble Race Riot memorial next to it. Looking on around to the north on Greenwood is the open area where Juneteenth is held, and the south edge of the large and beautiful Tulsa campus of Oklahoma State University. There is a lot going on in this historic area. More about this tomorrow. Stay Tuned.