Ketch Ranch House
Alternative names
  • Circle K Ranch (1929)
  • Monte Vista Ranch (1932)
General information
TypeBungalow
Architectural style
Location
  • Comanche County, Oklahoma
  • Fort Sill Military Reservation
AddressRunning Deer Camp Road
Town or cityMedicine Park, Oklahoma
CountryUnited States of America
Coordinates34°42′18″N 98°34′22″W / 34.7048714°N 98.5728528°W / 34.7048714; -98.5728528
GroundbreakingMay 1923
Completed1924
Cost$4500.00
Owner
  • Ada May Ketch
  • Frank Levant Ketch
Height
RoofShingle
Technical details
MaterialCobblestone
Floor countOne
Floor area2,146 square feet (199.4 m2)
Grounds5,145 acres (2,082 ha)
Known forCobblestone architecture
Other information
Number of roomsSix

Ketch Ranch House or Ketch Ranch was private property located in the Wichita Mountains of Southwestern Oklahoma.[1] The ranch was established as a working ranch and vacation home for Ada May Ketch and Frank Levant Ketch during the early 1920s. The Wichita Mountain ranch offered a guest house, barn, smokehouse, springhouse, and root cellar while providing outdoor experiences with horseback riding, boating, and fishing at Ketch Lake which was close proximity of 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Ketch Ranch House.[2]

Ada May Ketch purchased the Wichita Mountain acreage on May 8, 1923, from S.P. Thornhill through the property holdings of First National Bank of Lawton. The Ketch Ranch was developed during the economic prosperity years of the Roaring Twenties which simultaneously encompassed the creation of Oklahoma Senator Elmer Thomas's River Rock Resort better known as Medicine Park, Oklahoma.[3][4]

By 1932, the Ketch Ranch estate began to acknowledge the financial crisis coerced by the Wall Street Crash of 1929. In 1934, the estate was sold on a joint extension agreement to the Monte Vista Ranch enterprise whereas the Ketch family retained the Wichita Mountain ranch. On January 10, 1941, the United States government acquired the Monte Vista Ranch property through the provisions of Declaration of Taking Act and United States Constitution Fifth Amendment authorizing a land expansion of the Fort Sill Military Reservation while protecting the United States national security at the commencement of World War II.

Case Law and Jake L. Hamon, Sr. Estate

Frank Ketch served as the business enterprise administrator for the Jake L. Hamon Sr. estate. Jake Hamon Sr. was a prominent committee member of the Republican Party where Warren Harding had appealed for Mr. Hamon to accompany his presidential cabinet as the next United States Secretary of the Interior.[5]

Mr. Hamon governed a diverse portfolio of holdings and ownership in oil and gas lease properties geographically apportioned in South Central Oklahoma. The petroleum assets were devised in the crude oil fields of Healdton, Oklahoma and Hewitt, Oklahoma.[6][7][8]

By 1920, Jake L. Hamon Properties invested in the Breckenridge oilfields of Stephens County geographically apportioned in North Texas decisively exemplary of the 1920s Texas oil boom and interwar period.[9][10][11]

During 1921, the Jake L. Hamon investments were appraised at three million U.S. dollars considering a brief eight-year period of time after discovering a prosperous 1914 blowout in the Healdton oilfield.[12]

Judicial Proceedings of Jake L. Hamon, Sr. Estate
☆ Text of Hamon v. State, 67 Okla. 128, (Supreme Court of Oklahoma 1917) is available from: Justia  Casetext 
☆ Text of Oklahoma v. Texas, 259 U.S. 565, (United States Supreme Court 1922) is available from: CourtListener  Justia  Casemine 
☆ Text of Hamon v. Keyes, 99 Okla. 19, (Supreme Court of Oklahoma 1924) is available from: Justia  Casetext 
☆ Text of Ketch v. Weaver Bros, 261 S.W. 380, (Texas Appeals 1924) is available from: CourtListener  Casetext  Casemine 
☆ Text of Ketch v. Cox, 105 Okla. 283, (Supreme Court of Oklahoma 1925) is available from: CourtListener  Justia  Casemine 
☆ Text of Apple v. Given, 117 Okla. 79, (Supreme Court of Oklahoma 1925) is available from: CourtListener  Justia  Casemine 
☆ Text of Apple v. Hert, 122 Okla. 153, (Supreme Court of Oklahoma 1927) is available from: Justia 
☆ Text of Apple v. McCain, 127 Okla. 147, (Supreme Court of Oklahoma 1927) is available from: Justia 
☆ Text of Ketch v. Smith, 131 Okla. 263, (Supreme Court of Oklahoma 1928) is available from: Justia 

Pictorial Biography

Native American Culture of Wichita Mountains

The Ketch Ranch estate was established approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) to 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Craterville Park, Oklahoma.[13] Craterville Park was established after the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache land openings coinciding with Oklahoma statehood as confirmed on November 16, 1907.[14][15][16][17]

1894 Indian Territories & Oklahoma Map

In 1907, cowboy naturalist Frank Rush, a native of Blackburn, Oklahoma, served as the superintendent of the Wichita Forest and Game Reserve.[18][19] Mr. Rush attained local and statewide recognition for the railway transport facilitation and safeguard of the near extinct American bison during October of 1907.[20][21][22]

The Plains bison herd was granted to the state of Oklahoma by the Bronx Zoological Gardens and New York Zoological Society.[23] The buffalo were a conservation and restoration of cultural property consuming a permanent habitat near the vicinity known today as the Holy City of the Wichitas Historic District.[24] The American bison collection was a species reintroduction to the native lands of the southwest Indian Territory within the Wichita National Forest federal lands during the fourth quarter of the 1907 calendar year.[25][26]

In 1924, the Apache, Comanche, and Kiowa vowed to a pledged of the Craterville Park Covenant with Wichita National Forest Preserve curator Frank Rush.[27][28] The Wichita Mountains mixed grass prairie served for the local tribal pow wow events during the Craterville Park Indian Fair from 1924 to 1933.[29][30]

The Craterville Park Covenant

The object of this Fair will be to create self-confidence and to encourage leadership by the Indian for his people, to better his position, and to take his place on terms of equality with other races in the competitive pursuits of every day life, and a desire to accomplish the most possible for himself and his people.[31][32]

May 25, 1924 – Craterville Park at Wichita Mountains

At the transition of the twentieth century, the Quanah Parker Star House was located south of the Quanah Mountain summit or Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.[33][34] The Star House was situated west of Craterville Park and Oklahoma State Highway 115 approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Cache, Oklahoma or U.S. Route 62 in Oklahoma.[35]

The Southern Plains villagers immeasurable presence cultivated a historical perspective of the tribal culture and tribal sovereignty for the last of the 19th century Plains Indians tribal chiefs.[36] During the final decade of the nineteenth century, the Southwest Oklahoma native tribes began embracing the ceremonial practices of the Native American Church while residing in the Great Plains of Southwestern Oklahoma and the Wichita Mountains.[37][38][39]

Locale of Quanah Parker Star House and Craterville Park, Oklahoma

See also

◇ Blockhouse on Signal Mountain◇ Dust Bowl
◇ Causes of the Great Depression◇ The Plow That Broke the Plains
◇ Depression of 1920-21◇ Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Historical Perspective for Exploration of Oil

◇ The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power

References

  1. ↑ Ketch Ranch, Oklahoma in Geonames.org (cc-by)
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ketch Lake
  3. ↑ McCormick, Peter J. (1997). "River Rock Resort: Medicine Park's Landscape and Wichita Mountain Vernacular Architecture". The Chronicles of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Historical Society. 75 (3 – Fall 1997): 244–261. LCCN 23027299. OCLC 655582328.
  4. ↑ Lott, David C. (June 14, 2010). Medicine Park: Oklahoma's First Resort. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 47–78. ISBN 978-0738577456. OCLC 646185401.
  5. ↑ Floyd, Larry C. (2009). "Jake Hamon: "The Man Who Made Harding President"". The Chronicles of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Historical Society. 87 (3 – Fall 2009): 294–319. LCCN 23027299. OCLC 655582328.
  6. ↑ "Hamon, Jake L., Ardmore, Oklahoma" [International Petroleum Register; A Yearly Directory of the Active Oil Companies of the World]. HaithTrust Digital Library. New York City: Oil Trade Journal. 1921. p. 313.
  7. ↑ "Healdton Field". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
  8. ↑ "Hewitt Field". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
  9. ↑ "Ketch Denies J.B. French Purchased the Hamon Holdings in North Texas". Oil and Gas News. Kansas City, Missouri: Oil and Gas News Publishing Company. IX (21): 3. July 7, 1921 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
  10. ↑ "Map of Stephens County: An "Official" Accurate Oil Map up to Date Made and Sold by Orlopp-Orlopp". The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas. 1920.
  11. ↑ "JimKurn – The Newest Town in Texas" [Breckenridge American (Breckenridge, Tex), Vol. 1, No. 82, Ed. 1]. The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas. October 2, 1920.
  12. ↑ "Hamon's Estate Appraised at $3,143,903". National Petroleum News. Cleveland, Ohio: National Petroleum Publishing Company. XIII (1): 46. February 16, 1921 – via HathiTrust Digital Library.
  13. ↑ Craterville Park, Oklahoma in Geonames.org (cc-by)
  14. ↑ "Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Opening". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
  15. ↑ McKinley, William (July 4, 1901). "Proclamation 460 – Opening of Wichita, Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache Indian Lands in Oklahoma". The American Presidency Project. University of California – Santa Barbara.
  16. ↑ "Delegation of Comanche. Kiowa, and Apache, including Quanah Parker". Tulsa, Oklahoma: Gilcrease Museum.
  17. ↑ "Kiowa and Comanche Documents". Tulsa, Oklahoma: Gilcrease Museum.
  18. ↑ "Photograph of Frank Rush, Superintendent of the Wichita Wildlife Reservation". The Gateway to Oklahoma History. Oklahoma Historical Society.
  19. ↑ Greer, Frank H. (September 21, 1907). "Buffalo Will Winter in Oklahoma Fields". The Weekly Oklahoma State Capital (Newspaper). Vol. 19, no. 22 (1 ed.). Guthrie, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Historical Society. p. 2. LCCN sn86064192. OCLC 13771094.
  20. ↑ Niblack, Leslie G. (October 5, 1907). "Rush in Charge of Oklahoma Buffalo". The Guthrie Daily Leader (Newspaper). Vol. 29, no. 132 (1 ed.). Guthrie, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Historical Society. p. 1. LCCN sn86063952. OCLC 13748544.
  21. ↑ Falkenbury, M.C. (October 11, 1907). "Bison for Oklahoma". Miami Record-Herald (Newspaper). Vol. 15, no. 47 (1 ed.). Miami, Indian Territory: Oklahoma Historical Society. p. 3. LCCN sn86064102. OCLC 13686197.
  22. ↑ Greer, Frank H. (October 12, 1907). "Buffalo Are On The Way". The Weekly Oklahoma State Capital (Newspaper). Vol. 19, no. 25 (1 ed.). Guthrie, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Historical Society. p. 3. LCCN sn86064192. OCLC 13771094.
  23. ↑ "Bison Bellows: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge". National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior.
  24. ↑ O'Dell, Larry. "Holy City of the Wichitas" [Holy City Of The Wichitas Pageant]. The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
  25. ↑ Niblack, Leslie G. (October 14, 1907). "Buffalo Coming to Oklahoma". The Guthrie Daily Leader (Newspaper). Vol. 29, no. 139 (1 ed.). Guthrie, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Historical Society. pp. 1, 4. LCCN sn86063952. OCLC 13748544.
  26. ↑ Williams, J. Roy; Bixby, T. M. (October 17, 1907). "Buffalo Expected Today Coming By Express". Lawton Constitution-Democrat (Newspaper). Vol. 6, no. 23 (1 ed.). Lawton, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Historical Society. p. 8. LCCN sn96087819. OCLC 34790531.
  27. ↑ "The Craterville Park Covenant". Tulsa, Oklahoma: Gilcrease Museum.
  28. ↑ "Chief Brave Bear and Frank Rush of Craterville Park, Oklahoma". Tulsa, Oklahoma: Gilcrease Museum.
  29. ↑ "Craterville Park Indian Fair". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
  30. ↑ "Pow Wows". The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
  31. ↑ "The Craterville Park Covenant". Lawton, Oklahoma: Museum of the Great Plains. Southwest Wilds & Waters. 1924.
  32. ↑ "Craterville Park Pictorial Biography". Frank Rush Collection ~ Western History Collections. University of Oklahoma.
  33. ↑ "Home of Quanah Parker in the Wichita Mountain, The Comanche White House". Tulsa, Oklahoma: Gilcrease Museum.
  34. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Quanah Mountain
  35. ↑ "Home of Quanah Parker near Cache, Okla". Arthur R. Lawrence Collection. Lawton, Oklahoma: Museum of the Great Plains.
  36. ↑ America's Great Indian Leaders on YouTube
  37. ↑ "Indian Religion ~ Peyote Rite". Tulsa, Oklahoma: Gilcrease Museum.
  38. ↑ "Peyote Tradition". Tulsa, Oklahoma: Gilcrease Museum.
  39. ↑ "Native American Religion ~ Peyote Ceremony". Tulsa, Oklahoma: Gilcrease Museum.

Bibliography

Further Reading about Oklahoma and Texas Ventures
☆ Robinson, Gilbert L. (1937). History of the Healdton Oil Field [History of the Healdton Oil Field ~ A Thesis – Approved for the Department of History]. Gateway to Oklahoma History. Norman, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Historical Society. pp. 1–94. OCLC 26281676.
☆ Despain, S. Matthew (2000). "For Society's Sake: The Wichita Mountains, Wildlife, and Identity in Oklahoma's Early Environmental History". The Chronicles of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Historical Society. 78 (4 – Winter 2000–01): 388–411. LCCN 23027299. OCLC 655582328.
☆ Freeman, Elizabeth E. (2009). "Ragtown: Wirt, Oklahoma, and the Healdton Boom". The Chronicles of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Historical Society. 87 (1 – Spring 2009): 34–55. LCCN 23027299. OCLC 655582328.
☆ Hedglen, Thomas L. "American Indian Exposition". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.
☆ Amin, Julius A. "Jakehamon, TX". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
☆ Anonymous. "Ranger, Desdemona, and Breckenridge Oilfields". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
☆ Anderson, H. Allen. "Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
☆ Anderson, H. Allen. "Wichita Falls, Ranger, and Fort Worth Railroad". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.

Periodical Bibliography

Petroleum Industry Bibliography

Historical Video Archive

Early 20th Century Expansion and Oklahoma Dust Bowl of 1930s
☆ Early 20th Century Oil Boom in Oklahoma on YouTube
☆ The Century: America's Time – American Broadcasting Company playlist on YouTube
☆ The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power – Daniel Yergin playlist on YouTube
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
☆ FDR and The Dust Bowl on YouTube
☆ The Dust Bowl on YouTube
☆ The Story of Oklahoma – Dust, Drifters, and Drought on YouTube
☆ U.S. Dust Bowl on YouTube
☆ U.S. Dust Bowl on YouTube
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.