What was only a river crossing in the vast plains of North America little more than a century ago has now developed into the thriving Oklahoma community known as Purcell, the Heart of Oklahoma. Its first permanent residents were the Chickasaws whose life in the new territory centered around raising cattle, horses and hogs on land that before had been home primarily to buffalo and prairie dogs. Then came the cattle drives, the railroad, white settlers and finally the town that was to play such a prominent role in the early history of our state.In keeping with the nation's bicentennial celebration and as a reminder of the rich heritage of the community, this official seal for the city was designed. Its purpose is to mark the celebration of our nation's founding and 200 years of American freedom while at the same time setting Purcell uniquely apart from the rest of the country through this emblem of its heritage. The seal depicts the panorama of events - past and present - which have contributed to the growth of Purcell. It includes cattle and horse ranching, oil, agriculture, education, the press and the railroad.
The area was first settled by the Chickasaw Indians who moved here from Mississippi in search of a place where they could live by their own laws. An 1837 treaty with the Choctaws provided that the Chickasaws could share in the Choctaw Nation, although they remained under Choctaw government This was not changed until 1855 when a new treaty granted the Chickasaws the right to their own form of government. Though the land was under common ownership, the Chickasaws fenced off acres of open range and began raising stock. These were the earliest ranchers. During this time herds of 1500 to 2000 head of Longhorn steers were driven northward to railheads in Kansas where beef prices were ten times those of the South. When the railroad extended its line southward it marked the end of the back-breaking, cattle-killing trail rides. But cattle from the area around Purcell were still bought here to be shipped to the northern cattle markets. The Longhorns, so common when herds were driven up the Shawnee and Chisholm trails, are no longer present on the Oklahoma range. Now thoroughbred stock have taken their place. Horses, once raised for riding and work, are now bred for racing and pleasure. And Purcell is the heart of horse country.
Though given little emphasis in the early history of the area, oil was once discovered in the immediate vicinity and several Purcell businessmen organized a drilling company to explore the oil reserves. Today the oil industry is the livelihood of many of Purcell's prominent citizens.
Of great importance in the growth of Purcell is agriculture. This industry is represented in the seal by the plow in the furrow and the cotton waiting at the station for shipment. Once called the "Queen City" of Indian Territory, Purcell was the second largest cotton market in the Chickasaw Nation and was well supplied with churches, schools, and newspapers.
Since its beginning, Purcell's residents have been concerned with education. The first school in the area and the second in all of Indian Territory was S Elizabeth's Academy. Founded in 1888, it was an active educational institution for local students until 1968.The Osage shield with creased olive branch and peace pipe, taken from the Oklahoma state flag, is used in the seal to symbolize the marriage of Oklahoma and Indian Territories. The small crosses on the buckskin shield are said to be an American Indian's graphic sign for stars, indicating lofty ideals. No symbol could better represent the character of the founders of this city who were so instrumental in working to unite the two territories into the "Tomahawk State."
The history of the newspapers of Purcell is concurrent with the history of the territory. As the Purcell Register first printed November 23, 1887, was one of the first six to be published in what is now Oklahoma
The coming of statehood carried more than usual significance in Purcell. The statehood celebration in Purcell, November 16, 1907, was inspired by the fact that the first statehood convention was held here. W. H. Walker, early territorial editor and proponent of union of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory, called the convention September 30, 1893.
The train waiting at the station was chosen to depict the coming of the Santa Fe Railroad to Indian Territory and the reason that the town was placed at this site. To keep up with the cattle shipments and the opening of "unassigned lands" in Oklahoma Territory, the Southern Kansas Railroad building from the north and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe, building from the south raced to be the first to reach Purcell station.At the same time, several enterprising citizens of the area located town sites within a mile or two of the present town. They knew, of course, that somewhere on the high ground just out of the Canadian bottom a town would be built on the Chickasaw side of the river. The actual location was, however, determined by the railroad's placement of their yards and depots.
Named for E. B. Purcell, an early director of the Santa Fe, the town was needed as a shipping point. On the steep red hill behind the depot, tent stores rose to provide the settlement's needs. The rapid growth of the town must have been a surprise to its founders since its original "four blocks" grew almost overnight into the largest shipping point in all of Indian Territory.
The Santa Fe station house built in 1904 housed one of a chain of eating establishments founded by Fred Harvey. Along with Brown's Opera House, it was the center of social activity for a wide area. Many Purcell residents would remember the delicious food and splendid service at Harvey House which required "gentlemen to always have a coat on." With the coming of dining cars and faster through trains, it closed its doors and the town's social life moved away from the depot to the top of the hill where new restaurants were thriving.The South Canadian River has long been a problem in travel to the Wes In rainy seasons its channel would quickly swell from its banks; but when it was calm, it could be forded. When wagon trains crossed they relied on "river pilots." These were the mule teams which pulled people across. Each wagon spied out the tracks of the wagon wheels which had crossed before and followed closely. Slight veering to either side might mean quick sand and woe to the teams which caught in those sinking, treacherous pockets.
"Hocker Bridge" was the first toll bridge built across the river and was built completely of wood. Construction was completed September 29, 1899. But its life span was ended October 1904 when it was washed away and the people had to go back to "fording the river." Another bridge was built in 1911 and was declared as the first 3400 feet of highway from Chicago to the Gulf. Now Eastern motorists going to Houston could finally cross the treacherous South Canadian. This bridge proved to be insufficient to handle the automobile traffic which U.S. 77 poured across it and the present causeway was erected in 1937. Transportation has played a key role in the growth and development of the city. From the earliest "river crossing" days to the time when the railroad was in its heyday and up to the pms. ant when Purcell is a part of a vast interstate highway system linking North and South.
Best known as the largest and best town in the Chickasaw Nation, no city in Indian Territory had brighter prospects nor a more ambitious progressive population.
The symbols of the progress of this city, flowing out of the flag of 1887, represent the hardy pioneer spirit which made Purcell grew and prosper. It is the same brand of courage displayed by our nation's founders. In celebrating the bicentennial we acknowledge the heritage of this community.
Purcell qualified as a Bicentennial City and applied for recognition August 28, 1975. Presidential designation was made October 23 and the official flag, bearing the Bicentennial emblem, was presented at a city-wide ceremony December 12, 1975.
At the request of the local Bicentennial Committee, Mary Lee Hale Looper, well-known Purcell artist, designed the official seal for the city. Mrs. Looper spent many hours researching historical facts surrounding the history of the area. Further research at the Oklahoma Historical Society provided accurate details concerning local history.
INTER-TERRITORY STATEHOOD CONVENTION MARKER (Locations - Court House Lawn and McClain Co. Museum)
The first convention to advocate single statehood for Oklahoma was called to order September, 30, 1893 in the old Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, South of Purcell by William H. Walker, editor of the PURCELL REGISTER newspaper, who' was one of the @ advocates for single statehood. Resolutions passed by the group favored single statehood, instead of dual INDIAN TERRITORY and OKLAHOMA TERRITORY. It wasn't until 14 years later that OKLAHOMA became a state. A model of the church is located in the MUSEUM.
The event and site was approved as a "Historical Event and Site" by the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1990 and plans were made by the McClain County Historical Society to celebrate the event on Statehood Day in 1991. A rose granite marker was placed at the corner of Second and Washington Streets Purcell on the Courthouse lawn.
FIRE HORSE MONUMENT - Purcell Hillside Cemetery
An unusual monument just inside the gates of the Purcell Hillside Cemetery commemorates the famous fire horses of Purcell. Sam and Prince, who in addition to their normal duties hauling the fire pump to local fires, helped win statewide honors and plaudits for their championship team time of 7 & 2/3 minutes in "bunk-out" contests in 1913.
The contest started with the firemen in makeshift bunks on the course when the bells rang. They jerked on their overalls and boots, slid down a pole to harness Sam and Prince and then drove the 1/4 mile course. Then 4 men hit the ground running, laying out 250 feet of hose and attached the nozzle to the water supply.
STATEHOOD DAY CELEBRATION RECREATES 1907 EVENTIn November 1907 the school children of Purcell marched to Main Street and Second Avenue where they formed a large star in the center of the intersection. This was to commemorate the fact that Oklahoma had become the 46th state in the union. A patriotic program and speech-making followed.
In 1995, the ceremony was duplicated by the children of Purcell and surrounding areas. A memorial plaque at Santa Fe Square was also dedicated to commemorate the event.
For more historical information - contact the McClain County Historical Society & Museum - 203 West Washington - 527-5894