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When
researching the Panhandle and adjacent areas, it's interesting to
note most historical sites and happenings occur along our creeks
and rivers.
Our earliest towns of Fort Elliott, Tascosa and Old Clarendon are
located alongside streams. The Red River Wars were named after the
many tributaries of our largest river. The Alibates Flint Quarries
are near the Canadian River. The early Indian ruins of Ochiltree
County lie near Wolf Creek and the prehistoric bison and Indian
finds near Folsom, N.M., lie alongside Wild Horse Arroyo.
Common sense tells us this coincidence is because man and beast
need water daily. The various wars, battles, historical happenings
and settlements came about because that is where the animals and
people gathered.
By studying
a relief map of our area, we find that all creeks and rivers in
the Panhandle mostly run from west to east and are located about
20 to 30 miles apart. This fact was significant to the Indians,
comancheros, soldiers, buffalo hunters and trail drivers because
they knew if they were going north or south, water was just ahead.
The Indians
and comancheros met and traded at these streams. Soldiers hunting
Indians went to known water holes first. Buffalo hunters always
traveled to the streams to seek their prey and trail drivers planned
their daily drives to always end with the presence of water.
On one hand, water was a necessity. On the other hand, too much
water became a danger. For example, the Canadian River in flood
season presented a formidable barrier. For weeks after a flood,
quicksand claimed many a person or animal through the years.
The crossing
at Tascosa was safe, being narrow and seldom showed quicksand. The
crossing at Indian Creek just east of Texas Highway 70, occurred
when heavy floods along the creek washed a narrow band of gravel
out across the Canadian River quicksands providing solid footing
for man and beast.
As
for water stories, few can top that of Lugert, Okla.
Founded along the banks of the North Fork of the Red River in 1901,
Frank Lugert established a general store and post office at the
site. At first, his main customers were outlaws hiding in the nearby
Quartz and Wichita mountains. He sold more supplies in the dead
of night than in daylight.
On April 27,
1912, a tornado struck the town of 300 people, killing three and
damaging 41 of the 42 standing buildings. In 1927, the nearby town
of Altus built a dam some 458 feet long and 27 feet high across
the North Fork to provide water for their growing city. This became
today's Lake Altus.
Sadly, the lake
water at high level would bury the old Lugert town site beneath
its surface. A few wooden buildings were moved to higher ground.
The rock and brick buildings were left and were eventually buried.
When the lake
waters are low, the old relics come into sight, providing a neat
photo opportunity for both hikers and boat enthusiasts. The foundation
of the school building, built in 1938, is a favorite. Imagine, our
own buried town only a few hours drive away.
© Delbert Trew
"It's All Trew" Column
- May 17, 2006
E-mail: trewblue@centramedia.net.
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