The Edwards Store, Inc.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

It’s getting hot! Looking forward to Fall already!

As a follow on to the archaeology work just completed at the Edwards-Hardaway historic homestead, I was excited to travel up the road to the field school at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center on Thursday! It was the last day of the school, so I made it just in the nick of time. Awesome, important work happening there! Much needed renovations of the Visitors Center on the horizon. So great to see Shady Point students on site and to learn more about the OU Archaeology Department. Among the archaeologists at work in Spiro are the experts who studied the log cabin’s grounds.They have cleared us to begin restoration of the cabin foundations and we will start this fall! Stay tuned and plan a visit, Shady Point friends!

Congratulations to the WINNERS of the door prizes from the May 11, 2024 Meet & Greet at the historic The Edwards Store cabin! Our Executive Director Chrissy Gray announced the winners today!
Winner of the stagecoach mug is Susan Cantwell!
Winner of the Oklahoma History Center T-shirt is Becky Smith Hunt!
Thanks again to everyone who visited the cabin! We hope you discovered its legacy of hospitality continues!

Learning today of the passing of Dr. Jack Paschall, a friend and supporter of the preservation project and active member of The Edwards Store. Our Executive Director, Chrissy Gray shared, “ Dr. Paschall was an educator who grew up in Red Oak. He and Dad were good friends throughout their careers and he taught mom at East Central in Ada. We extend our sincere condolences to the family.”

Looking forward to Fall and the festival! 🍂🍁

Home | The Original Fall Fe Mark your calendars for October 18-20, when the park comes alive with vibrant colors, laughter, and community spirit.  Make your plans now to attend our annual celebration of autumn magic!

Wise words from our colleagues at SHPO.

PRESERVATION STARTS WITH YOU!

If you want to preserve the places that are important to you, here are today’s ideas:
1) Know where to turn for information and resource. National organizations/agencies include the National Trust for Historic Preservation (https://savingplaces.org/), Preservation Action (https://preservationaction.org/), the National Park Service (https://www.nps.gov/index.htm) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (https://www.achp.gov/).
2) Designate your property. There are many levels: National Register of Historic Places (https://www.okhistory.org/shpo/nationalregister.htm), State Register of Historic Places, and local listings.
3) Have Patience; preservation takes time. It is ok to feel discouraged, we all do sometimes but your hard work is worth it. Celebrate your victories, mourn your losses.

Film Row, Oklahoma City

Did you know May 5-11 was National Wildflower Week? Following the Meet and Greet at the cabin last Saturday, our Executive Director Chrissy Gray sowed wildflower seeds at the homestead. Here’s hoping for beautiful blooming this summer! Thanks to all of you who dropped by to visit!

Through this program, with support from the Oklahoma Historical Society and GH2 Architects LLC we’ve documented the historic Edwards-Hardaway Homestead cabin and cemetery.

Want to learn more about the Heritage Documentation Programs, NPS? Then you’re going to want to check out this book.

The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), and Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) work to preserve important structures, not physically, but through documentation–precisely measured drawings, large format photographs, and written records. "Recording Historic Structures" offers a detailed reference to the methods and techniques used to document America’s historic structures, from bridges and buildings to landscapes and ships.

Spotlight on The Edwards Store today at the Oklahoma Historical Society’s history symposium!

Kristina Wyckoff gave an amazing presentation today at the Oklahoma History Symposium regarding the Edward’s Store. She discussed the archaeological work that has been completed to-date.

Someone has a new shirt! One of the great things about our work to restore the historic cabin in “Old” Red Oak is getting to know and support the wonderful students at Red Oak Public School! Go Eagles!

Congratulations to this great group of students. We are proud of you and appreciate your support of our historic preservation effort! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/eZFNFCSLvU7SLh3X/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Congratulations to our FFA members on their performances at the regional qualifying contest at Kiowa!

Team Sweepstakes Champion

Gracie Gandee - 1st 8th ag exploration
Lacy Cook 3rd, Bella Muncy - 1st 8,9,10 general ag
Layla 1st - 8/9 FFA Opportunities
Mason Sumpter 2nd, Titus Montgomery 1st - ag science
Reed Allen 4th - animal science
Titus Montgomery 1st - natural resources
Maddie Walker 2nd - ag business
Lacy Cook 3rd - creed
Titus Montgomery 1st - plant science
Paisley Coffey 4th - ag policy
Mason Sumpter 4th, Reed Allen 3rd, Titus Montgomery 1st - extemporaneous

Many thanks to Amanda Regnier and Jennifer Haney of the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, who were searching for 19th Century artifacts at the Edwards Store historical site near Red Oak this week.

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

James Lockhart, Fabian Garcia

Many thanks to the 8th grade class of Red Oak Public School for assisting us this week with the Oklahoma Archeological Survey's work at the Edwards Store site. We appreciate longtime educator Leland Walker for bringing the students to the project. It was an important educational day in search of 19th Century artifacts.

Hot off the UPS truck and from collaboration with Okie Watercolors…just in time to fill the stocking stuffers are these beautiful new keychains for a donation of $10 to www.edwardsstore.com!

I only have a few in stock. I am taking orders for another shipment for Christmas 🎄 ! Order yours today.

News from Wilburton Area Chamber of Commerce!

Thank you to the Wilburton Area Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to give an update on our recent progress and our plans for the future!

A little bit of history about what we’re doing together The Edwards Store! We will be onsite Tuesday 10/17 with archaeologists to study the spots where the Store and the Original Kitchen stood in 1850. Drop by and say “Hi”! Thank you for your continuing support!

https://www.facebook.com/100064268336601/posts/723707279781543/?mibextid=K8Wfd2

On this day, October 15, 1966, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The NHPA created the triumvirate of preservation in the United States: the National Register of Historic Places - NPS, the list of the National Historic Landmarks Program and the State Historic Preservation Offices (National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers).

LEARN MORE
Read the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 from the National Park Service website at https://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/nhpa1966.htm

Read about the National Park Service & Historic Preservation at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/historicpreservation/index.htm

SEARCH THE COLLECTION
Conduct you personal search through the thousands of measured drawings, large-format photographs and historical reports in the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection in The Library of Congress at https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/

The Clean Up Project has been completed.

We would like to thank our neighbors, Jeff and Chris Hall for their help and support.

Hi everyone,

Chrissy Gray Dickmeyer, Executive Director, here. I haven’t posted much in the last couple of months and for this I apologize. I have been recovering from surgery. Today, I am asking the community for help.

I have been so disheartened by the photographs below. The storms that happened in July have taken a toll on the Edwards-Hardaway Homestead.

I have been working behind the scenes getting quotes from individuals who are capable of getting the cleanup completed.

We have a tree limb weighing down on top of the cabin and in the front of the cabin. The homestead also needs to be brush hogged and then mowed. There is also a huge brush pile that needs to be removed due to fire hazards.

Right now the homestead is in a dangerous condition. I am asking everyone to reach out and help out if you can.

I received many quotes from the local area. We need at the most $1,500 to complete the clean up project.

Thank you for your support. If the donation link doesn’t work please visit our website at

www.edwardsstore.com

and click on the menu link. Then choose the Donations/Partners link. That’s all you have to do!

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard!

Tracy Bonner, Tracy Pruitt

Our address has changed since 2020. It is 1329 Classen Drive, OKC, Ok. 73102