Letters From a 1913 Tourist

These letters were written in 1913 by a lady from Iowa who came to spend a month in Platt Park. They are quite interesting and show a side of the area that we are not privy to these days.

These three letters from a lady named Kate Strong were sent to her fiends in Iowa. These letters give us a perspective into life in Sulphur in 1913 from a tourist point of view.

June 30, 1913 - 1st letter from Sulphur.

Well I visited one place where I will not visit again - the Deaf and Dumb school, for two meals. I failed to hear the dinner bell. This city is divided into two parts, East Sulphur and West Sulphur.

East Sulphur has paved streets and several large business houses, also a very large hotel with a bromide bath house. The blue, white and black Sulphur springs are near this hotel. If all this town was together instead of being so widely scattered it would be a much better and prettier town. It is situated at the foot of the Arbuckle Mountains, on both the Santa Fe and Frisco railroads.

Many Indian legends surround the country, 840 acres is in this reservation, it was ceded to the government in a treaty with the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes, the Indians bequeathed the land that comprises the Platt National park to the government.

It is said great benefits are derived from the water at Sulphur but if they do fail to cure the outing is a great pleasure. Over 30 mineral springs are to be found in the reservation. The bromide is said to be the best and only one where the supply is limited. The hours are from 6am to 6pm two gallons per day to each person. A doctor from Oklahoma City drinks five gallons per day --he weighs 240 pounds.

Chlorine, by government analysis, predominates in all the waters. I have visited the Ramsey Lake, which is a beautiful place, 20 feet deep, we had to pay 50 cents to fish and 25 cents for the use of a boat, and this lake also belongs to Uncle Sam.

I also visited Lake Lowrance, which belongs to private individuals, has club house and plenty of fish at the same price. When I was there it was simply beautiful, surrounded by Yunkapins, a lovely yellow flower somewhat like the water lily but when ripe the nuts are good to eat. Lake Lowrance has a perfect natural spring near the club house a whirlpool of quicksand in its center.

I visited the artesian well, which flows an immense volume of water. I have seen a great may other sights, Cliff Side with its lover's leap, Mystic Cave, Robber's Roost, and Devil's Den, but the sulphur fumes kept me awhile from entering, yet. In another place I found his shoe strings and claws, also found his horns tied to an old arm chair - am unable to say how long he has been dehorned.

I will close by telling of the funniest incident since our sojourn here: Mr. Strong had emptied the syrup pitcher at supper and at breakfast the waiter passed the hot cakes, Mr. Strong took two nice large ones, arranged them nicely on his plate, poured the red syrup over them, smacked his lips preparatory to taking a bit but made the sad mistake of discovering that instead of syrup he had poured cider vinegar over them. Busy, will write again..

MRS. KATE STRONG

July 10, 1913 - 2d letter from Sulphur.

The longest day of the year and a little longer to me away from Geary. Arrived at this place Thursday at 2pm left Oklahoma City at 9:05am.

Crop prospects are fine but we can not even see a field of corn here. After we had rested from our journey the boss lady told us to take a hack and go to west Sulphur where the bromide and medicine springs are located, it looked somewhat comical to see Mr. Strong driving and just "de lady" on the inside. We found the springs and Mr. Strong took several cups of the healing water but the inhalation was enough for me but I have accustomed to the smell and can drink the water without much effort. Some say they drink a gallon at a time and gain a pound per day - I think they must get weighed immediately after drinking.

At our hotel, at 4am the crowing of two lusty roosters and squeals and grunts of three red pigs disgustingly arouse us, we dress and take a mile and a half walk to the springs, get a drink and, by the way, I get tired of following a man around carrying a gallon bottle and nothing stronger than water in it.

Well, we get back to breakfast in all its primitive pioneer style, old fashioned steel knives and three tined forks which is a great aid to my digestion. I try to get a big mouthful on at once but fail and patiently try again, otherwise we are both feeling fine and enjoying the resort.

We visited the Bromide Spring 1088 Sunday. I haven't learned how many were at the Sulphur 440 and 484 Friday and Saturday. We have been here four days and we have only seen four dogs , and have been over the best part of the town.

Several times Mr. Strong thought I had eloped but I always come back. I think a good plan for younger wives if they send their husbands to this resort is to come with them. If this is all published it will give a description of the white and blue Sulphur springs to our Geary friends and Booster.

MRS. KATE STRONG

July 20, 1913 - 3d letter from Sulphur.

Sunday's Oklahoman gave a somewhat lengthy and exaggerated description of Sulphur, which I understand cost the town $150.00. Since writing my last letter, I have visited several most interesting places. One of the largest wells I ever saw, the water from it is a very strong sulphur and flows into Travertine creek, lining its rocky sides with yards of white sulphur lacy like substance which was so beautiful.

In both East and West Sulphur are many handsome residences and cozy bungalows, with beautifully kept lawns, and such lovely flowers only Iowa can excel, but amid it all we have our troubles. The colored cook and cookee at this hotel left Saturday night and the daughter and landlady had to cook our Sunday dinner, but Sunday evening an Indian brought his white wife to cook for us hungry mortals.

We spent the glorious 4th near the Platte Pavilion where the (standing) picnic was held just outside the park. No one was allowed on the grass, not even a dog. The stars and stripes floated o'er us but only two or three seats wee provided so we kept on walking until we came to the Blue Sulphur springs.

There were 1288 persons at the bromide springs, Sunday the 13th, the supply was limited to ½ gallon per day. I suppose the supply will be exhausted when 10,000 socialists are expected to meet here the 22d of July.

I can see the bottle brigade from my bedroom window upstairs as it passes back and forth to and from the springs, and quite often one bottle will strike another and the result is a broken bottle. The water from the Bromide spring is shipped to parties from Sept 1st to June 1st. July and August the largest crowds are expected.

At present the town is full of people from everywhere. There is a cancer sanitarium here, but it us for sale so suppose there is not much doing. Another delightful place is Beauty Springs. This is a young ladies and three toned widows resort; by the way we had one of them at our table.

I notice a morning or two Mr. Strong had combed his soft white hair beautifully smooth, so one morning he came to the breakfast table with the front of his hair a bright purple. I thought , what kind of trick had he been served with this time for he had just been telling me there was nothing to write about him this week. The joke was on him as he had sharpened an indelible pencil and in some manner had dyed his hair a beautiful purple which remained for several days, but withal Mr. Strong's mistakes he has been greatly benefited since coming here and has gained several pounds in weight. Today he has been out in the country about eight miles but did not see any place where he would like to locate.

I think when anyone comes here to recuperate or rest up and is to take lodging at some good hotel instead of light housekeeping for the merry crowd that you are always surrounded with tends more or less to keep your mind off their disease and condition, so many merry jokes are passed and each tries to outdo the other and last but not least and the best of all is the early morning walk back and forth to the springs before breakfast is a great help within itself to help.

As this is my last letter perhaps I will be at home before it reaches you. I cannot begin to tell you what a pleasant time we have had since coming here. It is the first time in my life I ever went away from home and forgot I had a home. I asked a lady if anyone ever came here and lost their mind. She said the bromide was a great sedative to make anyone sleep and forget.

Come to Sulphur and drink water. Bring your sister, wife and daughter, your daddy and your dear old mother-in-law. If she isn't kind and meek, you can drown her in Rock creek. Oh this water is the stuff. You can never get enough. You can drink it twenty times a day; so pack your duds and come to stay.

MRS KATE STRONG

Submitted by Dennis Muncrief/Jack Scott - August, 2003.