The American Elm

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

The American Elm was the “go to” tree as the thing planted for shade in the mostly treeless Great Plains. As those Plains gave way to villages and towns and then to cities, the American Elm was the favored “street tree” that lined the streets in idyllic neighborhoods. There is an American Elm that has stood in Oklahoma City since before statehood, overlooked an ignored, that is, until April 19, 1995, when it’s sturdiness became a prominent part of a story that shook and restored the faith of a nation.

Night School and a Driver’s License

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

All the kids had been raised and the youngest grandkid was starting school, it was time for a new chapter for Emma Belle. The next big step required a high school diploma and a driver’s license, two things she didn’t have. What she did have was a lot of grit and determination…throw in a used Nash Rambler and the rest was history!

The Alvarez

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

Sometimes it takes decades for a story to come around. Years ago I made a deal to acquire a particular guitar, the 12 string pictured here, and though many a day has passed since the agreement was made, the instrument has made it into my home. It’s a story of youth, hopes, dreams and loss…but mostly about the friends you find through music.

Duwali’s Sword

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

Chief Bowles or Duwali was a name familiar across the American Frontier two hundred years ago. As headman of the Cherokees west of the Mississippi River, he saw his people through many a trying time. His favor was curried by the many rulers and would-be rulers of the territories where the Cherokees resided. As a gesture of friendship, he was given a sword by soon-to-be Texas President Sam Houston. That sword is now in Tahlequah, the Capital of the Cherokee Nation, but how it got there is a story you need to hear.

Score For Stilwell: The Photographer’s Motor Car

by Steve Garrett, posted in Within The Realm

In the early days of the 20th century, things were changing – and fast! Electric lights, flying machines and the automobile were pushing their way into the center of attention. Folks, especioally here Within The Realm, were a scrappy sort. When the autos did make their way to the streets of Stilwell, splendid Stilwell, a local took up the challenge to make one for himself.