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
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