The Journal Thursday, April21, 1977-7 , .
Dedication of two Bridges
River
The Robert M. Murphy Bridge
Eight miles East of Perkins
on Highway 33
The Robert Murphy bridge - 1977
Saturday, April 23, 1977
at 2:00 p. m.
The old, battered bridge that served so well for so long
i) ¸
i i iii
Robert M. Murphy
Life-long Payne Countian and
Oklahoma State Senator
By Joyce Stanton
Historical Marker
Committee Chairman
C. V.tt.S.
The new Cimarron River
Bridge on State Highway 33,
that is to bc dedicated on
S turday at 2 p.m., April 23,
in hon,,r of Senator Robert
M. Murphy, of Stillwater,
is onh the second bridge to
span the river in that loca-
tion. The first was completed
in 1930 when State Highway
33 as built. This was the
first all-paved highway be-
tw, en Oklahoma City and
Tui,a, needless to say the
peopl who lived on or near
this new highway were estat-
ically happy to have such a
nice ribbon of concrete to
travel upon. Prior to this
time the main road between
Tulsa and Oklahoma City
was the OZARK ,TRAIL
which was a ravel road. It
by-passed Cushing to the
south following the section
line on what is now 9th Street
continuing west for three
miles before making a job to
the south one mile, from this
point the road continued
west to Guthrie, staying
south of the river all the way.
The older people in this vi-
cinily can still remember tra-
veling this old trail or high-
way.
A story on Ozark Trail by
Joyce Stanton will be in Cim-
arron Family Legends.
At the completion of State
Highway 33 an elaborate
c, h'bration was held in
Cusl,ing. Oklahoma on
Sunday November 2, 1930 to
officiallx dedicate the entire
st, etch of new highway, all
the cities on the route parti-
cipated in planning the fes-
tivities. A gigantic parade
depicting the Evolution of
Transportation with floats
and bands from towns and
communities along the way,
was the main attraction. A
radio hook up was made and
the progress was broadcast.
Bristow was_probably the
nearest radio station at that
time. Pawnee Bill was there
with a delegation from his
Old Town at Pawnee. The
following gentlemen repre-
sented their towns in plan-
ning the celebration and
dedi:tion: J. P. Burke, Sand
Springs; C. L. Hubbard,
Key,tone; George D. Brock,
Mannford; Oscar Anderson,
OiltoN; E. E. Stowers,
Drumright; Charles Griffith,
Charles l)roegc and Ronald
Slagel, Cushing; Enoch Car-
tev, ,yle; Ed Thatcher,
Stillwater; Earl Fletcher, Ed-
mod; A. C. Holbrook, Dr.
R. W. Holbrook and Wil-
liam Knipe, Perkins; John
Raedekcr, Cushing; Judge
Gierer, Guthrie; R. G. Mil-
ler, Oklahoma City; Austin
Goom, Ripley; John Dunkin,
T/sa; E. L. Bell, Drumright.
The Governor of Oklahoma
and many dignitaries were
present at that dedica-
tiol.
Go ernw David Boren was
invited to attend the Bridge
dedication ceremonies, but
will be unable to come due to
previous commitments.
Senators. Legislators, mem-
bers and employees of the
St:te Highway Commission
will be present and many
others who were sent special
invitations.
Music will be furnished by
a western band composed of
members of the Perkins Sen-
ior Citizens group, including
the following: Dale Caro-
thers of Ripley; Roy Herndon
and Dale Haston of Still-
water; Don Prickett, Oney
and Scotty Turner of Perkins.
These men play each Mon-
day night from 7 to 10 p.m.
at the Perkins Senior Citi-
zens building and draw large
crowds of western music
lovers.
Wc, people who travel
State Highway 33, are very
proud of our new bridge and
the straightening of the dan-
gerous curves on this stretch
of highway. The old bridge
was too narrow for the size of
modern day cars and trucks
to meet safely. Thanks so
much to all those who helped
in giving us a new safe
bridge to cross. Everyone is
invited to come and join us
in dedicating the bridge
in honor of Senator Robert
M. Murphy,
Painting Contractors
Judge Robert L. Hert
lled'e Country Cured Meats
Owen Thomas Ford
The Stillwater Bank
Judge Leon J. York
B & C Office Supply
Iit National Bank, Stillwater
Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
E. W. Shelton Lumber Co.
Frontier Federal Savings & Loan
Jack Griffith Petroleum Products
Homberger Overhead Door Co.
Stillwater Auction Co.
Cushing
Allen Williammn
T. C. "Doe" Bonner
Bray Lines Inc.
Brittains Discount Store
Brooks Clothiers
Chuck's Appliance Center
King's Dairy Queen
Davis Funeral Home
Clifford. and LaVeta Randall
Farmers National Bank, Cushing
Foresee Chevrolet - Ol&
First National Bank, Cushing
Pats of Course
Steer Inn
Bill and Steve Cubbage
Cushing Chamber of Commerce and
Cimarron Valley Historical Society
Ahrberg Milling Co.
