J.T. Hale
Smithville OklahomaA community With Strong HERITAGE |
© copyright 2004
by Lin Stone
On the Oklahoma map Smithville is a very small community that can't even decide which Kiamichi Country road it wants to be a wide spot on. Parts of it are found on Highway 4 and then a little dab more on Highway 259 joins it on the way to Beavers Bend, or Broken Bow. Yet the little community has a rich, strong heritage of greatness with more than several kinds of world champions here; cowboy, hunting, fishing, woodworking, crafts. trapping, and just plain solid citizens like G. E. McMurl (known to one and all as "Mac") that any community would be proud to claim.
| J. T. Hale describes heritage this way: "Heritage is where you come from. Heritage is the kind of example you are today, and heritage is what the next generation picks up to carry on into all the tomorrows. If America lived up to its heritage its greatness would last forever." |
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Typical citizens of the Smithville Community
For
fishing and hunting our first example is a native
American hunter. Kiamichi Country
is renowned for its hunting and fishing opportunities. Benny
stands way up there on the list of great hunters and fishermen. He has
been written up many times by some really great writers. One story of his
Small Mouth Bass prowess had his phone ringing off the hook so constantly he had
it disconnected because answering it interfered with his hunting and fishing. The buckle
you see to the left is an example of his hand-carved work from an elk horn.
This region is one of the best in Kiamichi Country for hunting and fishing. There are animals found in here that don't have names yet, and then there are still the occasional sightings of Big Foot.
Dorothy Jeanne Umsted bought the Smithville grocery store named Umsted
Groceries forty years ago from her father.
As you can see the store hasn't changed that much in all that time. The
painted cow heads on the wall are from her
husband's registered stock.
| River's Edge Cottages offers
double jacuzzis, cozy fireplaces, fishing and hiking opportunities. The
phone number is 580 244 7296 The A to Z Guest Ranch offers 1500 acres to ride on that is not in the Oklahoma's Department of Wildlife "Land Access" permit area. Eagle Creek Guest Cottages provides secluded log cottages that are nestled on the southern slope of Kiamichi Mountain. It is the perfect choice for honeymooners and romantic getaways. The cottages come equipped with large, double sized jacuzzi tubs, kitchens, fireplaces and kin size beds. A TV, VCR and Charcoal grill are thrown in for good measure. G. E. (Mac) McMurl owns a combined service station, diner and tack shop known as The Mountain Store, where Highways 4 and 259 join forces. He is the community's #1 booster and knows almost everyone around here. Not only can he tell you about the top rodeo stars, and other champions in the area, he can put you in touch with them. James Smith is the owner and expositor of The American Citizen Public Affairs Committee. He also owns the American Tribes of Israel web site. The school system here is really clean and the administrators are helpful. "Hatobi" was the first name for Smithville. In Choctaw that means "warrior man." Later it was renamed for Joshua M. Smith. This part of US 259 is noted for its beautiful scenery. Heading south towards Broken Bow from Smithville the highway clings to the north bank of the Mountain Fork River, supporting a number of great fishing camps. |
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