Come visit the the largest town in Indian Territory in 1850 – Doaksville (Fort Towson, OK 74735)

Who knows, you might decide to move here and enjoy this historically rich area all of the time! It’s right here in Choctaw County, Oklahoma. 

Who would ever guess that Fort Towson, Oklahoma with a population of only 611 on the 2000 census has within it’s city limits the remains of Doaksville, Oklahoma which was the largest town in Indian Territory in 1850!

Having the second military fort to be established in what later became Oklahoma, for protection helped it to do so well. 

The Fort Towson troops were very active during the Mexican War (1846-1848).  Confederate troops controlled the fort during the Civil War. 

Doaksville was the Choctaw Nation Capital until 1863.   A great commercially advanced town. 

In the 1840s and 1850s the town’s center was composed of about thirty buildings including two newspapers, a hotel, jail, school, several stores, a gristmill, blacksmith, and other businesses.

Josiah Doaks had a trading post set up and it became Doaksville.  As the Choctaw Indians were relocated to Southeast Oklahoma from Mississippi, they established their headquarters near the trading post and it became known as Doaksville. 

A military post was established at nearby Fort Towson and with the commerce that was taking place between other metropolitan areas and Fort Towson, roads were established between Fort Towson and these areas.  The roads were used to deliver supplies to the fort.  Red River was even used as a waterway for steamboats in 1830s to carry supplies. (The excavation of one of those steamboats – The Heroine)

The Choctaws and Chickasaws signed a treaty at Doaksville in 1837 which allowed the Chickasaws to settle in the western part of the Choctaw Nation.  The Chickasaws leased the land from the Choctaws until an agreement was later reached that created a separate district for the Chickasaws.

Doaksville began declining around 1854 when the nearby fort was abandoned.  The Choctaws moved their headquarters to Chahta Tamaha  and then later to Tuskahoma where it is today.

The Doaksville/Fort Towson area had an agricuturally based economy.  With most of the men active in the Civil War, that economy suffered.  The Civil War actually ended at The Battle of Doaksville, Indian Territory when Stand Watie, the only Indian Civil War General,  signed a cease-fire with Union forces on June 23, 1865. 

All that remains of Doaksville now are old foundations and cisterns.  There is a walking trail that can be reached by going over the steps on the east side of Fort Towson cemetery.  A Candlelight Walking Tour is conducted annually with the date this year being October 1 & 2, 2010.

Those participating are taken on a hayride through the cemetery and then walk through the Doaksville remains.  Along the way they encounter Historic Re-enactors.

The Fort Location (1/2 mile east and 1/2 mile north of Fort Towson town) also is composed mostly of foundations. An annual war re-enactment takes place there every year. They are open weekdays for viewing and also have some civil war artifacts. Call 580-873-2634

The town of Fort Towson has within its city limits Lake Raymond Gary where you can own waterfront property at a great price.  Lake Raymond Gary is a trophy fishing lake and is stocked annually with catfish.  Bass and Crappie also abound in the lake.  Fish from your back yard.  Lots beginning in price at $15,000 for approximately 1/2 acre.  Call me and let’s talk about this varied area with history and water both in abundance.

Home for sale $65,000.

More history of beautiful Southeast Oklahoma:

Thankful Thursday – Walking Trip 119 Miles with Five Children – Revisiting 1938 in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s Boomers – #3 in the Series on the History of My Southeast Oklahoma

McCurtain County Established and Idabel Chosen as the County Seat 1907.

Back in time.. This Would Be Purnell, Oklahoma 74745 (Idabel)

Can I Bring My Dog With Me when I come to view the Christmas lights in Raymond Gary State Park?

Well, of course you can!  Rover will enjoy Raymond Gary State Park and the beautiful Christmas display this time of the year.  BUT Rover will have to be on a leash while he is in Raymond Gary State Park or any other Oklahoma State Park.    Oklahoma law provides that if you bring any dog into an Oklahoma state park, Oklahoma Recreational ground, or an Oklahoma state monument, they must be on a leash.  

Oklahoma law states the following:

Title 74 of Oklahoma Statues deals with Oklahoma Government and includes the laws about Public access and use of state parks -

The public shall have the right to access and use the facilities, services, and programs provided within state parks.

1.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may:
(e) enter a state park with a dog, unless the dog is on a leash, or permit any dog to enter a state park or recreation area under the jurisdiction of the Commission.  It is further provided that any authorized member of the Department or any authorized employee of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation may kill any vicious dog found running loose in any state park which poses imminent threat to humans or other animals, or which may be chasing or running any game in the state park.  Any such authorized employees of the Departments shall not be held liable for the killing of said dog.

So, yes, feel free to bring Rover with you when you visit Raymond Gary State Park or any other Oklahoma State Park but make sure he’s on a leash..  

In fact, when folks are interested in viewing waterfront property around Lake Raymond Gary, I often meet them at the park.  They sometimes bring their RV and rent a campsite, or stay in one of the comfortable on-site cabins in the park.  Sometime the four-legged member of the family is with them, hence today’s article..  please bring a leash. 

We love showing waterfront around Lake Raymond Gary.  We know and love the lake and have supplied photos for the Oklahoma website to be used.. Including photos 5, 6, 7, & 8 of the 16 photos that illustrate what a wonderful place Raymond Gary is.  This particular one is one of my favorites for The Christmas Season at Raymond Gary State Park:

I took this around 10 pm one night… every year the park is decorated so pretty with Christmas lights.  If you’re close enough to do a drive through this time of the year, you will so enjoy! Merry Christmas from Raymond Gary State Park!

Lake 

Lake levels remain low in McCurtain County and Choctaw County Oklahoma.  The drought and high heat both have affected the levels.  If we do not get significant rain soon it can even affect employment in our counties. 

Data from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers indicates that as of Friday, September 15, 2011, Broken Bow Lake was 9.6 feet below normal level.  Even though it is below level, 201 cubic feet per second  average discharge from the lake through the turbines, from 3 pm to 6 pm, into Mountain Fork River continues.  The artificially maintained trout stream needs cool water from the bottom of the lake to maintain correct temperature for the trout. 

Pine Creek Lake, located on Little River, approximately 8 miles north of Valliant, Oklahoma 74764,has a Flood Control Pool level (top of the pool) at  480.0 ft elevation above sea level, and the top of the Conservation or Navigation Pool is at the 433.0 ft elevation.  Pine Creek Lake (Valliant Oklahoma 74764) is currently at the 426.21 feet of elevation level.  The control storage capacity is below 51% of it’s normal capacity.     The Army Corp of Engineers data table indicates minimal releases from the lake into Little River  are continuing.  

A recent article in a local newspaper, The McCurtain Gazette, published at Idabel, Oklahoma 74745, indicates that Pine Creek Lake is at critical stage for elevation.  The Corp of Engineers lowered the level of the lake in the spring of this year to do some repairs on the leaking dam.  Then drought hit Southeast Oklahoma.  The International Paper Plant located at Valliant, Oklahoma which has an allocation to withdraw water from Little River below the dam to produce containerboard at it’s pulp and the paper mill at Valliant may have down town (mill closed) if a significant rain does not raise the level of the lake by November of this year, according to that newspaper article. This will affect the economy of our area quickly. 

The article went on to state that Jim Croston, chief of water management with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, stated that the dropping level of Pine Creek Lake is the No. 1 focus of the Corps right now.  The city of Idabel also draws water from Little River below the Pine Creek Dam for it’s municipal customers but does not have an allocation. 

Hugo Lake, located on the Kiamichi River, just east of Hugo Oklahoma, at Sawyer, Oklahoma currently is at the 592.97 elevation level.  Top of the Flood control pool is 627.5 elevation and Top of the Conservation pool is 602.5 elevation level.  Hugo is currently releasing more water from the lake than either Broken Bow or Pine Creek Lake. In fact, the city of Hugo and Hugo Lake has been in the news lately because Hugo agreed to sell Water from Hugo Lake to Irving, Texas, in Tarrant County.  The state of Oklahoma will not allow it.  Law suites etc have been the topic of numerous news articles over that one. 

Now while all of this is interesting and important, especially as it pertains to our local economy and economic development.. let me tell you a secret.  ……………..  …………………  …….. .. … ………………………….  ……………………  ….………..  …. ……….. …………….. …………………. ………………….. ……. …………… ……….Ready?  ………

Ok.  Here ‘s the deal.   Drought does not affect the lake level at Raymond Gary Lake.  It is a spring-fed lake.  Water goes over the spillway in humungous quantities on a daily basis even in drought.  The water in the lake is at 401 elevation unless we get a rain significant enough to raise the lake levels.  If that happens, the water normally returns to the 401 elevation in a fairly reasonable time due to the fact that the spillway is a wide spillway for this size of lake.  

So there you have it.. we have some variation in our lakes here in Southeast Oklahoma and how each one has been affected by the current drought.  AND it too shall pass.  

It’s still one of the greatest places on God’s green earth to live.  Call me if I can answer any questions about our local lakes!

]]> http://lakeraymondgaryhomes.com/raymond-gary-lake-level-usually-constant-despite-drought-periods-mccurtain-choctaw-county-lakes-oklahoma/feed/ 0 http://lakeraymondgaryhomes.com/the-point-addition-north-end-west-side-lake-raymond-gary-fort-towson-hugo-choctaw-county-southeast-oklahoma-relocation-information/ http://lakeraymondgaryhomes.com/the-point-addition-north-end-west-side-lake-raymond-gary-fort-towson-hugo-choctaw-county-southeast-oklahoma-relocation-information/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:40:51 +0000 Judi Barrett http://lakeraymondgaryhomes.com/?p=1193 The Point Addition North End West Side Lake Raymond Gary Fort Towson Hugo Choctaw County Southeast Oklahoma

The Point Addition on the north end of Lake Raymond Gary also lies on the west side of this Oklahoma Department of Wildlife owned lake inside the city limits of Fort Towson, Oklahoma near Hugo in Choctaw County which is in the extreme southeast part of Oklahoma and close to Paris, Texas. 

The Point Addition in the community of Lake Raymond Gary has 33 lake front (waterfront) lots, and 5 off-water lots.  There are thirty-eight lots (38) in The Point Addition.  It was surveyed and platted in the early 2000′s.  The Point Addition is the newest addition on Lake Raymond Gary.  Live on the water, fish from the back yard, boat dock, or fishing pier… OR take the boat out for fishing.  Raymond Gary is a sping fed lake.

To get to The Point Addition on Lake Raymond Gary – From highway 70 which passes through Fort Towson, Oklahoma, take Second Street south.  If you are coming from Valliant, Oklahoma (from the east), it will be a left turn.  If you are coming from Hugo, Oklahoma or from Paris Texas, (from the west), it will be a right turn.  Go south across the railroad tracks, through the two brick columns, and you will be in the point. 

The Point Addition is approximately two blocks from a four-lane highway (highway 70).

Some of the wording in the covenants requires residences in The Point Addition be a minimum of one thousand (1000) square feet of living space with no mobile homes allowed and no homes to be moved in that have been lived in.  The covenants require a 35 feet set back from the front of the lot for buildings and 15 feet on the sides of the lots.  utilities are at the road’s edge.  The roads are platted at 40 feet wide.  They currently are gravel and not all of the road width is graveled. 

The west side of The Point Addition is on Cattail Cove, a creek that flows into Lake Raymond Gary.  Creek lots have a narrower channel and shallower water than main channel lots.  

 The Point Addition and the community of Lake Raymond Gary enjoy a “no-wake” rule on the lake.

City Utilities include sewer, water, and garbage collection.  The public sewer system is a pressurized system.  There are two electrical service providers in The Point Addition, depending upon location within the addition.  Dial up DSL is available. 

There are various styles of homes in The Point Addition. Homes have sold from around $100K to around $450K.

Mr. Lyle Contway was the original developer of The Point Addition with Mr. Don Baskin doing the survey and plat for Lyle.  Mr. Contway sold a few of his lots himself in the early marketing stage of the development and then he listed all of the remaining development with our office, Integrity Real Estate Services.

The Point Addition’s shape and placement on the lake is very unique. The addition is about 1 1/2 miles from the State Park on the south end of the lake where boat ramps, a playground, rv hook ups, fishing piers, and bath houses are located.

The Point Addition on the North End and on the West Side of Lake Raymond Gary in Fort Towson, near  Hugo, Oklahoma located in  Choctaw County Southeast Oklahoma is a great place to own Lake Front (waterfront) property.  If interested in The Point Addition or in Lake Raymond Gary, call me, Judi Barrett, broker at Integrity Real Estate Services, and let’s talk about the hidden gem of Lake Raymond Gary in Southeast Oklahoma.

Milner Hardware and Outfitters located at 602 W. Wilson (on highway 70 just west of the railroad tracks) in Valliant, Oklahoma 74764 has just about anything that you might need in the way of hardware, lumber, fishing supplies, or hunting supplies. 

Willie and Amanda Marlen, the managers of Milner Hardware and Outfitters are some of the friendliest people that you will meet anywhere.

They want your business and want you to know that your business is appreciated.  There’s always a smile and a helpful attitude. 

It’s a “Welcome, Come on in!”  type of store from the big wide front porch that spans the whole width of the building to their “Hi, how are you today?  What can we help you with?” greeting.

We stop by every day or two it seems like.  I’ve purchased a wide array of things from metal screws to landscape timbers, treated decking boards to appliance paint, fishing lures to pvc plumbing supplies, circular saw blades to “you name it”!

Milner Hardware and Outfitters is an FFL dealer.  They do not stock guns but can order them or you can order and have them shipped to Milner’s for you to pick up.  Some of the items that you can expect to find at their store:

• Lumber and Building Materials

• Plumbing Supplies, both pvc type, copper, etc.. they can even sell you a sink, a faucet, lighting fixtures, ceiling fan…

• Hunting, Fishing, & Archery Supplies – They are a full line archery shop with the following brands of archery equipment and supplies:
  

• HOYT USA
• Mathews
• G5
• EASTON
• Trophy Ridge
• Summit Stands
• Morrell Targets
• Primos
• Truglo
• Moultrie

• Industrial Supplies

• Bass Pro Dealer

Amanda is always busy helping a customer!

View Larger Map

I usually work from Haworth to Hugo and often when I leave the office in Idabel, before I get to Valliant, I will think of something that I am going to need that day and it’s usually something that Milner Hardware & Outifitters in Valliant stocks. They are so conveniently located right on highway 70… right on my way. 

Milner Hardware & Outfitters is owned by Gary and Pat Milner.

For your Hardware, Building supplies, or Outfitter needs call the store managers, Amanda or Willie at the hardware store at 580-933-4558

For your real estate needs – if you have property or a home that you want to sell in the Vallaint area, Call Judi Barrett, integrity Real Estate Services at 580-212-5946. 

If you haven’t stopped by The Corral Grill in Fort Towson Oklahoma yet, you really should put it on your list…but make sure that when you go, you go hungry!

They know how to take care of the “hungries”!  Promise!

I was going to list some of the items on the menu at The Corral Grill in Fort Towson Oklahoma, but I’ve misplaced my to-go menu.  Now that will never do!

Don and I stopped by there about a week ago to try it out and I want you to know that The Corral Grill is serving up some of the best food you can find!  

We were back in Fort Towson, OK a couple of days later and of course had to time it right so we’d be there for lunch.

In fact, today, Don was in Fort Towson with two of our grandsons, Davin and Christopher Barrett and of course, you know where they ate lunch, right??  That’s right!  The Corral Grill.  When they got home this evening, the two boys were sure bragging on the food.  You can’t fool an eleven year old and a fourteen year old.  They know what tastes  good.

Chicken, steaks, fish, sandwiches, salads, they know how to fix it all and fix it right.  

The desserts too… oh my!  Last week, I brought my dessert home.  I was so full from lunch that I didn’t have room for dessert but it looked so good…had to try it..

German Chocolate Cake.. that’s what I had for supper that night.

When I find my menu, you can expect another post on The Corral Grill at Fort Towson Oklahoma.  In the meantime, get yourself down there and get some good Southern Country Cooking!  

The staff at The Corral Grill will take good care of you… They’d love the chance to serve you some good food.

I’ve had lookers that wanted to tell me that they were going to install a septic sytem on their lots.  WRONG!  Homes that are built on waterfront lots on the lake are not allowed to have a septic system for their sewage. Having a pressurized system with each residence able to pump their waste into the main sewer, the  elevations of the homes around the lake are not an issue any longer!

Currently this system has been costing the homeowner around $4000 to purchase and have it installled.  Since gravity flow sewer lines will not work in this locale, the pressurized system is a wonderful invention that’s been around awile and we re so glad that it has been installed around Lake Raymond Gary!

The Peninsula Area in the 

The Pauline Bailey Survey, not only occupies part of The Peninsula but also runs along the main channel of the lake to the north of The Peninsula, connecting with Holiday Lake Estates on the south end of Holiday Lake Estates.   There are 132 lots in The Pauline Bailey Survey Addition and 14 lots in The Pauline Bailey Survey Lots Addition.  City utilities include a pressurized sewer system, city water, and garbage collection. 
Electrical service is supplied by either AEP-PSO, or by Choctaw Electric Co-op. 

The homes along the south side of The Peninsula all have the park as their view across the water.  

This area is often the area that creates an interest by park visitors to own property on Lake Raymond Gary because those that are the first homes that they see when they enter the park.

There are various styles and sizes of homes in The Pauline Bailey Survey and the Pauline Bailey Survey Lots.  Many people do not realize that it is the Pauline Bailey Addiitions that make up the Peninsula because they usually hear it called “The Peninsula”.    The additions were platted about the same time as Holiday Lake Estates and around the same time that the lake was being finished, 1958.   

Back Yards right on the water, boat docks, fishing piers, outdoor living areas, fire-pits, pontoon boats, boat houses, swimming docks, back decks facing the water, and home windows placed to view the water are all a part of what you will find in Pauline Bailey Survey and Pauline Bailey Survey Lots Additions.

It used to be that many homes had remained in the ownership of families that originally purchased these lots during the original sale of the platted subdivision lots.  But most have been sold at least once and are not owned by the original families any longer.

Pauline Bailey Survey Addition, Pauline Bailey Survey Lots Addition, and The Peninsula, less than a mile to Raymond Gary State Park for boat ramps, a playground, and pavilion use, about 15 to 20 minutes to Hugo, Oklahoma (74743) and to Hugo Reservoir (74743) for skiing and water sports (Raymond Gary Lake is a “no wake” lake).  About 45 to 50 minutes to Paris, Texas (75462).  Two and half hours to three hours to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area.

Lee’s Kitchen is about 5 minutes away and The Corner Store about the same. Milner’s Hardware is about 10 minutes in Valliant, Oklahoma (74764).  For more shopping and restaurant options, visit Hugo, Oklahoma (74743) or Paris, Texas (75462).

To get to The Peninsula, take highway 209 south that intersects highway 70 on the east side of Fort Towson, Oklahoma.  Take the second paved road to the right (no name on a Google map).  When you come to the Y, you are in the Pauline Bailey Survey Addition.  Driving to the left, you will be on Peninsula Drive, headed onto The Peninsula.  If when you came to the Y, you took the right lane, the lake is on your left.

Interested in Living in The Pauline Bailey Survey Addition, The Pauline Bailey Survey Lots Addition, or on The Peninsula?  Call me and let’s visit about the area and about Lake Raymond Gary, an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife lake.  Judi Barrett, Integrity Real Estate Services, Idabel, Oklahoma 74745.  580-212-5946. 

The South Shore Acres Addition is located in the Southwest area of Lake Raymond Garyand runs east along Spillway Road (so named on the plat).  Spillway Road has been included in the State Highway 209 addresses for a 911 address though.  So you may find South Shore Acres on either road depending upon which map you are looking at.  In fact, the last Google map that I looked at did not have a name for the road to South Shore Acres. 

South Shore Acres has large trees and varying slopes.  Most lots have a very gentle

slope at the waters edge.  South Shore Acres is across the channel from George Caldwell Addition and The Pauline Bailey Survey Addition. The black clay soil in South Shore Acres is mostly a Hollywood-Swink soil with Limestone outcroppings.  Hollywood-Swink is a high shrink/swell soil.  You will want to consider that when choosing home foundation types, etc.

South Shore Acres, being in the community of Lake Raymond Gary, is a “no wake” addition since Raymond Gary Lake, an Oklahoma Department of Wildlife lake, is a “no wake” lake through-out.  To ski, it’s a very short drive to Hugo Lake on the east side of Hugo, Oklahoma.

Even though Fort Towson only has a population of about 600 people, it’s only about a 15 minute drive to Hugo, Oklahoma for picking up the basics at the grocery store (Wal-Mart and Save-A-Lot)  or a little longer drive to Paris, Texas (Just about anything that you could be looking for).  Hugo has a population of about 5400 and Paris, Texas has a population of about 26,000.

City utilities include a pressurized sewer system, city water, and garbage collection.  Electrical service is supplied by either AEP-PSO, or by Choctaw Electric Co-op. 

Lee’s Kitchen is about 5 minutes away and The Corner Store about the same. Milner’s Hardware is about 10 minutes in Valliant, Oklahoma (74764).

Life in South Shore Acres is a little slower paced than a lot of places.  There is no home owners association in South Shore Acres.  There is a voluntary lake association at Lake Raymond Gary.  The Lake Association is involved in decorating the Raymond Gary State Park at Christmas time with lights in the trees along the shore.  A Decorated Boat Parade around the lake.  And in a fireworks display on the fourth of July. 

To get to South Shore Acres, take highway 109 on the west side of Fort Towson south for 1 1/2 miles which is the first intersection to the west.  Go west 3/4 of a mile and the lake is on your right.  Interested in living in South Shore Acres on Raymond Gary Lake?  Call me Judi Barrett, Broker – Integrity Real Estate Services, Idabel, OK 74745.