Back in time... I'd be living in Purnell, Oklahoma 74745.
I want to start you on a journey. A journey to learn more about Idabel, OK. That's me perched on that cloud so I can get the bird's eye view of my community... would you like to have that view too? Come on up, the cloud's big enough for two and more.
Scattered over the next few weeks, we're going to get a an idea of the past, present and hopefully an idea of the future ahead of us of Idabel, Oklahoma, my home town. If you've been thinking about moving to Idabel, Oklahoma (74745), you might enjoy knowing a little more about it.
Yes, I could be a resident of Purnell, Ok. 74745 (and that IS the zip code for Idabel, Oklahoma) or how abut Mitchell, OK 74745?
No, Purnell is not really a place in Oklahoma, but it used to be, for a very, very short time.
Idabel Oklahoma started out as Purnell Oklahoma when the Choctaw Townsite Commission was planning and platting sites along the Arkansas and Choctaw Railway way back there in 1902.
But then the Federal Government got into the picture (as they usually do, you know how it is, can't do anything without Federal approval these days and I guess back then too).
The Post Office Department didn't like the name Purnell, they thought it sounded and was spelled too much like Purcell, Oklahoma and the mail would get mixed up all of the time. (I don't know what the excuse is now since we're not named Purnell).
So disappointedly, the community decided on the name of Mitchell, Oklahoma 74745 (And yes, I know that they did not have zip codes back then. I remember when zip codes were put into use.) But the name Mitchell didn't suit due to there being another town in Oklahoma Territory, at that time, already named Mitchell. I did a search today for Mitchell, Oklahoma and could not find one... so if you live in Mitchell Oklahoma, please leave me a comment. I'd love to know where it is.
Purnell had been chosen to honor Isaac Purnell, a railroad official. When that name was not satisfactory for the Post Office Department and Mitchell was chosen, it was after another railroad official.
The community had two strikes now on choosing names for their precious new town and didn't want to strike out, so they backed up and chose Idabel, again after the Purnell family. Isaac Purnell had two daughters, Ida and Bell.
The Post Office Department had gone ahead and chosen their own name for the post office.. Bokhoma. But when the town chose it's name as Idabel, the Post Office Department followed suit and changed the post office to Idabel also. Finally the Federal Government was supportive of the town's chosen name.
Idabel started out on an 89 acre site in densely forested land. Small wooden homes of rough construction housed about 90 households with a population of approximately 400 in 1905. Idabel did not become the county seat until 2 years later, in 1907. But that's another story.
Join me next time from the bird's eye view of Idabel... viewing the past and present... looking forward to the future of our great little city. Each post will move forward through the development of Idabel into the forward thinking community that it is today. So come on up onto my cloud where we can see better and let's get acquainted with Idabel, Oklahoma.
Comments(18)