What
church or churches there were and if they were racially segregated?- According to Jim Hardcastle, there were five churches
in Alsuma during the time he lived there from 1936 through 1952. Two were what he described as “White”
churches, two that he described as “Black” churches, and one he described as an
“Indian” church. He reported to me that
members of the Alsuma community went to whatever church they wanted to
regardless of the designation of the church.
He said it did not matter what church you went to as long as you went to
church. Jim also reported that the
revivals at the Black churches were attended by everybody; not only for the
preaching but also because the best food was served there afterwards. Food for people in Alsuma was important because
there was not usually much to eat at other times.
Was there any sports teams which were
organized and if so what sports and who organized them? Was there a formal community center? No there were no organized sport’s teams,
just kids playing together regardless of their color. Whether playing along the railroad tracks, or
skinny dipping they played together because they lived together. The community centers were the churches of
Alsuma where many daily aspects of live revolved around. Although the children were separated while
attending school, with the Black children attending Alsuma Separate School and
the White children attending Union, when they returned home they all played
together.
Were
there any white families who lived in the “black” section or did they all live
in the “white” section only? Jim
reported that folks lived wherever they wanted to without regard of the color
of skin an individual had.
How
many of the families there worked for the railroad? During the time of Jim’s living in Alsuma he
said there was only one person who worked for the railroad and that he was the
station master. He told me that the
station was always open during the time he lived in Alsuma. The station master also had the only phone in
town and he would either deliver the phone messages or summon the people needed
to respond to a phone call.
What
kinds of business were there and were they owned by blacks, whites, or those of
both races? There was one store when his
family move to Alsuma and only three more opened during his living there. Everybody shopped in any of the stores.
Where
did the citizens of Alsuma vote? They
drove into Broken Arrow to vote. Broken
Arrow is also where the fire department and ambulance came from to aid them.
Was
there a doctor or attorney in the town, or how close was the nearest? The nearest hospital and doctors were also in
Broken Arrow.
Where
was their water source from? Until the late
1940’s water needed to be hauled to the town to be used. By 1948 a rural water district had been
established which ran a pipe from a Tulsa City water main more than two miles
to the town.
What
sort of political structure, if any, was there?
Jim said he was not aware there ever was a political structure while he
lived there.
Where did their food come from? Jim reported that their basic food needs came
from the local stores, and every couple of weeks townspeople would get onto the
back of his dad’s large Chevrolet truck and drive to the Warehouse Market which
was located at 11th and Garnett.
What
was the condition of their lives where they lived in Alsuma? Jim reported that the one unifying factor of
every person in the town was that they were all dirt poor “and didn’t know any
differently.” He said living there was
not about race, it was that they were all poor regardless of race.
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"Alsuma, Creek Nation, Indian Territory A Town Unified By Poverty"
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