Media

Interview With Jim Hardcastle; Former Resident of Alsuma, Oklahoma. 

My initial visit was in the evening time as I hoped for a sunset photo over Alsuma for an aesthetic looking shot.  I noticed after driving around and taking notes and photos that a vehicle was parked and watching me while I worked.  Since I was in the former townsite for research I really did not think anything of my presence there.  

Knowing that I needed to communicate my intentions I stopped and spoke with the gentleman.  He thought it suspicious that I was there at the start of dusk and thought that I was casing the neighborhood for a future break-in.  After talking for a while we established we had several people in common; one of whom was Tulsa Community College's previous chief of security.  We also established that we also both knew a current Tulsa Police division captain.  Through this communication he realized I was as interested in Alsuma as was a friend of his who had lived in Alsuma from early boyhood into high school graduation.  I was given Jim Hardcastle's phone number so that I would have a living source for this history project.  I placed the phone call and established communication with Jim.  What follows are some interesting historical details which until now have remained repeated spoken and recorded within the guise of speculation and urban legend.  

The details as recorded for the photo of Alsuma Separate School are that these children had just received the Salk polio vaccination.

I was fortunate enough to be provided excellent assistance by the Tulsa City County Library's research librarians.  During my first night in the Alsuma Township area when I saw that this duplex still was standing was an awesome event.  Here was one of the historic time-period structures which had once been home for residents of Alsuma. 

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

Although the windows were boarded up, there was still an electric meter attached to the house whose activation sensor was still on.

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

The window which can be seen in the Tulsa World photograph above at the extreme right-hand back side of the duplex was open to the elements.  I took this photograph of the inside.  During my interview with Jim Hardcastle he described the thin walls and the necessity of re-papering the walls every spring both to hide the coal soot and add another layer of insulation for the next winter.  

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

The house which can be seen on the left hand side of the Tulsa World photograph is still occupied with residents and well maintained.  This is one of only two structures in the former Alsuma Townsite which are still occupied as living structures.

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

This is the only remaining church building still on the Alsuma Townsite.  When it was one of the five active churches in Alsuma it occupied the Southeast corner of 46th Place and Mingo Rd.  It is now placed at the extreme East end of  46th Place and can be seen when driving on Highway 169 if you look West.

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

Because the population of Alsuma at the time of the 1940 Census was 54 percent White, and 46 percent Black, with less than one percent Indians; there were two "White churches", two "Black churches", and one "Indian church", according to my interviewee Jim Hardcastle.

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

The Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad (AKA MKT or Katy) was the reason for Alsuma's establishment.  I did not receive a reply to my communication sent to the Union Pacific Railroad which is now the owner of the tracks having acquired them through the consolidation of the railroads; so I do not yet know of the historical accuracy of this information.  You will notice on the righthand side of this signal box there are still the identifying markings of MKT, along with the the railroad which bought it, the Missouri Pacific (MP) on the third line of the identifying marks.  At the top is the current railroads mark, the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR).  These boxes contain amongst other things information which is sent to railroad conductors radios regarding the track's conditions at that moment.  This information includes the temperature.  Rails can buckle when the temperature is too hot or cold causing a derailment.
Nothing important changes unless absolutely necessary in railroading safety.  Notice how the historic Interstate Corporation Commision M.K.T. 413303B markings on the left are still listed on the right side under the U.P.R.R. identification markings.
The Federal Railroad Administration now is in charge of railroad safety.

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

Because of the necessity in receiving the temperature in providing for the safety of the tracks and the railroad the placement of the track control box and the information it relays continues to be integral in safety.  Because of this Alsuma's weather conditions continue to show on internet searches.

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

This Tulsa World article shows a continuation of local urban legend which states that the town was a "Black" town.  The Census data sets from 1930 and 1940 show to the contrary.

Photo Copyright Reserved by Hans A. Pasco

All material, photos, articles, and any and all other

materials contained within And Pertaining To The Blog 

"Alsuma, Creek Nation, Indian Territory A Town Unified By Poverty" 

Is The Property Of And Copyrighted By Hans A. Pasco