Muskogee in 1884

In 1884, the local newspaper was the "Indian Journal." That is, it was the local newspaper when the editor was not dragging the press back to Eufaula. Reading the old issues provides a glimpse into daily life. The building of a house made the "Local News" column. So, too, did the news about the expansion or building of new business buildings.

One easily sees how Muskogee was growing because of the railroad at the time. The impact of the railroad shows up in every issue. Almost every imaginable item came into the area by rail. Corrugated sheet metal for roofing arrived for the business construction mentioned above. Building hardware such as nails and bolts also came the same way.

Businessmen ordered woolen clothing and oysters. Figs, apples and lemons were in the stores during the winter. On the shelves nearby were lace curtains and coal oil lamps. When businessmen went to markets "back East" to select merchandise for their stores, they were said to be "going to the States."

Farmers and ranchers also benefited from the railroads. Seed potatoes came in burlap bags by the carload. Farmers planted these Iowa potatoes for growing their summer crop. Farmers bought offloaded wagons and plows, too. Ranchers imported brooded stock to upgrade their herds. Both cattle and horses came in wooden cattle cars.

In the winter, a carload of hogs shipped to the Chicago slaughterhouses would bring a farmer about $250. Farmers who trapped wild animals also made money in the winter by selling pelts. Ranchers sold cowhide for the same purpose to St. Louis dealers.

Railroad cars also carried mechanical equipment. In the age of steam engines pulling boxcars, steam engines also ran cotton gins and printing presses. Electricity was a decade away from coming to Muskogee.

Area craftsmen manufactured much of the common furniture. However, better-made furniture from beds to bureaus was coming into town by rail. Billiard tables, too. Wealthier area residents were buying imported buggies.

Everyone was interested in who was arriving and who was departing Muskogee. They wanted to know when friends and relatives were visiting. When getting away from your home or farm was difficult, newspapers provided a sense of connectedness in an age without radio, television or telephone.

While there was little said about fashion, the "society" news detailed traveling women. Some accounts kept track of cousins visiting cousins, mothers and daughters re-establishing a bond, and teachers returning to the schoolhouse. Here is one announcement: "Mrs. W. Harvison, of Eufaula, came up Monday morning to visit her mother, Mrs. Fryer." If a person was traveling any distance, they rode in passenger cars.

When passengers stepped down from the train, they often went to the Mitchell House. It was the better hotel in town. Advertising for the hotel consisted of lists of overnight visitors. Lawyers coming for trials stayed there with traveling salesmen.

Many residents in town were affected if there was a problem on the railroad line. It was big news when a train was delayed for a day because of a washed out bridge. The editor reported the lack of news when ice caused a break in the telegraph line strung along the tracks.

Reading old newspapers at the library reminds me how "built up" Muskogee is. One only has to read the old newspapers at the library to get another picture of by-gone Muskogee.