The Bristow Record
This is the Second Part of a two part series.
The oldest known Bristow newspaper is safely kept at the Oklahoma Historical Society in Oklahoma City. Dated June 3, 1904, it featured three bank ads on the front page with a bit of news sandwiched in between. The main news stories deal with memorial services and, based on the date and veteran references, we can infer that these services were memorials for Civil War deaths. Another article discusses area schools and brags on the efforts of Professor J.H. Hamilton, organizer of the Euchee Industrial School.
On September, 1905, the newspaper was sold to C.G. Baughman, a traveling salesman for the Winchester Arms Company. His goal was to make the Bristow Record “the most up to date and complete newspaper in the Creek Nation.” Despite his best efforts, the Bristow Record lost money and was sold within a year.
L.M. Nichols was the next owner. He purchased the business with $192 cash and a note of $308. Early issues of this time period are missing, however Nichols work paid off and the business pulled out of the red by 1907. The newspaper also added a motto for the first time: “First in war and first in peace, but above all, first in news -The Record” The popularity of the paper grew, and it became a daily newspaper. Mr. Nichols became a successful editor and ran the business for over 40 years.
The state constitutional convention was unfolding at this time in 1907. The Bristow area had been called Moman County; however, the decision was made at the convention to rename it Creek County in order to pay respect to the Creek Indians.
The complete story of the Bristow News, as it is now called, can be found on the website of the Bristow Historical Society. Fascinating stories printed in this local newspaper capture the joys and sorrows of our community, while providing a chronology of local businesses and events. We are thankful for our local newspaper and thrilled to share its long history with you, the readers of this newspaper which started before statehood! You can find the ‘rest of the story’ on our museum website at www.bristowhistory.org. We hope you will stop by the depot for a visit soon!