-
Left to right, Dr. Melissa Morgan, Andrew & Kate Morgan, Sherian Lucas, Cynthia Hightower, Bob Bierschbach, Diane Hambric, Jeff Hamra, and Natalie Osgood. courtesy photo
Bristow has a rich history of Lebanese immigrants, many of whom helped build portions of the community that stand today. As part of its commitment to tell some of those Lebanese origin stories, the Bristow Historical Society, BHS, creates family banners, which it displays at the museum for visitors, especially during the annual Tabouleh Fest. One such banner recounts the story of the Hamra family, and BHS recently received a donation from the family to add to their collection.
Who were the Hamras? BHS volunteer Georgia Smith explained that as an immigrant from Lebanon, Haleem Joseph Hamra came to Oklahoma before marrying Fadway Hamra, of the same name but no relation. After marrying on March 30, 1907, they lived in Sapulpa, becoming dry good merchants before venturing into the oil and gas industry. While they found success with oil and gas, Haleem went blind at the young age of 37. By 1930, the couple had a family of 7 children and had made their home in Bristow. All of the children went on to lead successful business lives, and two of those children built a lasting impact on Bristow: sons Joe and Henry.
According to Joe’s daughter, Diane Hambric, Joe first worked as a clerk for Clark Electric in Tulsa, after earning a degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma University; however, Hamra is said to have impressed the owner, leading Mr. Clark to loan him $5,000 to start his own business: Hamra Construction. Through his construction company, Joe Hamra built new homes for Tulsa families before being approached by Dr. Charles White, a Sallisaw optometrist and someone with whom Hambric suggested her dad grew up, to construct a nursing home for the Bristow community.
Hamra was said to having agreed, initially, to a construction and operational partnership with Dr. White for the nursing home prior to the doctor’s passing; consequently, Joe contacted his brother Henry, serving as head of operations for Williams Pipeline in London, England, about partnering financially with him for the facility’s construction. The brothers agreed and built the nursing home, which their sister, Madelia, ran for many years, making the business a family venture, indeed.
As for how the nursing home came by its name, Hambric stated that her mother was from Hackensack, New Jersey, which was home to a “thriving retirement community… named Rainbow. Both my mom and dad loved the name and wanted to use it to start their first long term care community.”