The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-08-06
lFrom the Oklahomanl

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of the groves surrounding the build
ings OF the old Darlington Indian
agency orphans now play and aged
men. all recipients OF Masonic char
ity, inaulee in quiet ease and lux
ury. For the historic agency build
ing passed from government hands
10 private ownership when IT was
purchased by The state Masonic
Grand lodge. and now offers . com
fortab'e retreat for the helpless
The Darlington Indian agency
building and grounds were purchased
more than year ago for the sum
of 81. 600, congress having passed "a
special act authorizing the sale OF
the property Since that time the
grand lodge has expended about $50,
0GO in improvements. The directors
OF the Masonic home recently par
chased Caido springs, producne a
bi. flow Of fine mineral water, which
will he piped 70 the lone buildings
Presiding Justice Henry Furman Of
the criminal court of appeals. is
largely responsible for the establish
ment of Masonic home in this
state The old indian Territory dis
trict alone contributed $1,000 to-
ward The purchase OF the property
which is now valued at about S2'o.-
OoO Prior to statehood a temporary
home was maintained at AtoFa.
There are twelve aged people and
ninety.four children in tho Darlington
institution at present The grand
0odce apportioned $40 900 to the home
sor Ioi1, $4,000 for the maintenance
and $1,000 fer improvements. There
is some income from the farm which
comprises eco acres. Work OF CON
Stiuctng concrete swimming pool
for thec hildren will he commenced
as soon as water is brought from
Caddo springs. The directors of the
institution are W. l.. Eagleton. Nor
man: t. +. Lounsberry. McAlester.
and 4. E. Monroney, Oklahoma city.
important Post.
At one time Darlington was the
most important trading post in wha;
was ;hen known as Indian Territory
and me sun of prosperity rose nigh
above the settlement. Indian traders
came and established stores. \ hotel
was built for the accommodation Of
visitors and army officers. Late Mer-
ritt established newspaper to tell
of the enterprising post and Incl
dentally to swell the bank roll OF
the editor by advertising the brands
OF every herd that roamed between
the Canadian boundary and the Mex
lean line Many prominent govern
ment officials and other travellers
of note were entertained at the hO-
tel which was under the manage
ment OF John Murphy, who was one
of the earliest pioneers TO seek his
fortune in the great southwest. Game
of all kinds was to be had in abun-
dance and the genial proprietor
made friends of all who came his
way BY serving dinners of buffalo
meat and vnnsOn steaks. When steak
or pork were 10 be served it was
made a special occasion and the ho-
tel proprietor sent out announce
men;s. Social life a. the frontier
post was of the eayest and on the
long summer evenings the Young Of
ficers from Fort Reno and the at
taches Of the Indian post would
dance to the music of the army band
from the fort
The history of Darlington Is re
plete with romance Of frontier ad-
venture. The agency was establish
ed in 1870 ny Brinton Darlington,
Quaker. who was at that time the
agent for the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
! Indians and had camp on the gov
eminent trail leading from Fort Ri
/ ley, Kan, to Fort Sill, J. r. He call
/ ed council of the reading men OF
/ the two tribes and as the council
/ fire smouldered and the pipe of peace
was passed from hand to hand. ne
told them of his intentions in found
| ing an agency where the Indians
, could talk to the agent without going
so far from their homes. The camp
was moved down the river in ca
noes until the present site of what
was the old Darlington was reached
and here was built the school for
Indian orphans fknown by the Indians
as ashcats), and the agency build
ings, which were constructed OF cot
/ ionWood lumber cut from trees which
/ grew in DrOfusiOn along the banks