Produced by Plains Indians & Pioneer Historical Foundation
1975
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PIONEER MUSEUM MURALS
Paul Laune, the artist who painted the three murals shown here, grew up in Woodward. His father, Sidney Benton Laune, a lawyer, made the "Run," arriving in Woodward the day the Cherokee Outlet was opened for settlement, September 16, 1893.
These three large murals decorate the walls of the rotunda of the Pioneer Museum in Woodward.
In the panel at the lower left the artist visualizes that memorable day of the "Run," when home-seekers converged on almost bare piece of prairie. On the left of the panel a farmer drives a stake for his claim with his family nearby. On the right side of the panel is pictured what might have taken place that afternoon, when the train pulled into Woodward. Miss Celia McCarty, twenty-one years old, came by horseback, beating the train crowd, and staked a town lot as shown in the lower right corner. The artist pictures his father in a business suit and a straw boater, suitcase in hand; Temple Houston with long dark hair and Prince Albert coat, youngest son of General Houston of Texas fame; and Judge Dean with white hair. These three men became life-long friends. In the center panel are pictured the riders, mostly cowboys, who rode into Woodward that day.
The panel at the upper left is dominated by a cowboy on his horse, driving longhorn cattle. Indian teepees dot the bank of the North Canadian River. To the right is a pioneer farmstead.
The third panel, above, shows three views of early days in Woodward. The brick courthouse is pictured, with Jim Selman in front of it on his horse talking with another rider. On the veranda in front of the Central Hotel, later Baker Hotel, Temple Houston is pictured visiting with a friend. Sifting with his boot thrust out is Mr. Tandy, owner of the Bar Z ranch. In this horse era a favorite excuse for getting together was to meet at the railroad depot on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and watch the Santa Fe's deluxe passenger train come in.
NOTE: For privacy reasons, birth dates after 1905 and marriage dates after 1925 have been removed, unless the person is known to be deceased.
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Woodward County Pioneer Families Before 1915
Copyright ©1975 Plains Indians & Pioneer Historical Foundation
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