Thousands watch 'auspicious occassion'

By Brian Sargent

Published: November 17, 2007

GUTHRIE — Thousands celebrated Oklahoma's 100th birthday by watching re-enactments and a parade with an eye toward the future.

"Good morning and happy birthday, Oklahoma,” Lt. Gov. Jari Askins said Friday, exactly 100 years after the state was admitted to the union.

Askins spoke on the front steps of Carnegie Library, where Statehood Day ceremonies conducted on that site in 1907 were re-enacted.

"Today, we take the first step toward our next 100 years. May God bless each of us, and may God continue His blessing on the state of Oklahoma,” Askins said.

The 40-minute re-enactment included a reading of the statehood proclamation of 1907 signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, a symbolic wedding of Miss Indian Territory and Mr. Oklahoma Territory, appointments of the state's U.S. senators and the inauguration of Oklahoma's first governor — Charles Haskell.

Haskell's 1907 speech was shortened for 2007.

"In 1907, the crowd in front of the Carnegie Library stood for over three hours as presentations and speeches to mark the auspicious occasion were made.

Gov. Haskell's speech alone lasted over an hour. But we won't make you stand here that long,” re-enactment narrator Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, told a crowd of about 1,000 that gathered along Oklahoma Avenue, in front of the library.

Robert Davis of Guthrie portrayed Judge Frank Dale, chief justice of the Territorial Supreme Court. He began the re-enactment by introducing Territorial Secretary Charles Filson, portrayed by former state Rep. Frank Davis, who read the statehood proclamation.

The proclamation began, "Whereas, the Congress of the United States did by an act approved June 16, 1906, provide that the inhabitants of the Territory of Oklahoma and the Indian Territory might, under and upon the conditions prescribed in said act, adopt a constitution and become the state of Oklahoma.”

The dramatizations began after a procession from the State Capital Newspaper Building — now a publishing museum — with a pistol shot. The procession included seven carriages filled with "Jack Love Girls” who were portrayed on Friday by children involved with 4-H.

In 1907, the newly elected Oklahoma Corporation commissioner, Jack Love of Woodward, provided a train car for 60 women — "Jack Love Girls” — to travel to Guthrie from his hometown so they could participate in Statehood Day ceremonies.

As many as 100,000 people were expected to travel Friday to Guthrie for Statehood Day events that included a parade through downtown streets and a free picnic at Mineral Wells Park.

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