Miller Neighborhood

GETTING TO KNOW MILLER RESIDENTS

MIKE KINTZ, JIMMY VAUGHN

Jimmy Vaughn and Mike Kintz were part of the young Executive group of men that worked or commuted from the downtown OKC area. Young single men in the 50's lived at the YMCA because of the excellent living conditions: a House Mother, maids for each floor, fine restaurant, and many social activities. There was also the convenience of public transportation, fine shopping stores, theatre, and dancing. It was the place to be! There were excellent eating facilities in the hotels and scattered throughout the downtown area. One did not go out in the evening without dressing up; one did not go shopping in the better department stores without being presentable. Bob Wills performed each Saturday noon at the Criterion Theatre; Esther Williams appeared at the Warner Theatre. There was always famous people in town. The Black, Biltmore and Skirvin Hotels hosted famous bands on weekends and social events. Katz Drug Store plus Woolworths, Grants and Green as the nickle-dime stores, provided all the necessities.

Jimmy and Mike have lived in Miller neighborhood for 50 years. They moved to the area in 1956, renting an apartment at 2501 NW 12th. The landlady was the State President of the OK Temperance Society. With wine in the refrigerator, the police suggested they should move to someplace where spirits would be permitted.

They moved to a duplex at the west end of the block. Their next door neighbors were Mary Hayes' mother to the west and the Wilson's lived to the east. Wilson's having no children at home and Mike and Jimmy with no pets of their own, they become adopted children immediately. Peewee, the Wilson's black Pekinese, lived at both places. They purchased their present home in the next block west, in 1960. It belonged to Mrs. Wilson's aunt, Maude Reed, who was originally from Laverne, OK. She had lived in the house for 15 years before she died.

The home was originally built as a duplex in 1925 and was converted to a one-family dwelling in 1935. It was one of the few houses in year 1935 to have two bathrooms. The only things on the property besides the house and garage when they moved in was a pine tree, a clothes line and a blackberry patch in the rear yard.




Privacy fences were not known, so neighbors be
come acquainted with all the neighbors within the block and definitely to those living on the back side of your block. Everyone had a garden, most had some chickens, yes, we had some wonderful Bantams! A lady across the street from us was famous for her canary birds. During this time, most all of the homes were still owned by the original owner. At this time, Scranton Nesbit, grandson of the Grove family, is the only original family that remains in our block.

It was a very friendly, family oriented attitude during the 50, 60, and 70 era. Everyone shared family news, shared Sunday dinners, traded plants, and helped each other regardless of what was needed.

Bus routes included 10th, 12th, and 16th Street. There were no vacancies within the area, the garage apartments were all filled with OCU students and workers employed within the area. There were at least 2 drug stores, one grocery store, one of the finest meat markets, 2 dry cleaners, and all types of services including electrical, plumbing, and our own Hyde Garage/Service station and several respectable saloons. Churches and schools were very accessible. Summer time, on May Avenue south of 10th, was the place for Tent Revivals.

This area was known throughout the world, beside in the USA and OK. All the hotels were downtown and everyone coming to OKC either had to eat at Glen's Hickory Pit or Cattlemen's Cafe and generally it was both if they stayed more than one night. Glen's was on 10th Street; Cattlemen's was owned by the Fry's who lived on 12th St. and then Beverly's Chicken in the Rough at 16th-May.

We no longer had to travel to Eastern street to go to the State Fair, they moved it to be near our neighbors. The early years of the Fair were exciting times. There was the High School Marching Band Parade starting at downtown; the Circus parade, particularly the elephants;the huge farm exhibits, and some of the best of side shows. Yes, we sneaked out to see Sally Rand and her "fans" when she appeared at the Fair.