Thomas J. Presley

He was 17 and in the ninth grade when he began service for Grant and Carolyn Foreman in 1916. Presley heard about the job through his uncle W. C. Esco, a friend of Judge Thomas.   Back then, the home was on the edge of town and Presley milked the family cow, fed 250 chickens and 175 pigeons and cared for the large yard, and also kept an eye on things at the Foreman home while they traveled during the summer months.

Presley was born in Broken Arrow and came to Muskogee with his parents in 1908 when there were no paved streets and 12th Street was considered out in the country. He attended Tullahassee Mission School and Muskogee schools.

Working and finishing his education wasn’t too difficult for Presely because he had grown up on a farm where there were eight to ten cows to milk every morning and evening.  The Foremans only had one cow.  A good student, when he graduated from High School the Foremans encouraged him to go to Meharrys Medical College in Nashville where he studied dentistry.

Paying his way through college by waiting tables and working summers as a Pullman sleeping car porter on a run from Chicago to Portland for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, he enjoyed traveling to large cities.

Setting up an office in Bristow in 1927 after taking the general board, he struggled for a few years then returned to Muskogee where the Depression brought an end to his dental career. In Muskogee he worked with a Dr. Wallace for a short time but when the Foremans decided to take a trip overseas they asked him to stay at their house as a caretaker.  He decided to take the job.

The Foreman’s came to depend on the quiet, man as the years went on.  Their dependence was so great that Grant Foreman went to great lengths to get a deferment for Presley when World War II broke out.

Presley lived in the out building on the property until marrying his wife Irma in 1943. After that he rode his bike or walked to the Foreman home each day.

Cooking was another of the chores handled by Presley at the request of Carolyn Foreman.  Although he had no special training or instruction, he managed to prepare good food regardless of what was ordered.  Carolyn was very frugal, keeping supplies in locked cabinets.  She was also very particular about the cooking, voicing her criticism when it was necessary.

 
Thomas Presley cared for both Grant until he died in 1953 and Carolyn until she died in 1967, using the medical knowledge from his dental school years to tend to them.  For several years after Carolyn died he continued to care for both the house and the yard until his own failing health forced him to stop.

Local Authors Showcase Their New Books

Irish O'Malley and the Ozark Mountain Boys

Three Rivers Museum is honored to host author R.D. Morgan for a book signing during our Holiday Open House on December 17th. Area authors will showcase and autograph their newly released books from 1 to 4:00 p.m.

This event will be the only book signing for R. D. Morgan's newest book, recently released Irish O'Malley and the Ozark Mountain Boys published by New Forums Press. The book is available for purchase in the museum's gift shop.

R. D. Morgan is the author of six non-fiction books dealing with early day Oklahoma lawmen and outlaws. He has also written numerous articles for Oklahoma newspapers and historical magazines on the subject.

Morgan spent his childhood in the East Texas oil patch country and his teen years living in a small Iowa farming community. Upon graduation from high school, he knocked around a year or so working construction before entering the U.S. Army where he served as a law enforcement officer. After his military career, he attended the College of the Ozarks before being employed as an electrician and maintenance supervisor for many years in Missouri and Arkansas. On retirement, he moved to Oklahoma to fulfill his life-long desire to commit his energies full time into writing and researching depression-era American history. Morgan developed a passion for the subject as a teenager listening to his Grandfather's tales of life and culture in Middle America during the 1920s and 1930s. Morgan and his wife Naomi currently reside in Haskell, Oklahoma.

New Book Illustrates the History of Muskogee

Come and celebrate the release of Muskogee with author Roger Bell, Saturday November 19, 2011 from 1-4 p.m. at Three Rivers Museum.

New from Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series is Muskogee by local author Roger Bell. This pictorial history boasts more than 200 vintage images, giving readers a unique opportunity to reconnect with the history that shaped their community.

On New Year's Day in 1872, a Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) track crew reached a point just a few miles south of the confluence of the Arkansas, Grand, and Verdigris Rivers in Indian Territory and established a depot it called Muscogee Station. A ragtag settlement quickly developed nearby, and the name was eventually changed to Muskogee.

By the turn of the century, Muskogee became the center of political and commercial activity in the territory. Nicknamed the "Queen City of the Southwest," Muskogee was a boom town and expectations were high that the city would develop into a large metropolitan area. However, by the 1920s, after the oil boom in nearby Tulsa, Muskogee's growth waned and it became a working-class Oklahoma town.

The city was thrust into the national limelight in the 1960s by country music star Merle Haggard and his song "Okie from Muskogee," which described Muskogee as "a place where even squares can have a ball." An ethnically diverse community, Muskogee has a rich history of developing artists, musicians, politicians, and entrepreneurs.

Author Roger Bell is a local historian and longtime supporter of Muskogee's Three Rivers Museum, he has served as the museum's chairman for the past 16 years. Highlights of the museum's extensive photographic collection were selected by him for inclusion in this book to create a visual journey back in time. Bell, who is a banker by profession, lives in Muskogee with his wife, Tammy and their two children.

Muskogee is available at the Three Rivers Museum and Armstrong Banks in Muskogee, independent and online retailers as well as Arcadia Publishing. Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States, whose mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America's people and places. You can visit Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com.

This Place Matters

The restoration of the exterior of the Thomas-Foreman Historic Home is almost complete. Recently the workers posed for this photo with the sign from "This Place Matters". Check out the link for the This Place Matters slide show. We believe that the Thomas-Foreman Historic Home is an asset to the Muskogee community!

Events are being planned to showcase the home and its new 'clothes'. We hope you will attend some of them. They are:
April 5 - 3:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting
April 9 - 1-5 p.m. Grand Re Opening - Program at 2:00 p.m.
May 16-20 - School Week
June 11 - Neighborhood Picnic
September 12-16 - School Week

If you are looking for a place to have a small wedding, let us know (call Three Rivers Museum at 918-686-6624) The parlor and the beautiful covered patio are the perfect spots!

Donations are always appreciated: Friends of the Thomas-Foreman Home, 1419 W. Okmulgee, Muskogee, OK 74401

Coffee House Evening January 22, 2011

Three Rivers Museum presents: Love Songs and a Cuppa Joe Coffee House Evening
7:00 p.m.
Saturday January 22, 2011
220 Elgin
Muskogee, OK
Enjoy the coffee house atmosphere with beautiful love songs by some of Muskogee's most talented vocalists, introduced by personality Kathy Hewitt. Several different flavors of coffee, tea and a variety of different desserts will be served. Intermissions provide a relaxed tour of the museum if you wish. $5 per person at the door. Information: 918-686-6624 and www.3riversmuseum.com

USS Oklahoma Mast to Arrive in Muskogee

The Air Force Reserve just announced this weekend that a 40 foot section of the mast of the USS Oklahoma will be flown from Hawaii to Tinker Air Force Base. This is part of a tribute to be made at the Muskogee War Memorial honoring the USS Oklahoma and her crew. The Air Force Reserve will be flying the mast from Nellie Air Force Base on Ford Island to Tinker Air Force Base as part of a training mission using a C17 cargo aircraft. The mast will arrive at Tinker on June 21st and then be transported by truck to the Muskogee War Memorial Park and Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

National Trust for Historic Preservation Offers Historic Homes Website

If you own a historic home or plan to in the future, check out the website @home-every home has a story. This site is a project of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit organization helping people protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. .

The introduction to the page states: "Home. It's not just where you live – it's a reflection of YOU – your personality, your passions and your unique style. It's also where history is made – family history, neighborhood history, American history. Whether you're looking to take a crack at rehabbing an older home or a seasoned house junkie, we've got the place for you to share restoration tips, home renovation war stories, and before-and-after pictures of your home projects."

The site offers a myriad of resources for historic home owners including weatherization tips, tackling tear downs, going green, as well as products and services. You will enjoy browsing the gallery of homes to see what others are doing or have completed. You can also include your own home project including pictures. Also included is an area that lists historic homes for sale.