Avoca should not be confused with Avoca Township, which covered a much larger area than the town itself. This section of the article will cover the entire township, with the remainder the town itself. Avoca township was located in southeastern Pottawatomie County, with Konawa Municipal Township (and the Seminole County line) to the east, St. Louis Township to the north and the South Canadian River to the south. The western boundary was about two and a half miles west of present-day Asher. The township encompassed about 75 square miles.[1] Post offices in the Avoca Township area included:[2]
Town
Post Office Dates
Sacred Heart Mission
1879–1949
Osmit
1884–1887
Avoca (later Asher)
1894–present
Meanko
1896–1901
Boyer
1897–1900
Violet
1899–1905
Statistics
The following table shows the population grown and then decline of Avoca Township. The population decline beginning in 1920 can be attributed to a growing interest in Shawnee, OK.[3]
Year
Households
Individuals
Home owners
Home renters
Housing not specified
1900
390
2,156
178
212
0
1910
808
4,228
413
139
0
1920
628
3,204
288
272
68
Schools in the township
Schools in the township, and what is known about them, include:[4]
Asher (c. 1913 – present). Asher is and was the only high school developed within the township. See Asher, Oklahoma.
Avoca (1892 – ?). See the section below.
Cook (1892 – aft. 1920). The school, originally one-room, was formed in 1892 and later expanded when a second and larger room was added. At some point between 1910 and 1920, the building was completely refurbished and again enlarged. It is believed this school was located near the Pottawatomie-Seminole county line.
Gravel Hill School (1903 – ?). This school replaced Lazell School.
Lazzell (1895–1903). This school, housed in a log cabin, was located two and a half miles east of Asher, near Chisholm Springs. It began around December 1895 and closed in April 1903 (due to financial shortfalls, there was no school 1899-1900). It was replaced by Gravel Hill School.
Teacher
Year
Miss Alice Shelton
1895–1897
Miss Mollie Ferrell
1898
Mr. Willis
1898–1899
J.G. Hudiburg
1899
No School
1899–1900
F. M. Forston
1900–1903
Sacred Heart. The school had a small enrollment.
Avoca (town) brief history
The village was established in the mid-19th century as Wewaukee Springs (Wewaukee is Seminole for "tumbling water").[5] It was located along the "Wagon Road" that traveled east to west across the territory. Early residents of the town included Seminole Indians as well as white persons. By 1910, most Seminoles had left the area Pottawatomi Indians populated the town.[6]
Avoca School
The first Avoca school was established in the summer of 1892 near what is now the Avoca Cemetery. Early day teachers included J.C. Fisher, B.C. Klepper, A. Floyd, F.M. Forston, Nora Kidd, Minnie Synder (sic), A.C. Bray and Wheeler Hendon.[7]
Post Office
The post office was established August 4, 1894. It was discontinued and moved to Asher twice, once temporarily on November 26, 1901, and again permanently on September 26, 1906.[8]
Postmasters
Postmaster/mistress
Dates Served
Sallie T. Bess
August 4, 1894 – August 7, 1898
George A. McCurry
August 8, 1898 – November 25, 1901
No Office (moved to Asher)
November 26, 1901 – February 9, 1902
James K. Polk
February 10, 1902 – September 26, 1906
Other establishments
R. Perkins opened the first general store. A Rutherford and J.B. Buckler built a cotton gin. M.F. Merrill started a blacksmith shop. Establishment of the town was considered a natural development since the Wewoka Springs had been a stopping place for travelers before the opening of the territory.[7]
Demise
In 1901, "Old Beck", a rail spur from Shawnee, was extended to the fledgling community of Asher, Oklahoma, a few miles south. This event spelled the demise of Avoca.[8] In the winter of that year, the postmaster, George A. McCurry, moved the Avoca post office and his store to the new community. The change officially took place on November 26, 1901.[9] This was done without permission from the government and left Avoca without a post office.[10] The post office was re-established on February 10, 1902.[11] However, many people and businesses moved to the growing Asher community. An Asher paper reported "Avoca About Abandoned" on August 21, 1903[12] and the post office was discontinued again on October 31, 1906.[11] The development of Asher is often blamed for the demise of Avoca.[9] Currently in the Avoca area are the Avoca Church of Christ, a cemetery, and a few homes.
References
^Kennedy, Authur Ward (1995). They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here. Konawa, OK: Kennedy Library of Konawa. pp. 56, 213.
^Kennedy, Authur Ward (1995). They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here. Konawa, OK: Kennedy Library of Konawa. p. 150.
^Kennedy, Arthur Ward (1995). They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here. Konawa, OK: Kennedy Library of Konawa. pp. 130, 131.
^Kennedy, Authur Ward (1995). They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here. Konawa, OK: Kennedy Library of Konawa. pp. 773–775.
^Kennedy, Authur Ward (1995). They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here. Konawa, OK: Kennedy Library of Konawa. p. 165.
^Kennedy, Authur Ward (1995). They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here. Konawa, OK: Kennedy Library of Konawa. p. 126.
^ abFortson, John (1936). POTT COUNTRY... Shawnee, OK: Herald Printing. p. 72.
^ abKennedy, Authur Ward (1995). They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here. Konawa, OK: Kennedy Library of Konawa. p. 166.
^"People Worked for Town". Shawnee News-Star. 1990.
^ abGrant, Forman. . Archived from the original on 2006-09-02. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
^"Avoca About Abandoned". Asher Altruist. 21 August 1903.
External links
January 21, 2023
avoca, oklahoma, avoca, small, town, avoca, township, located, southeastern, pottawatomie, county, oklahoma, territory, post, office, established, 1894, closed, permanently, 1906, avocaghost, townavocalocation, within, state, oklahomacoordinates, 01389, 93056,. Avoca was a small town in Avoca Township located in southeastern Pottawatomie County Oklahoma Territory The post office was established in 1894 and closed permanently in 1906 AvocaGhost TownAvocaLocation within the state of OklahomaCoordinates 35 0 50 N 96 55 50 W 35 01389 N 96 93056 W 35 01389 96 93056 Coordinates 35 0 50 N 96 55 50 W 35 01389 N 96 93056 W 35 01389 96 93056CountryUnited StatesStateOklahomaCountyPottawatomieTime zoneUTC 6 Central CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT Contents 1 Avoca Township 1 1 Statistics 1 2 Schools in the township 2 Avoca town brief history 2 1 Avoca School 2 2 Post Office 2 2 1 Postmasters 2 3 Other establishments 2 4 Demise 3 References 4 External linksAvoca Township EditAvoca should not be confused with Avoca Township which covered a much larger area than the town itself This section of the article will cover the entire township with the remainder the town itself Avoca township was located in southeastern Pottawatomie County with Konawa Municipal Township and the Seminole County line to the east St Louis Township to the north and the South Canadian River to the south The western boundary was about two and a half miles west of present day Asher The township encompassed about 75 square miles 1 Post offices in the Avoca Township area included 2 Town Post Office DatesSacred Heart Mission 1879 1949Osmit 1884 1887Avoca later Asher 1894 presentMeanko 1896 1901Boyer 1897 1900Violet 1899 1905Statistics Edit The following table shows the population grown and then decline of Avoca Township The population decline beginning in 1920 can be attributed to a growing interest in Shawnee OK 3 Year Households Individuals Home owners Home renters Housing not specified1900 390 2 156 178 212 01910 808 4 228 413 139 01920 628 3 204 288 272 68Schools in the township Edit Schools in the township and what is known about them include 4 Asher c 1913 present Asher is and was the only high school developed within the township See Asher Oklahoma Avoca 1892 See the section below Cook 1892 aft 1920 The school originally one room was formed in 1892 and later expanded when a second and larger room was added At some point between 1910 and 1920 the building was completely refurbished and again enlarged It is believed this school was located near the Pottawatomie Seminole county line Gravel Hill School 1903 This school replaced Lazell School Lazzell 1895 1903 This school housed in a log cabin was located two and a half miles east of Asher near Chisholm Springs It began around December 1895 and closed in April 1903 due to financial shortfalls there was no school 1899 1900 It was replaced by Gravel Hill School Teacher YearMiss Alice Shelton 1895 1897Miss Mollie Ferrell 1898Mr Willis 1898 1899J G Hudiburg 1899No School 1899 1900F M Forston 1900 1903Sacred Heart The school had a small enrollment Avoca town brief history EditThe village was established in the mid 19th century as Wewaukee Springs Wewaukee is Seminole for tumbling water 5 It was located along the Wagon Road that traveled east to west across the territory Early residents of the town included Seminole Indians as well as white persons By 1910 most Seminoles had left the area Pottawatomi Indians populated the town 6 Avoca School Edit The first Avoca school was established in the summer of 1892 near what is now the Avoca Cemetery Early day teachers included J C Fisher B C Klepper A Floyd F M Forston Nora Kidd Minnie Synder sic A C Bray and Wheeler Hendon 7 Post Office Edit The post office was established August 4 1894 It was discontinued and moved to Asher twice once temporarily on November 26 1901 and again permanently on September 26 1906 8 Postmasters Edit Postmaster mistress Dates ServedSallie T Bess August 4 1894 August 7 1898George A McCurry August 8 1898 November 25 1901No Office moved to Asher November 26 1901 February 9 1902James K Polk February 10 1902 September 26 1906Other establishments Edit R Perkins opened the first general store A Rutherford and J B Buckler built a cotton gin M F Merrill started a blacksmith shop Establishment of the town was considered a natural development since the Wewoka Springs had been a stopping place for travelers before the opening of the territory 7 Demise Edit In 1901 Old Beck a rail spur from Shawnee was extended to the fledgling community of Asher Oklahoma a few miles south This event spelled the demise of Avoca 8 In the winter of that year the postmaster George A McCurry moved the Avoca post office and his store to the new community The change officially took place on November 26 1901 9 This was done without permission from the government and left Avoca without a post office 10 The post office was re established on February 10 1902 11 However many people and businesses moved to the growing Asher community An Asher paper reported Avoca About Abandoned on August 21 1903 12 and the post office was discontinued again on October 31 1906 11 The development of Asher is often blamed for the demise of Avoca 9 Currently in the Avoca area are the Avoca Church of Christ a cemetery and a few homes References Edit Kennedy Authur Ward 1995 They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here Konawa OK Kennedy Library of Konawa pp 56 213 Kennedy Authur Ward 1995 They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here Konawa OK Kennedy Library of Konawa p 150 Kennedy Arthur Ward 1995 They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here Konawa OK Kennedy Library of Konawa pp 130 131 Kennedy Authur Ward 1995 They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here Konawa OK Kennedy Library of Konawa pp 773 775 Kennedy Authur Ward 1995 They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here Konawa OK Kennedy Library of Konawa p 165 Kennedy Authur Ward 1995 They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here Konawa OK Kennedy Library of Konawa p 126 a b Fortson John 1936 POTT COUNTRY Shawnee OK Herald Printing p 72 a b Kennedy Authur Ward 1995 They Came from Everywhere and Settled Here Konawa OK Kennedy Library of Konawa p 166 a b Hammons Davis Barbara Mary Lillian Gilpin Retrieved 2006 11 07 People Worked for Town Shawnee News Star 1990 a b Grant Forman Chronicles of Oklahoma Archived from the original on 2006 09 02 Retrieved 2006 11 07 Avoca About Abandoned Asher Altruist 21 August 1903 External links EditAsher Oklahoma Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avoca Oklahoma amp oldid 1107702855, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
