Attractions, History, and Oddities in Poteau, Wister, Heavener, and surrounding areas.
Poteau History! Learn all about the history of the Tri-City region, including Poteau, Wister, Heavener and other nearby areas.
During Poteau's early years, the town was thriving in a way that was unparalleled in the region. Between 1900 and 1930, growth was almost non-stop. With this growth, a lot of money came in to town. By statehood, Poteau had three banks.Where Legal Aid is today was the Bank of
Read More
Judge Malcolm E Rosser was Poteau’s fifth mayor. (Lived 91 years)He was born in Elm Springs, Arkansas on January 16, 1870. He was raised on a farm and gained his early experience through hard work. His schooling was limited to three months per year, however, his mother taught him at
Read More The fourth mayor of Poteau was a distinguished gentleman from Tennessee.James M. "Judge" Harvey was born October 7, 1862. All that is known of his early life was that he became an orphan at an early age. He moved to Waldron, Arkansas when he was fourteen years old where he
Read More Walter Beard was an early founder of Poteau. He arrived before the town was formed from Arkansas and down through Cameron. During his early years, he worked as a farmer in Arkansas, and then in the Indian Territory.After coming to the area around 1885, he married Cillan James. James was
Read More
Ground was broke for the new courthouse on July 15, 1926.Built on the site of the old municipal park, and paid for without the use of bonds, the courthouse was expected to cost around $130,000. By the time it was completed, the final cost ran at approximately $150,000. Newspapers reported
Read More
The Origins of Heavener Heavener originated in 1877 with the arrival of the town's founder, Joseph H. Heavener. As one of the earliest white settlers, Heavener, along with Sam Wilson obtained permits from the Choctaw Nation to work the land.The town began to take shape in 1880 when Zachary Taylor Ward
Read More
Prior to the arrival of the KCS Railroad, Poteau was centered around the courthouse lawn. At the end of Dewey, where KP's is today, the old railroad depot saw a thriving business. During the 1890s, a ashes from a pot-bellied stove caught the old downtown area on fire - a
Read More
Wister, Oklahoma is a town full of fascinating history. As with many towns in Southeastern Oklahoma, it began like a typical wild-west movie scene; wood frame buildings with false facades cropped up along dusty streets. Within 10 years, it was a thriving small town, and one of the most important
Read More
It was in 1541 when Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto ventured through Southeastern Oklahoma. With a little less than 300 men, de Soto set out on a quest to find El Dorado, or "the gilded one." The phantom El Dorado proved to be elusive, and de Soto, miserable and in
Read More