Oklahoma--We Know We Belong to the Land

Now to you and most of Oklahoma, Colony is a little bump on the map.  A village with a Post Office and café that is open at lunch time.  Last year the café was open and we ate some pie there.

For me and my sister, Colony is heritage.  Our great grandparents started this settlement.  They built a school to civilize the Cheyenne-Arapahoes.  This is not a politically correct sentiment today, but my great grandfather had a vision that he could teach them to farm and to "make it" in the world instead of being gunned down by the army.  My great grandfather clearly said that he saw the Cheyenne Araphoe as fellow human beings.  He lived among them and raised his family.  He died there in Colony.  The above is the ruin of the Colony school that burned a few years ago.

This was the grounds of the school.  It is the place where the Cheyenne Arapaho hold a pow wow in the fall every year.

The water tower is the only part of the school that has withstood the numerous fires.

The old brick and stone were laid by my great grandfather and the Indians he worked with.

Today it is an eerie structure.

 

My cousin Lonnie is trying to get it registered as an historic building.

 

My sister and I went and looked up our cousin and visited with him at his house for a while.  But, the day wasn't over yet.  I will continue with the next part on Saturday.