Tulsa, Oklahoma

When I was a student at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, my former wife and I would often drive to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa is the nearest City to Fayetteville and we would go there to sample their shopping and many Mexican, Chinese and other great ethnic restaurants.Tulsa is located in the rolling foothills of the Ozarks. Unlike much of Oklahoma, the area around Tulsa is green and lush. The Arkansas River abuts the City, and Tulsa was one of the first municipalities in the United States to offer jogging and cycling paths along this scenic attraction.

Tulsa was a cow town in Indian Territory when oil was discovered in 1901. It quickly grew into a boomtown, complete with grand hotels, restaurants and more than its fair share of millionaires. Conoco, Phillips and Cities Service Oil, among others, all maintained headquarters in Tulsa until the oil bust of the 80s. Because of the commerce drawn to the city, Tulsa, to this day, boasts many fine hospitals and nationally recognized museums.

Not all of Tulsa’s history is exemplary. It is the site of the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 which is still described as one of the most heinous acts of racial hatred in U.S. history. Like most of the country, Tulsa has changed with the times and it is now home of Oral Roberts University that preaches universal peace. http://www.ericwilder.com http://www.lulu.com/pangaeaex

Lake Stratford Ghost Dog

Growing up in north Louisiana, there were times with little else to do except scare each other with ghost stories. Here is one that may have some basis in fact. This happened many years ago, so forgive me if my facts – as I remember them - aren’t 100 % correct.

Cass County, Texas and Caddo Parish, Louisiana are adjacent to each other. The Cass County line is about four miles from the town of Vivian, Louisiana. Not far west of Vivian there is a small lake – Stratford Lake. Years ago, there were trailers and fishing camps around the lake. The area has since been developed and now there are many expensive homes near there.

I suspect there was a community in the vicinity, perhaps called Stratford, prior to the Civil War. I don’t know this, but a grave there suggests the connection. As I remember the inscription, it said:

Benjamin Franklin Brown (I don’t remember the actual last name)
Hanged as an abolitionist
18?? – 18??

The story goes that BFB had a large wolf-like dog. Supposedly, the dog continues to guard his master’s grave and is often spotted on moonlit nights roaming the area. I never saw the dog myself, although others have, but I did see the grave and yes, I did read the inscription. I have searched the Web for info about the Lake Stratford Ghost Dog but have found nothing. If you have any information, please let me know and I will update this story for those as curious as I. http://www.ericwilder.com http://justeastofeden.blogharbor.com

Prairie Sunset is a novel I wrote ten years ago. After recently reading it again, I decided to self-publish it at Lulu Publishing. The book is presently available on the Lulu website in both soft and hardback editions, and e-book, but will soon be listed at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. I had thought that Murder Etouffee would be my next book in print but it is still two weeks away from publication.

I hope that you will visit the Lulu website - they are a quality publisher of all types of print media - and give Prairie Sunset a look. I think you will like it. Thanks, Eric Wilder. http://www.lulu.com

Prairie Sunset

Eric Wilder's new book, Prairie Sunset, is published and available for purchase, but presently only at http://www.lulu.com. Please check it out as I think you will like it.