Carriage Point
a.k.a. Fisher's Station
4 mi. W of Durant, Durant, OKFisher's Station (better known as Carriage Point) was No. ll of the 12 stage stations established by the Butterfield Overland Mail to serve its 192-mile-long, northeast/southwest route across Indian Territory from Fort Smith to the Red River from 1858 to 1861. Four miles west of present-day Durant, in Bryan County, it was about three hours by stage from Colbert's Ferry on Red River. Like several other of the stations, Fisher's did not long survive the institution that gave it birth; yet the dramatic importance of the Butterfield adventure itself - perhaps the most elaborate mail contract signed by the U. S. government to that time - would seem to justify recognition of the site and the few remaining physical evidences of its brief existence.
Fisher was undoubtedly the station operator or a Butterfield employee. Little is known about him - even as to whether his full name was Osborne Fisher or Fisher Durant. The flat, grassy area where the station was established seems to have been known Locally as Carriage Point before Butterfield arrived on the scene and when the Civil War ended the run of the rumbling Concords the old name of Carriage Point returned to use. Fisher's was a relatively prosperous stand with several permanent buildings and two rock-lined wells. But the station itself was not re-opened after the Civil War. A post office, established March 23, 1869, with the name Carriage Point, was in operation less than two years.
An official Oklahoma Historical Society marker notes the site today. Only mounds of rubble, some scattered stones, evidence of two wells, and a few neglected grave stones remain to recall the presence of once-bustling Fisher's Station.
Local significance of the site:
Fisher was undoubtedly the station operator or a Butterfield employee. Little is known about him - even as to whether his full name was Osborne Fisher or Fisher Durant. The flat, grassy area where the station was established seems to have been known Locally as Carriage Point before Butterfield arrived on the scene and when the Civil War ended the run of the rumbling Concords the old name of Carriage Point returned to use. Fisher's was a relatively prosperous stand with several permanent buildings and two rock-lined wells. But the station itself was not re-opened after the Civil War. A post office, established March 23, 1869, with the name Carriage Point, was in operation less than two years.
An official Oklahoma Historical Society marker notes the site today. Only mounds of rubble, some scattered stones, evidence of two wells, and a few neglected grave stones remain to recall the presence of once-bustling Fisher's Station.
Commerce; Transportation
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
Oklahoma is known for its oil industry, which began in the early 1900s when oil was discovered in the state. Today, Oklahoma is still a major producer of oil and natural gas.
About Bryan County
Bryan County Timeline
Bryan County, OK is located in the southeastern part of the state, and it has a rich and diverse history that spans thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by several Native American tribes, including the Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw. These tribes lived off the land and maintained a harmonious relationship with nature. However, their way of life was disrupted with the arrival of European explorers and settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In the early 1800s, the United States government began removing Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in what is known as the Trail of Tears. Many Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw people were forced to relocate to present-day Oklahoma, including Bryan County. The area became part of Indian Territory, designated to house these displaced tribes.
In the late 1800s, as the region became more populated, the need for organized local government arose. Bryan County was officially established in 1907, after Oklahoma became a state. It was named after William Jennings Bryan, a prominent political figure at the time and a known advocate for the rights of Native Americans.
Throughout the 20th century, Bryan County experienced significant economic changes. The discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the area brought prosperity and development. The agriculture industry also played a vital role in the county's economy, with cotton, soybeans, and livestock farming being prevalent.
Today, Bryan County continues to be a thriving community with a diverse population. Its rich Native American heritage is celebrated through cultural events and festivals, and the county remains an important contributor to Oklahoma's economy. With its vibrant history and promising future, Bryan County stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of its people.
In the early 1800s, the United States government began removing Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in what is known as the Trail of Tears. Many Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw people were forced to relocate to present-day Oklahoma, including Bryan County. The area became part of Indian Territory, designated to house these displaced tribes.
In the late 1800s, as the region became more populated, the need for organized local government arose. Bryan County was officially established in 1907, after Oklahoma became a state. It was named after William Jennings Bryan, a prominent political figure at the time and a known advocate for the rights of Native Americans.
Throughout the 20th century, Bryan County experienced significant economic changes. The discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the area brought prosperity and development. The agriculture industry also played a vital role in the county's economy, with cotton, soybeans, and livestock farming being prevalent.
Today, Bryan County continues to be a thriving community with a diverse population. Its rich Native American heritage is celebrated through cultural events and festivals, and the county remains an important contributor to Oklahoma's economy. With its vibrant history and promising future, Bryan County stands as a testament to the resilience and strength of its people.
Bryan County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Bryan County, Oklahoma.
- 1891: Bryan County is established on July 16 by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature.
- 1907: Oklahoma becomes a state on November 16, with Bryan County as one of its 77 counties.
- 1915: The Durant Daily Democrat, Bryan County's first newspaper, begins publication.
- 1927: Lake Texoma, a large reservoir on the Texas-Oklahoma border, is completed, providing recreation and water supply for the region.
- 1962: The Choctaw Casino Resort, the first casino in Bryan County, opens in Durant.
- 1987: The Durant Main Street Program is established to promote the revitalization and preservation of downtown Durant.
- 1994: The Three Valley Museum, dedicated to the history and culture of Bryan County, opens in Durant.
- 2000: The census shows a population of 36,534 in Bryan County.
- 2017: The DiamonNet, a private submarine fiber optic cable network, is completed, improving internet connectivity in Bryan County.