Nail's Station
a.k.a. Nail's Crossing on Blue River
2 mi. SW of Kenefick, Keneflick, OKOf the twelve stations along the 192-mile route of the Butterfield Overland Nail across Indian Territory 1858-1861, Nail's could claim one unique distinction. Aboard the first Concord to leave Fort Smith westbound Sept. 19, 1858, was Waterman L. Ormsby, a correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune. (He was the only through passenger on this initial st. Louis-to-San Francisco run. Of Nail's he had this to say:
Today only piles of brick and stone mark the location of the Jonathan Nail home, which served as station. Amid the rubble stands the official Oklahoma Historical Society on-site marker. But from all accounts the house was a comfortable one in which the Herald could well have been appreciated. An ornamented picket fence enclosed the property and access from the stage road, which ran in front of the house, was gained by way of a stone stile.
The important "Nail's Crossing of the Blue" is just west of the home site, down from the higher ground on which the buildings stood. Here on the fossilized limestone bed of the stream traces of the fora used by the first Concords can still be seen. Crude bridges and ferries served travelers along this route for years after the stages ceased to run.
Jonathan Nail probably moved to this area in the early 1840s. There is a record of his building a fine sawmill and gristmill on the Blue around 1844. On Dec. 13, 1866 -- as the Choctaw Nation began to rebuild after the Civil War -- the General Council granted Nail the privilege of establishing a toll bridge at his premises on "the Boggy and Sherman Road." (When he died in March of the following year, his wife, Catherine, married David A. Folsom, who was authorized by the council to take over the toll franchise.)
Local significance of the site:
Fourteen miles from Boggy Depot we came to Blue River station where a very heavy bridge is building for the company. Here I saw a copy of the Weekly Herald - a distance of six hundred miles from St. Louis, and nearly seventeen hundred from New York, overland, and twenty-five miles from any Post Office. I thought the Herald was appreciated there.
Today only piles of brick and stone mark the location of the Jonathan Nail home, which served as station. Amid the rubble stands the official Oklahoma Historical Society on-site marker. But from all accounts the house was a comfortable one in which the Herald could well have been appreciated. An ornamented picket fence enclosed the property and access from the stage road, which ran in front of the house, was gained by way of a stone stile.
The important "Nail's Crossing of the Blue" is just west of the home site, down from the higher ground on which the buildings stood. Here on the fossilized limestone bed of the stream traces of the fora used by the first Concords can still be seen. Crude bridges and ferries served travelers along this route for years after the stages ceased to run.
Jonathan Nail probably moved to this area in the early 1840s. There is a record of his building a fine sawmill and gristmill on the Blue around 1844. On Dec. 13, 1866 -- as the Choctaw Nation began to rebuild after the Civil War -- the General Council granted Nail the privilege of establishing a toll bridge at his premises on "the Boggy and Sherman Road." (When he died in March of the following year, his wife, Catherine, married David A. Folsom, who was authorized by the council to take over the toll franchise.)
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 glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped 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.