Owl Blacksmith Shop
a.k.a. Lee Cotter's Blacksmith Shop
208 W. Rainey, Weatherford, OKLee Cotter Sr. bought the Owl shop in 1913, just 15 years after Weatherford was established. How long the "Attabury Boys" had operated it before 1913 is not known; conceivably it could have been since 1898. Lee Cotter Jr. learned blacksmithing from his father and has run the shop since his father's death. Throw-away plowshares, portable welding trucks, and other developments have greatly reduced the demand for blacksmiths, of course. (Cotter can remember when his father would have as many as 400 plowshares lined up for repair ... at 25 cents a share.) But Cotter has adapted his skills to the changing needs of the community. "If Lee Cotter can't fix something," they say in Custer County, "it can't be fixed."
Cotter lives nearby and continues his trade in the same false-fronted frame shop his father took over in 1913. The building is little changed, outside or in. Still in place and in service to the community are the original forge, jackhammer, anvil, and other tools of the trade ... along with the skills of the blacksmithing trade, passed along from father to son. Blacksmith shop and blacksmithing, building, and trade ... Lee Cotter preserves a tie with the past that embraces the greater part of the 85-year existence of the Weatherford community itself.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
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.
The county was officially established in 1892, named in honor of General George Armstrong Custer, the controversial military figure who played a prominent role in the Indian Wars. In its early years, Custer County experienced a boom in agriculture, particularly wheat production. The introduction of railroads in the area further facilitated economic growth, as it allowed farmers to transport their goods to larger markets.
Over the years, Custer County faced its share of challenges. The Dust Bowl, a period of severe drought and soil erosion during the 1930s, devastated the region's agriculture. Many farmers were forced to abandon their land and seek employment elsewhere. The county also played a role in World War II, as the Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base was established in 1942 and served as a training facility for pilots.
In more recent years, Custer County has continued to diversify its economy. The discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the 1950s brought economic prosperity and new opportunities for the county. Today, Custer County thrives on a combination of agriculture, energy production, and a growing tourism industry. The county is known for its natural beauty, with the picturesque Red Rock Canyon and the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site being popular attractions for visitors.
Custer County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Custer County, Oklahoma.
- 1892 - Custer County is established.
- 1897 - The town of Arapaho is incorporated.
- 1901 - The town of Clinton is incorporated.
- 1916 - The Battle of Turkey Springs takes place in the county during the Mexican Border War.
- 1954 - The Foss Dam is completed, providing irrigation and flood control for the area.
- 1983 - The National Route 66 Museum is opened in Clinton.
- 1992 - Clinton becomes the county seat of Custer County.
- 2007 - The Stafford Air & Space Museum expands and reopens in Weatherford.