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Perry, Oklahoma, c. September 1893
In the past, Perry, Oklahoma, had a different name: Wharton, after the train station constructed in 1886 by the Southern Kansas Railway. This railway was vital to the renowned Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway system. The station stood about a mile south of the present-day city.
However, destiny had a different plan in store for the town. In anticipation of the Cherokee Outlet Opening in 1893, the U.S. government chose a new location, a mile north of Wharton in Noble County, previously known as County P, was selected and became the location of the land office. The site chosen by J.A. Perry, who the government sent to establish land office towns, would take his name, and over time, Perry would become a prominent figure as one of the township commissioners.
The infamous Dalton Gang, comprised of formidable outlaws like Bob Dalton, Emmett Dalton, Charlie Bryant, and George Newcomb, descended upon Wharton. In May 1891, they targeted a train, raking in a fortune of $1745. However, fate had a way of playing its hand, as Bryant became ill suddenly after the heist. Desperate to save their comrade, they rushed him to Hennessey to seek medical attention. But fortune turned its back on them again as Deputy Marshal Ed Short spotted and apprehended Bryant. Bryant and the marshal killed one another in a desperate struggle for freedom.
On September 16, 1893, at the stroke of noon, a tumultuous event known as "a run" commenced, unleashing a frantic race for land. In an astonishing display of ambition and determination, an estimated 90,000 souls, men, women, and children alike, partook in this extraordinary endeavor. As the sun descended, casting its golden glow over the newly formed Perry, an astounding 40,000 individuals had pitched their tents, turning the land into a bustling settlement. Among them was the legendary Jack Tearney, who embarked on an epic sprint from the county line and reached Perry by 12:31 p.m. (an awe-inspiring 31 minutes), and by 4:00 p.m., he had already erected and opened the renowned "Blue Bell" saloon, quenching the thirst of the pioneers with beer priced at a staggering $1.00 a bottle, due to the scarcity of water. Tearney sold an astonishing 38,000 glasses.
In those early days, the boundaries of the original town encompassed A and F streets, as well as 1st and 9th streets. Approximately 110 saloons and gambling houses thrived, many taking root just half a block east of the now iconic square.
On September 20, 1893, Perry took its rightful place among the ranks of incorporated towns, forever preserving the legacy of a community forged in the crucible of ambition and opportunity.
Yes, Perry still exists to this day. The historic downtown hosts the annual Cherokee Strip Celebration, the longest-running parade in Oklahoma, and the Kumback Café, the longest-continuously operating restaurant in Oklahoma. Springfest and Hops Car Show draw classic and resto-mod cars from around the nation in the spring.
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