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Oklahoma Original Indianola community collection preserves the past By Cathey Heddlesten


ndianola resident Roy Bynum Jr. has always been interested in his- tory, especially as it relates to the founding of his hometown. And that lifelong interest has led him to amass a collection of artifacts from the town’s early days, many of which date back to a time when the horse and buggy ruled the road. The showpiece of his historical collection is the Choate Cabin, which was relocated many years ago to Bynum’s backyard near down- town Indianola where it was restored and is now used as a museum to house relics from the community’s past. Built in 1867 by George Washington Choate, the 1½-story double log cabin—complete with a dog trot to capture outside breezes and cool the rooms—was moved to Bynum’s property nearly 50 years ago from its original home on Cho- ate Prairie, west of Indianola. Located in the Kiamichi Electric Coop- erative service area, the Indianola community is about 18 miles north of McAlester on State Highway 113.


I “Back when that cabin was built out on Choate Prairie, there was no


town of Indianola,” says Bynum. “McAlester was the only town in this area.”


Once slated for demolition, the restored Choate Cabin is now listed


in the National Register of Historic Places. It is the oldest structure in Pittsburg County and one of the oldest in the state. “They were going to tear down the cabin,” recalls Bynum of the his- torical home that was used as a family residence until the mid-1960s when it was moved to its present location. “My uncle came back here from California and spent some time. He bought the cabin and we had it moved here. The original plan was to use it as a guest house.” After restoration of the log cabin was complete, Bynum set about


the task of fi lling it with historical relics from life in early-day Indiano- la. And he’s had plenty of help with that endeavor from local families who have donated all types of antique furniture and other artifacts to help preserve the history of their Pittsburg County town. The cabin houses old photographs and memorabilia donated by longtime Indi- anola families. Local residents have also donated period furni- ture and household goods including storage trunks, a spinning


wheel, rugs, chairs, pottery, dishes and handcrafted items like quilts and doilies. The cabin is fi lled with furniture similar to what


would have been used when it served as home to one of the community’s founding families. Displays share the history and genealogy of the Choate fam- ily through photos, newspaper stories and family heirlooms. Choate’s career in tribal politics spanned 37 years and he served as the fi nal Choctaw Senate president prior to statehood in 1907. Bynum says the collection has drawn Choate descendants from several states, including Alabama, who are interested in learning more about their family’s heritage. In addition to the Choate Cabin, artifacts from Indianola’s past are also displayed in an old barn on the property. Bynum says the barn was originally constructed in 1923.


One room is set up as a classroom


complete with antique desks, books, a wood-heating stove and other items used in country schools. Other historical items on display include the town’s fi rst telephone switchboard, the door to Indianola’s jail, a desk from a town hotel, as well as numerous farm tools and common household items found in turn- of-the-century homes. Another room in the barn houses an old wooden sorter, once used by workers at Indianola’s post offi ce to sort mail for delivery. Many of the slots are still clearly marked with the names of early-day residents.


Continued on Page 21


Left: Roy Bynum Jr. is the mastermind behind the town’s history collec- tion. Center: Choate Cabin. Right: This statue of a pioneer woman is on display in Roy Bynum’s yard in Indianola. It was carved from the remains of a dead walnut tree by Inola chainsaw artist Clayton Coss, who used a photo of Bynum’s mother as a guide. Photos by Cathey Heddlesten


DECEMBER 2012 17


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