Entering Oklahoma on Route 66 - Quapaw and Commerce, Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA LEGENDS

Entering Indian Territory on Route 66

Quapaw, Oklahoma

1920's photograph shows Main Street looking north in Quapaw. This muddy road would soon

become Route 66. Photo courtesy Ottowa County, Oklahoma.

As you leave Kansas entering Oklahoma’s stretch of the Mother Road, you will pass through the tiny community of Quapaw just three miles later. This small town of just less than 1,000 souls was named after the Quapaw Indians, who were originally from Arkansas.

Quapaw

Quapaw Indian Surrounded by tall prairie grasses, the town was once an important hay-shipping area at the turn of the century. Later, cattle grazing and large ranches became essential to the economic industry of the community. However, the real boom of the town was the zinc and lead mining industry, which began in the region as early as 1897. The town boomed during the years of 1917 and 1918 and many of the Quapaw Indians received immense royalties during these times.

The Dark Horse Mine, which opened in 1904, became the mainstay of the town but after World War I, the demand for zinc and lead decreased and Quapaw's boom days were over.

Today, Quapaw is yet another fading mining town of the tri-state area. However, the town displays several nice murals on its buildings that deserve a stop for a photo opportunity. Quapaw is also home to the Spook light, a dancing ball of light seen on a bluff called Devil's Promenade. Though the "spook light” is located in the Quapaw area, it can only be viewed east of the town and is often referred to as the Joplin Spooklight or the Hornet Spook Light, both cities in Missouri.

If you’re passing through Quapaw on July 4th, the city holds the oldest Indian Pow-Wow in the United States at Beaver Springs State Park. For more than 130 years, the celebration has been taking place and is well worth the stop.

Commerce

As you continue down the Mother Road just another six miles towards Commerce, you’ll pass through several man-made mountains of chat, left over from the profitable lead and zinc mining era. In addition to the mining stories that Commerce provides, it was also the scene of one of Bonnie and Clyde’s notorious endeavors on April 6, 1934.

Vintage photo of Commerce, Oklahoma

Vintage photo of Commerce, Oklahoma, Photo courtesy Ottowa County, Oklahoma.

While fleeing the murders in Grapevine, Texas, their Ford got stuck in the mud. Attempting to flag down a motorist at gunpoint, the car fled and reported the incident to Police Chief Percy Boyd and Constable Cal Campbell in Commerce. When the officers arrived at the scene, Cal Campbell was shot and Chief Percy Boyd was kidnapped but was later let go. Bonnie and Clyde had less than a month to live.

On a more positive note, Commerce was also home to the legendary baseball player, Mickey Mantle. In the late 1940’s Mantle played for three years with the Baxter Springs Whiz Kids. In 1949, while playing a baseball game in the park in Baxter Springs Mantle hit a ball into the Spring River. Later, when the game was delayed by a rainstorm, Mantle was approached by Tom Greenwade, a scout for the New York Yankees and signed Mantle up to play. His home, located at 319 S. Quincy will soon be a museum.

Commerce, Oklahoma, future site of Mickey Mantle Museum.

Mickey Mantle Museum sign

Just another five miles or so, as you zigzag along this fine old stretch of Route 66, you’ll arrive at the town of Miami.

Also See:

Devil's Promenade & the Hornet Spook Light

A storm rolls in between Quapaw and Commerce, June, 2010,

Kathy Weiser.

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