White Oak, Oklahoma – Tiny Town 66

The old Moose Lodge, White Oak, Oklahoma by Kathy Alexander.

Beyond VinitaOklahomaRoute 66 winds through several small towns, alternating between two-lane and divided four-lane highways, on its way to Claremore. Though the old highway still sees regular use among the locals, some of the communities along this stretch have been left as virtual ghosts, while others are dotted with closed businesses testifying to better times.

Just 6.8 miles southwest of Vinita, Highway 60/Route 66 makes its way to the small agricultural community of White Oak.

White Oak started in about 1895 as a small settlement north of the present-day site but moved later to its present location after Theodore Jones, an early merchant, and Charley Brown built stockyards and invited the people at the earlier site to join them. A post office was established on October 31, 1898. The town was named for the many white oak trees in the area.

Old sawmill in White Oak, Oklahoma

Old sawmill in White Oak, Oklahoma by Kathy Alexander

The Frisco Railroad built a spur at the site, and for the next 50 years, White Oak was a major shipping center for cattle. The railroad built stock pens, and a large pasture nearby was made available for cattle to be held before shipping to Kansas City or St. Joseph, Missouri. The shipping of hay was also a thriving business during these years, and several haybarns were situated along the railroad tracks.

Another economic mainstay in White Oak was several sawmills, the most important of which was the White Oak Sawmill, which processed the white oak trees into barrel staves — the strips of wood used to make barrels. Several buildings associated with the sawmill still stand on the west side of Route at the southern side of town.

The first school was located northwest of the present-day townsite, and when it burned down, a new school was built closer to the community. Early on, a two-room house served as White Oak’s first hotel, used principally by visiting cattlemen. Later, Bud Miles built a hotel and rooming house, which he operated for several years before selling it. There were also general stores that various businessmen operated.

Country Court Sign, now gone, near White Oak, Oklahoma

Country Court Sign, now gone, near White Oak, Oklahoma by Kathy Alexander.

Route 66 passed through the town in 1926, bringing some prosperity to the community. By 1935, the community boasted just two stores — the O.M. Haynes General Store and George Vogel’s Hay and Feed Store. Mr. Haynes operated his general store for over 50 years before retiring in the 1960s, at which time the store closed.

After World War II, the roads were improved, and the trucking industry took business away from the railroad. Soon, railroad passenger service was discontinued, and the cattle shoots and loading pens were removed. Unfortunately, even the original depot no longer stands.

In 1942, the Work Progress Administration constructed the White Oak gymnasium, a rectangular 100’x55′ addition to a pre-existing school building. However, the school itself burned down in 1943. It was replaced with the present-day elementary school. The old Gymnasium still stands today.

In 1946, when Jack D. Rittenhouse published his Guide Book to Highway 66, he described White Oak as “a small hamlet with a couple of gas stations and groceries, plus a school and a few homes. No cafes, garages, courts, or other accommodations here.”

White Oak was bypassed when Route 66 was replaced by I-44 in 1957. The same year, the post office closed.

Today, White Oak continues in a very small way. It is unincorporated but still supports a grade school, a convenience store, an active church, and several homes.

Route 66 continues southwest for 11.7 miles to Chelsea, Oklahoma.

© Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated November 2021.

Also See:

Oklahoma – Indian Territory

Oklahoma Route 66

Oklahoma Route 66 Photo Gallery

Route 66 Main Page

Sources:

OkGenWeb
Library.org
Living New Deal