The old Moose Lodge, White Oak, Oklahoma, by Kathy Alexander.
Beyond Vinita, Oklahoma, Route 66 winds through several small towns, alternating between two-lane and divided four-lane highways, on its way to Claremore. Though locals still use the old highway regularly, some communities along this stretch have become virtual ghosts, while others are dotted with closed businesses that testify to better times.
Just 6.8 miles Southwest of Vinita, Highway 60/Route 66 leads to the small agricultural community of White Oak.
White Oak began around 1895 as a small settlement north of its present-day site. However, it later moved to its present location after Theodore Jones, an early merchant, and Charley Brown built stockyards and invited people from 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 by Kathy Alexander.
The Frisco Railroad built a spur at the site, and for the next 50 years, White Oak was a major cattle shipping center. The railroad built stock pens, and a large nearby pasture was made available to hold cattle before shipping them to Kansas City or St. Joseph, Missouri. Hay shipping was also a thriving business during these years, and several hay barns sat along the railroad tracks.
Another economic mainstay in White Oak was several sawmills, most notably the White Oak Sawmill. This sawmill 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 the route on 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. Various businessmen also operated general stores.
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, when the store closed.
After World War II, improved roads and the trucking industry took business away from the railroad. Soon, the railroad discontinued passenger service, and the cattle chutes and loading pens were removed. Unfortunately, even the original depot no longer stands.
In 1942, the Works Progress Administration constructed the White Oak gymnasium, a rectangular 100’x55′ addition to a preexisting school building. However, the school burned down in 1943 and 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, and the post office closed the same year.
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 World War II.
Also See:
Oklahoma Route 66 Photo Gallery
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