LAKE WHITEMARSH ON THE MARLAND ESTATE

Did you know that Lake Whitemarsh on the north border of the E.W. Marland Estate was planned and built long before the Marland Mansion was started? Marland has visions of a game refuge on the one half section of land north and east of the present day Pioneer Woman Statue site. The oil baron was planning a fairly modest hunting lodge and massive swimming pool near the crest of that hill, which is now Monument Avenue. As architects, designers and game preservations gathered offering suggestions for the land, it was discovered that the hill consisted of high quality limestone and apparently suggested as a great building material for the game lodge.

As the plans proceeded and grew proportionally, a “hole” was created near the crest of the hill. It was later suggested as a lake for the preserve. Over the next two or three years, as the opulence of the estate grew, so did the excavation. Eventually the stone was used for much of the building material, inside and out. One lake became five, and a sixth massive excavation became the double Olympic size pool on the east side of the Mansion. Much of the hand cut stone is said to have been precisely cut in the “Old Stone Barn” currently being restored on Lake Road.

Today, Lake Whitemarsh is a beautiful symbol of Marlands many “gifts” to Northern Oklahoma and Ponca City. You can also take your lawn chair to the water’s edge and watch the geese find their home.The lake is open daily and is stocked for kids fishing and hosts the Free Youth Fishing Clinic each year. To register on line for this year’s June 1 clinic, go to www.poncacityok.gov/parksandrec-registration.

NEW EXHIBIT FEATURING PONCA CHIEF WHITE EAGLE AT MARLAND’S GRAND HOME

A new exhibit of items once belonging to Ponca Chief White Eagle is on display at the Marland’s Grand Home. The items, which date back to the early 1900s, were given to the City of Ponca City to be placed in the Indian Museum. The items were originally given to Mr. Ora Atkins, a friend of Chief White Eagle, while Mr. Atkins was a blacksmith on the Ponca Reservation. Mr. Atkins later worked as a police officer for the Ponca City Police Department. After Mr. Aitkin’s death in 1948, the items were donated by his wife, Nellie. Among the items are two peace pipes, a beaded pipe pouch, a beaded pouch, a beaded peyote bag, a pair of beaded garters, a beaded belt and hat band, some silver trade bracelets, and four celluloid souvenir buttons from the 101 Ranch store featuring prominent Native Americans of the area.

White Eagle was the Ponca Chief from 1870 to 1904 and was a friend of the 101 Ranch Miller Brothers and oil explorer E.W. Marland. The Millers leased many acres from the Ponca people. Marland met with Chief White Eagle to discuss an agreement to allow him to drill on some of the leased land. The well drilled came in a gusher and was known as the “Willie Cries for War #9”. This well was the beginning of the 101 Ranch Oil Company, which later became the Marland Oil Company.

The Marland’s Grand Home is located at 1000 E. Grand Avenue. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. For more information please visit www.marlandgrandhome.com or call 580.767.0427.

Contact: David Keathly, Marland Mansion & Marland’s Grand Home Director, 580-767-0420.