Tales from the No Man’s Land Museum Women Writers of the Panhandle

Researcher Sue Weissinger Reporter - J. L. Wells

Women’s History Month focuses on the contribution of women in history and contemporary society, and the No Man’s Land Museum in Goodwell has selected three writers to honor. Norma Gene Young (Cimarron County), Caroline Henderson (Texas County), and Maude O. Thomas (Beaver County) all left legacies that have enriched the Panhandle.

Norma Gene Butterbaugh was eleven months old when her parents, Roy and Ophelia Butterbaugh, bought The Boise City News in Cimarron County. After graduating from high school and attending two years of college, she returned home to work for her father. She married Bob Young, and they joined her parents in the newspaper business. Norma Gene and Bob took ownership of the paper in 1966 and continued publishing until selling in 1981.

Norma Gene wrote a column in the newspaper entitled “Ramblings” that was thought provoking with always a twist of humor. Her passion for preserving the history of Cimarron County resulted in two large books, Footsteps and The tracks We Followed.

(Her life story is in Footsteps.) Without her diligence, many family histories would have been lost. Her book, Not a Stoplight in the County, pointed out historical places in Cimarron County. She also wrote Boise City Bombed, the 1943 incident when the town was accidently bombed by the Dalhart Army Air Base. The book, Black Sunday, was a collection of local experiences during the terrifying April 14, 1935 dust storm.

Caroline Boa had taught English and Latin in her home state of Iowa before homesteading in 1907 near Eva, Texas County. She married Will Henderson in 1908, and their daughter Eleanor was born in 1910. Her life story is piquantly told in the book, Letters from the Dust Bowl, by Caroline Henderson and edited by Alvin O. Turner. Turner used her letters from 1908 to 1966 and her magazine articles. During the early years of marriage, Caroline became Ladies’ World “Homestead Lady” and

wrote articles for Practical Farmer.

She also had an article in the Atlantic Monthly in 1931. It was during the Depression and Dust Bowl that her letters contain passages of the extreme struggles for survival. In 1936, she wrote the original Letters from the Dust Bowl describing the drought conditions, dust storms, and environmental chaos.

Caroline’s intense love of the land and the constant struggle continued throughout her lifetime. She reported that during a period of almost 60 years they had fewer than ten bumper crops. Austin even included a 1957 letter describing the famous March blizzard of “57”. The last letter in the book was written by Eleanor as she related the news of the deaths of her parents in 1966.

Maude O. Thomas’s achievements were described by her brotherin-law, Fred Tracy, in his book, Recollections of No Man’s Land. Maude was two years old when she came with her parents to No Man’s Land (Beaver County) in 1886. She was one of the first four graduates of the Beaver Schools, and then briefly taught school.

While helping a friend set type for the Beaver Herald, she learned to use a printer’s stick and later became a typesetter. When the opportunity arose, Maude and two businessmen bought the paper. Maude continued for 21 years as the editor. She later bought the Beaver Democrat and changed the name to the Herald Democrat.

Maude made news in the 1930s when Governor William Murray appointed her to serve as regent of Oklahoma College for Women at Chickasha. The Governor also appointed her to serve as Highway Commissioner (the First Woman Highway Commissioner in the United States). Her service only lasted a few months, but she caused work to be started in Beaver and Texas Counties on State Highway 3 that would eventually cross Oklahoma from Idabel to Boise City.

Maude’s love for her town led her to help obtain the Pioneer Memorial Park and the Pioneer Building in Beaver. Her donation of lots became the site of the present Fair Pavilion and Free Fairground.

Some of Norma Gene’s books and Caroline and Fred Tracey’s books can be purchased at the Museum. The Museum is open from Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM – closed Sunday, Monday, and state Holidays. Please wear a mask. Follow the Museum on Facebook@NoMansLandMuseum.