A Northtown Thanksgiving: Forgotten Oklahomaâ„¢ Group

A Northtown Thanksgiving: Forgotten Oklahomaâ„¢ Group

Joe Campbell remembers Thanksgiving 1955 on the north side of McAlester, featuring a decapitated turkey, a visit to a farm, and a tremendous family feast.

"Southeastern Oklahoma is one of the most beautiful places in the world in November. The summer heat is long gone. The oak trees are ablaze with bright red leaves, and the first dips of the old thermostat toward a frost have turned the countryside into glorious oranges, yellows, purples and browns. The cooler autumn winds that blow in from the north and create all the beauty also bring in the spirit of the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons....

"For some reason dad got it in his head that we should have a live turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. He and mom had gone back and forth on the subject for a week. Dad wanted to give us three boys, who were 5,4, and 3 at the time what he thought to be a true Pilgrims Thanksgiving...."