According to the newspaper (The Eldorado Light) dated November 11, 1904, these are the active businesses in this town that boasted 450 population (this list may not contain all businesses): 

1. Methodist Church;
2. Eldorado School;
3. US Gyp & Cement Co Cement Mill;
4. City Cotton Yard(Supt. TB Bryant);
5. Eldorado Gin (Mgr. JW Talbot);
6. Farmers Gin (Mgrs. WA Lee, TD Dailey);
7. JB Summers & Son Hardware;
8. Bank of Eldorado
9. Eldorado Drug Co. (Mgr. RE Wilson);
10. SW Lumber Co. (WD Dawson);
11. Wood Dry Goods Co.;
12. DA Curry Grocery Store
13. Phillips & Fraser Saloon (Delmonico Bar)
    
14. JF Womack Dry Goods;
15. WC Austin Attorney;
16. Wells, Thomas & McClaskey Dry Goods;
17. Hardin & Crowder Lumber;
18. FN Davis & Son Coal;
19. FE Barnes Loans;
20. Gillentine & Sons Grocery;
21. Tucker Bros & Narramore Wagon Yard;
22. LL Berry Saloon (The Eldorado Bar)
    
23. George Dean "tonsorial" (Barber);
24. Wynne & Thorp Drug Store;
25. Price & Berry Livery & Boarding Stable
26. JE Freeman Blacksmith & Woodworking;Horseshoeing
27. GW Robinson Confectioneries, Tobacco, & Cigarettes;
28. JB Long Meat Market;
29. JF Reeves Grocery Store;
30. JF Farley & Sons Grocery & Shoe Store;
31.  RT Ratcliff Furniture Dealer; Caskets & Undertaking Goods
    
32. HC Wey Hardware Co.;
33. FS Labit & Son Livery; Rigs & Saddle Horses (The Red Barn)
    
34. Miss Alice Womack Eating House;
35. RE Dean & Son Glassware, Tinware, Etc.;
36. DC Buck, Physician, Medicine & Surgery
    
37. RH Hyde, Physician & Surgery
    
38. RE Wilson, Jeweler
39. Farmers Union Cotton Yard-J.B. Hager, Manager
40. Mail Hack, Wm. Mays, Manager ('leaves at 9am')
41. Frisco Train Station (plus station at Creta) Agent Todd
42. City Barber Shop, S. Johnson, Proprietor
43. Telephone Exchange
44. Eldorado Courier, James Kelly
45. U.S. Post Office
46. Beach Hotel
47. R.M. Thorp, Practical Optician
48. Baptist Church, Brother West
49. Cumberland Presbyterian Church
    

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Founder of the Eldorado Courier

   According to an article in the Eldorado Courier files by James Kelly (dated July 17, 1903): the paper was 'launched" by Dr. James Scarborough, "under the name of the Eldorado Light then was leased to J.A. Hearn who sold the paper to James Kelly who changed the name to the Courier in July, 1902.The paper office was housed in numerous locations, some of which were a storeroom in the Corner Drug Store, the rear of Wynne & Thorpe's Drug Store, and even on the first floor of the Masonic builing on Second Street, among other places. According to Mr. Kelly's article of 1903, he was excited to add a "12-18 Gordon jobber in place of a Washington hand press, and have otherwise added material to the plant since becoming owner." A change from 50 cents to $1.00 per year" was made to the subscription costs due to "the added amount of reading matter."  Some of his other additions were a large "22 1/2 inch paper cutter, paper folder, two job presses among other "features". Mr. Kelly later sold the paper to Stephen W. Johnson and Carl A. Hatch in 1909."

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 {Special to the Eldorado Light, Eldorado, Greer County, Oklahoma Territory, July 18, 1902: written by R.D.Barnes, Eldorado as taken from the Dallas News}

   "Eldorado is a progressive little village on the line of the new Oklahoma and Western Railway, in the southwest corner of Greer County, which now is attracting no little attention. The farmers are of a progressive turn of mind, who have braved the trials and hardships of a new frontier country and are now beginning to reap the benefits of their toil, in that their farms are in better state of cultivation than ever, and they have lived through years of adversity and trials and have now arrived at a point where they can realize the reward of their toil and struggles. The citizens of Eldorado are enterprising men whose interest are mutual in behalf of the village. For twelve years the name of Eldorado has existed as a mere post office, but now she has outgrown that and bids fair to be a town of importance, being situated so as to catch trade from all parts of the empire county of Greer, on account of her good roads leading to all parts of the county, thus saving the farmers the trouble of crossing the sand hills and Red River. The cattlemen have left the vicinity and given away to the turning plow, and the cotton king predominates over the hills and valleys that used to feed the cattle. Thus far we have not suffered for rain and the prospects for a crop are very promising." {July 18, 1902}

History of Our Telephone

The telephone came to Eldorado in 1902, when Duncan G. Smith organized the Quanah-Mangum Telephone Company and established a telephone exchange in Eldorado. The same company built Long Distance lines in 1902 and 1903 connecting Eldorado with Quanah, Duke, Mangum, Olustee, Hollis, and Altus. Early records say that the switchboard was located in a building erected by the telephone company "near the center of the business district." There is no record of how many telephones were served when the exchange opened for business. On June 25, 1910, the Quanah-Mangum Telephone Company was purchased by the Pioneer Telephone and Telegraph Company, predecessor in Oklahoma of Southwestern Bell. There were 136 subscribers at this time. The number of telephones in Eldorado grew over the years, and 222 phones were listed in 1928, the same year the phone office was moved to the corner of Main and Sixth Streets. Up to this time, telephone service in Eldorado was of the magneto (turn-the-crank-to-call-the-operator) type. In November, 1956, the dial system went into operation, serving 423 telephones.

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 "The Little Grave"

(as told by Wayne Lloyd Lane as told to him by his father Perry Lane)

   This story was well known by the elder Mr. Lane,who along with his own father were Eldorado farmers and retired railroad section foremen. It is a sad commentary on the hard life and times of Oklahoma Territorial pioneers. On the other hand, it illustrates the readiness of early day residents to share each others' troubles so that every man's burden was a little lighter.

   For many decades an infant who never really knew life has been the object of a unique Memorial Day observance near Eldorado. A white picket fence on the railroad right of way three miles west of town, surrounds a small plot where the tiny body of an infant was buried in 1906 and is often the subject of many stories--some more fable than fact,but all somber and sad.

    Perry Lane was a 14 year old youngster in the spring of 1906. His father, William L. Lane, was at that time a section foreman for a stretch of the Frisco railroad west of Eldorado. For that reason, the family lived in the section house in that area. Just north on a quarter section of rented land, a farmer name Vale was putting in his first crop. Mrs. Vale was expecting a child. Money was scarce for the Vales, medical care was limited, and many of today's immunizations were unheard of. Little could be done to protect Mrs. Vale against disease, so it was not too surprising that she contracted measles with the dreaded result pregnant women could expect!

   With no money for a casket, a cemetery lot or a funeral, Vale was in a difficult position when it came to burying this little child. It appeared his only choice was to inter the tiny body in an untilled spot on his rented farm. Perry Lane said his father suggested an alternative. Fearing that the grave on the farm would become lost in time, the elder Lane proposed that the child be buried near the railroad. With fences then on both sides of the right of way, he knew the grave would not be disturbed. And, because it was on his own section, he could assure the family that the grave would be cared for. Mr. Lane helped the Vales build a wooden coffin, which was buried without ceremony about 40 feet from the railroad.

   In time, the small gravesite attracted the attention of Frisco officials visiting the area, and after receiving the report from Mr. Lane, established a tradition of regular and official care for the little gravesite. They built a wooden fence around the grave and kept it white-washed for years. (Many years later the fence was replaced with a steel picket fence painted white.)

   Perry Lane eventually worked on the railroad from 1910 to 1929 and was the section foreman for the Frisco line between Eldorado and Red River, including the spot where the child's grave is located. His crew worked the plot regularly keeping it clear of weeds and maintaining the fence around it. Every Memorial Day the railroad supintendent in St. Louis, Mo. issued orders that the grave was to be decorated, and Perry Lane saw to it that the orders were carried out. In addition to the railroad's own wreaths, flowers have been left occasionally through the years by persons moved by the emotions only they knew. (Even today, 2004, school classes and other individuals make it a project to see that the tradition of "The Little Grave" is carried on without ceremonial pomp, but with community pride.)