JET, OKLAHIOMA

KIOWA, KANSAS TO JET, OKLAHOMA

As to biking, today was challenging.  First, I began sluggish; tired leg muscles that wanted to hit the snooze alarm and sleep.  I just couldn't get into a consistent pedaling rhythm.  But at least (to put a positive spin that I call, "optimistic pessimism"), the wind opposed every forward movement I attempted.  So, though sluggish muscles and contrary winds slowed me to 7 mph, at least the heat rose into the upper-90s.  (Again, optimistic pessimism:).  And there was evening and there was morning, a fatigued cyclist.  Following Morning Prayer with Dixie via phone, I was revived a bit and grabbed a crispy piece of chicken at Jet's only gas station and market under the same roof. 

Jet has an interesting story.  This town, if you count the stray dogs, crows, and humans,  comes to about 270 souls.  Clearly, Jet is a . . 

blip 

a blump 

a dot

and a bump.

People pass through this sparse Samaria on their way to the resort towns of Enid and Oklahoma City.  That's not a big inconvenience since you can get through Jet in about forty seconds.   A single motel still survives and even that is up for sale.  And in their tiny memorial park sits a real jet!  But as you will see, Jet, Oklahoma has nothing to do with aircraft, Benny and the Jets, or the Mets.  In fact, Jet is named after . . . 

Joseph

 Trigg

 Newt

 Warner

 John

 Richard

These were all brothers, all single, and all with the last name of Jett.  In 1894, the Jett boys decided to build themselves a town.  So they established homesteads adjoined to each other.  Then they started hammering and nailing.  First they built a general store so all the brothers could go and get stuff in the same place.  Richard Jett manned the store.  

Warner Jett became the postmaster in 1894 when the brothers hauled an existing post office all the way over from Barrel Springs.  Seems that every time they hammered and nailed a new building together, one of the brothers would become the official proprietor.  By 1901, the Jett boys' buildings had attracted enough of a crowd to become incorporated.  

Only problem was that in their exuberance to build their town, no one checked the map to find out where the railroad was also laying track.  Turns out that Jett, Oklahoma was smack in the middle of the railroad's plans.  So, the Denver, Enid, and Gulf Railroad Company moved the entire town two miles west of its original location!

Finally, by 1907, Jet was getting religion.  The town became a regular melting pot of Baptists, Mennonites, Methodists, and Presbyterians and they all had churches to go along with their differences of opinion.   In its heyday, Jet boasted seven general stores, two banks, two hotels, two grain elevators, and a school--thanks to the Jett boys' wives and the churches.  

So when you pass through Jett on your way to the more promising pastures of Enid and Oklahoma City, you can thank Joseph, Trigg, Newt, Warner, John, and Richard.  For through their vision, industriousness, and hammering and nailing, they left their modest legacy.   And while the masses think that Jet is named after it's brilliant, sleek jet that sits in the town park, you'll know the truth about Jet, Oklahoma.