I've never lived in Ada, but I spoke there a while back and researched their history for a musical.

One bit of advice--Don't mention the hanging. It's still a sore spot with the community. Possibly since descendants of the mob who hanged the individuals still live in Ada.

Late in the night on April 19, 1909 what is rumored to be 200 men entered the jail and took four inmates hostage. They took them to a stable where they were hung. (April 19 is the same day as the Oklahoma City Bombing and the Davidian raid in Waco btw)

Other rumors say it was an inside job. Possibly perpetrated by prominent members of the Ada community and there may have been only a few rather than 200, possibly Masons. There was little investigation and no one was ever prosecuted for the hanging.

Just be careful not to mention it especially to old timers. It's definitely a taboo subject.

smile

P.S. One of the men who got hung was an owner of Connors Corner. Another may have been the ancestor of a man charged in the murder of a youn woman in Ada who was one of the first people exonerated by DNA evidence.

[ June 07, 2006, 11:31 PM: Message edited by: smilinize ]