The Rocky Weekly Advance (Rocky, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 1, 1906 Page: 3 of 10
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Countess Castellane Must Give Up
Millions to Retain Her Children
Has Choice of Paying Count's Debts or Allowing
Him to Keep the Boys—Tragic Ending of
Sordid International Marriage
Paris.—Anna Gould, the countess of
Castellane, probably will pay $5,000,-
000 for her three sons.
Count Coni de Castellane, father
of the children, demands possession
of the children and gives the daughter
of the first great American million-
aire her choice between paying his
debts and giving up her children. Un-
less she pays the debts the French
court probably will hold that she cun-
not take them from France without
the consent of the spendthrift noble-
man who, since March 4, 1895, when
he married her, has squandered over
$9,000,000 of Jay Gould’s fortune and
now seeks to make it $14,000,000 be-
fore he will release her.
That the Goulds will pay the $5,000,-
000, settle the debts of Bonl de Cas-
tellane, even those of the usurers who
have preyed off him for years, is be-
lieved by their friends and by coun-
sel in the case. If the Goulds remain
firm, Count lloni will ask the court to
forbid the mother to take her children
beyond the jurisdiction of the French
courts. He will plead that if the chil-
dren are given into the custody of the
mother they may be taken beyond the
reach of the courts, and if the court
upholds his contention, as the law-
yers believe it will, the count may
win.
The children for whom the countess
may pay $1,666,666 each are:
lloni de Castellane, aged ten years.
George Gould de Castellane, aged
nine.
Jay de Castellane, aged four years
and six months.
Perhaps every mother in the world
has said she would not take a million
dollars for her baby, and now the
American girl who became the best
known, If not the most famous, noble-
woman in Europe through the lavish
misuse of money, has the opportunity
of buying her children at a price little
in excess of what she paid, only a few
years ago, for a bed.
If the final payment of $3,000,000 is
made, Anna Gould will have paid $2,-
•189.19 a day for her husband and her
title—and her children—which even
now she may lose.
Children May Prefer Father.
The attitude of the children them-
selves toward the warring parents is
rather inclined toward the father.
They are more French than American,
having been raised in France and In
such .luxury and oxtravaganve that
they scarcely know the meaning of
money, the thing that lias caused all
—or almost all—the woes "of the
American girl who allied her millions
to a doubtful French title.
Their loyalty to their mother is un-
doubted, but between America and
France they ehoose France, because
the older ones have been trained in
French schools, and, deeper than that,
because they have been reared in the
religion of their father. If the choice
lies with them It will be France and
the Homan Catholic church on one
side, and the love of their mother—
and money—on the other. The coun-
tess herself hus become almost
French.
The $5,000,000 children are hnnd-
some and clever youngsters, and the
youngest, who bears the name of the
great and pirattcnl pioneer million-
aire, is declared to be the handsom-
est child in Paris. His portrait has
been painted by the most famous art-
ists of France, and as a baby his beau-
ty attracted attention everywhere.
The physical perfection of the chil-
dren is marveled at by sociologists
bocause the mother is undersized, sal-
low and irregular of feature, while tho
father is small, cfTeminate, and yet
handsome in his way. Ho might be
called pretty rather than handHotne.
It Isn’t the Anna Gould of 11 yeurs
ago who Is lighting for freedom and
ibe«- children nnd willing, perhaps, to
limy the remainder of her magnificent
tfopt.uqs for the privilege of returning
hr Amorim with her children. It is
uc* tho Countess de Castellane, leader
oC tho royalists in Paris, the proud-
est of tho proudest society set in the
w-orld. It is the mother of three man-
ly boys. She is older, sadder, and
wiser—as well as poorer.
Story la Tragic.
The story best can be told by years;
tho story of the little girl overbur-
dened with the wealth that Jay Gould
had won by fair and foul means in
the railroad world and the stock job-
bing market, who married a French
near-nobleman, noble in name and ig-
noble in almost everything else ex-
cept his ability to fight with others
of his type.
On March 4, 1895, Bonl de Castel-
lane, alleged nobleman of France, mar-
ried Anna Gould. She had met the
pink and white, dapper Frenchman by
special arrangement of his own—of
which Bhe knew nothing—and perhaps
she had loved him, in a way. Perhaps
she dreamed he was her Prince
Charming. The Frenchman came to
America. He lived in a back room
over a dressmaker's establishment.
He had come to America to marry
mpney. He said it himself. And be-
fore he married he asked for a mar-
riage portion of $5,000,000 and got $3,-
000,000. He hadn't even met Miss
Gould when he privately announced
that he would marry her. He had lit-
tle money, but he was determined to
wed. He went to a hotelkeeper and
explained. Then he moved to one of
the greatest hotels in the world and
gave a little dinner, and a “friend”
asked Miss Gould to attend. Within
a month the wedding was arranged. A
month later the engagement was an-
nounced. The day of the announce-
ment Castellane moved to the Wal-
dorf-Astoria and began buying on
credit.
The day after the wedding the bills
began to pour in. v
They went to Paris and Bonl de
Castellane began spending Jay Gould's
millions. His first great exploit was
ft
m
THE 'pREffiEE SpENDTHBITT
the purchase of a site in the famous
Avenue Malakoff and to order work-
men to reproduce Le Petite Trainon,
the retreat of Louis XIV., home of
the famous Mme. de Malntenon, to
copy the most infamous, licentious
court of history. Millions poured into
the building. One bed alone coBt al-
most a million dollars. Art treasures
were purchased.
One fete given by Boni de Castel-
lane swept away a ninth of the yearly
income of his wife, which was $900,000.
- Millions were spent before they
were earned. The girl with an income
of nearly a million dollars a year was
in debt.
Finds Comfort In Baby.
The countess was not happy—but
then Bonl was born and came to com-
fort her. Her husband continued his
wild extravagances until even Paris
marveled. Millions seemed to have
turned his head. The nursery for his
heir in Petit Trianon was furnished
at the expense of more than the ordi-
nary man makes in a lifetime.
In June of 1897 the Income for the
year was spent. Bonl still was buy-
ing. He bought from Asher Wertheim,
of London, curios for which he could
not pay. This bill later proved one of
the direct means of his downfai..
Among other things that he wanted
was an Italian palace. He bought one
at Verona at a stupendous price. In
it were 11 ceilings by Tiepolo, and
the count wanted them transferred to
Paris. It was done and then—they
were sold at enormous loss.
The year 1898 was marked by Cas-
tellano's duel with Henri Turot and
his blackballing In the Jockey club.
But stilt, with her two sons, the lit-
tle countess was busy and found
Bolace In them, even when the ex-
travagances of her husband and his
wild actions caused doubt as to his
sunlty. His eccentricities and his half
insane desire for notoriety amazed
even Paris. He planned a riot direct-
ed against the president of France at
the races at Auteuil, and he and his
wife were among the chief actors in
the comedy-drama which cost them a
fortune.
Bonl was becoming ridiculous. Ho
proved himself skillful at fencing,
wounding one adversary. Even his
title was attacked; he was ridiculed
openly in the chamber of deputies, and
at the end of the year, when he came
to the United States to get more
money, he was charged with fleeing
from creditors.
The countess came with him, bring-
ing her two sons, the only solace she
had, and they had an argument on
the ship—neither of them knowing
the American flag when they saw it.
Millions to Save Name.
In 1900 financial troubles were at a
climax. Castellane had openly slurred
the Goulds, especially Helen Gould.
His family openly charged that Anna
Gould was “bourgeoise.” Boni was as
reckless as ever. Petit Trianon was
incomplete. Boni came to America
again to get money and failed. The
countess’ chateau at Duraarais was
ordered sold for debt and only an ap-
peal to her family saved it. Trades-
men openly insulted the Castellanes
and dunned them in public. George
and Edwin Gould gave $1,000,000 to
save the family pride. Boni had spent
$3,000,000, besides his wife’s income,
and owed over $4,000,000.
In 1901 the courts took a hand to
save the fortune of the little Ameri-
can. A receiver was appointed in the
person of her brother Oeorge. The
family paid $4,700 000 of Boni’s debts
and held the countess’ fortune to pro-
tect her and themselves. By order of
the court the income of tho Castel-
lanes was reduced from $900,000 to
$200,000, but they fought in court and
got the entire income.
In that year Boni fought Henri de
Roday and shot him in the leg. Also
he gave a boar hunt that cost $100,000
for the Grand Duke Boris. He enter-
tained the king of Portugal.
Early in 1903, when Jay, the young-
est baby, was a few months old, the
countess suddenly left the count. It
was reported that they were es-
tranged, but Boni came to America
and denied this report. Also he was
charged with refusing to pay debts of
honor.
Debts were piling up again and the
Goulds were stubborn, refusing to
hand out more millions to be thrown
away.
With her three children to comfort
her and keep her busy, the countess
did not care. But in 1904 the real
trouble began, the trouble that changed
the countess and made her a woman
and a mother, instead of the reckless
follower of a more reckless husband
Bonl Unfaithful.
Boni set up a bachelor establish-
ment and the countess began to hear
of “ces dames” the count entertained,
actresses, models, mldlnettes — the
women he could not invite to his
home. The countess could do nothing.
Paris would laugh if she paid any at-
tention to them. They were beneath
her. But at last the American woman
was cropping out. Her renewed devo-
tion to the children and her more
"Ces
impressive appearance revealed a
change.
Still the money went furiously. The
king of Portugal was their guest and
nearly a quarter of a million dollars
was spent on him during his visit.
The countess had stood much. But
finally, in 1905, the break came. “Ces
dames” were one thing—but a woman
of her own class was another. The
name of the Duchess d’Uzes was cou-
pled with that of Castellane. Tho
duchess, In her way, Is as eccentric
as Castellane. The countess Buffered
In silence no longer. She separated
from her husband and then brought
suit for divorce.
The suit was the signal for the cred-
itors to pounce down upon Boni. In
France the wife is responsible for
certain debts jointly with her husband
and the creditors feared the Gould
millions would escape. The Goulds,
having lavished nearly $10,000,000 on
the count, refused to pay more. Boni,
the man who had refused to pay debts
of honor, calmly offered to mako
terms.
And now—unless the creditors are
satisfied, he will use the children bb
his last weapon and force a settle-
msut
If BALAAM’S f
| BLESSING |
•{• NINETEENTH In Cloud and Pillar Series X
l — X
•> A mok oi mi Wtl Dl RNISS .101 KM > 01 A
•{• IHI HI UK! H worn
,J. By the‘‘Highway and Byway" Preacher V
*•* •{»
(Copyright, 1*16, by the author. W. S. K.U011.)
Scripture Authority—Numbers 22,
23 and 24; especially 22:6; 25:18,
and 31:8.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
SERMONETTE. 0
Balaam is one of the strange,
inconsistent characters we find
in the Bible. Although not a
Hebrew, but a dweller among
the heathen, yet in some way
which Scripture does not reveal
he was possessed of a certain
knowledge of the one true God.
The most important question
which arises in connection with
Balaam is: Did he live up to
the light that he had7 By this
question we may measure the
man, and perhaps discover why
he presents so weak, so miser-
able a picture and plunges at
last upon the very swords of the
people of the God In whom he
believed.
There is no evidence to show
that Balaam, enlightened with a
knowledge of the true God,
sought to let the light shine and
win the people among whom he
dwelt from their heathenism. In
fact, we find to the contrary,
for It is certain that he debased
his knowledge of the true God,
and his brilliant attainments,
trafficking in them for the gold
and favor of kings.
How deplorable is the condi-
tion of the soul that lives not up
to the privilege of its light, that
reduces everything to the cur-
rency of this world, and is con-
tent to dwell on the low plane
of the merely sensual and tem-
poral.
Balaam knew the true God,
but there were some things he
cared more for than the true
God. How true this is of multi-
tudes in the world to-day. They
have knowledge of the true God,
and yet they prefer to dwell
apart from God’s people, they
covet the things of the world
and gladly receive the homage
and tribute of the people of the
world.
It was Balaam’s willfulness
and not God's graciousness
which at last wrung the permis-
sion to go with Balak’s messen-
gers. And Balaam is not the
last person whose willful, per-
verse heart has overriden the
expressed will of God.
Balaam could hobnob with
kings who were plotting the
downfall of God’s people, but he
could not alter the Divine pur-
poses concerning them. How
limited after all are the powers
of evil.
A consecrated heart never
goes with an itching palm.
It is possible for one to see
with the clearness of an angel
of light, and live like a creature
of darkness. I<
To know God and to live God
are two different propositions.
The one is like the electrical
apparatus all equipped for use,
the other is the apparatus with
the current turned on perform-
ing its functions.
High and holy gifts may be
prostituted to bate uses.
It is a poor testimonial to a
man’s religion when he can live
in a community without making
it better.
00000000000000000000000000
THE STORY.
QALAK, king of the Moabites, was
D In sore trouble. For days and
nights now he had neither eaten nor
slept, for not one but scores of mes-
sengers had come In haste to his pal-
ace during the past month with alarm-
ing stories of a strange and terrible
people who had come out of Egypt
and were sweeping thq inhabitants of
tho land before them.
At first he had received the reports
with disdain, declaring that the
mighty men of Moab were able to
withstand such enemies, but as the
reports grew more alarming and he
hud been Informed fully as to the
fearful destruction of the Amorites. a
fierce and powerful people to tho
south of hla domain, his confidence
hud quite deserted him. In his anx-
iety ho had gone out to one of the
high mountains overlooking the place
where Israel lay encamped, and as his
eyes took in the great stretch of tents
und noted the military precision and
order with which the camp was laid
out, he found little to reassure him.
"That is their tabernacle,” replied
an attendant in response to his query
as he pointed to the square-shaped
lent in the center of tho cump. “And
It Is there their God is suld to have
ills dwelling place, and that cloud
which you bpo hovering above tho
tubernacle 1b the visible presence of
their God. The people through whose
country they have passed told me that
it Ib this cloud which has led them all
1 ho way from Egypt, and hus given
them victory over their enemies.”
"How strange and mysterious it
seems,” responded the king, ax a
superstitious shiver paused over hint.
’It looks ulmost like a tiling of life
uh it swnys thero above the taber-
nacle.”
Fascinated, Boemingly, by the sight,
the king long stood there watching.
The suu sank to rest and the darkness
settled down In the valley and then
J crept up the mountain towards where
they stood.
"See!" he cried, excitedly, “it glows
j now as though the great sun has gone
to rest in its bosom. Surely we can-
| not hope to prevail against a people
| whose God visits them In such might
and power. What shall we do? What
shall we do?"
And the king in his distress and
fear wrung his hands, and paced up
and down, the while keeping ills eyes
upon the gleaming pillar In the dis-
ance. It was the only thing now vis-
ible in the valley below, save the faint
outlines of the tubernacle which stood
out under the light of the pillar of
fire. Tho long lines of tents stretch-
ing away in every direction from the
tabernacle hud faded from view, but
that steady, awful, mysterious glow
stood out sharply and filled his heart
with unspeakable fear, it seemed to
hint like a great winged monster that
was bearing down upon him to seize
him in its tulnns and tea- his body in
pieces and devour his flesh, and he
shrank hack and stumbled and would
have fallen had not tho attendant
caught him.
“What strange, terrible God Is this?
Who is there who knows of this God?
Who is there who can help us?” he
cried.
"There is a man in Petlior, Balaam,
the son of Ileor, whom I have heard
tell lias been greatly gifted of the
gods and there Is no gods with whom
ho Is not familiar, and I doubt not
that, he would know of tills God of tho
Hebrews."
“Balaam of Petlior?" slowly repeat-
ed tlie king, “is not he the one to
whom the nations about go in time of
trouble? Is he not. the orucle who has
foretold tho fall of numerous cities of
the land?”
"The very one," replied the attend-
ant.
"Go and fetch him,” commanded the
king as he hastened down the moun-
tain path and returned to ills palace.
Now Balaam, although a prophet
and priest among the Midiunites, had
a knowledge of the true God and
feared Him. On more than one occa-
sion had the true God of Heaven given
him visions of the events which were
to come to puss, and his fame as a
prophet had spread through all that
country.
When the messengers had cotne to
him from the king of the Moabites,
saying: “Come, curse this people, for
they are too mighty for me: perad-
venture I shall prevail, that we may
smite them, and that I may drive
them out of the land, for I wot that
he whom thou blossest Is blessed, and
he whom thou cursest Is cursed," he
was filled with an eager desire to go
with them that he might receive their
rich gifts, but he dare not for of long
time he had heard that this people
which had come out of Egypt were
God’s chosen people and under His
special care. For this reason he asked
that the messengers tarry the night
while he Bliould obtain word of the
Lord concerning the matter.
With heavy heart he saw the mes-
sengers depart after he had told them
that he could not go. But when a few
days later there catne a more noble
delegation from Balak beseeching him
lo go with them, he willfully sought
the face of the Lord again and ob-
tained from him the permission he
sought.
Two days later he stood upon the
high place where Baal, the god of the
Moabites, was worshiped. The seven
altars have been built and Balak is
standing by the smoking sacrifices,
while Balaam has gone yonder to hear
what God might say to him.
Within his heart was the burning
desire to say all that the king desired
of him, for he bore no love for Israel,
but he knew that mere words could
not accomplish Israel's ruin and that
if God had spftken blessing, it were
folly for him to speak curses.
Day after day the efTort of King
Balak to wring from Balaam a curse
upon Israel continued, and always fail-
ure and disappointment, and at last
in disgust and anger, he sent Balaam
back to Pethor empty handed and in
disgrace.
Then it was that Balaam, troubled
and dissatisfied, sought to counsel the
kings to make friends with Israel
i-ather than to seek to fight them.
“Let the moBt beautiful of our women
he given unto them that they may In-
tice them and draw them away," he
said.
This advice seemed good, and during
the weeks wnich followed Israelites
and Moabites and Midlanites mingled
freely, a thing which so displeased
Moses and the elders that It was not
long ere Moses had to resort to the
most severe measures. This culmin-
ated in tho plague whose awful rav-
ages In the ranks of Israel were only
stayed when Plilnens had destroyed a
Mldlanitlsli princess and the wicked
lsraellso who had brought her Into
his tent.
Should Mtdlan let such affront go
unchallenged? Balaam still counselled
peace.
“Nay, we shall light, and thou shall
fight with us," vowed the king, when
rumors came that Israel was prepar-
ing to go out againRt them. “We shall
see how thy blessing shall prosper.
Curso Israel and thou shall remain
In safety at home.”
“But how can I speak curses when
God has spoken only goodness con-
cerning Israel?’’ poor Balaam protest-
ed. us ho went with them to the field
of battle.
Then camo tho Israelites and they
waned against the Mldiunltes and
lhey slew all the mules, and they Rlew
the kings of Midtan. beside the rest
of them that were slain; namely, Evl,
and Rekem, and Zur, and llur, and
Reba, five kings of Mldlnn. And
Balaam, also, iho son of Boor, they
slow with the Hword
THE LORD’S
SUPPER
Sunday School Lesson tor Nor. 4,1906
Spec.al.r Prepared for This Paper.
LESSON TEXT. —Matt. 26:17-30. Mem-
ory verses, 26 amt 27.
GOLDEN TEXT.—"This do in remem-
brance of me."—I Cor. 11:24.
TIME.-Thursday evening, April 6. A.
D. 30. Five days after our last lesson,
and two days after the previous lessons
of (Ids quarter.
PLACE.—An upper room in Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
Y. 17. “First day of . . . un
leavened bread.” The feast of un-
leavened bread, lasting for seven days,
began immediately after the Feast of
the Passover, which was celebrated
one day. During these eight days the
only bread eaten by Jews was that
which was made without the use of
yeast (leaven).
V. 18. "To such a man.” The orig-
inal word indicates that the speaker
knew. "The Master saith.” The man
was a disciple of Jesus. “My time is
at hand.” "The time for the culmina-
tion of my sufferings on earth.”
V. 19. “Disciples." Peter and John.
“As Jesus had appointed them.” They
went to the elty, recognized the man
by his carrying a pitcher of water
(Mark), nnd followed him homo,
where they were shown to ills guest-
chamber, an upper room furnished
with table, couches and cushions, pre-
pared by ceremonial cleansing for tho
celebration of the sacred feast
“Made ready the passover.” Between
three and five o’clock they took the
lamb to the temple, where it was
slain In tho presence of n priest.
V. 20. “When the even was come.”
Before sunset, which at that time of
the year would occur about six
o'clock. "Sat down.” Reclined on
couches, according to the custom
which Jews had copied from the
Romans.
V. 21. “As they did oat." During the •
eating of the Paschal feast. “Verily.’’
What he is about to say is of Im-
portance. “One of you shall betray
me." These were the words of Jesus,
who was sorely "troubled in spirit.”
V. 22. “Exceeding sorrowful.” The
disciples’ sorrow was twofold. Their
Master was to be betrayed to the ene-
mies who sought his life, and one of
ihelr number was the traitor. “Is it
If" How much better this question
than “Is it he?”
V. 23. “Ho that dippeth . . .
shall betray me.” This did not point
out tho traitor, Blnce all dipped.Into
the same dish, but it emphasized the
fact, so terrible to the mind of an
oriental, that the betrayal would be
especially heinous because it was the
act of one who had eaten with him
whom he betrayed.
V. 24. “Goeth . . . as it is writ-
ten.” That Christ would give htB life
for men was predetermined by the
counsel of God (Acts 2:23). It had
been prophesied by Old Testament
writers (Ps. 22; Isa. 53), but that did
not lessen the guilt of the free agents
who helrayed and orifclfled him. A
proverbial expression pointing to a
most terrible destiny.
V. 25. “Judas answered.” Judas
was moved to repeat the question
which the others had Just asked; “Is
it I?” "Thou hast said.” The com-
mon formula of assent, equivalent to
"You have stated tho truth.”
V. 26. "As they were eating.” The
Passover Feast usually continued for
several hours. There was time for
free conversation. “Jesus took bread.”
“Blessed it.” He asked God’s bless-
ing upon it, or, according to Luke,
gave thanks. “This is my body.” This
represents my body.
V. 27. “The cup.” Tho third or
fourth cup of the Passover service.
“Gave thanks." From this the name
Eucharist, meaning thanksgiving. Is
applied to the sacrament. "Drink ye
all of It.' Jesus wishes all those who
love him to partake of this sacrament
and participate in the blessing it sym-
bolizes.
V. 28. “This is my blood.” Let this
represent my blood. "For many." For
all who will accept him as their
Saviour. "For the remission of sins.”
One who truly takes Jesus to his heart
Is delivered from the power of sin;
his life Is made clean and pure.
V. 29. “Not drink henceforth.” This
was his last meal with his disciples
before he was crucified. “Drink It
new.” Will drink with you a new
kind of wine, at a new kind of supper
—even the marriage supper of the
Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9).
V. 30. “Sung a hymn.” DoubtlesB
they chanted together the concluding
portion of the Halle] (Ps. 118).
Practical Point*.
V. 17. The leaven of sin must be
cast from tho human heart in order
that the soul may keep the feast of
God.—l Cor. 5:7, 8.
V. IS. Let us rejoice to yield all we
have and are to the service of Jesus.
—Rom. 12:1.
V. 3d. Jesus Is dally wounded by his
professed friends.—Zeeh. 13:6; Heb.
6:6.
■V. 22. Self-distrust Ih becoming to
the best of men, since only God’s
grace keeps him from foulest sin.—
Ps. 139:23.
V. 23. In the eyes of God and men
treachery is oho of the blackest sins
—Ps. 41:9.
V. 26. The common things of dally
life are used to teach us qf Christ, so1
that wo may be constantly reminded
of him.—John 6:48; 7:37; 8:12.
Uninteresting.
“You say it was not an Interesting
oration?”
"Not vory Interesting. The crowd
was so orderly and did so very little
cheering that you could bear every
word of tho speech."
..... 1-------«■
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The Rocky Weekly Advance (Rocky, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 1, 1906, newspaper, November 1, 1906; Rocky, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc936717/m1/3/: accessed April 16, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.