Diane shared a story of lore about a family who helped a neighbor during extreme weather. The neighbors did not have electricity, so the across-the-street neighbor stretched an extension cord across Main Street to run either a fan or a heater (the details are sketchy) to help the family with a newborn be a little more comfortable.
It was on the stretch of Main Street that today is dotted with some dilapidated structures along with homes, businesses, and a church. Some of the long-abandoned houses, so far gone in disrepair, have been razed to make way for the future.
While the story from the past might be frowned upon today by those concerned with safety and codes, the gesture transcends time and affirms that we need our neighbors. We look out for each other.
Diane’s story came during an exciting part of the Luther Historical Society’s January meeting. After the business part, where minutes were approved, and plans discussed (see below), Historian Chris Ivich shared a few slides of images from the past. Old Main Street. A dugout in the country. An early homestead. A railroad bridge dated 1909. Each image represented a glimpse of Luther’s history, begging for the narrative to go with it.
A memento from Morgan & Hayes 
Luther became a town in 1898. 
The intersection of Main and First was part of the Ozark Trail, the precursor to Route 66.nd 
Downtown in the 1970s 
The train depot made Luther a busting town. 
Engels Store now houses Rustic Farm, a wonderful store on Main. 
An early auto store. 
A bank, a post office, churches, and the schools helped build the community. 
Cotton harvest near the Deep Fork River. 
Booker T Washington school was known as a top educational institution that thrived until desegregation. 
Early Luther, OK
These presentations at most meetings evoke a mixture of our own remembrances and an intense urgency to record the past for the future before it’s too late.
Sharing our collected past — the stories of the first families, the hardscrabble work of farming, horse-drawn wagons loaded with cotton headed for the gin, train stops, and the bustle of a vibrant downtown that had saloons and churches, general stores, and barbers, a blacksmith and more — are worthy of remembering. Recording and honoring Luther’s history is part of the mission of the Luther Historial Society along with planning for the future that celebrates the past. The group meets the first Monday of each month, and between each meeting, volunteers research and write grants, collect memorabilia, and work on the goals and objectives of the organization.
The Plaza
The biggest and most exciting plan is the Plaza Project to honor Luther’s veterans and provide a community space. The site is on Main Street. Long-time residents will remember the space as the site of the former Morgan & Hayes store that tragically burned in the early 1970s. In its day, the store met the needs of the community with general merchandise, a feed store, a meeting place, and more, including a talking parrot! Today, thanks to the family’s donation of the land to the historical society, the site houses a small Veterans Memorial, located between Allan Booher’s CPA office and the Masonic Lodge building on the west side of Main Street. Luther history and veteran champion Dolph Grolock who died in 2024 planned to build a museum there and faithfully displayed flags around the cinder block structure on holidays like Memorial Day and Veterans Day. As long as we was able, Grolock cared for the irises that lined the walkway to the structure that houses lists of Luther veterans and other memorabilia. Dolph and Luther-area veterans will be honored and pleased with the new plan for the space.
A monument honoring veterans, picnic areas, a stage, shade trees, and tranquil spaces are the highlights of the future project.
You might be asking, how is this going to be funded? There’s a granite and engraved monument. An incredible plan that was designed, free of charge by a local architect, ground leveling, walkways, landscaping, and trees. There’s a plan for a stage and vendor tents, and charming areas for local families and Route 66 visitors to vibe out. It’s a big city plan for our little place on the map, developed by a passionate and dedicated group. Therefore, the Luther Historical Society needs funds to make it happen. Businesses, veterans, and residents should join the effort. Ways that we can help include involvement with the organization. At annual dues of just $15 a year, membership is affordable for most. There are various fundraising efforts in the works, and there’s always another grant application to complete.
Whether you support the Plaza project with a small or large donation, participate in the historical society, attend an event, or help spread the word, there is an opportunity for everyone to be involved.
Ways to donate to the nonprofit Luther Historical Society:
- VENMO
- CASH APP
- CHECK BY MAIL: Luther Historical Society, Box 601, Luther, OK 73054
- Donate at BancFIrst under Luther Historical Society
- For questions, email lutherhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.
- Come to the next Luther Historical Society meeting, Feb. 3, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. at 108 S. Main.
- Follow the Luther Historical Society on Facebook.
Keep watching for more information and consider getting involved. Your efforts will last for generations.
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