Second Place - High School
Newcastle High School Art Students, Newcastle

Our Town: Newcastle, Oklahoma

This year's theme proved to be a special challenge for us. Unlike many communities, whether large or small, the scattered layout of our town - with its lack of a "town square" or any other significant historical architectural structures (largely, due to being "missed" by the railroad) - proved a difficult problem. How do we portray Newcastle visually? The first task we had was to trace our history.

We started by searching the Internet, going to several bookstores, and checking out our public library. We found an extremely limited number of references to Newcastle. Our next resource was the McClain County Historical Society and Museum in Purcell, Oklahoma. They provided us with some significant photos and information. We then pursued our venture within the community - and the project took off. We found that questioning one person quickly led to another person, then another, and another. The first lesson we learned was just how important (and helpful) the people of Newcastle are. Everyone we spoke with - such as Allen Davenport, Jim Gurley, George Talley, and Bob Yearley - just to name a few, went beyond the "call of duty" in sharing photos, information, and even driving us to various sites within the community that held historical significance. After gathering all the information, we again had to decide how to portray it pictorially.

Historically, the area was part of the Indian Territory and not a part of the "Land Run." Eventually, the residents, who were primarily of the Chickasaw lineage, grew weary of having to travel twenty miles or more to receive their mail, so a post office was established on March 6, 1894 - naming "Newcastle," after an existing town in Texas. Just after 1900, a law was passed allowing non-Indians to settle in the region. In essence, the community developed because people had settled in the area. Schools developed next. In time, several oneroom schoolhouses consolidated into one Newcastle school system. The town's government came much later - actually not becoming incorporated until 1965.

Much of Newcastle's growth and development was made possible by the building of the bridge over the South Canadian River. The bridge eliminated the problem of fording the river or trying to use an unreliable ferry in order to reach Oklahoma City and other areas to the north. Businesses followed the bridge, highways developed, and the community became a town. Although we have many Newcastle residents who live and work in town, Newcastle is considered a bedroom community by many - providing a nice, small town, rural atmosphere in which to live, but with quick, easy access to the metropolitan area.

In developing our collage, we placed the first official map of the area as part of our background. Next, we positioned people - both past and present - within the framework of the prominently positioned bridge - signifying the importance of the people, but also that of the bridge in the development of our town. A typed history of the area was used to cover the framework of the bridge - further illustrating the fact that although Newcastle was built in sections over time, it came together as a town with much pride and strength. Over the years, Newcastle overcame even the worst of adversities - such as the tornadoes that have ravaged the area - including the historic May 3, 1999 storm. The "roadway timeline," setting above the greenery of the farmland, and its scattering of homes, schools, businesses, and churches - both old and new, includes our course of development. Combined, we have proudly represented Our Town: Newcastle, Oklahoma - Where We Live, Learn, Work, Pray and Play.