ALTUS -  The headline at right was torn from the Altus Times -Democrat in 1933 dealing with an intriguing saga that unfolded in Jackson County. “The Bank and the Bank Examiner: A Depression Era Tale of Murder and Mystery” presented by the Western Trail Historical Society will dramatize this story of lawlessness and law enforcement in southwest Oklahoma. This program will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 in the courtyard of the Museum of the Western Prairie.

The setting is March 1933. At that time the U.S. was in the depths of the Great Depression. In Oklahoma, the rural, agricultural communities were further burdened with the devastating effects of years of drought, crippling crop blight, and destructive soil erosion. Each day was a grim struggle for survival and a bitter battle to hold onto the farm. Franklin Roosevelt had just been inaugurated as President and he immediately declared a four-day Bank Holiday in order to prevent the collapse of the banking system. Hundreds of banks had gone under and thousands more stood on the brinks of ruin. He brought bankers and politicians together, demanding that they create sweeping bank reforms.

In Jackson County, five banks re-opened without restrictions. In contrast, the Headrick bank reopened on a 10% withdrawal basis. This was not good news for those depositors or the bank employees. And the story unfolds from this settingŠfeaturing a cast of local personalities portraying the historical characters that had prominent roles in this riveting event. Come to the Museum program to find out what happened next. The program is free and refreshments will be served.