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"Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer" Grandpa and Grandma John Reuben and Emma Daly Caywood had two spring fed ponds on their School Lease farm in the far northern part of Grant County OK. The mouth of the main spring came from the far west end of the main pond. Grandpa and some of his sons dug into the spring on the hill and found the main stream. They placed a drain pipe into the mouth of the spring and covered that with rock and sand. It kept one pond filled and partially filled an overflow pond that was just a few feet lower to the east. Two other springs that were not so active were on the North and Southwest ends. A dam separated the two ponds. This place was a well known swimming place in the 1820's and into the 1930's. It was known as the "Caywood Swimming Hole". The ponds set way back off a main highway to the far north side of the farm. They were nestled in the trees that were mostly planted by son Charley Caywood. Grandpa and grandma could not charge for swimming, but could charge for rental swim suits. There was a dressing tent on each side of the pond. One for men and another for women. In the summer time when it was warm, hoards of people flocked to the Caywood Swimming Hole for an afternoon of entertainment. Mostly on Sundays. The Caywoods had a high diving board for the divers. They also had a small canoe type boat for entertainment and fishing. I can visualize a courting couple on that pond with the beau in a white shirt and straw hat paddling the canoe while the lady sat at the other end with an umbrella shading her face, although most of the pond was shaded by huge trees, mostly Elm, Locust, Cottonwood and Silver Maple. It was in such a peaceful atmosphere and serene setting. The Caywood's had gas pumps put in and sold gas to the customers.They made and sold home-made ice cream and sold fresh garden produce on the side. This supplemented their meager income. My dad said one lady lost a huge diamond ring in the pond and several other lost things as well. I had hoped when we dredged the pond in the 1960's it might show up.. Wayne and I bought the rights to this place in 1951. It was called school land and was set aside to rent for Grant Co Schools income. Grandpa traded his farm near Gibbon, OK that he staked in the great Oklahoma Land Run for this land in 1905. Grandpa loved water and this place was ideal to him, so the trade was made. Wayne and I had it for 32 years. It was in our Caywood family for 79 years. The lease went up for sale in 1984 and Wayne said it was not worth what the bid went for. I cried like a baby when it left the family. It was stocked with fish and such a great hideaway for that. We took our kids there for fishing and picnics. Our main problem it was 17 miles from here and a trip there weekly was a handicap to check cattle. I drive by there often and still have a sad feeling that it is not ours anymore. Mama and daddy lived on the east quarter of the farm where I was raised. We three kids spent many days at our grandparents home each summers. Many of my precious memories revolve around this beautiful Caywood Farm. 8-2000
"Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer"
Grandpa and Grandma John Reuben and Emma Daly Caywood had two spring fed ponds on their School Lease farm in the far northern part of Grant County OK. The mouth of the main spring came from the far west end of the main pond.
Grandpa and some of his sons dug into the spring on the hill and found the main stream. They placed a drain pipe into the mouth of the spring and covered that with rock and sand. It kept one pond filled and partially filled an overflow pond that was just a few feet lower to the east. Two other springs that were not so active were on the North and Southwest ends. A dam separated the two ponds.
This place was a well known swimming place in the 1820's and into the 1930's. It was known as the "Caywood Swimming Hole".
The ponds set way back off a main highway to the far north side of the farm. They were nestled in the trees that were mostly planted by son Charley Caywood. Grandpa and grandma could not charge for swimming, but could charge for rental swim suits. There was a dressing tent on each side of the pond. One for men and another for women.
In the summer time when it was warm, hoards of people flocked to the Caywood Swimming Hole for an afternoon of entertainment. Mostly on Sundays.
The Caywoods had a high diving board for the divers. They also had a small canoe type boat for entertainment and fishing.
I can visualize a courting couple on that pond with the beau in a white shirt and straw hat paddling the canoe while the lady sat at the other end with an umbrella shading her face, although most of the pond was shaded by huge trees, mostly Elm, Locust, Cottonwood and Silver Maple. It was in such a peaceful atmosphere and serene setting.
The Caywood's had gas pumps put in and sold gas to the customers.They made and sold home-made ice cream and sold fresh garden produce on the side. This supplemented their meager income.
My dad said one lady lost a huge diamond ring in the pond and several other lost things as well. I had hoped when we dredged the pond in the 1960's it might show up.. Wayne and I bought the rights to this place in 1951.
It was called school land and was set aside to rent for Grant Co Schools income. Grandpa traded his farm near Gibbon, OK that he staked in the great Oklahoma Land Run for this land in 1905. Grandpa loved water and this place was ideal to him, so the trade was made.
Wayne and I had it for 32 years. It was in our Caywood family for 79 years. The lease went up for sale in 1984 and Wayne said it was not worth what the bid went for.
I cried like a baby when it left the family. It was stocked with fish and such a great hideaway for that. We took our kids there for fishing and picnics.
Our main problem it was 17 miles from here and a trip there weekly was a handicap to check cattle.
I drive by there often and still have a sad feeling that it is not ours anymore. Mama and daddy lived on the east quarter of the farm where I was raised.
We three kids spent many days at our grandparents home each summers.
Many of my precious memories revolve around this beautiful Caywood Farm.
8-2000
