Grand Lake Attractions You Got To See...
Spooklight -
Coleman Theatre -
Cayuga Mission -
MICKEY MANTLE MEMORIAL -
Har-Ber Village -
Lendonwood Gardens -
Pensacola Dam -
Pelicans
A Turn Of The Century Re-Creation... One of the most unique museums in the United States, Har-Ber Village has grown into one of the major tourist attractions in Oklahoma. Attracting visitors from all over the United States and many foreign countries. An educational experience for both young and old, Harvey and Bernice Jones purchased the land where Har-Ber Village is located back in, shortly after Grand Lake was
created. The Jones's owned Jones Truck lines in Springdale, Arkansas.
At the origin of the museum the Jone's first display was the 'Little Church', built from bricks that came from the Van Winkle house at War Eagle, Arkansas.
Lumber used through out the Village in the log cabins came from Van Winkle's. The beautiful stained glass was added to the windows and the pulpit in the church came from the Zion Methodist Church and dates back to the year 1850.
In the early
years no advertising was put out about the Village, it was
strictly word of mouth by Grand Lake visitor's that had stopped to see it. That was when you could only get to it by water.
After the Church, they then built the log house, the school, and the store. Harvey loved garage sales and auctions, he and Bernice started buying antiques to
furnish the buildings. In fact the collection is one of the best in the United States, and are assembled in such a way that your viewing is educational as well as enjoyable.
In 1973, during the month of May dedication ceremonies were held and Governor David Hall along
with many other dignitaries and local officials were on hand to celebrate.
Har-Ber Village has steadily grown since its beginning with over 60 structures and 100 displays, containing thousands and thousands of things to see. Everything
form dishes, furniture, musical instruments, popes, glassware, dolls, hats, toys, tools, Avon, cameras, brass, wicker, pottery, churns, lamps, military items, boyscout and girl scout items, civil war items, barbed wire, and of course Indian artifacts as well as just about anything else imaginable.
Grove's own Dr. Halterman's dentist office, a post office, bank, Barber shop, and mercantile completely stocked with all types of
merchandise from the times of old. Also can be found are an old fashion beauty shop, the stagecoach inn and dining area with a table setting on it, down to the checked tablecloths. All the cabins are furnished completely with era settings including set tables, beds with feather pillows and quilts. Old iron cookstoves with pots and pans, the settings look like the folks just stepped out for a fishing trip on the lake. Most of the displays have mannequins in the displays, adding the final touch, like the man
working in front of Uncle Ned's Boot & Hammer shop, the lady in the dress ship, the grandmother sitting in the rocking chair reading, the jail that houses the bank robber, and don't miss the show girl in the saloon complete with the piano player, complete with a cowboy wetting his whistle at the bar.
Harvey passed away in 1989, but not before creating a foundation for the support of the Har-Ber Village Facility and stipulation that the public never be charged
an entrance fee. The park is a valuable asset to Grove and the Grand Lake area.
Bus after bus unloads Grand Lake Visitors, teachers with their classes coming for an educational outing, not to mention camera buffs, why Har-Ber Village has one
of the prettiest views of Grand Lake in the area. Where you don't have to have a lot of money to have a good time, in fact you don't have to have any , money. A Grand Lake Visitor salute to Jan Norman and the crew for the fantastic Grand example they set here at Har-Ber Village, and in closing we'll repeat the verse Harvey and Bernice placed at the bell tower...
"A sincere effort to preserve for future generations the way of life as experienced by our forefathers who carved out of wilderness this wonder full country we know and enjoy today." An Area Landmark Or An Indian Tradition... Located just of the shores of the Elk River arm of Grand is the stone steps that lead to over a hundred year old Cayuga Splitlog Mission Church.
Today, the bells still ring on Sunday mornings and the church fills with worshipers that attend the historic attraction.
Mathias Splitlog was named "The Millionaire Indian" that was born in Canada in the year 1812, Mathias was a descendant of the French Canadian, also part Cayuga and Wyandotte Indian.
History tells that Mathias was stolen by the Indians as a baby and raised by the Wyandotte Indians in Ohio and at the young age of fifteen was made a scout for the tribe.
Receiving no formal schooling and never learning to read or write, Mathias was captivated by the steam engine and soon mastered its use, by deep concentration and studying a piece of machinery he could soon build a functioning replica, hence Mathias built a steam engine that was used to power a boat that he and his brother built to conduct business on the Great Lakes.
In 1843 Mathias, his wife Eliza and over eight hundred members of the Ohio Wyandotte Tribe migrated to Kansas.
After being assigned a 148,110 acre tract of land on the Neosho River that proved to be unsuitable for the tribe, they then purchased thirty nine sections of land from the Delaware Tribe, located at the fork of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers (now known as Kansas City, Kansas)
Mathias erected a sawmill, a grist mill and another steamboat that journeyed up and down the Missouri River conducting business that made him a very wealthy man.
In 1874 Mathias moved to Oklahoma due to political pressures, Mathias was welcomed by the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe who had also moved here from Ohio.
After selling the Kansas City acreage Mathias built another saw mill, a buggy factory and a general store.
Mathias was not known for being a religious man but built a large room over the general store that was made available for the community to use for religious services.
A Roman Catholic Priest, Father Ketchum converted Mathias to Catholicism, and in 1886 Mathias began plans to erect a church just south of the buggy factory.
Father Ketchum helped Mathias design the church which was constructed from native limestone found in the area, the interior of the church was decorated with beautifully had carved imported wood.
In the front of the new church the name "Splitlog" was spelled out one letter over each arched stain glass window, the archway formed the entry door with fifteen carved stone depicting Indian symbols.
Several interruptions slowed the building process down, Eliza’s death that was the first funeral function in the facility before it was completed, and numerous business trips to Washington.
Dedicated on October 25th in the year 1896, Bishop Meerschaert and Father Ketchum blessed the church, a bronze bell was cast in Belgium rang out in memory of Eliza during the dedication.
The Cayuga Mission is the only church in the United States that was built solely by an Indian from his own funds for the use of all people and their religious beliefs.
In December of 1896, Mathias headed to Washington on behalf of the Seneca Tribe, he fell ill and developed pneumonia and passed away, his body was returned to Cayuga Mission where Requiem Mass was said on January 14, 1897 in that same native stone church he built out of love and devotion to his late wife Eliza.
Mathias was buried beside his wife in the cemetery that adjoins the Cayuga Splitlog Mission Church.
In the early 1930’s the Catholic Dioceses sold the building to the methodist Church, and around 1949 they sold the building to R.A. Sellers, Sr who’s family still own the church today.
The Sellers family have repaired the facility and has made provisions for the church and the cemetery to be looked after and the grounds be kept up, the Cayuga Splitlog Mission Church remains open today for the purpose for which it was built... to worship and praise our Lord.
Located just off State Highway 10 outside Grove, Oklahoma. MICKEY MANTLE MEMORIAL... The Area's Most Impressive Collection Of Commerce Comet Memorabilia... Mickey Mantle was a familiar face in the Grand Lake area, and local advertising executive Terry G. Hembree became aquainted with the legend years ago doing marketing and advertising for the baseball great's Celebrity Golf Tournamnets.
After the passing of Mickey, Hembree thought it appropriate to dedicate a wall in the family business "Hollywood At Home Video Super Store" located at 536 West Third in the old Farrier's Shopping Center in Grove.
Hembree had been constantly pestered with customers and Mantle fans wishing to go into his office and studio to look over the many items he had on display.
Hence, Hembree decided to take the plunge and create what numerous people had been promising to do for years, open a Mickey Mantle Museum!
Not liking the name museum' Hembree named the display the "Mickey Mantle Memorial Exhibit" wishing to pay respect to the well known Mantle rather than appear to be making a monetary gain from the Commerce Comet like so many of his other "friends" have done since his death.
Hembree stresses that the exhibit is absolutely free for the Mantle fans to come see and enjoy, and is open everyday at 1:00 P.M.
The Memorial features hundreds of autographs, photos, odd ball items, advertising items, souvenirs, balls, bats, gloves, gold and silver items, caps, jerseys, shirts, personal items, statues, figurines, collector plates, cups, mugs, steins, buttons, records, cards,jewelry... Well, you might say just about anything that has to do with the life and times of Mickey Mantle.
So if you are a fan of Mickey's or just an avid baseball fan, you cant miss this great dedication to Northeastern Oklahoma's most popular legend... Mickey Charles Mantle.
Starting with a beautiful marble statue of Christ on a hillside overlooking Grand Lake in the year 1968 started the Grand Lake tradition of "Har-Ber Village"
Nestled in the hills and beautiful landscape of Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees is a quiet little church with a lifetime of history.
Located in the heart of Northeastern Oklahoma's Green Country, the Pensacola Dam and Grand Lake O' the Cherokees provide flood control for the Grand River and produce hydroelectric power for Grand River Dam Authority. Known as the Grand River Project, the facility was the first hydroelectric system in Oklahoma.
The Coleman Theatre Beautiful, as is was original named, was built by George L. Coleman, Sr. in 1929, at a cost of $600,000