Okarche is a combination of three words – OKlahoma, ARapaho, and CHEyene. The post office was established in 1890 and the town was incorporated two years before statehood, in 1905. In the 1890s, German immigrants were the largest population segment so German was widely used in the community until the US entered World War I in 1917. Afterwards, bilingual education and workshop continued for another two decades.
In November 1926, the federal highway numbering system was implemented and the Meridian Highway through Okarche was assigned US-81 and fully paved in the area by 1931. The Northwest Highway OK-3 was a gravel road in 1939 and fully paved by 1947, providing a direct route to Oklahoma City.
The town is best known for Eischen’s Bar, claiming to be “the oldest bar” in Oklahoma and world famous for it’s secret recipe fried chicken. In 2009, Food Network’s program, Guy Fieri’s Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives, visited Eischen’s and the bar was featured in the TV show.
Here are some of my favorite areas in town, all taken with vintage lenses mounted on a Fujifilm X-Pro3. Check out the Forgotten Main Street Flickr Group for more images. We would love you to join us and show the world YOUR favorite Main Street.
