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The Hat Haberdasher, Oklahoma City Stockyards

Hat Haberdasher steams a Stetson hat in OKC's Stockyard City

A hat HABERDASHER uses steam to shape a Stetson hat for a teenage boy at Langton’s, a western wear store near the Oklahoma Stockyards. Stockyard City | Oklahoma City | 12.21.2011

Oklahoma City Stockyards

Last night, we took the kids on a little adventure near the Oklahoma City stockyards in Stockyards City, one of Oklahoma’s best main street programs. It’s also one of the best in the nation.

Stockyards City is on the National Register of Historic Places. The entire time I was there I was thinking about one of Oklahoma’s favorite daughters, Ree Drummond, better known as The Pioneer Woman, and the realities of her life on an Oklahoma ranch. (I just made the scones from her cookbook, perfected by the recommendation of heavy cream and a splash of coffee, I might add.)

I also thought about my dad. He always wore a cowboy hat and he would have loved Langston’s. The weather-worn hands of the hat-shaper reminded me of his hands. I miss you, Dad.

Langston’s and Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

Cowboy culture is really something to behold. They’re a curious lot of people, exotic really, especially if you hail from Paris or Long Island. While we were looking at all the delicious boots at Langston’s (I want one of each!), Sullivan went up to man in Wrangler’s and a cowboy hat and said, “Are you a real cowboy?” He said, “I used to be,” but I’m thinking once a cowboy, always a cowboy.

Right now, the Oklahoma City Stockyards are all decked out for Christmas. If you go right before sundown you’ll be able to see all the cowboys walking around in boots and hats, and you’ll still be there when it’s dark enough to enjoy the beautiful neon lights of Cattleman’s Steakhouse and the National Saddlery. Stockyards City is located south of SW 25th Street on Agnew, which is between Pennsylvania and May Avenues in Oklahoma City.

Gen X Blog Jennifer Chronicles

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4 Comments

  1. Rose Byrd

    Jen, you are supplying so much fuel for many of my childhood fantasies. My father and my brother were cowboy worshippers and wanna-be true Westerners, herding cattle just south of Jackson,MS! I just pictured myself as Annie Oakley and clomped right on into the school building after the usual taunting from the other kids on the school bus. See, I was SUCH a geeky bookworm (not really, I just wore that protective coloration to get along with all the teachers who I perceived as just a tad “prissy”(you know: Junior League, Garden Club, etc.) You are so great to spend time with your two girls in The Stockyards. Merry, berry-merry Christmas, Jen!

    Reply
  2. jennifer

    @YOGI – Me, too, but now I want to go back and choose cowgirl. I need do-over. Back in the day, I would have died if my dad had made me wear a cowboy hat.

    @TERRIROTY MOM – I don’ think I’ve ever heard that sound, except at Langston’s and Cattlemen’s. I’m missing out! =)

    Reply
  3. Territory Mom

    It is a true Oklahoma treasure. Love the sound of boots and spurs on wood floors!

    Reply
  4. Yogi♪♪♪

    Cowboy culture really is exotic. I grew up in the west, went to school with cowboys (and cowgirls), have cowboy relatives, but I always knew that I was a city kid.

    Reply

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