Holloway's Station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Holloway's Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Oklahoma Show map of Oklahoma Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Nearest city	Red Oak, Oklahoma
Built	1858
NRHP reference No.	72001070
Added to NRHP	April 13, 1972

Holloway's Station, also known as The Narrows, was an important stop on the old Butterfield Overland Mail route. This was a famous stagecoach service that delivered mail and passengers across the country. The station was located near "The Narrows" at upper Brazil Creek in what is now Latimer County, Oklahoma.

The station was named after William Holloway, who was the agent in charge of the stagecoach stop.

A Busy Stop on the Stagecoach Route

In 1858, the Choctaw Council, which was the government of the Choctaw Nation at the time, gave William Holloway permission to build a special road and a tollbooth at "The Narrows." A tollbooth is a place where people pay a small fee to use a road. This helped make travel easier and safer.

Holloway's Station was a place where stagecoaches could stop. Here, they would change horses, and passengers could rest or get a meal. It was a vital link in the long journey across the country.

End of an Era

The Butterfield Overland Mail service stopped running in 1861. This was because of the start of the American Civil War. After the service ended, William Holloway left the station.

Holloway's Station was recognized for its historical importance. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it is a place that is officially protected because of its special history.

What You Can See Today

Today, most of the original buildings and structures of Holloway's Station are gone. However, there are still some interesting things to see if you visit the area.

• Cemetery: There is a small cemetery nearby with a few old gravestones. The oldest one still visible is from 1875.
• Old Road: If you look closely, you can still find parts of the old Butterfield road. This was the path the stagecoaches used to travel. The modern county road that runs through the area is different, but traces of the old trail remain. These traces help us imagine what stagecoach travel was like more than 100 years ago.

The site of Holloway's Station is a small, attractive clearing. It is located between the south bank of Brazil Creek and the northern entrance to "The Narrows." It is about .5 miles (0.80 km) east of Red Oak, Oklahoma.