Jumbo, Oklahoma facts for kids

Jumbo is a small, unincorporated community located in western Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. It's about 10 miles north of a place called Miller, Oklahoma. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.

A Look Back: Jumbo's History

Early Days and the Asphalt Mine

A post office was opened in Jumbo, Indian Territory, on November 8, 1906. The community got its name from the Jumbo Asphalt Company. This company was a major employer in the area.

Before Oklahoma became a state, Jumbo was part of the Choctaw Nation. It was located in Jack's Fork County, within the Pushmataha District of the Indian Territory.

Jumbo was rich in natural resources, especially asphalt. Asphalt is a sticky, black material, often used to make roads. A pioneer and prospector named Hugh W. Adams found a large amount of asphalt here. The Jumbo Asphalt Company began mining operations. By 1904, the community was known as Jumbo Mines. By 1905, the company was mining up to eight tons of asphalt each day! They shipped it to Moyers, Oklahoma using a special tram line. This line connected to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway in Moyers.

By 1906, at least 40 families lived in Jumbo Mines. However, over time, the community became less populated. This was due to fewer job opportunities. Eventually, its churches, school, and post office all closed.

The Mine Explosion

In November 1910, a terrible accident happened at the mine in Jumbo. The mine shaft was 280 feet deep. From there, it branched out several hundred feet. A deadly explosion occurred, killing at least 14 miners right away. More miners died later from their injuries. Some miners were even blown up the shaft and out of the mine's entrance. Ten of the miners were buried side by side in the Jumbo Cemetery. At the time, the mine was owned by the Choctaw Asphalt Company. The mine continued to operate for many years. Today, the entrance to the shaft is covered, but you can still see it off Jumbo Road.

The WPA School

During the Great Depression, the WPA helped build a public school in Jumbo. The school was made from local "red rock" found in nearby fields. Part of the school building still stands today. However, the back half was removed in the 1990s by a local landowner for safety reasons. The land was then used for cattle grazing.

The Impson Family Cemetery

The grave markers at Jumbo's Impson family cemetery have been lost. Before World War II, a local farmer gathered the tombstones. He stacked them under a tree and then plowed the land to use as a field. Today, the property is overgrown with trees and hard to reach.

World War II Plane Incidents

During World War II, Jumbo and Moyers were the sites of some unusual incidents involving British pilots. These pilots were flying from a Royal Air Force base in Texas. Due to bad weather, two planes crashed into White Rock Mountain and Big Mountain near Moyers. Four crewmen were killed, and both planes were destroyed.

A third plane made a successful crash-landing in a field at Jumbo. This field was known as the Bedford meadow and belonged to a farmer named Bill Perrin. The pilot, John Wall, and navigator, "Wilbur" Wright, were not hurt. A local family, Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Jordan, let them stay overnight. British military officers soon came to get the airplane, which could be repaired.

On February 20, 2000, the AT6 Monument was dedicated. This monument honors the fliers at the crash site on Big Mountain. John Wall and "Wilbur" Wright also attended the ceremony. They had a happy reunion with the Perrin family. Over 1,000 people came to the event. The story was even shared by the BBC and many newspapers around the world.

You can find more information about Jumbo and the Impson Valley at the Pushmataha County Historical Society.

Jumbo's Location

Jumbo is located in the beautiful Impson Valley. Buck Creek and Box Springs mountains are on the eastern side of the valley. Long Mountain is on the western side. In recent years, the area west of Jumbo has become part of McGee Creek State Park. This includes the areas of Wildcat and Bugaboo canyons.

Getting Around: Transportation

Even with improvements to local roads, Jumbo is still quite isolated. It's not easy to get to other communities in Pushmataha and Atoka counties. This is interesting because the four-lane Indian Nation Turnpike was built through Impson Valley. It passes just east of Jumbo and opened in 1970. However, there is no interchange for Jumbo. This means local residents have to drive north to Daisy to get on or off the turnpike.