Mardock Mission facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mardock Mission
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Stella, Oklahoma |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1898 |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002081 |
| Added to NRHP | March 14, 1983 |
Mardock Mission was a special meetinghouse built in 1898 in Mardock, Oklahoma. It was a very important place for several reasons. The mission was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This was because it was the only building left that showed the history of the Big Jim Band of Absentee Shawnee Indians. It also showed the work of Quaker missionaries and a group with new ideas about society before World War I.
The Absentee Shawnee got their name because they left the main part of their tribe in Kansas in 1845. They settled along the Canadian River in what was then called Indian Territory. Big Jim, also known as Wapameepto, was a grandson of the famous leader Tecumseh. He was the chief of the Kispicotha, who were better known as the Absentee Shawnee. In 1904, about 454 people were part of this group.
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What Was the Mardock Mission?
The Mardock Mission was more than just a building. It was a center for learning, faith, and farming. It played a key role in the lives of the Absentee Shawnee people and the local community.
Where Was It Located?
The mission building was in the southwest part of a specific land section. The small village of Mardock was located just south of the mission. This village, in Cleveland County, once had a post office, two stores, and a cotton gin. It was a small but active community.
How the Mission Started
In 1897, a group called the Maine Branch of the Women's National Indian Association started the mission. Their goal was to create a school and a religious community. They also wanted to teach new farming methods to the Native Americans. They built structures, planted an orchard, and grew crops.
Around 1898 or 1899, the mission was given to another group. This group was called the Associated Executive Committee of Friends. The Friends, also known as Quakers, continued to run the mission. John T. Mardock was in charge of the mission at this time. The land for the mission was given by a person named Mr. Bohannon.
Life at the Mission
The Big Jim Band of Shawnee were not always keen on changing their ways. However, they were open to the farming and community activities offered by the mission. They were less interested in the religious teachings. Still, the mission kept going. In the early 1900s, it also started helping the growing number of white settlers nearby.
Many different activities took place at the mission. There were Bible talks, evening religious meetings, and singing. People also gathered for group fun. During berry season, they picked and sold berries. Monthly meetings for farmers were held, and even in 1929, about 35 Native American farmers still attended.
A Place for Farmers and New Ideas
The Mission also became an unofficial meeting spot for the Jones Family. This family was involved in a movement that believed in sharing resources and working together. This was during World War I. Some people think members of this group took part in the Green Corn Rebellion in 1917. This event involved people who were unhappy with certain government actions. Young members of the group were encouraged to avoid joining the army.
The Mission's Later Years
After 1929, the main mission activities slowed down. However, the mission church building continued to serve the local white community. It was used as a church until about 1955. Around that time, the settlement was abandoned.
The property was then sold to a local farmer. He used the old church building to store hay. Later, an independent missionary named Rev. Ted Reynolds repaired the church. He used it for a short time to help the Big Jim Band.
Becoming a Historic Place
In 1982, the church was put forward to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. At that time, it was empty and was the only building left from the original mission property.
The Big Jim Mission building was a small, one-story structure. It was made of wood siding and shaped like a "T." It had a steeply sloped roof with a pointed top. The main entrance had a small porch with a pointed roof and pretty decorations. Originally, the porch roof stuck out without posts, but posts were added later. A window shaped like a diamond was on the front end of the roof. There were single windows on four sides of the building and pairs of windows on three sides. A brick chimney was on the east side. The building was surrounded by thick bushes and many trees. Some changes had been made to the outside, including partly filling in two windows.
