County of statue: Garfield County
Location of statue:
Old Location: 123 W. Maine Ave., Cherokee Strip Conference Center, Enid
Artist: Harold T. Holden, 1940 - , sculptor
Founder: House Bronze
"A Harold Holden statue that has embodied the spirit of Enid returned to public view Monday.
"The statue of “Boomer,” once mounted beside the Cherokee Strip Conference Center and put into storage last fall, was remounted Monday on the southeast corner of Enid Event Center.
"The statue was moved in September for safekeeping before demolition of the old downtown conference center. A new hotel and parking garage are planned for that space.
'“We prepared the base last week,” said Jim McClain, public works director for the city of Enid.
"McClain said Monday’s re-installation of the statue happened because of a convergence of opportunity. Monday’s fair weather, the availability of the equipment to move the statue and the fact the base for the statue had cured enough for the mounting made Monday the perfect day, McClain said.
'“I’m sure they’ll have some sort of little ceremony in the future,” McClain said.
"Boomer depicts a man on horseback at full gallop in the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. The rider holds the reins in his left hand and a flag stake in his right hand.
"The Enid Walk of Fame, which contained pavers in honor of outstanding Enid residents, also was taken up and placed in storage at the same time Boomer was removed.
"The pavers remain in storage, said Derrek Silas, director of e-communications for Enid. A decision where to place them has not been made." ~ Enid News & Eagle, by Phyllis Zorn, Jan. 13, 2014
Plaque Text:
BOOMER
Sculpted by
HAROLD T. HOLDEN
Commissioned by
OAKWOOD NATIONAL BANK
As a Gift to
THE CITIZENS OF ENID
Proper Description: "A male rider on horseback at full gallop. He holds the reins in his proper left hand and flag stakes in his proper right hand. He wears cowboy boots, spurs, trousers that tuck into his boots, a vest, long-sleeved jacket, collarless shirt and a full-brimmed hat. Saddled on the horse are saddle bags, a coffee pot, cup and a revolver. A lasso rope hangs from the saddle on the proper left side." ~ Smithsonian American Art Museum
"Boomers is the name given to settlers in the Southern United States who attempted to enter the Unassigned Lands in what is now the state of Oklahoma in 1879, prior to President Grover Cleveland opening them to settlement by signing the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889 on March 2, 1889. Boomers preceded by a decade the Sooners, settlers who entered the Unassigned Lands just prior to the April 22, 1889 official opening.
"The term "Boomer" relating to Oklahoma refers to participants in the "Boomer Movement," white settlers who believed the Unassigned Lands were public property and open to anyone for settlement, not just Indian tribes. Their belief was based on a clause in the Homestead Act of 1862 which said that any settler could claim 160 acres (0.65 km2) of "public land." Some Boomers entered the Unassigned Lands and were removed more than once by the United States Army. Charles C. Carpenter was the earliest leader of the Boomer movement, succeeded by David L. Payne, who was succeeded by William L. Couch.
"After its founding in 1890, the University of Oklahoma adopted "Boomers" as the nickname of their football team, after having first tried "Rough Riders." In 1908, the name was changed to "Sooners", the current team name." ~ Wikipedia