Area History

Original store in early 1900's.



George Stratton Grocery in the 1940's.



Store and Cabins before relocation.



Store and Cabins in the 50's after relocation to higher ground.

A popular question asked by tourists is how Tenkiller Lake came by its unique name. In 1947, construction was begun on the Tenkiller Ferry Dam across the Illinois River. The lake was named after the Tenkillers, a prominent Cherokee family who owned land and operated a ferry service near the site where the dam now stands. Legend has it that during the "Trail of Tears" era, the Cherokee warrior was given his name by the soldiers and pioneers at Fort Gibson because of the ten notches in his bow.

Another interesting part of history concerns the town of Cookson, Oklahoma. The town took its name from Jack Cookson, who operated the local post office from his home, while the area was still Indian Territory, before Oklahoma statehood. The town was located on the shore of the Illinois River near the Cookson Bluff area, and over the next few years became a central point of business for the surrounding residents. One of the first buildings in the area was the Ballew Brothers’ Store. The Ballews had settled along the Illinois River under what is now known as the Cookson Bluffs, and operated the community store supplying local residents with everything from food, to guns and tools. Some years later, the George Stratton family took over the operation of the store, which by then was also the location of the local post office. The first floor of the building housed the store and the post office, while the top floor of the structure was home for the Anti-Thief Association. The store was a popular gathering place for the growing community, and served as a place to vote during elections. In 1947, the U.S. Corps of Engineers began construction of the Tenkiller Dam to create Tenkiller Lake. Several of the structures from the town were moved to higher ground. Among these were the old store and several small cabins which were relocated to their present location on Hwy. 82, next to the Post Office in Cookson. If you are passing through Cookson, you may want to stop and with the owners of what is now called the Cookson Coutry Store and Cabins. The store is still a popular gathering place and a great source of information. Several structures from the old town could not be moved, were left behind at the bottom of the lake, and are popular underwater destinations for scuba divers.

For more pictures of Lake Tenkiller, click here.
Photos are by Ron Day.