Pictured is an article from the "Freedom Call" Freedom is a little community of a few hundred people about 5 miles south of Camp Houston, Oklahoma. "The Freedom Call" Thursday, August 16, 1979.
The following is a condensed version of the article.
"Landmark Gives Way For The Future"
The late William and Mabel Stewart Sr. came from Champaign Illinois, to Red Cloud, Nebraska, then later to the Camp Houston, Oklahoma area where they homesteaded on a farm 1/2 mile north of Camp Houston. After moving to their home there were many times that tramps and hitchhikers stopped by, the Stewart's fed them, gave them a place to sleep and gave them some change to help them on their way when they left.
It was in 1926 when their son "Little Bill Stewart" was seven years old that they decided to build a store and service station with living quarters on the corner they owned at the highway intersection. They purchased a building at Old Freedom from Dinky Vincent. The old building was moved to their corner and became the front of their new business. They built the back portion on it new. The highways US64 & SH50 were not yet paved. Bill was ask when working on the building what he was going to call his business, he replied, Camp Houston, after the Houston Creek, which runs through just below. Inside the station they built a counter with stools and two tables were placed along the east side next to the living quarters. Mabel served home cooked meal's there. Many times people who did not have money for their food came through, the Stewart's fed them without charge, they could not turn anyone away.
They build eight cabins below the store in a beautiful setting of trees near the creek. Each cabin was furnished and had a "Topsy" wood stove. There were picnic tables and an ice house. People from the area came to Camp Houston to load and haul water which they pumped from a hand pump outside the station.
When transit buses started routes Camp Houston became one of their bus stations. Long hours and hard work took place with very little profit. Travelers and strangers were always made welcome and, no doubt, they left with the feeling that it was nice to just meet plain country folks, who "Did unto others as they would have them do unto them". Camp Houston has had several operators and owners since Bill & Mable. In August of 1979 the pains of hurt was felt in the hearts of many as they stood by and looked on as the building was demolished to make way for widening the highway. The business had been the staple of the area for many years.
