Commerce, Oklahoma, One of Ottawa County's Earliest Mining Towns
    This view of Commerce, Oklahoma was taken about 1917 and is looking west down Commerce Ave. Mining at Commerce started before 1910 and preceded that in Picher and Cardin by several years. A lumber yard is visible at the left side of the picture. Several mills are visible in the distance. Commerce was a thriving community at the time this picture was taken. Today, Commerce still has several businesses and new housing developments were started several years ago. One of baseball's greatest stars, Mickey Mantle, came from this town.
    Denton Bros. Grocery was located across the street from the lumberyard shown above. Notice the horse and buggy at the front. There are bushel baskets of produce setting on the front rail. Fortunately, the horse can't get at them. What looks like canned goods are in the window.