| Copyright 2007 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
The Oklahoma Castle
www.exploresouthernhistory.com
Captain's (Reynolds') Castle - Oklahoma
Without doubt, one of the most unique private residences in
the South is the Captain's or Reynolds' Castle in the small
community of Cameron, Oklahoma. Cameron is located in
LeFlore County, between the cities of Fort Smith, Arkansas
and Poteau, Oklahoma.
Constructed in 1890 of natural stone mined from a nearby
quarry, the castle was built by Captain J.E. Reynolds for his
wife, Felicity Turnbull Reynolds, who listed among her
ancestors the prominent Choctaw leader Greenwood
LeFlore.
A Confederate veteran who had been wounded in
Tennessee, Captain Reynolds came to LeFlore County
after the Civil War and established his family just outside of
Fort Smith where the community of Arkhoma exists today.
Reynolds prospered in the Indian Territory and became a
successful merchant and rancher. He was heavily involved
in the development of coal mines in the region.
The Reynolds family, which grew to include a number of
children, lived in their Arkhoma home for more than twenty
years until the Frisco Railroad was built southwest from
Fort Smith to Paris, Texas, in 1886. Two years later a post
office was established in the new railroad town of Cameron
and in 1890 Mrs. Reynolds secured title to a parcel of land
there. Construction of the castle began a short time later.
Built of native stone mined from a quarry on the nearby
hillside, the castle was built with two octagonal towers,
thick stone walls and coal-burning fireplaces.
Captain Reynolds dedicated one room to preserving
mementos of the Civil War, including flag-draped portraits
of Southern generals. Late in life he wrote that he was "still
an unreconstructed Confederate," explaining to a niece that
he "surrendered (his) individuality" when Southern soldiers
stacked their arms and surrendered. In an interesting
footnote to his life, the captain contacted another former
Confederate officer, Virginia's "Gray Ghost" John Mosby, at
the outbreak of World War I and offered to join him in
forming a unit of former Confederates to fight in Europe.
Captain and Mrs. Reynolds lived in the castle at Cameron
until around 1911 when he became involved in the
development of the modern community of Arkhoma. They
built a new home there at about that time. Both died in 1920
and are buried in Fort Smith's historic Oak Cemetery,
where their graves are marked by the statues of two
women helping a wounded Confederate soldier. He had
been rescued from a battlefield at New Hope, Georgia by
the two daughters of his commanding officer.
Although the Captain's Castle is a private residence, it can
be seen from Castle Street in Cameron. One of the few
castles ever built in the South, it is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
the South is the Captain's or Reynolds' Castle in the small
community of Cameron, Oklahoma. Cameron is located in
LeFlore County, between the cities of Fort Smith, Arkansas
and Poteau, Oklahoma.
Constructed in 1890 of natural stone mined from a nearby
quarry, the castle was built by Captain J.E. Reynolds for his
wife, Felicity Turnbull Reynolds, who listed among her
ancestors the prominent Choctaw leader Greenwood
LeFlore.
A Confederate veteran who had been wounded in
Tennessee, Captain Reynolds came to LeFlore County
after the Civil War and established his family just outside of
Fort Smith where the community of Arkhoma exists today.
Reynolds prospered in the Indian Territory and became a
successful merchant and rancher. He was heavily involved
in the development of coal mines in the region.
The Reynolds family, which grew to include a number of
children, lived in their Arkhoma home for more than twenty
years until the Frisco Railroad was built southwest from
Fort Smith to Paris, Texas, in 1886. Two years later a post
office was established in the new railroad town of Cameron
and in 1890 Mrs. Reynolds secured title to a parcel of land
there. Construction of the castle began a short time later.
Built of native stone mined from a quarry on the nearby
hillside, the castle was built with two octagonal towers,
thick stone walls and coal-burning fireplaces.
Captain Reynolds dedicated one room to preserving
mementos of the Civil War, including flag-draped portraits
of Southern generals. Late in life he wrote that he was "still
an unreconstructed Confederate," explaining to a niece that
he "surrendered (his) individuality" when Southern soldiers
stacked their arms and surrendered. In an interesting
footnote to his life, the captain contacted another former
Confederate officer, Virginia's "Gray Ghost" John Mosby, at
the outbreak of World War I and offered to join him in
forming a unit of former Confederates to fight in Europe.
Captain and Mrs. Reynolds lived in the castle at Cameron
until around 1911 when he became involved in the
development of the modern community of Arkhoma. They
built a new home there at about that time. Both died in 1920
and are buried in Fort Smith's historic Oak Cemetery,
where their graves are marked by the statues of two
women helping a wounded Confederate soldier. He had
been rescued from a battlefield at New Hope, Georgia by
the two daughters of his commanding officer.
Although the Captain's Castle is a private residence, it can
be seen from Castle Street in Cameron. One of the few
castles ever built in the South, it is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
| Captain's (Reynolds') Castle Cameron, Oklahoma |
| Gate of Captain's (Reynolds') Castle Cameron, Oklahoma |
| Marker for Captain's (Reynolds') Castle Cameron, Oklahoma (Click on any of these photographs to view larger versions). |
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