Bramlett Johnson didn't know what he was starting in 1952 when he
decided to bring back oysters from the Gulf of Mexico to share with
friends and family! The story goes that he purchased a gallon of oysters
while he was fishing off the coast of Texas. When he returned to Manitou,
Oklahoma, he prepared the oysters and served them to his family, the
Manitou school board, teachers, and their families. Everyone enjoyed
the meal so much that the idea of holding an annual oyster fry as
a fund-raiser for the Manitou PTA was suggested. As they say, the
rest is history!!
The first year of their official fund-raiser Oyster Fry, the Manitou
PTA purchased 4 gallons of oysters and charged $1 a plate for the
dinner. The PTA made $30 free and clear that first year (1953). They
continued to hold the Oyster Fry each year, and it grew a little bit
bigger each time. People came from all over Southwest Oklahoma and
North Central Texas to get their fill of oysters, fried and raw! In
1983, the Manitou PTA served 120 gallons of oysters to 724 people.
That was the last year the event was held in Manitou. The price of
oysters had risen to the point that it was not as profitable as it
once had been. It was harder and harder to find a place big enough
to serve everyone and to find the dozens of volunteers needed to prepare,
cook, serve, and clean up after the event. It was decided to discontinue
the event after 30 years!
In 1990 the Frederick Chamber of Commerce and Industry revived the
Manitou Oyster Fry. Frederick, Oklahoma, continues this traditional
Oyster Fry on March 31st, 2012 at the Prather Brown
Center, located at 211 South 13th Street.
Ticket numbering begins at 3 p.m, serving
at 4:00 p.m. beginning with ticket number one.
The menu includes homemade cole slaw, potato chips, bread,
and iced tea, coffee, and, of course, oysters! Some hardy visitors
choose to eat their oysters raw, but most would rather have them breaded
in Manitou's original recipe and fried to perfection!
Other activities are the Arts &
Crafts Show, starting at 11 a.m
- 7:00 pm There are two craft show locations: Down the street at the
Frist United Methodist Chruch at 12th and Grand, and at the Gray Gish
Event Center at 126 N Main St. Admission to the Arts and Crafts
show is free and open to the general public. Many visitors come early
to do some shopping, antiquing, grab some lunch at a local restaurant,
visit Hackberry Flat Wetland, and then tour the Pioneer Heritage Townsite
Center. Some even stay overnight after eating their fill of oysters!
Advance Purchase Tickets
are $16 each and can be purchased online at www.frederickokchamber.org,
by phone at (580) 335-2126, or mail from the Frederick Chamber of
Commerce, 100 South Main Street, Frederick, OK 73542. We accept credit
card orders by internet, phone or mail. Tickets will be available
at several business locations in Frederick soon- Box, Inc., First
National Bank, BancFirst, Jackson Funeral Home, Frederick ACE Hardware,
and McFall Pharmacy.
If you need more information on the Frederick Oyster Fry, please call
(580) 335-2126, or e-mail frederickcc@pldi.net.