Carolyn Merritt

“Bea Lines” has traveled to the Midwest this time, to interview one of the sweetest, nicest little ladies in our hobby, Carolyn Merritt of Carnegie, Oklahoma. This busy lady has done much in furthering interest in insulators, so let’s get better acquainted with her.

Carolyn was born in Carnegie December 26, 1933, and lived there until age 21. She has also lived in Ft. Worth, Texas, Rupert, Idaho, Lawton, Oklahoma, and then back to Carnegie where she has lived since 1980. Many of you will remember Carolyn’s husband, Norman Theesen, who accompanied her to several shows. Norman passed away in 1988 due to a heart attack. She is now married to Kenneth Merritt, whom she met election night, November 7, 1988, at her mother’s bowling party; he was her bowling instructor. Carolyn and Kenneth were married December 13, 1988. He shares Carolyn’s interest in insulators somewhat, mostly with his San Francisco woods. His other hobbies include coin collecting, reading, and traveling, but his main hobby is bowling.

Carolyn has held several jobs including working at Simplots Potato Processing Plant in Idaho, as a sales clerk in Lawton, and as a secretary, also in Lawton. She retired in 1980 from her gas and oil leases and royalties, and Kenneth sold out his farming operation and retired in 1989. He has four children whose ages are 45, 47, 49, and 55. Carolyn’s three children are 33, 35, and 36.

As for when and how Carolyn first became interested in insulators, she says, “my very first interest in insulators was in 1946 when I was 12 years old. My parents were farmers, ranchers, and custom combiners. As such, every year we would cut wheat from the Texas border near Wichita Falls going north to the Canadian border. As a child, my brothers and I would walk the telephone lines in each state picking up the beautiful colored insulators. We brought home tubsful that year (1946). My second encounter with insulators was when I was living in Idaho as a homesteader, and they began taking the lines down in 1960. I picked up some fair insulators.

“I really became seriously interested in insulators in 1974 while living in Lawton, and after reading Frances Terrell’s column in Old Bottle Magazine. By the way, I still have all of her books. At first, I collected any and all insulators. Now it’s purples and cobalt blues, any style or company. I also collect railroad memorabilia, because I have walked so many railroad tracks in years past, and traveled thousands of miles by train. My other hobbies include bottles, jars, stamps (collected since 1950 and still going strong ... mostly sheets; I have albums full of stamps), coins from 1955 to the present, and book matches from 1919 to the present.

“My favorite insulators are the Hemingray 19 in cobalt blue, an aqua Star CD 200, a two-piece purple Diamond CD 190/191, and of course my gingerbread boys and my Mickey Mouses, and Kenneth’s San Francisco lignum vitae wooden insulators---these are absolutely gorgeous. I must not forget my carnivals. I only have 100 insulators now which I display as my favorites, but I have had many more in the past.”

Carolyn has served in many capacities in our hobby. The list is long and impressive. She served as historian from 1978 to 1982, and received the Outstanding Service Award in 1980 at the Herkimer, New York, national, for her efforts in organizing NIA history. At that same show, she and Norman received the third place award in the general category for their insulator display. She has also hosted two local shows; one in Lawton in 1978 and Carnegie in 1992. Carolyn adds, “I have spent much time and energy trying to get Oklahomans more involved in insulator collecting. Just when I thought I had a club going, the bottom would drop out. In the 1994 Directory there are some new collectors listed here in Oklahoma. I am still willing to work with any of these folks who are interested.

“Since 1978 I have written a number of articles for Crown Jewels of the Wire, and paid for ads in other collectables magazines to promote our hobby. For newcomers in Oklahoma, Kenneth and I have donated the McDougald books and price guide to the Lawton, Anadarko, and Weatherford libraries, and have given a five-year subscription to Crown Jewels of the Wire to each. Also, we have been on TV twice promoting the NIA and the hobby, and once on radio. We set up displays at libraries, and one for Southwestern Bell at the county fair in Lawton, and we have purchased copies of Crown Jewels of the Wire and various literature (including ‘Insulator Silhouettes’ and ‘Understanding Your Insulator', and NIA membership) for promotional purposes.”

Carolyn promoting the hobby and NIA
at the Watonga, OK, antique show.
September 1993

Carolyn’s list of non-hobby achievements is also a long one. She states, “My first honor came in my sophomore year in high school, winning queen of the whole high school. My second honor was in 1952, when I led the grand march for the National Square Dance Association in Oklahoma City. I was also in the exhibition square for Lawton TV, and entertained the soldiers at Ft. Sill once a month. For three years my partner and I square-danced five nights a week. In 1963, it was an honor to be the president of the P. T. A. in Acequia, Idaho. Also in Idaho I was leader of the girls’ Blue Birds and the boys’ Cub Scouts. In 1972 I won ‘Working Girl of the Day’ in Lawton, and received beautiful flowers delivered to my place of employment. I also received many free tickets to eat out, dance lessons, and one free flying lesson, which I will never forget. They announced every so often during the day on radio that I was the ‘Working Girl of the Day.’ It was given for putting your ‘all’ out, and for good performance of what you do.

Carolyn at home with a few insulators
from the Las Vegas, NV, show.
April 1992

“I began writing poetry in 1982, and from then until 1988, 66 of my works were published in different books, magazines, and other publications, plus several anthologies. This added dollars to my bank account. Also in November 1992 I won first place in the state bowling tournament for women ages 55-59. I bowled in the Senior National Tournament in May 1993, winning thirty-first out of 48. That wasn’t good, but it was still a honor. Since first bowling in November 1988, I have won/received numerous trophies, patches, and pens.”

Back to insulators, Carolyn says, “I am willing to do all I can here in Oklahoma. I wish I could help others to be as enthusiastic as I am about our hobby. To me, one of the greatest aspects about insulators is the history. I have spoken at a number of grade schools in Oklahoma and Texas, as they studied the history of Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone, and Samuel Morse and the telegraph. I explained the important role the telephone and telegraph played in the growth of America and the role insulators also played, while also displaying insulators to the children. The kids have such great interest. This is where our hobby is now; in these kids, to keep it going.

“We will attend shows when possible. To me, it is an honor to have been chosen for this interview.” Carolyn, it has been an honor for me to write about such a busy, generous, sweet lady. Keep up the good work!

Kenneth and Carolyn at the Lawton library display.
August 1992