Only in Krebs

Aug 1, 2015 | Travel

[title subtitle=”words & images: Marla Cantrell”][/title]

It takes less than two hours to drive from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Krebs, Oklahoma. Given the route you take, you could pass by Bugtussle and Eufala Lake, a popular spot for those looking for a little downtime after a week of hard work in the city.

Not long after you cross the water, you’ll enter the town of Krebs, with a population of a little more than 2,000. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s easy to pass right on through. But that would be a mistake. There are places in this town you won’t find anywhere else, places that exist because of the people who came here in the 1800s hoping for a better life.

The immigrants were English, Irish, Scotch, Welsh, with an even larger contingent from Italy. When they arrived, they had with them their recipes from home. Several of the families eventually started restaurants, cashing in on their ability to make authentic Italian dishes that drew in both their neighbors and those who traveled from outlying areas to try the food.

Three of those restaurants survive today: Pete’s Place, Isle of Capri, and Roseanna’s. There is also a gourmet Italian shop called Lovera’s where they make their own sausage and cheeses, and import things like gourmet olives from Italy.

Debbie Breedlove-Young, who works at the city’s museum, says what she loves about Krebs is that it’s like Mayberry, from the old Andy Griffith Show. Life is slower, and people stop to talk. They wave as you drive past. This, Debbie says, is something you rarely find in bigger places.

Here are some of our favorite places in town.

Kreb’s Heritage Museum
85 South Main | 918.426.0377 | krebsmuseum.com
Thursday – Saturday: 10am – 4pm
Admission is Free. Donations welcome.

The town began as a small coal-mining camp in the Indian Territory and is named for Judge Edmond Folsom Krebs, whose heritage was both Choctaw and German. Immigrants were recruited to work in the mines, the first of which opened in 1875.

The museum tells the story of the town, including the tragedy that struck in 1892. On the night of January 7, several hundred workers were in the Osage Coal & Mining Company’s No. 11 mine when one of the workers mistakenly ignited explosives. Approximately 100 miners died, some as young as twelve, and another 150 were seriously injured. The casualties were so high that nearly every family in town was affected.

The museum has a wealth of information on the coal mining tradition in Krebs. There were fifteen mines in the town, an amazing number in such a small place. There are other exhibits as well, such as those covering the Native American tribes of Oklahoma, and military history, beginning with the Revolutionary War. There are thirty-two galleries displaying photos, furniture, and household items of the town’s founding families, there’s even a sleigh on display.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
290 Northwest Church Street | 918.423.6695

The shining star of Krebs is St. Joseph’s, a beautiful example of Neo-Gothic architecture and one of the oldest Catholic churches in Oklahoma. When it was organized in 1885, the church was built of wood, but it burned to the ground in 1902. In 1903, the current church was constructed. Fat Kevin Willis, who came to the parish in 2013, says his congregation includes great-grandchildren of the coal miners who helped establish Krebs. One of the many perks of serving here is the great Italian food his congregation provides.

A restoration project was completed approximately ten years ago. Part of the reason was to bring the interior back to its original glory. If you’d like to see inside St. Joseph’s, stop by the church office. If the staff is available, they’d love to show it to you.

Lovera’s Handcrafted Foods
95 West 6th Street | 918.423.2842 | www.loverasmarket.com
Monday – Saturday: 7:30am – 6:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm

The Lovera family arrived in Krebs in 1907. In 1946 they decided to become store owners, opening a market to serve their neighbors. Stepping inside their store is a wonderful experience. It smells of smoked meats and handcrafted cheese. Lovera’s has several signature lines, from cheeses to sauces to spices. They make their famous Caciocava style cheese (Caciocavera) on site, using milk from four area dairies. They also make Italian sausages.
Lovera’s stocks more than a thousand selections of olive oil, vinegar, antipasti, cookies, chocolates, espresso, pasta, spices and olives. They sell a selection of cheeses and meats, their own brand of frozen Italian foods, and they get shipments in from Italy on a regular basis.

You can watch them make cheese, pick up some great cooking tips from their knowledgeable staff, and come home with some of the best Italian food you’ll find anywhere. Can’t make the trip? You can order online.

Pete’s Place
120 Southwest 8th | 918.423.2042 | petes.org
Monday – Thursday: 11am – 9pm | Friday & Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Sunday: 11am – 8pm

Pete Prichard was born in San Gregorio Magno, Italy, and came to Krebs in 1903, when he was only eight years old. At eleven, he was working in the coal mines, and at twenty-one he was severely injured when the mine where he worked caved in. The incident ended his days in the mines, but left him with a dilemma. How was he going to make a living? The answer came while Pete was at home, experimenting with home brewing. He found the recipe used by the Choctaw tribe. His Choc® beer was a big hit. At the same time, his home cooking was growing in popularity. In 1925 he opened Pete’s Place inside his home.

Things were looking up until Prohibition started, outlawing the beer that was making him a local icon. Pete was sent to jail, and cooked so well there that he was refused parole. The guards didn’t want to miss out on his Italian specialties.

Today, Pete’s Place is still in the family. The menu includes traditional Italian fare, including lamb fries, chicken parmesan, lasagna and ravioli, as well as steak and shrimp. Choc® beer is brewed onsite, and tours are available. Call for dates and times.

Isle of Capri
150 Southwest 7th Street | 918.423.3062 | isleofcapriofkrebs.net
Monday – Thursday: 11am – 2pm
Monday – Saturday: 4:30pm – 10:30pm

When Dominic Anthony Giacomo took out a loan to build the Isle of Capri, he feared the business might not make it. Because of that, he designed it to look like a house, a place he could live if the restaurant failed. He opened for business on Mother’s Day, 1950, offering ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, steak, chicken, and lamb fries.

Dom had nothing to worry about. The town embraced this new Italian eatery, and his family helped run the place. His key helper was his sister, who took over when Dom died at the age of fifty.

Today, the Isle of Capri is still in the family, and still going strong.

Roseanna’s Italian Food
205 East Washington | 918.423.2055 | roseannas.com
Tuesday & Wednesday: 11am – 8pm
Thursday – Saturday: 11am – 9pm

Roseanna’s is the newest Italian addition, opening in 1975. That was the year Frank Prichard and his wife, Rose Ann, opened their Italian carry-out restaurant. Three years later, after Frank faced health problems, the restaurant closed, opening again in 1980.

Today, Frank and Rose Ann’s children keep the business going, with the help of dedicated employees. Customers love their traditional Italian dishes, including lamb fries, Nana’s Gnocchi, Sliced Steak and Pepperoncino Peppers, rib-eye steaks, and homemade desserts.

Dolce Vita Cupcakes
10 S E Washington Ave. | 918.916.6695 | dvcupcakes.com
Tuesday – Friday: 11am – 8pm
Saturday: 9am – 3pm

In 2010, Margherita McPherson started Dolce Vita Cupcakes in her kitchen. In just three years she had enough business to open the storefront she’s in today. Her cupcakes are delicious. One specialty uses maple-bacon cake, maple buttercream frosting, and sprinkles of crisp bacon. She also has flavors like Italian Cream, Tiramisu, Banana Cream Pie, Chocolate-Covered Strawberry, and Blueberry Crumble. There are different flavors on different days. Call ahead or check their website.

That’s it! A look at Krebs, Oklahoma, a.k.a. Little Italy. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path kind of experience, this could be just the ticket.

Do South Magazine

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