Bible used to swear in Oklahoma's first governor returns to state

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A Bible believed used during the first swearing-in of Oklahoma's first governor is back in the state after years in a New York basement. <br><br>The family Bible of Governor Charles

Tuesday, February 3rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A Bible believed used during the first swearing-in of Oklahoma's first governor is back in the state after years in a New York basement.

The family Bible of Governor Charles Haskell was bought in 1995 for 150-dollars at an estate sale in Long Island by Thomas Spina, the women's basketball coach at the U-S Military Academy at West Point.

Spina kept it in his basement until he met Whit Edwards, the education director at the Oklahoma Historical Society and father of one of Spina's players.

Bill Welge with the historical society says the Bible was published in 1900 and is in remarkable condition with its black leather cover intact and the pages untorn.

The historical society will use the Bible during a reenactment of the state's first inauguration. It will then go on display at the Oklahoma Historical Museum.