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Did You Know… This Week in Sapulpa History – Sapulpa’s Early Day Growth Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum  On Sunday, April 10, 1910, the Sapulpa Evening Light began distributing a Sunday paper after deciding to cancel their Saturday paper. The Sapulpa Evening Light Sunday’s Article nicknamed “Sapulpa Sunday Light” for the special Sunday papers. The Evening Light had distributed papers six days a week. The paper’s first Sunday page boasted about how Sapulpa city is a lively town. “No town in Oklahoma or in the southwest offers a better or safer field for investments than Sapulpa.” Sapulpa was all about the growth and advantages of living and doing business in Sapulpa.  A visitor to the city recently said: ‘I have visited every city of importance in the southwest and nowhere have I found a place where realty values rest on a more substantial basis than in Sapulpa. Neither has it been my privilege to purchase realty as cheap at other points as I have here - the city’s future prospects considered.’” The article discussed the strength in numbers; and the number of workers mattered in our town. It stated that the city was not a “boom” town with inflated prices but a city with steady growth and opportunity. “In a short space of seven years from a frontier village to a modern city of 15,000 population. Her growth has been of the steady and stable kind. Year by year she will continue to go forward, if for no other cause than by her own momentum.” Within the older City Directories, there are pages that describe the city. One page was dedicated to the population. In the 1910's Hoffine’s Sapulpa City Directory stated: “The estimate of population from a directory canvass is of much interest and is generally regarded as being correct. The number of names in this volume is larger than in any previous issue and shows a large growth in the population of the city. “There are in this volume 4,803 names, which, multiplied by the ratio of 3, indicates a population of 14,412 for Sapulpa at the present time. There were in the last year’s directory 3,174 names, multiplied by 3, to 9,522; hence the increase in population for the last year.*” *Note: the city directories’ estimated number for population did not include children and married women which is why it multiplied by 2 ½ or 3 into the population. Sapulpa became the “talked-of city in the new state.” The Frisco would soon announce a $500,000 expansion of their yards in Sapulpa. A new roundhouse was being planned to replace the existing one. It would have thirty stalls, and largest in the state. Frisco would have a monthly payroll of $150,000 per month*. *Note: $500,000 in 1910 translates to be over $14 million in today’s money. And the $150,000 would be roughly $4 million today. However, this was all a rumor, and the roundhouse did not expand to the enormous size the paper exaggerated it to be. Often the papers would boast and exaggerate some of the details, but Sapulpa kept working hard nonetheless. “Millions of dollars of improvements, both public and private are now under way, and when these are completed, the city will be commercially, civically, industrially, and from every other standpoint - barring the population - the peer of any town in Oklahoma.” The Wells Packing Plant was going to open in a few weeks, and employ three hundred men. The plant was the first packing plant to open in Oklahoma. By July 1910, the Wells Plant was a huge operation; the capacity of the pant was 600 cattle and 1,000 hogs per day. It had two railroad sidings, and large stock pen. It also had very expensive machinery. It was also underfunded and was only in operation for a few weeks*. *Note: it had closed and reopened again and again over the next few years, but never to the extent it dreamed. “The Sapulpa Steel Company, another industrial concern capitalized at $500,000 will begin operation of their mills soon, giving employment to several hundred men.*” Similar to the Wells Plant, it too opened and closed over the next couple of years. It had legal issues when it was being sued for non-payment of work.  Not all were exaggerated or a loss. The Sapulpa Brick Company had just finished their new plant and soon would start making brick. It was a $100,000 corporation. The Sapulpa Company, operators of the cotton compress, also had a capital of $100,000 and will soon establish a factory for the manufacture of cotton batting*.
*Note: $100,000 then would roughly be $2 million today. “Plans are complete for the building of a $75,000 glass factory, that will furnish employment for 175 skilled laborers. The Premium Glass, later known as Liberty, opened in Sapulpa in 1912. Several other glass factories soon were built such as Sunflower, Schram, and Bartlett-Collins. The paper was delivered by the “most expensive paper-boys that ever delivered paper.” They were delivered by promoters of the new million-dollar Fire Insurance Company. It was delivered by automobile. The regular carriers assisted the promoters; and they were thrilled to ride an automobile to delivery the papers. In less than a week, 15,000 shares of the Sapulpa Fire Insurance Company had been sold. Seven thousand shares were sold in one day. This was a remarkable showing of sales for such a short time and in such a relative small town. The Census also stated that in 1910, the population in Sapulpa was nearly 9,000 citizens. The 1910 Census report showed that Sapulpa had the second fastest growth in the ten-year period between 1900 and 1910. Sapulpa wasn't the largest growth, but one of the fastest with a large percentage growth. The three cities of Sapulpa, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa grew over tremendously in these ten years. Oklahoma City grew from 10,000 to 64,000 (roughly 550%). Sapulpa grew from 1,000 to nearly 9,000 or about 900%. Tulsa had the fastest growth at nearly 2,000 to nearly 20,000 (or over 1,000% growth).
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Did You Know… This Week in Sapulpa History – Comical Parking Fines In Sapulpa Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum In Sapulpa Herald history, the newspaper would often print humorous articles or tidbits about the ongoings of Sapulpa. Most stories involved Sapulpa’s rivalry with Tulsa. These stories were comical, stating that Tulsa wasn’t big, bad, and tough as they let themselves think they are. Other stories were just everyday happenings in Sapulpa that had a comical twist. This week in Sapulpa history, a little tale about a city policeman whose position on the task force was to monitor parking meters, parking violations, and traffic conditions may have had a taste of his own medicine. In bold ink, the headline read: “Meter Reader Gets ‘Big Parking Fine.’”  City Policeman Van Nelson was shopping at Warehouse Market at 24 S Park, Saturday evening on April 7th, 1959. “Fate turned the tables on Patrolman Van Nelson. Nelson, whose daily duty consists of handing out parking violations tickets to the general public, received a ticket himself.”  Nelson stated that after shopping, he loaded his car with his bags. He had realized he needed more items, and proceeded to go back inside the store. “Nelson left the cart for just a minute. Returning,he found a ticket. The overtime parking ticket read, ‘50 cents fine, $1,000 court costs.*’” *Note: in 1959, 50 cents is about $5 today; whereas, $1,000 then is about $8,700 today. Over the next week, word traveled fast and far about the officer’s unfortunate circumstance. On April 12th, the Herald ran the “Incidentally” column. This column was often used for gossip, town events, and notices. “Van Nelson, City Policeman, believes in the power of the press. He received a copy of the Springfield, MO. paper with a story about his ticket for overtime parking in a grocery story. He also got a phone call from his son in Odessa, TX, who heard the story over the radio.” The Springfield Leader and Press had placed this story under “Today’s Best Story.”  As an experienced officer, Nelson kept working hard. Unfortunately, 1959 was not his year. He received another ticket the following month. Another humorous article was printed with bold letters in mid-May. It read: “Cop Gives Self Ticket.”  Van Nelson made the news again. “Meter man for the City Police Department saw a car overparked at a meter. In a routine manner, he checked the tag, wrote down the time, and put a ticket on the delinquent vehicle. “The car was his own! His son, Van Jr., was in town visiting from Texas, and driving his father’s car. Van Sr. thought his son and car were in Tulsa until he returned to the Police Station.” When Officer Nelson discovered what happened, he paid the 50 cent fine. “‘I’ve been tricked,’ Nelson said. Still wondering if the car he tagged was really his own, Nelson said, ‘I would have put the ticket on there even if I had known it was my own!” Patrolman Nelson had been on the police force almost 20 years before his retirement in around 1964. He had served as Deputy Sheriff under Abner Bruce. Nelson had previously owned and operated garages in town, the Norwood Garage, and the Nelson Garage. These were in operation from at least 1922 to the late 1940s. Nelson saw the town grow and come alive; he came of age in the new city of Sapulpa for he arrived in Sapulpa with his parents the year Sapulpa became a city – 1898. He was born in 1883. His obituary appeared in the Sapulpa Herald in December 1970.  Did You Know… This Week in Sapulpa History – Frankoma’s Busy Week Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum  This week during the last week of March and first days of April in 1947, Frankoma Pottery had a busy week within and outside their facility in Sapulpa. The company purchased a new kiln and began building six Veteran homes. Frankoma began in 1933 by John Frank but was first called Frank Potteries. Frank had been a ceramics professor at the University of Oklahoma, and began the business in Norman. He taught for nearly ten years from 1927 to 1936. He renamed the company in 1934 as Frankoma; he used his last name and the last letters of Oklahoma.
Frank had moved the company in 1938 to Sapulpa. At first Frank began using the clay from Ada, Oklahoma. However, due to the three-day trip, Frank discovered a closer source for his work. In 1954, Frank began using Sugar Loaf Hill found in Sapulpa. The difference in the clay between Ada and Sugar Loaf’s was that Ada had a light tan and the Sapulpa had a red brick color.  In late March 1947, Frankoma Pottery began using their new “tunnel kiln.” It was part of Frankoma’s expansion program. “Addition of the new kiln immediately will double the daily output of the plant to make for a production.” The production at full capacity before the new kiln was 2,000 items per day. By the end of the year, it was estimated 4,000 items a day would be produced.  More on the expansion plan was to invest in a $28,000* building just south of the plant. It would house “an enlarged mold shop, store room, maintenance room, and experimental laboratory.” Additionally, John Frank had 75 employees to take care of. He purchased showers and lockers to accommodate the Frankoma employees in the expansion program. *Note: in 1947, $28,000 then would be about $320,000 in today’s value. The tunnel kiln installed was a 63-foot long kiln. It was the only one of its type in the state. It required 24-hours for the ware to traverse its length. “It is constructed that the intense heat applied to the kiln will be retained in the middle of the tunnel, and distributed over the ware as needed. The kiln accommodates a total of 18 cars, with each car designed to carry 15 cubic feet of ware.”  “The first ware to pass through will be autographed by Frank for his employees.” These were gift pieces chosen by John Frank himself. And because more could be produced, the cost of the products also reduced to “pre-war prices,” Frank had stated. The first one to ignite the new tunnel kiln was by Joneice Frank, daughter of the owner. “The pottery established on the outskirts of the city now represents an investment of approximately $75,000.*” Business was doing great. *Note: the $75,000 in 1947 is now around $850,000 in today’s inflation. Furthermore, Frankoma Pottery company had a contract for a “group of six Stran-steel quonset homes of ultra-modern design. The homes, reportedly first of that kind to be erected in the United States are owned by veterans and located on ground adjoining the Frankoma Pottery.” John Frank comments on the project as a way “to help alleviate the housing shortage.” The quonset homes had seven floor plans designed by the company. “The purchasers may select from these designs.” The contract was to build on the lot for five-room houses included in the 720 square foot “with floors of oak hardwood, sheetrock or plaster walls.” It was “completely modern with kitchen built-ins, and circulating heating systems represented an individual investment of $4,642 on homes valued at $5,100.*” *Note: with inflation, the $5,100 is roughly $57,600 today.
The homes also were fire-proof with “rock wool insulation and a vapor ceiling of copper.” Additionally, water was furnished by the Frankoma Pottery company water system. “Septic tank laterals designed to completely cover backgrounds to provide sub irrigated soil.” Frankoma’s contract included that the homes were being “financed by a 25-year FHA plan through Sapulpa Federal Building and Loan Company. Reportedly the payments including taxes, interest, insurance will be an approximate sum of $35 per month.*” *Note: the $35 a month in 1947 would be about $400 today. The housing addition was further expanded in 1950. The business kept expanding until John Frank passed away in 1973. The business had a few downfalls and returns over the next few decades. His wife Grace Lee Frank passed away in 2019. The youngest daughter, Joniece Frank passed away in 2015. Her sister, Donna Frank, wrote a book about their parents called Clay in the Master’s Hands in 1977. Donna Frank passed away in 2020. Did You Know… This Week in Sapulpa History – “Frogs” Being Removed From the Streets Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum This week in Sapulpa history in 1927, City Commissioners held a meeting to discuss traffic, safety, and new installations of traffic stops. On March 22, 1927, it was announced new traffic signs and signals would be arriving soon. The City Commission approved the installation of new traffic signs. The new signs would be oblong, metal signs. It had two main functions: one side held instructions of either “stop,” “slow,” or “school;” and the other side provided advertisements.
Along with the new signs came new contracts to maintain the street signs. “The Superior Traffic Signal, as it is called, is a durable plate. It flops to the pavement from either side. The replacing of these signs will be done at the cost of the company installing. These signs are maintained by the company who sends an inspector regularly for their upkeep. A contract of 3, 5, and 10 years comes with installation. The contract also provides that the street shall not be left in a torn up [sic] condition after the removal of the plugs.”  In the same meeting, other changes were approved by the City Commissioners. “Change was instantly favored.” A library bill was approved, as well as, purchasing of new police cars. The new police cars would now “survive” the winter weather. In addition, a decision was made to “install two bridges across the creek at the golf course.” At the time, however, the discussion died down on that matter and wasn’t approved. The two bridges would have cost $750*. *Note: in 1927, $750 then would be roughly $11,000 in today’s value. Another discussion at the meeting was to open the street blocked by the railroads, at North Main. For some time, North Main was practically a “dead end” and drivers could not head north because of the large Frisco railway system. In addition, for some time, the Frisco warehouse building stood in the middle of the road. An investigation was started to condemn the property, and pay for its value, to open the area up. North Main remained “blocked” for decades, however.  It was decided to change the traffic system in Sapulpa to be safer. “Replacing the iron frogs at the intersection of city streets with this appliance offered by New Way Advertising Company of Oilton, Okla, would do away with a possible danger now existing on account of the plugs.” These would be placed in the middle of the street at intersections, and would “flop back upright” if they were hit by oncoming traffic.
In 1927, there was not a uniform design of traffic signs, signals, laws, and devices. However, the new installations should be safer than the old signs. As stated earlier, the new signs would replace the “iron frogs.”
Iron frogs were small, metal devices embedded into the pavement with the word “stop,” “slow,” or “school” on its front. These frogs were similar to what we would assume as a small speed bump – but in the middle of the intersection at two feet long and about twelve inches tall.
It is unknown when the installation of the iron frogs took place. The last of these frogs, however, was removed about 1950. The last one remained on the south side of Dewey Ave at Water Street. It is unknown, also, what happened to the iron frogs from Sapulpa. However, a visitor who arrived at the Sapulpa Historical Museum a few years ago was from Miami, OK, and said he had seen one in his town. The visitor had mentioned that supposedly in a residential area there is still an iron frog “directing traffic” still to this day.
Did You Know… This Week in Sapulpa History – First Woman to be Elected President in Our District of Northeast District Teachers’ Association of the Oklahoma Association of Negro Teachers Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum This week in Sapulpa history, on March 15th, 1954, it was announced: “in a meeting held in Tulsa at which 250 teachers were present, three top offices went to Sapulpa Booker T. Washington teachers.” A Sapulpa teacher became the first woman to be elected president of her district in the Oklahoma Association of Negro Teachers (OANT).  “Zemula C. Williams, an English teacher at BTW, was elected president of the association; Ruth Devreaux, second grade BTW teacher, was named secretary; and Henry Crowell, head of the athletic department at BTW, was chosen treasurer.” More on the OANT: The Oklahoma Historical Center describes this Association as beginning when the first segregated or “separate schools” opened in Oklahoma City, Guthrie, and Kingfisher in 1891 and 1892. “The institutes led to the organization of the Ida M. Wells Teachers’ Association in 1893.” Teachers from fourteen counties and twenty-six communities in the Oklahoma-Territory served as the first members. Annual training institutes for teachers and “aspiring candidates” were “professionals with powerful intellect, broad social commitment, and common interests…”  By the 1940s, the organizations had each grown tremendously and became very productive in their communities. “ Between 1946 and 1953 these measures brought about more than $18 million in appropriations for separate schools.”  The year Zemula C. Williams became president in the Northeast District, the “U.S. Supreme Court decisions in 1954 and 1955 augmented the social changes of the 1940s. In response, OANT organized a program to prepare for the transition to school desegregation and to protect black teachers’ welfare. OEA also geared various activities to those purposes. On October 28, 1955, OANT decided to merge with OEA. Even as it disbanded, OANT worked untiringly to retain employment for black teachers after 1955.” Oklahoma Historical Society further mentioned, “OANT members had earlier begun to join OEA, and OANT was entirely dissolved by 1958. During its half-century of existence, OANT had commanded unswerving support. Records reflect that in 1955, 1,500 of Oklahoma’s 1,622 black educators were members. Historically, the association’s primary mission had been to raise the standards of education for black children. OANT achieved that purpose while making a major contribution to Civil Rights.”  More on Zemula C. Williams: D. Adolph Williams, husband of Zemula, was principal at Booker T. Washington High School. In 1923, they married and had one son, Daniel Adolph Williams Jr. Mr. and Mrs.Williams “taught as a team” and were active in the Sapulpa education system. In 1942, Mr. Williams, held the position of president of the OANT. Mrs. Williams held the vice-president seat for over a decade.  D. Adolph Williams, born in 1893, attended Kansas University School of Pharmacy, and was a “registered pharmacist; graduate of Langston University, and held an M.A. degree from the University of Colorado.” He was principal of Booker T. Washington from 1940 to 1962. He passed away in 1973. Zemula C. Williams, born in 1898, held an Associate of Business degree from Langston University. She furthered her education with Graduate Study from University of Colorado. She was the English and Speech teacher. She also worked on the the Booker T. Washington yearbook. She retired in 1959. “For a number of years, Mrs. Williams was corresponding secretary of the Langston University Alumni. In civic affairs, as a supporter of education for blacks long before integration, Mrs. Williams held memberships in the Tulsa League of Women Voters, NAACP, YWCA, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and many other civic and professional organizations. “When Mr. and Mrs. Williams moved to Tulsa, they owned businesses in the Greenwood Business District, and were contributing members of the community.” In 1986, Zemula C. Williams passed away leaving behind a great legacy. In 2005, a memorial dinner was hosted by Black Wall Street, Inc. to remember the social organizations in Tulsa: Bridge Clubs, League of Women Voters, Urban League, YWCA, and more. “This memorial tribute is being called an ‘Angel Bridge’” and included recognition of many prominent figures in the Tulsa community, including Sapulpa’s educator Zemula Williams. (Sapulpa Herald, March 16, 1954; Oklahoma Eagle, February 14, 1942, March 17, 1955, December 11, 1986, December 13, 1990, April 21, 2005; Oklahoma Historical Society)  Did You Know… This Week in Sapulpa History – A New Salvation Army Building Opened in 1918 Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum The weekend of March 9th and 10th, 1918 held a celebration for the new building for the Salvation Army. “Elaborate preparations have been made by the Sapulpa Salvation Army for the opening and dedication of their magnificent new citadel at 21 South Water Street. Dignitaries and officials [from Dallas, Tulsa, Muskogee, and Drumright] of the Salvation Army will be here for the occasion. The building had been used by the Salvation Army the previous year, however. It held the 1917 Christmas event in that building, however, it was not opened to the public yet. But now with the Salvation Army Day [March 10th] arriving, the organization wanted to open the building to the public on its day of celebration. “Captain [Ray] Mallott of the Sapulpa Army is making extensive arrangements for the exercises. The new edifice will be opened Saturday night [March 9th] with a program at which time Brigadier George Wood, of Dallas, will speak.” Local speakers, such as L.B. Jackson, George L. Mann, H.A. McCauley, and Rev. W.E. Loucks were announced to dedicate the building on Sunday [March 10th]. The organization also had plans for parades on both that Saturday and Sunday. “The Tulsa Salvation Army band will be here both Saturday and Sunday.” As a last minute add-on, Lottie Bockstett, commandant, and other officials from Tulsa’s Salvation Army were expected to arrive that weekend. Visitors from Oklahoma City also surprised the dedication, such as Adjutant Kate Wilson. Crowds had watched the bands play and march during the celebration. “After two large parades on Dewey Avenue and Main Street, participated in by Salvation Army leaders and members, host of supporters attended the dedication.” “Nearly 300 people were present at the Salvation Army new citadel when the new brick structure was dedicated to its future work of uplift and benefit for the needy and poverty stricken of the city.” The building was practically packed to capacity, forcing some audience members to stand during the speeches. Judge D.A. McDougal attended to witness over the signing of the pledges. A Captain Morford of the Salvation Army announced that a full amount had been pledge, nearly $1,000*. Also, churches took up a collection for Salvation Army Day. In total, $290* was raised from five community churches. “The Baptist Church led all others in this fund, giving $125* of the total amount.” *Note: the amount of $1,000 is roughly $16,500 in today’s dollars; also, $290 in 1918 is approximately $5,000 with today’s inflation; additionally, 1918’s $125 amount is about $2,000 today. After the time well spent for the dedication and celebrations, the following month, Sapulpa’s Captain and Mrs. Ray Mallott took a small vacation to Kansas. It was a “needed rest.” Today, the Sapulpa’s Salvation Army is not located downtown on Water Street anymore. This location is now a parking lot. The organization moved in 1959. The City and the Chamber of Commerce reached an agreement whereby the Chamber would purchase the old Salvation Army site for $6,000* and then sold it to the City for the same price. The City would then pave the lot and install 30 parking meters. Half of the revenue from the parking meters would go toward the purchase of the lot; the other half would go to pay for the meters. *Note: $6,000 in 1959 is nearly $52,000 today.  At that time, the Salvation Army purchased two lots on the southeast corner of Park and Cleveland for the future site of their new building, at 603 South Park Street. In 1997, the Salvation Army expanded their facility; the Salvation Army Community Center and Boys and Girls Club to Sapulpa was dedicated in November 1997. In 2001, the Salvation Army Community Center and Boys and Girls Club expanded their facility again, adding Sapulpa Sports Complex at 1721 South Hickory Street.  (Sapulpa Herald, March 4, 6, 8, 11, and 16, 1918; April 2, 1918; February 20, 1959; June 12, 1959; November 10, 1997; Tulsa World, July 18, 2001)
Did You Know… Black History of Sapulpa – A Nurse Changing Lives Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum In 1941, “Nurse Porter” came to Sapulpa. Only 30 years old at the time she first arrived, Porter was a nurse filled with compassion for all persons whom she served, and she commanded the respect of all who came in contact with her. “Luella Porter received her training at General Hospital No. 2 in Kansas City, MO, and a medical college at Richmond, VA.” She was from Wewoka originally but soon became an influence to the town of Sapulpa.  Nurse Luella Bruner Porter was born in Wewoka in 1911. James Porter was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1894. They married in 1943 and had two girls. They had been members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They left their mark in Wewoka and Sapulpa. Nurse Porter often met and held midwives meetings for the community. She cared and aided many in her classes. She began many of these classes as early as 1947. She also aided the schools with their smallpox vaccinations and began these regulations that year. Nurse Porter also participated and was active in many Nursing and Black organizations. She became a member of the Nurses Committee for Better Care of the Aged (now Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders). She also became a member with Sapulpa’s Negro Chamber of Commerce. The following year, in August 1948, Sapulpa hired its first full time health officer: Dr. J.M. Bayless. Dr. Bayless was to direct City and County programs. “Dr. Bayless has been employed on a full-time basis. In addition to his duties in Sapulpa, he will direct the county program at the Bristow and Drumright offices.” Dr. Bayless had four staff members included with his county position. “John M. Johnston, junior sanitary engineer; and three nurses: Mrs. Cecil Holly at the Bristow office; Miss Irma Lamberti at the Drumright office; and Mrs. Luella Porter in the Sapulpa office.” They dedicated their lives to the benefit of others. Nurse Porter was “instrumental in obtaining State regulations for Nursing Homes. She was a member of the State Nursing Home Association Board of Directors, from 1956, and held many county and state offices.” The Porters opened their first nursing home in Sapulpa at 528 East Hobson on January 1, 1955. It would later become a boarding home. “Where kindness and sympathy work together to bring health, happiness, and peace of mind.” They also opened another home at 300 South Seminole St in Wewoka nearly a decade later in April 1963. They opened this institution with Nurse Porter’s mother, Mrs. Ben Bruner, as co-administrators. Three years before the Porters’ deaths, their third nursing home was opened in Sapulpa under their care. At 102 East Line, “Porter Nursing Home No. 3” opened on November 1, 1965. Their dedicated phrase for their institution was “service before self.” On November 1, 1968, James Porter passed away as a patient at Veterans Hospital in Oklahoma City. Exactly one month later, December 1, 1968, Nurse Luella Porter passed away at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. “They left two daughters, Helen Porter Logan and Lillian G. Porter. With the help and close supervision of Mrs. Ben Bruner and Mr. John Bruner, mother and brother of Luella Porter, R.N., the two girls successfully carried on the business of the Nursing Homes.” Less than two weeks after Nurse Porter’s death, a contribution was made to establish a scholarship for nurses in honor of Mrs. Porter. “The Oklahoma State Nurses Association, district 27, has established a scholarship fund…named the Luella Porter Scholarship fund for professional nurses.” Just before her death, that summer of 1968, Governor Dewey Bartlett presented a plaque to Nurse Porter. She was given this honor for “her outstanding contribution to the Oklahoma Nursing Home Association, and had been appointed by the Governor to serve on the State Nursing Home Board.” Did You Know… Black History in Sapulpa: Teacher College and Training School for Women and Girls Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum  “Oklahoma Training School for Women and Girls: a first-class school in every respect,” the headlines read describing the college in 1918. Although it was a modern school for the time, it had a lot of hurdles before it became a new up-and-coming school for the African-American school in Sapulpa.  In 1913, it was proposed that a baptist college was to be built in Sapulpa by the “Office of Cor. Sec. of Baptist State Convention of Oklahoma.” The convention decided in December of that year that a baptist college “to locate the school at Sapulpa, if the citizens will give the following bonus.” The Convention asked for 10 acres of land—for “building, parking, playground, truck garden, etc.” and cash. The “cash bonus” of $5,000 was divided into $1,000 for the deed, $2,000 for the foundation of the building, and $2,000 for the walls*. *Note: In 1913, $5,000 is nearly $130,000 with today’s inflation. In return, the town will gain more students, more families, more workers, and more consumers. “The movement will bring 200 to 500 students to live among you for nine months of the year. This will bring from 15 to 30 teachers into your community to buy property, build homes and eat and wear clothes from your merchants. This movement will bring to your city many families to school their children in a Christian school because we have no other in the state like it.” The deal was made for the school to be built in the Westport Addition at 100 (or 120) Wallace. It was due to open in the summer of 1914. However, complications during the construction and financial difficulties set the date back to open another year. Before the doors even opened, nearly 800 students were enrolled for the Oklahoma Baptist College. The program began with two educators and activists from Oklahoma City: Maude J. Brockway and Drusilla Dunjee Houston. In 1918, it listed the expenses for the school as Entrance Fee ($1), Board and Tuition, Four Weeks ($10), Tuition for Day Pupils ($1 to $2.50), Dressmaking [extra] ($2.50), Millinery [extra] ($2.50), Commercial and Music [extra] ($2.50), Books (between $1.50 to $6)*. *Note: In today’s money, $1 equals roughly $17 today. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, “Oklahoma’s early-day institutions of higher learning for African-Americans were few. Claver College, a Catholic-affiliated school located in Guthrie, was the only African-American Catholic college west of the Mississippi. Claver, named for St. Peter Claver, held classes primarily at night and folded in the early 1940s. Other colleges included Methodist Episcopal College at Boley, Flipper-Key-Davis University in Tullahassee, Creek-Seminole College, which started at Boley, Sango Baptist College in Muskogee, and Oklahoma Baptist College for Girls in Sapulpa. This list may not be complete, and the grade level of education is unknown in most instances.  Another aspect of African-American higher education was the process by which black teachers acquired teaching certificates. Every summer, in differing locations there were county “normal” schools or conferences that had the authority to issue or renew certificates for successfully completed work. In 1916 the Oklahoma Legislature ended this practice and, starting the next year, most African American teachers had to travel to the college at Langston. Some of these smaller colleges tried to relieve that burden by offering appropriate courses.” Maude J. Brockway and Drusilla Dunjee Houston were movers-and-shakers, not only in Oklahoma City, but Oklahoma and bordering states, as well. Before being involved with the Baptist College, both women fought for rights, equality, and education for people of color. Maude J. Brockway, born in 1876, from Arkansas, attended the Arkadelphia Presbyterian Academy, a school district to educate the children of former slaves. She enrolled at Arkansas Baptist College before she moved to Oklahoma City just after statehood. Brockway became active in the Black Clubwomen’s Movement. By 1910, she became one of the founders of Oklahoma Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Through her studies and activism, Brockway developed an institution through the Baptist Convention. She became Sapulpa’s Oklahoma Baptist College superintendent until 1918 or 1919. The principal under her wing was Drusilla Dunjee Houston; Drusilla would become superintendent after her. Drusilla Dunjee Houston, born in 1876, from West Virginia. The family came to Oklahoma in 1892. Although she did not attend college, Houston pursued a teaching career. From 1892 to 1899, she was a kindergarten teacher in Oklahoma City. She became disheartened with the education system for black students. She opened her own school, McAlester Seminary for Girls, for twelve years. In 1917, she began working in Sapulpa in the new Baptist College. Although the principal, she remained an educator. It offered two-year teaching degrees above a high school education, as well as, domestic science in sewing, cooking, laundering, housekeeping, and sanitation*. *Note: Oklahoma Historical Society stated it was a two-year teaching degree, however, in the Black Dispatch (a black-owned Oklahoma City newspaper) stated it “offered a four year academic course, domestic science, domestic art, music, beauty culture, mission study, and commercial training. Although the newspapers said little as to why the school closed, in 1922, due to financial instability, it would combine with another institution. Between Sapulpa and Muskogee schools, only one location could be kept operating. After leaving Sapulpa, both Maude J. Brockway and Drusilla Dunjee Houston continued their passion in Oklahoma City. Brockway participated in various organizations such as Order of the Eastern Star, Oklahoma Women’s Baptist State Convention, Oklahoma Mission Society Federation, becoming president of this organization from 1925-1950. Brockway Community Center, Oklahoma City, was headquarters to provide services to young Black women and children, improve the quality of life in local Black neighborhoods, and advocate for racial equality. “Brockway died on October 24, 1959 in Okmulgee, OK, while attending the state convention of the Women’s Auxiliary of the state Baptist Convention. Soon after making her address to the assembly, she had a heart attack and died. The Oklahoma Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs honored her with a memorial service during the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the organization’s founding. Brockway’s daughter, Inez Brockway Brewer became an active clubwoman and teacher. In 1968, the Brockway Community Center moved to 1440 North Everest Avenue and in 2019,it was nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places listings in Oklahoma County. The center, named in Brockway’s honor, is the only extant structure affiliated with the Black Clubwoman’s Movement.”  Houston, similarly, continued to work in Oklahoma City for organizations such as YWCA, Red Cross, and NAACP. She continued to work with her brother, Roscoe Dunjee, at the Oklahoma Black Dispatch newspaper. “The earliest African-American woman to write a multivolume study of ancient Africa, she is best known for her classic American historical text, Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire. Written over a twenty-five-year period, the book was published in 1926 and reprinted in 1986 (as Wonderful Ethiopians; it was written to correct distortions in the historical record of ancient African people and their descendants worldwide). Houston had two children, Florence and another unnamed daughter who died earlier. Price Houston, her husband, died in 1931. Like her mother, Drusilla suffered for years from tuberculosis. Drusilla Dunjee Houston died in Phoenix, Arizona, on February 8, 1941. In keeping with her deep faith, her gravestone bears the words ‘To Die Is To Gain.’”
(Creek County Republican, December 5, 1913, January 16, 1914, June 19, 1914, July 24, 1914; October 8, 1915; Black Dispatch, December 28, 1917, June 28, 1918, September 14, 1922, October 30, 1959; Sapulpa Herald, December 22, 1968; Sapulpa City Directory, 1916 and 1922; Oklahoma Historical Society) Did You Know… Black History in Sapulpa: A Musician From Sapulpa Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum Marshal Walton Royal, Jr. was born in Sapulpa, May 12, 1912 to Marshal and Ernestine Royal. The Royal families were local musicians creating a family band with their friends. His father was a music teacher and band leader, his mother played piano, and his brother Ernie was a well-known jazz trumpeter. The family lived along 122, 126 and 135 Leonard from circa 1912 to circa 1920 as musicians, according to the city directories of the same years. The family moved to Los Angeles by 1921. Marshal Royal’s career took off from there. He began performing professionally with his saxophone at the age of 13.  Marshal Royal has a Wikipedia page for his influence on the jazz scene. “Royal’s first professional gig was with Lawrence Brown’s band at Danceland in Los Angeles, and he soon had a regular gig at the Apex, working for Curtis Mosby in Mosby’s Blue Blowers, a 10-piece band. He then began an eight-year (1931–1939) stint with the Les Hite orchestra at Sebastian’s Cotton Club, which was near the MGM studios in Los Angeles. He spent 1940 to 1942 with Lionel Hampton, until the war interrupted his career. “With his brother, Ernie, he served in the U.S. Navy in the 45-piece regimental band that was attached to the Navy’s pre-flight training school for pilots at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. The band played for bond rallies, regimental reviews, at football games, and in concerts for the cadets and the community. Two swing bands were organized from the larger regimental band, and they played for smokers and dances at USOs and officers clubs. Royal was leader of the Bombardiers, one of those bands, which also included his brother, Ernie, Jackie Kelson (later known as Jackie Kelso), Buddy Collette, Jerome Richardson, and Vernon Alley.” He was a musical guest for the Jazz Ensemble at the Whitworth University in Washington. “The saxophone legend played lead alto saxophone for the Count Basie Orchestra from 1951-1971. From the 1930’s through the seventies he performed with Lionel Hampton, Earl Hines, and Duke Ellington besides his time with Count Basie. He has recorded with Frank Sinatra, Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Linda Ronstadt, and many others. Most recently he also played for many motion picture scores including the hit, ‘Dick Tracy.’”  “When he left Basie in 1970, Royal settled permanently in Los Angeles, continuing to play and record, working with Bill Berry’s big band, Frank Capp and Nat Pierce, Earl Hines, and Duke Ellington. Royal recorded as a soloist with Dave Frishberg in 1977, and with Warren Vache in 1978. He co-led a band with Snooky Young in the 1970s and 1980s, recording with it in 1978. Marshal died in Culver City, California on May 8, 1995.”  Even after his death, Marshal Royal still leaves his mark on the jazz culture and community. The biography of Marshal Royal is told in his book, ‘Marshal Royal: Jazz Survivor’ (1996). The description states: “Marshal Royal was a core member of the Count Basie Orchestra for twenty years during its resurgence in the 1950s and 1960s. Before that, he was a pioneer of jazz on the West Coast, playing with many bands in and around Los Angeles. A child prodigy of both the violin and saxophone, Royal was literally born on the road as his musician parents made their way West. After leaving Hampton, Royal made countless recordings as a freelancer before joining Basie, where he was responsible for rehearsing the Orchestra. Later, he became internationally known as a soloist while continuing his prolific recording career. His brother, Ernie, who was a star trumpeter in the bands of Woody Herman and Stan Kenton, is also profiled. Claire P. Gordon is the editor of Rex Stewart’s memoir, Boy Meets Horn, and of Stewart’s other collections of writings. She lives on the West Coast and has a long-term interest in the oral history of jazz.” A jazz festival hosted by the Sapulpa Parks and Recreation along with another local musician, Steve Ham, band-director at the Allen-Bowden Schools began in 2003. “The festival was named in honor of alto saxophonist Marshal Royal. ‘In 1987, he was given the lifetime musical achievement award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society’ said Steve Ham.” As near as we could tell, The Jazzfest ran from 2003 to 2007. (Sapulpa Herald, February 23, 1917, July 24, 2003, July 25, 2003, January 4, 2004; Oklahoma Eagle, March 29, 1951, May 3, 1984, August 12, 1993, June 15, 1995).
Did You Know… Black History in Sapulpa: Negro Chamber of Commerce & Women’s Auxiliary, Segregation, and Businesses Rachel Whitney, Curator, Sapulpa Historical Museum Sapulpa, Indian Territory (I.T.), was incorporated in 1898. Although the enslaved people had been freed following the Civil War, the United States government enacted a “separate but equal” system of racial discrimination and segregation. In the city of Sapulpa, which was organized under the Curtis Act (as part of Dawes Act— it resulted in the break-up of tribal governments and communal lands in I.T.) Whites were allowed to purchase town lots, but under this Act, there was no mention of segregation. Some city founders held opposition to permitting the black community, necessary to the businessmen for menial services, to live among them. This formed the beginnings of that division of the city which segregates the people of color in Sapulpa. Sapulpa’s black community had established its own businesses, clubs, and patrons due to segregation laws in town. In so doing, Negro Chamber of Commerce, black-owned hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses developed in the community. On May 27th, 1942, the Sapulpa Negro Chamber of Commerce began its organization. A. J. McAlpin, president, agreed the purpose of the new group is “to improve general living conditions for the colored residents of this city.” The first members included Claude Bagsby, vice president, A.R. Hawkins, secretary; Frank Hollier, treasurer; Ed German, chaplain. Women’s Auxiliary Negro Chamber of Commerce began just after the war, joining the efforts to strengthen the community. These organizations tackled projects such as war bond drives, paving the roads, and building a community park. The park had a “wading pool, installed 100 Chinese Elms, 27 evergreens and a lane of irises,” and it had a ballpark that would be downgraded to make room.  Information can often be found not only in newspapers but in City Directories. City Directories are similar to phonebooks; however, City Directories list everyone even if that person did not have a phone number. City Directories also listed your name, (spouse’s name), your job title and its location, your residential address, and your phone number (if you had one). These books also included an abbreviations page to help identify the meaning of “carp” for carpenter, and “mgr” for manager, and “wid” for widow. In the older Hoffine’s and Polk’s City Directories, mainly pre-1960s, when “(c)” appears next to a name, the mark means “colored” to indicate people of color.  Segregation of churches for Sapulpa began at statehood. The first mention of segregated establishments appears in the 1907 City Directory with two First Baptist Churches: “First Baptist Church—nw corner Elm and Thompson, Pastor Rev J.H. DeLano” and “First Baptist Church (c)—corner Lincoln and Cedar, Pastor Rev J.A. Murray”. By 1911, Sapulpa’s City Directories listed “colored denominations” separately. As families grew and added to the community, churches, funeral homes, and schools became more and more needed.  Embalmers, undertakers, and funeral directors were often the ambulance and medical care personnel. The “Sapulpa Funeral Home (c)” was listed in the City Directory in 1920. The following year, the “Glass Funeral Home (c)” was operated by Edward Glass (then later by his wife Lula Glass). By 1938, the funeral home was the “Dyer Funeral Home (c)” (also known as Dyer-Paterson Funeral Home), and it operated until 1975. Hoffine’s and Polk’s City Directories also listed (c) schools but not organizations, such as the Negro Chamber of Commerce. It is uncertain why, but the City Directories were not always reliable for the black community. These City Directories from 1914 to 1960 listed “Booker T. Washington High School (c)” as having a different address nearly every other year.  As stated earlier, City Directories’ information for the black community was limited or vague. The information gathered for the City Directories are similar to gathering the information for the Census; either from people turning in the information of their household and business or Census-like workers conducting a survey. Either way, the City Directories rarely listed a person of color’s job title or their place of business. Most information gathered from the City Directories lists “lab” or laborer for a person of color. The workers operated facilities such as Frisco railroad, Sapulpa Cotton Compress, and rooms and laundry. Others were cooks and dishwashers for local restaurants and hotels, such as West Virginia Café and Hotel Ripley.  Within the City Directories’ abbreviations used “prop” for proprietor. Proprietor means the owner of a business or a holder of the property. Black-owned businesses were not uncommon throughout Sapulpa’s history. Edward Glass became the proud proprietor of the People’s Drug Store and GW Hotel at 204-206 N Johannes in 1914. He would later own the Glass Funeral Home.  Johnson & Hodo, a black-owned business, at 411 E Hobson Ave. In 1914, this was a barbershop and a cleaners & pressers owned by Thomas R. Johnson and John S. Hodo. Johnson, prior to being the owner, had been the janitor at the Post Office. Then by 1916, Johnson was the only proprietor and called the store Johnson Cleaners & Pressers. By 1918, it moved to 204 N Johannes.  The Clayton Building was built in 1918 in the heart of downtown Sapulpa with royalty money from the discovery of oil in 1905 on the Ida Glenn farm (present-day Glenpool in Tulsa County). “It was constructed in 1917-18 by Manhattan Construction Co. with two architects Popkin and Larry Rooney. Original owners were Ernest [William McKinley] Clayton and his sister Bessie, Creek (Black) Freedmen who used their profits from the Glenn Pool to finance the project.” The man who directed the construction of the building and managed its initial operation was Henry Lowrance, born to a black slave family in 1864. “As guardian of his step-grandson, William McKinley Clayton and his granddaughter Bess Clayton Fondreaux [were] heirs to the large Clayton Estate.” Lowrance was “instrumental in erecting one of the largest business buildings in Sapulpa.”  “Lee Birmingham was a master of BBQ and the quintessential example of entrepreneurship. In 1947, Lee rented a small building on Hickory Street next to the railroad tracks to open “Lee’s Hickory BBQ.” After several years there, Lee left that building for reasons unknown and started cooking from his backyard at 507 E. Hobson. He built a horseshoe-shaped fire pit out of brick, stone, and lined it with concrete, put a grate on top, and used a piece of metal as a roof to keep out the rain. Lewis Bruner remembers sitting in Lee’s black 1947 Pontiac and selling BBQ from the car. Lee and Lewis would take the meat right off the fire, wrap it up in wax paper, then newspaper, and sell the steaming meat to the eagerly waiting customers lined up in the alley behind the house. Lee Birmingham had both the Hobson St. and the Johnson St. locations in operation at the same time. He planned a third location on Line Street, but sadly, the May 5, 1960 tornado ended those plans. Lewis had ended his shift and had gone across the street to play pool. Around 6 p.m., Lewis heard a sound he thought was a freight train. He thought a train had jumped the tracks nearby. The tornado took the second story off the building, but Lewis and the other occupants who had taken shelter under the pool table, survived the deadly storm, unscathed. Lewis looked across the street and saw that Lee’s BBQ building was “gone.” He and others rushed across the street. Lee Birmingham was buried under a pile of rubble that had been a wall, underneath a table. They took him to Bartlett Memorial Hospital (now St. John Sapulpa) in Lee’s 1956 Ford station wagon. Tragically, Lee did not survive.”  “Holeman “Dago” Pearce began a shoe-shine business in 1950. After 32 years of working shoe-shine in the train depot and a barbershop, Dago finally owned his own business. The establishment was in a small section of City Drug (now Brown Insurance) facing Main Street. From dawn to dusk 5-days-a-week, Dago was ready to shine your shoes and tell of the latest happenings in this fair city. Doctors, lawyers, judges, business owners, and yes a few shady characters, had their shoes shined at Dago’s. Dago always had a smile on his face and treated everyone like royalty. He was always known as the Mayor of Main Street, a few years ago, The Mayor and City Council issued a proclamation naming him “the official Mayor of Main Street”. He retired in 1992 and passed away in December of 1993. Another in a long line of mom-and-pop business that gave very personal service and brightened everyone’s day.”  (Sapulpa Herald, May 28, 1942, May 29, 1942, June 25, 1942, January 29, 1946, October 6, 1949, June 3, 1953; Tulsa Star, June 20, 1914; Sapulpa Times: May 2, 2016, October 30, 2018, February 18, 2019; “Picturing Our Heritage: The African-American Community”—an historic photographic exhibit; (Hoffine’s and Polk’s) Sapulpa City Directory 1907, 1911, 1920-1975).
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DISCLAIMERThe information found on this page has been researched through Sapulpa (and area) newspapers, Sapulpa Historical Society archives, books, and photographs, Sapulpa yearbooks, city directories, and other local authors. Any other sources will be labeled and named as the research continues. Any mistakes will be noted and adjusted as needed. |
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