Sapulpa History - Then and Now

Then and Now

The Inside Scoop on the Museum and Town's History

A weekly update on the ins and outs of the museum. We showcase the "Artifact(s) of the Month" every 1st Wednesday. We highlight the "This Month in History..." every 2nd Wednesday. We see the sights of "Then and Now" in Sapulpa every 3rd Wednesday. And we share our moments in the museum world every 4th Wednesday. This is with our collaboration with the Sapulpa Herald for their Wednesday newspaper under the segment called "Museum Musings."

Museum Moments (September 2023)

9/27/2023

Visiting our museum, we had many out-of-towners! It seems we have been pretty popular with Bixby and Jenks locals. And with the Blow Out earlier this month, many Sapulpans entered our facilities! And goodness, the Sapulpa Fire Museum was packed! Thank you all for supporting your local museum.
We also have our new special exhibit now up running! The newest exhibit, “The Movie Theaters Display,” features history on many of our theatrical and entertainment theaters in Sapulpa history. As an added bonus, we have a special display for two films that had many scenes recorded in downtown Sapulpa? Any guesses? Hint: the films are based on books written by a Tulsa author, S.E. Hinton.
Later in October, we will be having a collaboration, a partnership, with Tee Pee Drive-In and the Kante Group. More news on this will follow soon!
We also had a Ghost Hunt event as a fundraiser for the museum and the Oklahoma Paranormal Association. Their organization will be producing a book coming out this fall.
We are in need of volunteers to help be a docent (tour guide) and help answer research requests. If you have any questions or wish to join our organization, please don’t hesitate to call, email, or come in and visit with us about it. Reach us at 918-224-4871 and [email protected]. Thank you!

Society Sights (September 2023)

9/20/2023

September’s “Then and Now Image” shows the first block on the west side of South Main Street. The image shows buildings of the St. James Hotel (last building on the left) and the First National Bank (last building on the right). This was taken near the corner of Dewey Ave and Main St, looking southwest. The focus in the photograph are the “nine loads of fat hogs.” It was taken in 1913. Today, in the same location of the bank, the American Heritage Bank stands on the corner, stretching along the block to where St. James Hotel once stood.

Historical Highlight (September 2023)

9/13/2023

September’s “Historical Advertisements” this month in our history show the businesses, sales, and events happening in our local stores. On September 27, 1971, ads ran for the Sapulpa businesses like Fulkerson’s Coin Command Laundry, Jack’s Barber Shop, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Clarence’s Auto Repair, and Ace Typewriter Co. At Fulkerson’s, 18 E Cleveland, wanted to remind the readers that “it’s convenient and economical for all members of the family!” and “it’s time for fall dry cleaning.” While waiting on dry cleaning, one could get a haircut at Jack’s, 19 E Dewey, with “haircuts the way you like ‘em!” In the mood for food but not to cook, Kentucky Fried Chicken, 501 S Main, said “bad day to cook, great day to bring home the dinner box.” But if in need of car care, Clarence’s, 118 E Lee, worked on “transmission, repair, general tune-ups, and now dependable towing service.” There were many ads for car care, but only one for typewriter repair: at Ace Typewriter Co., 2211 N Sapulpa Freeway, there’s “now two servicemen to handle your machine service-call us for sales and service of typewriters and adding machines.”

Sapulpa Showcase (September 2023)

9/6/2023

September’s “Artifact of the Month” is a book by a local author, Peter D. Egan’s “Greatest City in the Known World.” The two volume series entails the history of Sapulpa. Volume One features newspaper clippings, images, and reflections of the town’s history from the beginning to 1920. Similarly, Volume Two continues the story from 1921 to 1960. “When I was a young boy, my father and my aunt, Minnie Egan Smith, would entertain my brother, John, and I with stories of my grandfather and early day Sapulpa. My aunt was old enough to remember coming to Sapulpa from Iowa in 1893. She remembered much about the town and I was just enthralled to hear these stories. My father, younger than Minnie, was born in Sapulpa in 1900. He would tell us many stories about his childhood and how he grew up in a frontier town. This apparently left a big impression on both my brother and me. We both grew up with a great interest in all kinds of history, especially in Sapulpa’s history.”

Museum Moments (August 2023)

8/23/2023

Fall is just around the corner but the museum has been a hot item for tourism. The museum has had many visitors from all over the world, from England, Italy, France, Brazil, Australia, and many others. As school began to open, local families came to check out the museum to learn about their town’s history.
We are also working on a new special exhibit coming soon this fall. We can’t wait to share it with you!
We also had a Ghost Hunt event as a fundraiser for the museum and the Oklahoma Paranormal Association. Their organization will be producing a book coming out this fall. We’re hoping we may have another event with them soon.
We are in need of volunteers to help be a docent (tour guide) and help answer research requests. If you have any questions or wish to join our organization, please don’t hesitate to call, email, or come in and visit with us about it. Reach us at 918-224-4871 and [email protected]. Thank you!

Society Sights (August 2023)

8/16/2023

August’s “Then and Now Image” shows the Westfall building around 1916. A new bank was to open that July in 1916; the Bank of Commerce would be located on the northeast corner of Park and Dewey. This building, the Westfall building, had officers of the bank, such as Judge D.A. McDougal as president, W.B. Key as vice president, Huber C. Hughes as cashier, and Mart Walter and Florence Rundell as directors. It closed in 1927.

Historical Highlight (August 2023)

8/9/2023

August’s “Historical Advertisements” this month in our history show the businesses, sales, and events happening in our local stores. On August 21, 1973, ads ran for the Sapulpa businesses like Marshall Heating and Air, Lloyd’s Auto Service, Marji Child Car Nursery, Security National Bank, and American National Bank. In August, the need for air conditioning is a must; Marshall Heating and Air Conditioning, at 312 S Henshaw, serviced “all makes and models, checking and inspecting the whole system.” Lloyd’s Auto Service, 506 E Dewey, also wanted to help their customers by their “tune-up for summer driving” advertisement. During the summer, kids, “toddlers to teens” would go to the Marji Child Care Nursery at 201 S Independence. And Security National Bank had an advertisement for their “back to school” ad for starting a checking account and saving up “for a more enjoyable college experience.” Another bank, the American National Bank, advertised for “another of our summer forget-me-nots. Summer goes quickly, and before long it will be time for your youngster to leave for college. Send an extra book along: a book of checks. There’s no easier way to keep track of college expenses; no safer way to pay for everything. A regular monthly statement provides an accurate record of expenditures and canceled checks serve as receipts for bills paid. Open a back-to-school checking account today.”

Sapulpa Showcase (August 2023)

8/2/2023

August’s “Artifacts of the Month” are two 1914 calendars. These calendars feature advertisements for local stores. The first calendar highlights R.T. Shearer who had a “staple and fancy” grocery store; they offered delivery services of their goods, as well. They were located on the corner of Maple and Dewey, at 524 E Dewey. The second calendar features Edgerton & Hillis Hardware Store; they offered farmers supplies and machines. The store was located on the corner of Water and Dewey, at 101-103 E Dewey.

Museum Moments (July 2023)

7/26/2023

July has been an eventful month! We have had more local visitors, more returning visitors, and more foreign visitors than ever before. It seems at least two or three times a week we receive a visit from a family from Jenks - we have been very popular with our neighboring town. We can’t tell you how many tourists come through from out of state and out of the country. It seems like visitors from England, France, Australia, Taiwan, and many others have made it their goal to visit the old Route 66. It’s not just people out of town visiting with us, many local families who have lived here all their lives have come in to visit with us.
Speaking of local families, this month, the Sapulpa Historical Society celebrated its 55th since its establishment in 1968. We invited our guests and visitors to the museum to meet a local legend. John Stephens and his family were able to have a meet-and-greet with our visitors during our Birthday Celebration and Open House. John Stephens, who went to Sapulpa High School, would become the model for the Tulsa Golden Driller Statue. Our celebration was a remarkable event.
Our volunteers have been working hard keeping up with the high volume of visitors to our museums. The Sapulpa Fire Museum has been a hot commodity, especially with fire fighters and the kids! Speaking of volunteers, the Historical Society & Museums are asking for volunteers to give a helping hand at the museum. We are in need of volunteers to help be a docent (tour guide) and help answer research requests. If you have any questions or wish to join our organization, please don’t hesitate to call, email, or come in and visit with us about it. Reach us at 918-224-4871 and [email protected]. Thank you!

Society Sights (July 2023)

7/19/2023

July’s “Then and Now Image” shows the location of the Air Dome Theater. It was located at 110 S Main St. It had live performances, and these are many of the performers and maintenance. Later, silent films would entertain the audiences. During the silent films, musicians and entertainers would perform during the silent film playing. A young musician, Roy Baxter, would play the drums and bells.