Did You Know...

President Wilson, speaking before a joint session of congress, announced the breaking off relations with Germany on February 3, 1917; he did not declare war at this time. However, just weeks later, both houses of Congress had passed resolutions declaring war on Germany - we were now officially in World War I, April 6, 1917.

​These are a few of the headlines of Sapulpa Herald and Creek County Republic when President Woodrow Wilson and Congress announced the United States will join the Great War, World War I. (Sapulpa Herald & Creek County Republic April 6, 1917).

Artifact(s) of the Month:

​Euchee Mission artifacts such as the 1917 pennant girls' basketball, 1916 superintendent's (W.E. Darner) school bell, and wooden board from the Euchee school building are just some of the Euchee or Yuchi artifacts we have on display, showcasing Sapulpa's diverse culture. *Bonus Artifact* Euchee Indian School Military Veterans 1894-1947 (in 2007, it was unveiled to the public by the Euchee Alumni and Creek Nation Casino Board of Directors)

Much credit for founding the school is due to Samuel Brown, Noah Gregory, Henry Land, and William Sapulpa, whose work influenced the Creek Council to make an appropriation for the school from Tribal Funds. Buildings were then erected and the school opened in the fall of 1894, enrolling about fifty students of all ages. In the beginning the school was co-educational and had only three buildings, including two dormitories and a three-room schoolhouse, all located on forty-acres of Tribal property.

The Council appointed Euchee and Methodist minister, Noah Gregory, as the school's first superintendent. Henry Land and William Sapulpa then followed as second & third superintendents, respectively.

The school was improved, enlarged, and maintained by appropriations from Creek funds until 1928 when it was taken over and supported entirely by federal appropriations under supervision of the U.S. Native American office.

In 1947, the school closed, when the land and buildings were sold to school district no. 33 for use by the public schools.

Then and Now Images of Sapulpa...

In honor of one of Sapulpa's teachers, classmate, friend, hard worker, a great person to be around, we would like to dedicate this then-and-now image to David Main. Main was the Director of Central Tech for over 30 years. He retired as Director in 2009.

David Main was one of the founding members of the Sapulpa Historical Society; he was an active member, volunteering his time, and worked on the Board.

Thank you, David Main, for you dedication to our grateful city.

(Then) 2003, image of Central Oklahoma Area Vo-Tech School
(Now) image of Central Tech

​Link to David Main's Obituary:

Did you know...

Halloween (or Hallowe'en) Parties were the event of the season! Early newspapers praised the receptions every year - even the earliest news articles (such as 1904) provided a whole column or section for 'Social events' - and Halloween was a very popular affair in Sapulpa.

1) Hallowe’en Party
The Royal Neighbors gave a Hallowe’en party which was also to take the place of a celebration for all of its members who have birthdays in October, at the home of Mrs. Chas Salmons on South Maple St.
The guests, about fifty in number were met at the door by ghosts who with their weird jesters would direct them to the next door and so on, until they had been to every door of the house and were back to the first one, where they were allowed to enter. They were next directed by other ghosts to go up stairs which was covered with pans, pillows, and hardly a place to put their feet without stumbling. After a successful effort they reached the top of the stairway there to be directed to the rooms where their wraps were removed. After descending the almost impossible stairway, they entered the different rooms where the parties who were not masked tried with mostly unsuccessful attempts to guess the masked person.
Many original games and contests were the entertainments of the evening, such as, some of the fortune which the fortune teller in her tent told to some of the ghosts and the artistic ability which some of the witchers and ghosts displayed in their attempts to draw black cats. Mrs. Wagner and Miss Heiston were among the successful contestants and were awarded tiny pumpkin pies, while those winning the consolation prizes were given pickles.
Another pastime of the evening was the following of strings through the different rooms decorated with witches, ghosts, black cats, autumn festoons and draperies of purple and white, the lodge colors. Some led the owners out of windows, under furniture and in nearly every crook and corner of the house to find their fortunes in form of tiny bags of cornmeal, salt and also empty ones.
Refreshments were served consisting of pumpkin pie, sandwiches, coffee and apples. The dining room tables were decorated with autumn leaves and berries with a large jack-o-lantern in the center.
Six members of the Kiefer camp were present at this delightful occasion. Mesdames Stafford, Walker Fleming, Estep, Lowe and Miss Edna Walker.

Hallowe’en Reception
The Ladies Library Club held a Hallowe’en reception in the form of opening day at the home of the president Mrs. Chas Whitaker. About seventy-five were present including members of the club and guests.
The house was very beautifully decorated with fall berries, leaves, persimmons and things of nature’s October splendors.
Mrs. Whitaker was assisted in the duties of a hostess by Mesdames Sweeny, Burke, Dingman, Burrows, Hickman, and Misses Dingman and Whitaker.
Several very interesting talks were given. One by the state president of the State Federation of Women’s clubs, Mrs. D.A. McDougal on the work this body is doing. Mrs. J.F. Egan, Mrs. Brodie, and Mrs. Welch gave the past present and future of the library club.
During the afternoon the club had a picture of all the members present taken.
Refreshments were served by the hostess and her assistants and the many guests left very much regretting that this was the last time the club would receive  the hospitality of their president on account of her early departure for a new home in California.
(Sapulpa Light, October 27, 1911)

2) Hallowe’en Party
Misses Maude Virden, Minnie Egan, and Hattie Tice planned and worked up a unique hallowe’en party Monday. The affair was held in Lucile opera house and about twenty young people enjoyed it. A ghost and a witch were present to help liven things. Cards and dancing were indulged in and cider, doughnuts, apples, and popcorn were passed around. The party was in truth a genuine hallowe’en affair and thoroughly enjoyed by all present. (Sapulpa Light, Nov 4, 1904)

3) Atotka Club Hallowe’en Party
 Another jolly gathering was the party given by the Atotka Club, at the home of the Misses Pickett Monday night. The party was arranged as a leap year affair, and the ladies carried out their part of the program to the letter. They called for their gentlemen friends and escorted them in aristocratic style to the rendezvous. It’s rumored that one young lady carried a lantern-but no matter, she got her fellow there. A ghost program was carried out and the rooms certainly did take on a ghostly appearance.
About twenty white ‘things’ quietly sitting around moving occasionally and once in a while a ‘ghost song would be heard in some remote corner. Queer looking faces lighted by red and green lights would shine from various parts of the room.
About ten o’clock all piled into one wagon and rode for an hour over the city. At 11 o’clock delicious refreshments were served by the young ladies. A literary program was carried out, and in all, it was an exceedingly pleasant party. Several friends of the members were invited. (Sapulpa Light, Nov 4, 1904)

4) Hallowe’en Social
Mrs. Judge Jennings will entertain the Ladies Aid of the Presbyterian Church Tuesday evening. As the society only meets once a month Mrs. Jennings will make the October meeting a Hallowe’en party. The ghosts, pumpkins, apples, etc. will be on hand and a fine time will be had. (Sapulpa Light, September 29, 1905)

5) Had a Theatre Party: Atoka Club off on a Chase Hallowe’en
The Atoka Club, as their custom, got together Tuesday night for a Hallowe’en jaunt. Ever since the founding of the club, it has observed Hallowe’en in one way or another. Tuesday night a theater party was formed and twenty-four seats reserved in a group at Lucile opera house, where the Breckenridge Stock Company is performing this week.
Cabs and buggies conveyed the members to the law office of Mars & Mars early in the evening, and all went to the opera house in a body. After the show the members adjourned to Hotel Ripley where Mr. and Mrs. Ripley had prepared a splendid oyster banquet. During the supper short toasts were given by a few members, and at a late hour the various homes were sought all feeling that the ‘theatre party’ was probably the most successful and enjoyable Hallowe’en  caper ever performed by the club. (Sapulpa Light, November 3, 1905)

Did you know...

The new Bartlett Hospital was to be formally dedicated on September 14th. The new wing of the hospital contained room for 23 patients along with a kitchen, x-ray room, and laboratory rooms. The old hospital would be renovated as soon as those patients could be moved into the new part of the facility. (Sapulpa Herald, September 14, 1958).

The Herald prepared an entire section of the newspaper layout for the dedication for the Bartlett Memorial. Businesses advertised shared their congratulations and praise. Workers within the hospital had their biography introduced inside this section. Picture after picture, story after story, page after page of information on the Bartlett Memorial.

Artifact of the month:

Booker T. Washington School, 1948, yearbook. The yearbook may be missing its cover, but it does not take away the history held within.

The 1940s brought great change to the administration. Schools were divided into 3 classes, depending on size of enrollment ('Class A' enrollment of 125 or over; 'Class B' enrollment of 50 or over; and 'Class C' c enrollment less than 50). All classes take the same tests. A quote from the yearbook: "In competition with thirty of the leading schools of the state, the students of Booker T. have twice shown that they are the best in the state. The schools competing are first divided into classes according to high school enrollment...All classes take the same tests.In all of the contests since the beginning of this state-wide interscholastic meet, Booker T. has won first place in 'B' division, and in 1946 and 1947 this school won the grand sweepstake trophy that is given for the highest total score with size of school."

The pages from Booker T. Washington 1948 yearbook:
Progress
When the present administration took charge of this school in fall of 1940, conditions were quite different in every respect from what they are today. the greatest improvement has been in scholastic attainment. Numerous changes have been made in the faculty, including some resignations, but all additions have been made with experience and preparation as a criterion and with better instruction the specific aim.

Until 1940, Booker T. had not shown favorably in sports, and at that time there was not one cup or trophy to testify as to our ability in that filed. Today the school possesses twelve trophies. During the past eight years, the boys have been state champions twice and runners-up twice in football. For a period of five years, the team did not lose a single game at Holmes Park. Basketball has been offered for the last four years. During this time, the boys have won the District trophy twice, and they were runners-up for the State trophy.

In 1940 this school had enrollment of 495 pupils with a faculty of eighteen teachers and only twelve classrooms; the library consisted of a few old books and periodicals in the rear of the English room which made their availability quite inadequate. Some classes were taught in rented houses, some in churches, and two or three classes were held daily at the same time in the auditorium. The Board of Education alleviated this crowded condition immediately by converting the auditorium into four modern classrooms. A new gymnasium and auditorium, which serves for athletics, chapel and the physical education classes, was built. The library is now situated in a large well-lighted room, and it contains over 5000 volumes. The monthly turnover of books had jumped in eight years from [less than] 100 to over 1300 volumes a month. Some students have read over 50 books in one year.

The school building is not entirely modern, but for the last seven years work and planning has been done in  that direction. Only about 100 feet of sewer tile remains to be laid before installation of modern fixtures can be made.

The Booker T. Washington school is highly industrialized. The following courses are offered: Two years of typing including shorthand, two years of household service, four years of vocational agriculture, three years of home economics and vocational home economics, three years of industrial arts, and a course in maintenance mechanics for veterans. In addition to these courses, the curriculum offers all of the subjects required for meeting state regulations and for preparing students for college entrance.

In the annual Interscholastic Meet, sponsored by the Langston University Alumni Association, the students of Sapulpa have made an enviable record. During the five years of the Meet, the students from Booker T. have taken first place in every contest in the "B" division, and in 1946 and 1947 they won the sweepstake trophy which is won without regard to the size of the school.

The aims and objectives include plans for complete modernization of the building and of all the departments, continued instructional improvement, and better recreational facilities.

Principal D. Adolph Williams, B.A., M.A.
"We are engaged in the task of building personalities, and it is our sincere desire to be able to understand the design and to be in a position to interpret the progress we are making. Among other things, personality is a quality of the innermost being of an individual which carries him upright and honorably through life in an ever changing world.

"We must cause to be developed in our students certain concepts of health, which will enable them to live most and serve best. Have them look upon their bodies as houses in which the personality dwells. This house may be run-down, untidy and unpainted, or it may be neat and beautiful to behold, depending upon the individual personality that dwells therein. Children must be made to understand that much of the condition of the house depends upon the occupant, and that although the narcissus cannot be a rose, yet the narcissus can be beautiful.

1. Teach children to live rich and significant lives.
2. Help them to build colorful and harmonious personalities.
3. Enable children to enjoy to the utmost the glory of being happy.
4. Interpret education for children in terms of beauty, service and efficiency.
5. Teach them to be prepared to do better the tings they are most likely to do."

Signed, D. Adolph Williams