Did you know...

The Loraine Hotel caught fire and was completely destroyed. This was the worst fire in Sapula’s history. The Loraine Hotel was destroyed and two buildings to the north were also destroyed; they were, Swift’s Market and the Home Appliance Store. Two people died in this fire. (Sapulpa Herald, Dec 2, 1949).

*Bonus: There were 3 hotels within one block: Loraine Hotel, St. James Hotel, and Lee Hotel. The Loraine burnt down, St. James was torn down, and the Lee changed hands to become Y.W.C.A. - now the Sapulpa Historical Museum.

Artifact(s) of the month...

Photographs and a newspaper clipping of a school protest by Sapulpa High School students. The school board had made a decision concerning the Christmas break and how long of a break it should be. The decision was made to change the break from two-weeks to one-week. However, some students had jobs outside of the classroom, and were upset by the decision - cutting their hours at work. The students circled around town during school hours - this picture was taken in front of Sapulpa Herald.

*Sapulpa Herald, December 17, 1946* (check out the bonus)
The article reads...
"All Except About 10 Striking Students Are Back In Classes"
All but about 10 students, who walked out of classes yesterday in their strike for a two weeks Christmas holiday were back in their classes today, according to James L. Prince, city school superintendent.
He stated that school practically was back to normal this afternoon.
Announcement of disciplinary action to be taken will be made either tomorrow or Thursday, Prince said. Students will be dealt with individually, with some general disciplinary moves under consideration.
According to school authorities, a committee of students called on G. C. Corneliscn, high school principal, in an effort to negotiate return of students and escape any punishment. They received a flat "no," to their proposal, it was stated.
"That strike is a washout and the walkout has turned into a lockout relative to the trouble makers in so far as I am concerned. Some of the trouble makers are not wanted back in school," Prince declared.
Prince paid tribute a sudden and determined action by parents in seeing that their sons and daughters return to classes. "We couldn't have done anything if the business men and parents hadn't back up the school authorities. It is definitely a tribute to the good citizenship to be found in Sapulpa. Teachers today report better class work and order and the most pleasant day they had in a long time," Prince added.
Yet to be decided was whether the annual football banquet scheduled for Friday night would be held in view of the ill-advised student strike.
Students, claiming over 400 walked out, while school authorities estimated only about one-half of the 585 high school students left classes, will get only a one-week holiday starting Friday afternoon. William Griess, school board president, reiterated again today that there would be no change in the holiday period.
The main reason given by students for the walkout was that they wanted to work during the Christmas holiday and make some extra money. School authorities stated that students with jobs had only to make application and present a letter from the employer and an excuse would have been granted.
There were only 49 said they had jobs, according to the school superintendent. About 25 of those students have been excused to work.
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*bonus: The Sapulpa Historical Society now has our local newspapers digitized! Our earliest digitized newspaper is from the Sapulpa Signal, July 14, 1904.

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Then and Now Images of Sapulpa

Our beautiful unique Downtown District.

(Then): Taken in the middle of street, Dewey, at intersection of Elm St, circa 1920.

(Now): In the middle of Dewey, at Elm St.

Did You Know...?

H.H. Brown, general manager of the Frisco, had written the city attorney and said he would be in town to discuss the possibilities of building a new viaduct and a subway at Thompson Ave. It was believed that a subway (underpass) would be relatively cheap due to the elevation of the tracks at this location. This would also relieve some of the traffic congestion on Dewey. Traffic was sometimes tied up for 15 to 20 minutes due to freight traffic on the railroad. This was never done, however. (Sapulpa Herald, Nov 24, 1920)

Artifact of the month:

Katz Department Store boxes.

​Katz Department was a place to shop in the Sapulpa Downtown District, located at 200-202 E Dewey, corner of Park and Dewey.

Then and Now images of Sapulpa.

219 S Poplar St, corner of Poplar and Lincoln.
Jimmie Wilson’s house (Then);

the Estate (Now).

*Bonus* notice the house to the right of Jimmie Wilson's in the 'Then' image? That house belonged to John Egan and his family (one of the founding members of Sapulpa).

Did you know...

Jimmie Wilson’s famous Catfish String Band made six recordings for the Raido-Victor recoring Company in Dallas: “Argentine Rag,” “Catfish Whiskers,” “My Two Sweethearts,” “Catfish March, “Comin’ Around the Corner,” and “Polecat Creek Blues.” Members of the band at that time were Jimmie Wilson, John Ed Harris, Bob Dennis, Oren Potter, Charles Potter, Bill Jones, Speedy Moulder, Perley Santee, Steve Neff, and Henry Minsky. (Sapulpa Herald, October 16, 1929).
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The band was not really a "string" band - more like a "novelty" band - for they made their own instruments. We have a few of these homemade instruments displayed in our museum - check them out when you visit!

*Bonus* check out this link to hear their music: 

Artifact of the month is...

Jimmie Wilson’s radio transmitter, circa 1920s.

This original radio transmitter (built by DeForest) was used in Jimmie Wilson’s home (216 S Poplar) when the Catfish String Band would broadcast their unique tunes.

*Bonus* Did you know Jimmie Wilson and the Catfish String Band also played with another famous musician when he worked at the Sapulpa Depot as a telegram operator and luggage boy - yep, he's name was Gene Autry.