Historical Highlight (April 2019)

Did You Know...

There was a vote to allow dancing at the Youth Center. The voting results showed that 1,617 were for and 1,430 were against. The election had become very heated at times with most of the ministers in town opposed to dancing. The students held a parade on Monday endorsing the parade. (Sapulpa Daily Herald, April 6, 1949)

(Top) Article #1: Special Election On Recreation Center Permitting Dancing At Euchee Comes Up Here Tuesday, Sapulpa Daily Herald, April 3, 1949, front page

Voting booths will be opened here at eight city schools.
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The actual wording of the question as it will appear on the ballot is:

"Shall the following measures be instituted by the Board of Education and shall said Board proceed as follows: Establish a recreational center for high school students at Euchee Mission grounds by use of the present gymnasium building, which center shall be kept open at least two evenings a week, one of which shall be Saturday night, and on such other nights as shall be in harmony with the general school program, such as the Junior-Senior Prom, Hi-Y Prom, special holiday parties, etc.; that said recreational center shall be available for and provide facilities for social dancing both square and ball room, dart games, table tennis, badminton, and games of similar nature, intramural basketball, a piano, turn table, and other facilities for music, a soft drink and sandwich counter, which shall be under the auspices of the Student Council?"


(Bottom) Article #2: Youth Center Proposal Carries In Close Vote 1617-1430; Early "No" Trend Loses In Late Vote, Sapulpa Daily Herald, April 6, 1949, front page

Sapulpa citizens, more than 3,000 strong, trooped to the polls yesterday and, in a tight election, decided that the youth of the city should have a recreational center at the Euchee Mission with dancing.

The official count of the ballots was 1,617 for, and 1,430 against.

The first six boxes to report gave the negative vote a lead of almost 200 ballots. With Jefferson and Woodlawn yet to report, the vote count stood at 860 for and 1,042 against. Because of the heavy vote at the two schools, it was almost an hour before their returns came in.

Jefferson with its preponderant vote (529-211) in favor of the proposition gave the proponents of the bill the lead for the first time in the balloting, and Woodlawn put the "clincher" on the election with a majority of 51 for the youth center.

Voting by precincts in the order of their reporting: Booker T. Washington, 20 for - 93 against; Liberty, 93 for - 215 against; South Heights, 70 for - 151 against; Forest Park, 191 for - 147 against; Garfield, 48 for - 104 against; Washington, 438 for - 332 against; Jefferson, 529 for - 211 against; Woodlawn, 228 for - 177 against.
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