Blog Posts - Sapulpa History

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."

Historical Highlight (July 2023)

7/12/2023

July’s “Historical Advertisements” this month in our history show the businesses, sales, and events happening in our local stores. On July 15, 1983, a few advertisements stood out among the articles: Jamil’s Steak House, Creek Hills Theatre, B & L Auto Supply Co., Wells Western Wear, and Manna House Restaurant. At Jamil’s the special of a “thick hickory grilled steaks, Lebanese hors d'oeuvres” small filet was advertised as $7. The Creek Hills Theatre offered “fresh hot take home popcorn” and soon “super pretzels” as they aired movies Return of the Jedi and Staying Alive. While at B & L Auto, one could “do-it-yourself” with “quality Walker mufflers” for $15.96. Found at Wells Western Wear, “exotic boots” that valued up to $300 were on sale for $100. Manna House Restaurant offered“breakfast special with 2 eggs, bacon or sausage, hash browns, toast or biscuits & gravy or pancakes” for only $1.99 with a free coffee.

Sapulpa Showcase (July 2023)

7/5/2023

July’s “Artifact of the Month” is the bomber jacket of LtCol Frank E. Cline. Cline graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1942. He served in the Aleutians, Solomon Islands, Philippines, and Okinawa as an Aircraft Communication-Navigation Systems Technician. After the war, he attended Oklahoma A & M (Oklahoma State University). Upon graduation, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. Cline then served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam war. He retired in 1974 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel as the Avionics Officer for the USMC stationed at Marine Headquarters in Virginia.

Museum Moments (June 2023)

6/28/2023

What a way to start the summer! In June, our museum had a wonderful increase in visitation to our facility. The Sapulpa Fire Museum has been a popular attraction, and many families take their time learning about Sapulpa’s first responders. Many car and oil fanatics come to visit our Waite Phillips-Barnsdall Filling Station. The Historical Museum has become a leisure and luxury, getting out of the heat, and entertaining families. Many groups have come in and are just floored that a small-town museum can have so much history and appreciation for our story. We’ve been working on updating our exhibits, even a little adjustment goes a long way! Come check our facility out - open Tues - Sat, 10 am to 3 pm. And it’s free!

Society Sights (June 2023)

6/21/2023

June’s “Then and Now Image” shows the location for the A&W Rootbeer Stand. This stood on the corner of Dewey and Linden, on the northwest corner. Here, families could order their own burger, just for them. For instance, in the 1950s and 1960s, A&W offered “The Burger Family”: Papa Burger, Mama Burger, Teen Burger, and a Baby Burger. Papa Burger (a double meat burger with mustard, pickle, onion, lettuce) would be .70 cents; Mama’s (single burger with mustard, pickle, onion, lettuce), would be .50 cents.A Teen Burger (a single burger with mustard, pickle, onion, lettuce, and bacon) would run .65 cents; and a Baby Burger (single burger with mustard or catsup and pickle) would be .30 cents. To add cheese to a burger would add another .10 cents.

Historical Highlight (June 2023)

6/14/2023

June’s “Historical Advertisements” this month in our history show the businesses, sales, and events happening in our local stores. On June 8, 1953, a few advertisements stood out among the articles: Tyler Furniture and Appliance, Bayouth’s Department Store, Yale Theatre, Tee Pee Drive-In, and Herbert P. Johnson Insurance Agency. Tyler’s Furniture’s advertisement was top notch with a capital T - “T stands for Titanic! T stands for Terrific! T stands for Tyler!” Bayouth’s announced their anniversary sale prize winners. The winners’ prizes were a Sunbeam Mix-Master, Sunbeam Waffle Iron, Sunbeam Automatic Toaster, Sunbeam Automatic Iron, $10 in merchandise, and $5 in merchandise. In Technicolor, the Yale Theatre advertised a Monday and Tuesday showing of “Hans Christian Andersen and the dancer.” The admission for this were a 65-cent-matinee, 75-cent-night, and 25-cent-children. While that aired, the Tee Pee played “I was a Communist for the FBI” on Tuesday only. On your way to the movies, Herbert P. Johnson’s Insurance wanted to make sure you slowed down. In their ad, a comic entertained its readers, showing a speeding car and a caption: “Now take the case of speeding Joe. The traffic sign said ‘please drive slow.’ Joe paid no heed, but drove real fast. He’s resting now in a plaster cast.”

Sapulpa Showcase (June 2023)

6/7/2023

June’s “Artifact of the Month” is a large quilt that was given the title “Sun Blaze.” It is a yellow, white, applique, and embroidery quilt. The quilt was embroidered with over 400 names. These names were sown in delicate, precious movements.

Sapulpa Showcase (May 2023)

5/3/2023

May’s “Artifact of the Month” is the Frisco canned drinking water. The can reads: “Water for Drinking. Sodium Silicate added for stability. Packed for St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Co. Springfield, Missouri. 8 fl oz.” These three cans have never been opened. At this time, it is unknown the dates of these cans, but our records have the 1940s for these particular cans.

Museum Moments (April 2023)

4/28/2023

Earlier this month, we held our Annual Banquet for our volunteers and members. We usually have the dinner at Freddy's in Sapulpa, but, sadly, last year the restaurant closed. This year, we were able to have our Banquet at the Oaks Country Club.

Our Museum Curator presented an annual report on what the museum life has been like in 2022 and 2023.

Society Sights (April 2023)

4/21/2023

April’s “Then and Now Image” shows Sapulpa’s first high school, Washington School. It was nicknamed “The Castle” as it appeared to be a fortress. Around 1903, on the northside of East Lee Ave, between Walnut St and Maple St, the school building was three stories, square in shape except for the large grand entrance. The yard had been graded, the chimneys were built higher than the main structure, and it was “one of the best equipped schools in the Territory.” This is where the present day Sapulpa School District Admin Building stands; this building, too, was once a Washington School that was built in 1937.

Historical Highlight (April 2023)

4/14/2023

April’s “Historical Advertisements” this month in our history show the businesses, sales, and events happening in our local stores. On April 6, 1953, the advertisements in the Sapulpa papers were simple, and little gimmicks. A few advertisements stood out among the articles: Reel Drug Store, National Concrete Co., Budweiser, Martin Body & Fender Co., Mogab’s Appliances, and Van Landingham Cabinet Shop. At the Reel Drug Store, “if it’s drugs, we have it! With free motor delivery, just phone 784.” The National Concrete Co. located at Walnut & Frisco Tracks had the “‘extra strength’ for any size job with free estimates.” The larger beer, Budweiser, proclaimed “In Oklahoma, when you know your beer, it’s bound to be bud.” “You wreck ‘em-we fix ‘em, your body and fender man for over 30 years,” see George E Martin at 203 E Hobson. Found at 19 S Park, Mogab’s Appliances has “reliable TV repairs.” Lastly, need new homes and cabinets shop? Go to Bob Van Landingham’s.