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February’s “Historical Advertisements” this month in our history show the businesses, sales, and events happening in our local stores. On February 14, 1973, a few advertisements stood out among the articles: Safeway, Warehouse Market Pharmacy, Otasco, Saied’s, and Posey. At Safeway, a turkey roast sold for 35 cents per pound, Safeway coffee ran for 83 cents for a one-pound bag, and Del Monte Catsup wanted you to stock up on 4 for $1 of their 14-oz bottles. At Warehouse Market Pharmacy it was “save the warehouse way” with their “protected by our knowledge, accuracy, and integrity.” With Otasco, their “pre-season clod busters” included a 77 cent rake, a powerful longlife HP Tiller for $168.88, and 50 lb bag of cow manure for $1.37. At Saied’s , a “special stock reduction sale” for half price for knit tops at $3-7 (regularly $6-14), Lady Wrangler for $5 (regular $10-12), and all-weather coats, capes for 20-50% off.” Lastly, at Posey, they offer “bear wheel alignment, front end service alignment and balancing.”
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February’s “Artifact of the Month” is this measuring tool to see how much oil and gasoline is in the Ford Model T tanks. These vehicles had different tank sizes and shapes, at the time. Depending on what size and shape your vehicle had, that is the side of the measuring tool you used to indicate how much oil and gas is in your vehicle. This particular “ruler” has a gauge for Round, Square, and Oval tanks. The Sapulpa Historical Museum had refurbished a gas station on the corner of East Lee and South Water; it was once a Waite Phillips station in the 1920s, and then a Barnsdall station around the 1930s. The measuring tool is on display in the garage of the station.
 It is a new year at the museum. There will be a lot of things happening at the museum this year. We will be turning 55 years old this year! Since 1968, the Historical Society has been preserving Sapulpa and Creek County history. This month the museum received many interesting donations. These donations include a Sapulpa: Crossroads of America throw, Rumble Fish memorabilia, and many others. Possibly one of the largest and heaviest item donations to the museum came in earlier this month; we received the restoration movie theater sign from the Criterion. Thank you to all our donors!
Also, given to the museum, is the new edition of the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport books. The passport books (the red book and the yellow book) list Oklahoma’s Route 66 attractions; and if you visit each attraction, you get a stamp at check-in. When you collect all the stamps, you get a little prize at the end. The previous red books came out in 2020, and they are still valid for a stamp. The new yellow books have more attractions listed in the passport. There is also now an online version, so that if a business listed in the passport is closed when a visitor arrives, the visitor may log on the TravelOK app and be able to check themselves in on the online passport. We have both yellow and red books available for our tourism needs. The museum is located in both books and we’d be happy to stamp your books for you! Tourism: Furthest visitor outside of Sapulpa:
January’s “Then and Now Image” shows a head-on image of one of several movie theaters in Sapulpa. In 1939, the Yale Theatre was showing a special for two nights only, “Blackmail” with Edward G. Robinson and Ruth Hussey. The movie came out in 1939. The Yale stated they were showing the special for two nights only, instead of its usual three-day booking.
January’s “Historical Advertisements” this month in our history show the businesses, sales, and events happening in our local stores. On January 18, 1935 a page of advertisements stood out among the articles: Sapulpa Gas Co., Rogers Bread, G&W Bowling Alleys, and Davis ‘Joe’ Grocery. The Sapulpa Gas Co. featured an image of Uncle Sam stating, “Your government is rolling up its sleeves to help you live better in an Automatic Gas Home…Start today to modernize your home.” Rogers Bread said, “Rogers Grandma’s Bread, the richest bread in the world!” G&W Bowling Alleys wanted you to visit their business and said, “Keep fit by bowling. Free instructions for beginners. Women especially invited.” ‘Joe’ Grocery said their Saturday meat special prices were “round steak, per lb, 15 cents; beef roast, per lb, 8 cents; bacon, no. 1 sliced, no rind, per lb, 29 cents.”
January’s “Artifact of the Month” is actually two items that are similar. These are fire extinguishers, but a special kind. Another name these items are often called are “fire balls,” “fire bulbs,” and even, “fire grenades.” Essentially, these were used for small fires, often in homes or offices. Around the 1940s and 1950s, the Fire Ball, the red ball, was “designed with Christmas in mind.” The Ball came in a box that said it was safe for cars, boats, closets, and attics, too. Nonetheless, Fire Ball was often used on the Christmas tree (when people would lit real candles on the tree); it would hang on the tree like an ornament. If the tree caught fire, the Ball would self-release by melting and extinguishing the fire. On the other hand, the Fire Bulb, a glass bulb, would be hung on a bracket on the wall. If a fire broke out, one would simply grab the bulb, throw it at the base of the fire, (hence the nickname, “fire grenade”) and the glass would shatter open and extinguish the fire. This particular grenade came from the Victorian / Criterion Theatre. It is dated around the early 1900s.
 What Have We Been Up To This Month:
This month the museum has coordinated a display about a local pottery gem, the original Frankoma! The display is based around many of the Christmas pieces constructed by the company. The company was founded in 1933. The oldest piece on display for mass of ours, being a ceramic chieftain head as a class gift, dating back to 1942. Another thing of note is the Frankoma Christmas cards, our oldest being 1974. This is just a taste of what what we have to see! We also had our annual Christmas Open House! We had many Christmas Chute visitors come in and check out what the town of Sapulpa is all about. We also had our annual volunteer luncheon. It was our last luncheon to be catered by our local Lebanese restaurant Freddie's B-B-Q and Steak House. Tourism: Furthest visitors from outside of Sapulpa came from:
Then and Now Images of Sapulpa:
The home pictured once had the Zartaludes family living in the home. James Zartaludes was the owner and operator of many movie theaters in town. The movie theaters' buildings may still stand, but these are not operating as such, anymore. Except one. It will be opened possibly next year for guests. Zartaludes had the Criterion, State, Yale, and TeePee Drive-In theaters.  Did You Know...
It was announced this month in 1941 that tires would be rationed due to the shortage of rubber. Most of the world's rubber came from Southeast Asia. During the war, transportation of goods were limited. Manufacturers would stop production on essential items as tennis and golf balls, rubber bands, balloons, and many other items. (Sapulpa Herald, December 18, 1941) Artifact of the Month:
It's nearing that special time of year again. Getting all bundled up, with a peppermint something, and of course some cozy Christmas movies! Our artifact for today is familiar with the genre. Can you guess? "You'll shoot your eye out!" We have today a vintage Red Ryder BB gun! This model was created from roughly 1955 to 1958, identifiable by its plastic forearm and place of manufacture. (Plymouth, Michigan USA. The last model to be made there before they moved location to Rodgers, Arkansas). In all chunky capitals, the owner of this piece, carved 'TIGER' into the stock. A wild child indeed! |
DISCLAIMER
The information found on this page has been researched through Sapulpa (and area) newspapers, Sapulpa Historical Society archives, books, and photographs, Sapulpa yearbooks, city directories, and other local authors. Any other sources will be labeled and named as the research continues. Any mistakes will be noted and adjusted as needed. |
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