Society Sights (June 2019)

Then and Now Images of Sapulpa...

(Then) Bovaird Supply Company
(Now) Farmers' Feed Store lot

Bovaird had several locations in town, however, oil supply businesses in Tulsa took a while to branch out to Sapulpa. Sapulpa had been trying to land an oil field supply house for some time. They had been working with Bovaird Supply Company for several weeks, and their efforts had finally paid off. Bovaird had agreed to come to Sapulpa if the Commercial club could furnish them with suitable site. A site had been secured and Bovaird was coming to town. The location of this new business was to be on the east side of N Main, just south of the Frisco right of way. This was very welcomed news as it gave us a major supplier of oil well goods. We could not become a great oil center and compete with Tulsa without supply houses. It was hoped that this was to be on of many supply houses. The seven supply houses in Tulsa had made an agreement that they would not come to Sapulpa. This lack of oil supply houses and no first class hotel was a big impediment to us competing with Tulsa. Bovaird would remain in Sapulpa for many years and employed many Sapulpans. (Sapulpa Light, March 1, 1907; Sapulpa Herald, August 31, 1954).