Sapulpa Historical Society

Before we were the Chieftains, Sapulpa was known by several names, most prominently, the Outlaws. What led to the change?

This week in history, in 1946, the fear and effects of Polio reached Creek County. Pools closed for the summer, A Boy Scout trip was canceled, the School Board pushed the opening of the new school year back, and a child died all in the same month.

Mabel Bassett was the town’s first Police Matron. In her work, she was at the forefront of helping the poor, women, and children, and the downtrodden.

This week in 1909, the France Hotel opened. “The new hotel is a beautiful one and is a great credit to the city.”

In the early 1900s, Sapulpa didn't have much in the way of swimming holes aside from creeks, lakes and ponds. By 1915 that would change.

The actual start-up date for the Bartlett-Collins Glass plant began on June 28, 1915, striking to life the era of Sapulpa's reputation as "The Crystal City of the Southwest."

Though Juneteenth has only recently become a federal holiday, the tradition of celebrating the emancipation of slavery in Sapulpa dates all the way back to 1908.

“Golf playing was suddenly halted when a strange whirling mechanism spun thru the air overhead. The golfers stopped their games and stared at the [strange] sounding vehicle of the air.”

In the 1930s, Dewey was widened to make room for highway traffic. Nearly 100 years later, it may be changing again.

Formed this week in 1955, the Sapulpa Auxiliary Police force was made up of more than 60 Sapulpans that agreed to be "called to duty at any time of the day or night."