You only think you know Sapulpa.
Every week we publish stories of Sapulpa's history, recalling both the events at the time, and the nostalgia for days gone by. Dig in and learn more about what the Sapulpa of yesteryear was like.
Proudly brought to you by the Sapulpa Historical Society Museum
This Week in Sapulpa History: Sapulpa Businesses and Schools Baseball Showdown
Most locals will know that baseball has been a part of Sapulpa's pastime since the town began. But it wasn't just the high schoolers getting baseball championships—local businesses had their own teams as well. Here's a story of the two champion teams crowned this week in 1916.
May 18, 2024This Week in Sapulpa History: Heavy Hitters From Class of 1921
Over the last year, we have discussed the lives and careers of Denver Grigsby and Frances Hutt, later Frances Hutt Dewey. These two lived different lives, one in baseball and one in singing. One returned to live in Sapulpa, one would become a First Lady of New York and could have been First Lady of…
May 7, 2024This Week in Sapulpa History: School Song Sings On
Often in yearbooks, there are more than just images of classmates, there are notes, letters, and signatures from friends and teachers; there are pages of calendar events of what happened that year at school. There are pages of history and acknowledgments of yesterdays. The 1932 and 1932 Sapulpa High School Yearbooks had all of those,…
May 5, 2024This Week in Sapulpa History – Sapulpa’s Funeral Homes History
In this two-part story, learn how Sapulpa's funeral homes began, and how eventually, one of them would make national news!
April 21, 2024This Week in Sapulpa History: High School Mischief
In 1920, Sapulpa boys jokingly chased down the high school principal and tossed him in their new school pool...only to realize the poor guy couldn't swim! Or could he?
April 1, 2024This Week in Sapulpa History: The Newspaper “War” of 1912
When one of Sapulpa's newspapers alleges that the Frisco Railroad might be getting its water for free from the city, or that the water plant might be sold to a syndicate, how did the others respond? See the details of the back-and-forth in Sapulpa's newspapers of 1912.
March 26, 2024
Do You Remember … The Mazeppa Show?
How many of you remember this line: “Lawzee, scope them turkeys out!”
A new Series: Do You Remember The Sixties?
It's been said that "if you remember the sixties, you weren't really there." I must respectfully disagree. Introducing a new series about a decade that no one in our country should every forget about.
Do You Remember…The Space Race?
In the years immediately following World War II, a period of geopolitical tension emerged between the U.S and the Soviet Union, known as the Cold War. The “Space Race” was, in fact, a Cold War competition to see which of the two countries would be the first to achieve space flight.
Do You Remember John F. Kennedy?
John Fitzgerald Kennedy is considered by many to be the most popular president in U.S. history. I consider him to be one of the greatest presidents in my life because of his courage, compassion, and his undaunted resolve to make not just America a better place, but the entire world.
Do you remember…Snow Valley?
Believe it or not, Kellyville, Oklahoma once had a ski slope. On opening day, according to a local news story, one patron borrowed a line from the TV show “Gomer Pyle” and uttered, “Surprise, surprise, surprise.”
Do you remember a Downtown Sapulpa Christmas?
"Back in the Dark Ages, when I was a young lad, you never had to leave town to buy gifts for the Yule season. All you had to do was go to downtown Sapulpa and you could shop to your heart’s content."
Do you remember…Christmas past?
Last year, holiday retail sales surpassed the trillion-dollar mark. When I was growing up, there was more focus on faith, family, and traditions. Go back in time with me to relive those traditions.
Do You Remember OTASCO?
Before the age of Big Box Stores, Oklahoma Tire and Supply Co. (OTASCO) became known for it's "one-stop-shopping" experience.
Do you remember Richard M. Nixon?
Though Nixon is most widely known for the Watergate scandal, his political career spans decades and he was once called "the hardest working man I ever met."
Do you remember…Your first Valentine?
Valentines from your classmates, sacks of candy and young romances...do you remember your first Valentine's Day?
Do You Remember…Wickham Packing Company?
Learn about the family that put one of the most modern independent packing plants in the Southwest right here in Sapulpa, and what became of their business.
Do You Remember…”Fill er’ up”?
Today people buy their gasoline from convenience stores or at truck stops when traveling. When I was growing up, the only place in town to buy gas was at a full-service gas station, also called a “filling station.”