Little Bit of Country at 124 E. Dewey Ave. is experiencing a robust reopening following a spring storm back in May that closed the business down and heavily damaged the historic old Morton Building.
Diane Gloden and her family own the building, which besides Diane’s Little Bit of Country features several vendors, including a beauty salon, an alterations lady, a shoeshine man, her husband’s and son’s knife and blacksmithing, and even a farriers corner well-stocked with assortment of horse shoes and everything needed to shoe and trim hooves. And of course all kinds of other items “just in time for the holidays and Christmas.”
In May the three-story building was hit by tornadic winds—probably a microburst—and a thunderstorm following a tornado that hit Bristow. The roof was heavily damaged and allowed a huge amount of water to flood in, taking down parts of the interior structure. Ceiling tiles came tumbling down on top of everything and everyone.
“I heard a real loud noise,” Gloden describes, “then the ceiling began falling.”
No one was hurt but the damage far exceeded what the insurance would cover—tens of thousands of dollars. Several other old downtown buildings also were damaged in the same event.
Little Bit of Country closed, a huge pod dumpster was brought to curb out front and cleanup began. For a time, the store operated out of a building on South Main while other vendors waited for a mammoth rebuilding and shoring up of the old structure.
The building—identified in a Sapulpa Main Street brochure used by Jim Hubbard in his popular “walking tour” several years ago as the Turner Building—was built in 1907-1910 by Major E. M. Turner. It housed several retail stores including W.J. Briscoe’s , Gootee’s Ladies Wear and eventually Morton’s Department Store. Morton’s was one of the last boom days, pre-mall retailers to close in downtown Sapulpa. The Salvation Army had a thrift store here for a time before the Creek County Sheriff’s offices were housed here. The Glodens bought the building in 2003 from Paul Imbody.
Diane and her Little Bit of Country store had been in the Westfall Building for 13 years prior.
After the storm, the adage “there’s a silver lining behind every cloud” took on some real meaning for Little Bit of Country.
Little Bit of Country happened to be an outlet for Rustic Cuff—a jewelry bracelet craze developed by Tulsa’s Jill Donovan. When the company heard of Gloden’s misfortune, it came alongside her, establishing a GoFundMe account and ultimately presenting her a $100,000 check to rebuild her store.
This past week, the Glodens and other vendors held a “reopening” open house. Rustic Cuff was there to help Gloden celebrate.
In a sense, businesses have been saved and history preserved—from floor to ceiling. The ornate metal ceiling that preceded the dropped one that fell in is just one of the features. There are 6,400 feet of display and shopping space on the ground floor. Al Bogans can even give you a shoeshine at his Steppers Shine. Be sure to Check out Gary’s knives and wrought iron works as well.
The mezzanine is beautiful. Gloden’s daughter Teresa Bailey and her associates at Creek County Choppers run the beauty salon on the second floor. Photographer Gary Box and neighbor to the west utilizes the third floor.
The re-opening and wonderful old building on East Dewey is just one more reason to do the Holiday Stroll downtown this year.
—
Featured Image courtesy of Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce.
