This story was originally published at Sapulpa News & Views.
Sapulpa’s restored electric trolley car, an icon on Historic Route 66, was damaged in an early morning blaze Wednesday. First thought to have been caused by an electrical short in Christmas display lighting, a lock pried off one of the street car’s two doors and security camera footage have caused the fire to be called suspicious.
“We’re fortunate someone saw the flames and summoned the fire department,” said former CEO of Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway Russel Crosby. “It could have been a lot worse” had the flames spread to the structure that shelters the town’s centennial icon and popular Route 66 tourist stop.
Crosby, one of the prime movers in the car’s restoration more than 20 years ago (and main caretakers since) was on the scene with his family shortly after 2 a.m. Two teens who were walking along Dewey Ave (Route 66) and saw the flames contacted the authorities. Their report and fast response of Sapulpa firefighters from the nearby central station saved the car, but there is significant damage.
Kevin Tucker, VP and operations manager was notified of the fire just before 2 and had the police contact Crosby. Firefighters were on the scene within minutes of the 1:40 call. Batallion Chief Darren Inbody said that a possible electrical short was first considered but soon learned the TSU security cameras captured the image of a man exiting the trolley on its northwest end where a padlock had been pried loose and the doors opened. The intruder (only one can be seen on video) was evidently in the trolley car before midnight, said Tucker. The figure can be seen walking in and out of the trolley and later apparently hoisting out somthing burning — maybe one of the trolley’s manikins. That was shortly before the teens turned in the fire alarm.
TSU officer Brean Crosby Fowler who took over after her father’s retirement was viewing the video, early morning, and preparing clips that may be posted. The human figure is distinct and it appears smoke also is coming from the trolley car. Missing from the inside is the body of a boy manikin. What may be the remains of its face was noted by Belinda Crosby atop a pile of debris removed by firefighters. The arms were outside the trolly. The little girl manikin donned with a Santa hat also was damaged; one arm off and a forlorn look on her face. Several of the hand-crafted seats to replicate the originals were ruined as was a section of floor planks, side paneling, and at least two windows; some blistering of paint inside and out at the fire’s apparent center.
Anyone with information or identity of person(s) that may have been involved should call the station at 918-224-3359.
Restoring Sapulpa’s Last Streetcar
It was in 1997 when Sapulpa was preparing to celebrate its 100th birthday that a diverse group of people (actually, the whole community) became involved in restoring the town’s only remaining electric streetcar.
The Charles and Shirley Brooks family had been looking for a home for the car that had been used as a filling station building and later a home shop by Shirley’s father, Merton. Historian, the late Jim Hubbard, was actually afraid a home may not be found and the treasure would go elsewhere. At his urging an SOS (Save Our Streetcar) ad hoc group emerged and TSU stepped forward to provide the home. The area where the trolley now sits along with an old caboose, and other rail paraphernalia, is named the James Hubbard Memorial Plaza.
City Manager Tom DeArman, also now deceased, led the city to adopt the restoration project as its “Centennial Icon.” Literally everyone in Sapulpa — from the elementary school students with penny drives and Creek County Jail inmates as work crews to trusts, foundations, businesses, and other entities — became involved.
