By Don Diehl, Oklahoma Writer
Sapulpa, Oklahoma is one historic community. From its wonderful hundred-year-old buildings downtown at the Crossroads of America on Mainstreet USA “Route 66” to its legendary citizens impacting the whole world from the house “next door.”
One doing such research will find that the town is “defined by its character shaped by three historic factors – Indians, railroads, and oil!” Of course that would include brick and glass plants, churches, schools, trolley and transportation systems; infrastructure, commerce, and agriculture — the harvest of cotton and walnut trees; and famous pottery and parades.
But what about those cows? What? Yeah! Milk producers… pretty important across Indian territory and in emerging “modern” towns like ours. We call them dairies or creameries. Sapulpa had a half-dozen or so [depending on how we name and locate them] operating at the same time 50 or so years ago.
Sometimes overlooked—but remembered fondly when reminded—these family businesses went beyond just milking the cows and hand-delivered the essential white liquid and its side products directly to the doors of our houses!
Those who grew up here [and elsewhere Americana] in the 1940s to 1950s recall the era when families put empty bottles out the night before with a note on what was needed from the creamery. If the milk was separated, the cream had risen to the top and one had to shake the bottle to mix in the cream to get whole milk. Or skim it off for butter. Moms could do a hundred things with milk, and so could the creameries; there was everything from egg nog and ice cream to cheese and cottage cheese.
Dallas Johnston of Sapulpa is of a later generation, but always interested in family roots and memorabilia, and has brought a bit of local dairy history back to light. He is the grandson of Sam and Kay Johnston, long-time owners and operators of Sapulpa’s Farmer’s Feed. That’s where Dallas is in the thick of things along with other family members. When he found a picture of a milk bottle lid and logo of Tharp’s Modern Dairy “Grade A Pasteurized Milk, Phone 321, Corner of Walnut and Hobson” online, he knew he had to share.
The creamery’s owner, Garland Tharp was Kay’s uncle. And now, thanks to Dallas’ find, Kay’s daughter Debbie has fashioned and presented Mom a t-shirt featuring the “family ties” logo.
The Tharps had moved to Sapulpa from Colorado in 1944 so that Doc could join his brothers Garland and Fred, in the Tharp Dairy operation. Kay was four. Doc Tharp would later buy out his two brothers’ interest. In 1948 he sold the dairy to Hawks Dairy and decided to build a drive-in restaurant on the southeast corner of Dewey and Maple. [The former Sonic Drive-in would later be located on the same parcel.] That also is where Kay would be courted by a young cruiser in a 55 Chevy — Sam Johnston. On June 12 the couple celebrated 65 years of marriage. [See sidebar].
The Sapulpa Historical Society has a milk bottle display but a quick check does not show one for Tharp’s Modern Dairy. Volunteers say they would sure love to find one . . . or at least a tab (lid) like the one in Dallas’ post. Manager and board member Mike Jeffries utilizes the old City Directory to fill in gaps in local history when it comes to locations and owners’ names, but alas, because there were none printed during the war (WWII) years 1944 and 1945, Tharp’s Modern Dairy is not listed. Thus, young Johnston’s find and subsequent research of Sapulpa Herald archives on the Oklahoma Historical Society’s website is good information.
Following is some of what Dallas found along with January 3, 1944 ‘new business’ announcement, mugshot of Garland Tharp and page one story. Also some subsequent display ads on inside pages:
Turns Creamery into Tharp’s Dairy
SAPULPA (January 3rd, 1944)—Garland Tharp, as sanitation director of the county health department for the past several years, ended his service in this capacity December 31 and has now taken over his new duties as manager of the former Sapulpa Creamery which he recently purchased from W.R. Metcalf.
The name of the establishment will be changed to Tharp’s Modern Dairy.
Tharp, a graduate of A and M College, in dairying and sanitation plans to put into practice a series of new operative plans. The concern will remain in its location for the present, it was stated. Accent on sanitation, some new equipment and changes in plant operations were to be put into effect by Tharp immediately, it was stated.
“It is my aim to give Sapulpa the purest milk that can be obtained, carefully tested, carefully handled and up to and beyond all sanitation requirements.” Tharp stated on the eve of launching his new business here.
Tharp ownership changes again (sort of)
In December of 1944, J. Warren Tharp purchased the interests of Fred and Garland Tharp and continued to run the business for years, their ads often appearing on the pages of local newspapers.
Tharp’s Modern Dairy becomes Hawk’s Ice Cream Co.
Democrat News February 7th, 1946:
In just two years, Tharp’s would be sold to Hawk Ice Cream Co., which would continue to serve Sapulpans with “the finest milk and dairy products” under the moniker “Hawk’s Home Town Dairy Products.” In this announcement, Hawk said they’d continue to temporarily supply Hawk products in Tharp milk bottles.
