Rachel Whitney, Curator,
Sapulpa Historical Museum
In December 1914, the townsfolk of Sapulpa gathered to ask what they could do as a community to bring a brighter, more joyful, and homey feel to their town. There was a need for a Community Christmas Tree.
“At a result of the meeting of the heads of committees of the Community Christmas Tree celebration, it is possible to announce that the committee is now prepared to take care of the expense incidental to erecting a tree. The committee recommends that each teacher of a class at Sunday school next Sunday brings his or her class a request of the pupils to come the following Sunday prepared to make a special offering for the success of the undertaking.
Various committees had finalized plans. A platform was to be built around the tree for speakers. The children of the town were expected to meet at Washington School by 3 o’clock that afternoon. A band would lead the children in a march from the school. The march led down to the Court House where the three would be lit.
The school board would present a program involving the band playing, Christmas carols, an invocation, and an address by John F. Egan. The children themselves also sang presented a song to the audience.
The Girl’s Glee Club joined the program and was followed by an address by Mayor Smith. Then the Male Quartette was the last group to sing their Christmas song before the closing address by J.F. Lawrence. Finally, the time had come.
The children were gifted presents!
The committees enjoyed the celebration that another tree was decorated and presented to the community. “The faithful tree committee is now at work decorating the big tree that stands south of the St. James Hotel as though it had always grown there.”
A suitable Christmas Tree had been found at Keystone and was shipped to Sapulpa via the Frisco. It was thirty feet tall. The tree was lit and gifts given by the Salvation Army.
By 1921, the Community Christmas Tree program was one of the most joyous events of the year. It was announced on December 15, 1921 that the Pathe News would film the coming Community Christmas Tree event. This would be the fourth filming of an event in Sapulpa in just three months. The events previously were: Pageant of Progress, the Rotary picnics for boys, and the Sapulpa-Ardmore football game. Finally, in time for the holiday season, national attention would be on Sapulpa for the Christmas Tree event.
Pathe Weekly News Pictures were shown all over the United States.
This week in Sapulpa history, the filmed Christmas Tree event was in preparation. The Community Christmas Tree had been set at the Court House. This year, the tree had been donated by the Boy Scouts and set up by the Sapulpa Fire Department. The Children’s Home and Mrs. Mable Bassett would be in charge of the program presentation.
In 1932, the Community Christmas Tree would change a location. The Christmas tree was presented on the lawn of Fire Station No. 2. It was located on the corner of Dewey and Mission. This year, it was decorated with colored lights.
“A cherry sight to Sapulpans and those who drive through Sapulpa enroute to other places, is the Christmas tree at fire station number 2. The tree, large, and beautifully shaped, has been decorated with many colored lights. At night it may be seen for quite a distance in the highways which pass that corner.” The lights had been furnished by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
The Community Tree event brought families, choir, students, merchants all to the downtown area. “Despite the icy winds from the north that swept in here shortly before 3 o’clock this afternoon with Santa Claus and his party Sapulpa youngsters crowded the stores and literally lined the streets to get a glimpse and converse with this famous fellow who will make his annual visit just days from today.
“Merchants began receiving calls early from parents who prepared to accompany their girls and boys to town shortly after lunch time. A special invitation extended to the school children of this city and community met with gratifying respons and the pre-Christmas celebration sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.”
The children watched Santa “sail” in that year. “Wide-eyed youngsters watched the mysterious gentleman sail on by his sled drawn by Alaskan dogs. Contrary to custom, Santa Claus chose huskies this season in preference to his regular reindeer.”
This proved very popular. “Santa’s dog-team attracted perhaps the most attention in his visit here today-and the costumes of the party holding a close second. A real yule-tide atmosphere prevailed and Sapulpa was in gala decoration for the event. The Christmas party will remain until 9 o’clock, when “members of a chorus from Booker T. Washington school, directed by Miss C.B. Digges will sing Christmas carols.”
The next was even bigger.
In 1933, including the Community Christmas Tree, “Santa Claus was put in a generous frame of mind today, as cold weather swept this vicinity. At least that was the hint Sapulpa firemen were dropping to the less fortunate youngsters of the community who will fare in a big way at the big municipal Christmas Tree.”
Firefighters channeled their inner elf-like cheer and began working on building toys. “Firemen were boxing many of the toys they have remodeled during the past three months. Stacks of new ones they have made and repainted were stored at station number 2. Over 400 varied types of playthings for the underprivileged children of Sapulpa have been built by members of the department.”
By the end, the fire fighters presented between 500 and 600 presents. Around the Community Christmas Tree, “sparkling with electrically lighted decorations, loaded down with pretties for Sapulpa kiddies-the tree will hold 600 bags of fruit and candles. Jimmie Wilson will assist firemen in a short program that will precede the unloading of municipal tree.”
This week in Sapulpa history, on December 23, 1970, the story of the Community Christmas Tree was shared. In 1932, “without the hope of personal gain or return was the gift of the late John F. Egan to Sapulpa-so that the city might always have available a Community Christmas Tree for the underprivileged. Egan left instructions that upon his death the large cedar tree in his yard on South Poplar, be moved to the Court House lawn. When there was not room for it on the lawn, it was placed on the fire station lawn, where it still stands, and each year its lights glow to add to the Christmas beauty of the community.”
The tree stood on the corner of Dewey and Mission for 75 years. In December 2007, the ice storm nearly destroyed the tree completely. It was not used again as a Community Christmas Tree.
