Rachel Whitney, Curator,
Sapulpa Historical Museum
(Publisher’s note: this story was originally submitted April 11th)
The history behind funeral homes and embalming practices stretches back centuries. Ancient Peru and Ancient Egypt, and many other cultures in between, used embalming as an “art and science of preserving human remains,” and even “animal remains can also be embalmed by similar methods,” through taxidermy. “Embalming preserves the body intact, whereas taxidermy is the recreation of an animal’s form often using only the creature’s skin, fur, or feathers mounted on an anatomical form.”
The reason behind the practice of embalming is that it is for “sanitization, presentation, and preservation. Embalming has a very long and cross-cultural history, with many cultures giving the embalming processes religious meaning.”
The ones leading the embalming practices were not always doctors, medical personnels, or even religious figures. Similar to the history of barber shops, often before modern medical schools and certified practitioners, these were everyday people. The history of barber shops being a place for surgery began during the medieval times. Barbers also were the dentists in the area, too. The history of the infamous barber shop pole of the red, white, and blue stripes states:
“The original pole had a brass wash basin at the top (representing the vessel in which leeches were kept) and bottom (representing the basin that received the blood). The pole itself represents the staff that the patient gripped during the procedure to encourage blood flow. In the Renaissance-era, the surgeons used the colored stripes to indicate that they were prepared to bleed their patients (red), set bones or pull teeth (white), or give a shave if nothing more urgent was needed (blue).”
Although, there is not a history of these barber shops here in town, however, there is a history of funeral homes, undertakers, and embalmers.
In Sapulpa, the embalmers, funeral directors, funeral designers, funeral homes, and undertakers were often the ambulance drivers, as well. Possibly the first funeral home in the town was called Buffington Brothers Funeral. It is believed the business came to Sapulpa as early as March 1898. “D. H. and J. W. Buffington located in Sapulpa from Springfield, MO, establishing their business on Main Street where the large brick post office stood. They later moved to Lee and Oak Streets and had a 75 foot flagpole with the stars and stripes to point out their location.”
Buffington was located at 316 East Lee Ave by 1907. The Buffington would not only be listed as the funeral home, it was also known as the embalmers, undertakers, funeral directors, funeral design, and by 1911, ambulance. Similarly, around this time, only a few other businesses was located in Sapulpa. Such as Street Wilson & Co. at 18-22 South Main St and Menifee at 13 North Birch St.
In 1910, a couple of directors no longer existed, but a couple more funeral homes began. Mitchell Funeral Home was located at 16 South Park St. Mitchell would move to 11 or 15 North Elm St by 1916 and 1918. And Buffington Funeral Home had expanded to 312 – 316 East Lee Ave.
Another embalmer would be introduced into Sapulpa history by at least 1919 or 1920. Sapulpa Funeral Home was located at 210 North Johannes St by H.A. Chiles. This was designated at the Black funeral home service. Within the next couple of years it changed hands and name to Glass Funeral Home, by Edward and Lulu Glass. Glass Funeral would be located at 215 or 217 North Johannes St.
By 1924, listed among the undertakers, embalmers, and ambulance drivers would be Lewis & Landrith. It was located at 11 North Elm St. During this time, Buffington Funeral Home stayed in business at its same location. The three undertakers, Buffington, Glass, and Lewis & Landrith were the three funeral homes until 1938. Lewis & Landrith had moved to 236 West Hobson Ave by 1934. And in 1938, Glass became Dyer’s Funeral Home, located at 230 West Hobson Ave, and Harrison Funeral Home opened at 11 South Oak St.
Lewis & Landrith would become Landrith Funeral Home by 1941. Then by 1946 it would be renamed and moved to Freeman – Landrith at 216 South Main St. And by 1951, Dyer’s became Dyer – Patterson and Landrith would become Owen – Landrith Funeral Homes.
These funeral homes would change names during the 1950s and 1960s, by either combining or branching. By 1951, Buffington was no longer an ambulance service. Owen – Landrith would become Owen Funeral Home in 1956; and Buffington would be renamed Buffington – Smith by 1958. Smith – Wesley Funeral Home would combine with Buffinton between 1956 and 1958.
Buffington was the longest running funeral service for Sapulpa. Finally, in 1961, Buffington became the Smith Funeral Home. Not since the 1920s into the 1930s did Sapulpa only have three funeral home services. Into the 1960s, once again, Sapulpa had three funeral homes: Smith at 316 East Lee Ave, Dyer – Patterson at 230 West Hobson Ave, and Owen at 216 South Main St.
Over the years in Sapulpa history, the people spent the last moments with their loved ones in these funeral homes. There had been many embalmers, funeral homes, undertakers, and funeral directors over the past 126 years of Sapulpa history. These funeral homes listed above are based on the Sapulpa City Directories that the museum has; however, there are a few years missing. There are possibly many other funeral homes that may not have been named and recognized, but their existence in Sapulpa’s history remains important.
There is one funeral home that was not mentioned above. The Rampp Funeral Home. Harold Rampp purchased Buffington Funeral Home in March 1946 and held the name Rampp Funeral Home for another year or so before renaming back to Buffington. Buffington had been closed for the past four years since 1942.
This week in Sapulpa history, Rampp Funeral Home opened for service on April 11, 1946.
“The building has undergone a complete remodeling program, being redecorated throughout and now is open for business with many new pieces of equipment added and the interior floor covered with beautiful new rugs. The Buffington Funeral Home was established in 1898 and has been rendering service to this community for the past 48 years, excepting the past four years when it had not operated.
“Rampp soon expects to have a new 1946 model hearse, made by the Buick Motor Company. His qualified personnel makes it possible to render a most effective service through the reorganized firm. The new owner cordially invites the public to come to the place and view the remodeled structure.”
Little did Rampp know that soon he and the funeral home would make national news…
Part Two will be out the last week of July. Stay tuned!
(Democrat News, April 11, 1946; OK Gen Web; Wikipedia)
