Rachel Whitney, Curator,
Sapulpa Historical Museum
Many things took place during this week in March 1924, 100 years ago, here in Sapulpa. School attendance and students made the news. The Sapulpa Junior Chamber of Commerce announces a huge event is about to take place this month. Something strange happened to the post office. The headlines kept a highlight of what was going on in the city.
Monday, March 10, 1924: According to the county superintendent, the county schools had a drop in their attendance for the school year. There were less school aged children attending the area schools compared to the previous year. For Sapulpa, a total of 336 less children attended this year than the last.
“Reports from the 10 independent school districts of the county are as follows: Drumright 3,202, Bristow 2,407, Oilton 1,364, Feifer 996, Shamrock 846, Depew 834, Slick 728, Mounds 339, and Kellyville 351. Mannford which will soon be the 11th independent district in the county has 302 children of school age. The total number of children in the county is 22,755.”
These numbers came from the county superintendent of schools census report. “These figures came as a surprise since it was generally supposed by school authorities that the census reports would show an increase,” and not a decrease.
Tuesday, March 11, 1924: Something strange happened at the post office in town. “Many Chicks to Sapulpa People: About Ten Thousand Have Passed Through Post Office Here.” In the early stages of United States Postal Service, people could and would send their chickens in the mail. Sapulpa had a strange package arrive in the mail.
“Approximately ten thousand day-old chicks have been sent through the local post office, to Sapulpa residents, and rural residents, so far this spring, according to a statement made by Postmaster W.R. Casteel this morning. Although Mr. Casteel stated this morning that the big shipments had not yet begun to arrive, a larger number have been received, which is considered rather unusual. Last Saturday morning, the local office received the largest shipment of chickens, to arrive this spring, there being about a thousand of the chicks in the one shipment. Mr. Casteel stated that usually the large shipments were not received until about the middle of April, but they are coming in a little earlier than usual this year. The chicks are shipped in cartons one hundred of them to the box. Since the one-day-old chicks can live approximately forty-eight hours without food or water, very little or practically no attention is given to them, outside of the very careful handling which they receive.”
Wednesday, March 12, 1924: The Sapulpa Junior Chamber of Commerce announced a big booster tour. The tour would run through each city and town in Creek County. A separate novel program would be prepared for each town, as well. A forty-piece band, with a calliope*, would also entertain the tourists.
*Note: a calliope is a organ-like instrument but used steam whistles; often used in traveling fairs.
“Business men of Bristow have arranged to be hosts to the entire Sapulpa delegation at dinner. The trip will start promptly at seven o’clock on the morning of Thursday, March 27. Over two hundred autos are expected to take part. The line will form and start at the corner of Lee avenue and Park street. It is the intention of the Junior Chamber and others to make this interesting trip big enough and enough to become an annual event.”
Thursday, March 13, 1924: Two events held the attention of the locals – one downtown and the other at the school.
The one held downtown was a two-for-one showing, a fashion show for both people and cars. “While the automobile show was small, it was one of the most successful Sapulpa dealers have ever put on. Cars were displayed by only a few dealers, but they were of the better makes, showing the new model of the manufacturer in all its pristine glory. The show, made ready in a week, attracted large crowds from the surrounding country. Many visitors were here from Tulsa, Drumright, Bristow, Mounds, Okmulgee and other near-by places. Music and dancing were a feature of this event that attracted the young folks.”
At Katz Department Store, Sapulpa’s models walked the stage in spring styles. This fashion show drew in a large crowd. “Taken all in all, the fashion show and the automobile show was everything that could have been wished. It brought together, in a harmonious combination the things most in demand-fashionable women’s attire and luxurious comfort in the automobile.”
As the downtown had their pleasant event, at the school, “one of the finest programs ever given in Sapulpa was on at the high school for the benefit of the Sapulpa Band.” Many local people took part and Stewart Lamb, band director, conducted in both classical and popular music.
An appearance by a local musician made their way to the stage. Jimmie Wilson and the Catfish String Band made the biggest hit by dressing in “rube costumes” and “playing some odd looking instruments.”
Another performance stole the show after Wilson. “Probably one of the biggest features of the program,” the quintet made up of faculty members from Booker T. Washington High School had so many encores they finally had to sit down to let the rest of the program on.
Friday, March 14, 1924: The Sapulpa High School athletic department did not have a pleasant announcement. “Sapulpa and Cushing high schools were expelled upon allegations that non-resident students had played upon the respective football teams during the 1923 season. Altus was suspended for failure to file lists, according to the board. Sapulpa High was found guilty upon the charge of allowing Ambrice Nettles, tackle, who was alleged to be a resident of Ada to play during 1923. Cushing was convicted on a similar charge of allowing Roy Dawson, alleged non-resident and graduate of Mountainview high school to play during the past season. Athletic contests staged by the expelled schools were automatically declared void and all titles gained in the past season must be forfeited, according to the board’s decision.”
The Sapulpa High School was suspended for one year by the State Athletic Association. The next day, the principal released a statement stating that when the administration found out about the student, the student was suspended immediately. Furthermore, according to Principal J.R. Holmes, Oklahoma City High School’s principal was jealous and had a dispute with Sapulpa over prize money in a basketball tournament that was held in Oklahoma City; and it was instigated by their jealousy.
Saturday, March 15, 1924: A first accord in Sapulpa and Creek County history. A meeting of the officers for the girls and boys County Farm Clubs was held in Sapulpa. At their very first meeting 50 boys and girls of Creek County met at the Sapulpa courthouse.
“Bristow, Drumright, Depew, Milfay and many other districts were represented at the meeting by the young presidents and secretaries and their teachers. The meeting, which was held in two sessions, one session in the morning and one in the evening, was devoted to the discussing of the club problems, and the informing of those present of more successful means of carrying on their club programs and farm work. B. A. Pratt, state club agent of Stillwater, was present at the meeting and talked to the young people on the subject of their club work. At the meeting this afternoon, Gay Wilson of the Milfay club, was elected president of the Creek County Federation of Boys and Girls club, and Deline Carson of the Pine Hill club was elected secretary.”
Sunday, March 16, 1924: A huge crowd attended the revival, even despite the rain pouring down on the town. “The large crowd that braved the rain and went to the Southern Methodist Church felt repaid for going,” not only for the guest sermon but for the “large choir, under the direction of Mr. Robinson, rendered splendid programs at each of the services.”
“Large audiences greeted Evangelist Burke Culpepper in three services at the Southern Methodist church. Each sermon was different and yet the speaker seemed at his best in each of them. There was an earnestness that was appealing and the large crowds seemed to respond sympathetically to every emotion of the speaker.”
After the week filled with wild stories and events 100 years ago, Sapulpa townsfolk still look toward the future.
(Sapulpa Herald, March 10-18, 1924; County Democrat News, March 13, 1924; History Channel)
