A Comprehensive Account

The Story Of  Sapulpa & The Great Ozark Trail by Kirby Lee Davis is the first book in The Great Beckoning series and published by Sapulpa Historical Society. It is a comprehensive account of Sapulpa, a town in America, and the Ozark trail that emerged.

As I live in England, I know very little of American history except for what I studied as part of my degree. I found this book absolutely fascinating.

The story of Sapulpa begins in the early 1800’s but the main focus is on the late nineteenth century until 1928. We hear of the growth of the railroad, followed by that of the motor car. Oklahoma had just 1,100 registered cars and trucks in 1911 rising to 184,212 in 1925. Both vehicles and the railways brought businesses to the area.

During the nineteenth century we saw how the native Americans were pushed out by white settlers. “Oklahoma’s Indian tribes… were the victims of the whites’ insatiable hunger for land.” It was horrifying to hear that the Ku Klux Klan held a rally in Sapulpa in the mid 1920’s.

As well as hearing about the growth of the town and surrounding area, there is also a section about notable businesses. It is interesting to read about the various churches and businesses that set up. I was particularly interested to read about the Harvey House as I had seen the Judy Garland film called The Harvey Girls.

The third section is about notable people who either lived in Sapulpa or who visited the area. This was my favourite section.

Kirby Lee Davis has clearly thoroughly researched, and also produced a first-class account of Sapulpa and the Ozark trail. I loved all the many photographs that were included.

This is a perfect book for any fans of American history, or in the growth of an area.

I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON