Sapulpa to Depew, Oklahoma - Small Town America on Route 66

Sapulpa to Depew, Oklahoma

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Just another eight miles down the old road you will come to the small town of Kellyville, population less than 1,000. The town first got its start in 1892 when a man named Jim Kelly leased a location from the Indian Agency in Muskogee and established a trading post southeast of Bakers Junction. The next year, Kelly made a deal with the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad to move the trading post and settlement near the railroad track east of Bakers Junction. In return they would name the town after him.

Before long, Kelly built a large single story wood frame building 3/4 of a mile north of his present location and moved his goods by wagon to the new building.

Cotton Gin Diner in Kellyville, Oklahoma,

Kathy Weiser, May, 2004.

His trading post thrived serving the Indians and white farmers of the area. Before long Huber Hughes established a bank in a stone building across the street from the trading post, the railroad built a depot, and a cotton gin was constructed west of the railroad. The post office was established on November 27, 1893. Homes and others businesses soonfollowed and Kellyville was born. Kellyville originally had its economic base in agriculture and was later supplemented by shallow oil wells in the area.

On the east side of Kellyville are the remains of an old rock motel. In the center of town, be sure to check out the old cotton gin that now houses a friendly diner where you can grab breakfast or lunch.

As you roll along the road onwards to Bristow and Depew watch to the northwest side of the road for glimpses of old Route 66. Some bits and pieces are drivable through here, but others make sudden stops where road closed signs block the way of travel at places where old bridges are long gone or the road has been rendered over to Mother Nature.

Bristow

Twenty more miles along your journey finds you in Bristow, a small town that got its beginnings in 1897 as a trading post. When the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad extended its line from Sapulpa in 1898 a small settlement began which included a small frame school. The town was named for J.L. Bristow, then the fourth Assistant Postmaster General. The next year, the Territorial Bank was opened by A. H. Purdy.

In the beginning, most of the area was occupied by Creek Indian owners and white tenant farmers and quickly became known as a little cotton kingdom, supporting several cotton gins. In 1901, the town was officially surveyed and platted out to include 108 blocks of 12 to 24 lots each.

Bristow, Oklahoma panographic photo courtesy Glenda Argo, Creek County Genealogy

When oil and gas were discovered in the area in the 1920's, Bristow became an oil-boom town and many oil companies established their businesses in or near the city.

Bristow, Oklahoma

Vintage postcard of Bristow, Oklahoma

Today this town of almost 5,000 people boasts brick sidewalks along a tree lined Main Street and a renovated Town Square.

While in Bristow, be sure to check out the Bristow Historical Museum housed in the restored train depot located between 6th and 7th streets just east of Main Street. Another attraction is Armer’s Exotic Animal Farm which provides a peek at exotic birds, monkeys and other African animals.

For vintage of views of the Route 66 era, pass by the Bristow Motor Company Building at 500 N. Main and the Texaco Service station at 201 West 4th Street.

Depew

Some seven miles later you arrive in the small hamlet of Depew, population a bit over 600. Depew was founded by W. F. Malley who first came to the area on January 15, 1901, naming it Depew after Chauncy M. Depew, a U. S. Senator from New York. The first post office was established on April 12, 1901. The town was platted and opened to the public by the Depew Investment Company in June, 1905. After oil was found near Depew in 1911 the town grew rapidly. It was a boomtown during the 1920's and early 1930's but the population began to decline by 1940.

The original Route 66 alignment went right through town on top of the hill, where several old buildings continue to dot the downtown district. While in Depew, grab a bite at the Coach's Corner Cafe at 324 Main Street. Though small, Depew's residents are proud of their history and heritage along the Mother Road. Stop and give a hello to these friendly folks before continuing your journey down Route 66 to Stroud, Oklahoma, a city with a hell-raising history.

Also see:

Shamrock, Oklahoma, a Ghost Town northwest of Depew.

Book your lodging right HERE online

Road closed on old Route 66 west of Depew,

Oklahoma, May, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

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