By Bailey Coyle, FOX23.com News Staff
SAND SPRINGS, Okla. — The Sand Springs Museum and Historical Society is getting a fresh start after months of renovations aimed at preserving both the building and the history inside it.
Museum volunteer JJ Murphy said the nearly 100-year-old building had suffered years of water damage caused by persistent roof leaks and drainage problems.
The museum, originally built as a memorial library honoring Sand Springs founder Charles Page, was completed around 1930 and remains one of the city’s most recognizable historic buildings.
“This building itself. it’s like having artifacts inside of an artifact,” Murphy said.
According to Murphy, crews first focused on fixing long-standing leaks and drainage pipes connected to the flat roof before moving inside to repair deteriorating walls, crown molding and damaged paint throughout the museum’s west wing.
“They started with the crown molding, and they just had to chip away a lot of damage,” Murphy said. “They repaired all of the places in the walls that had deteriorated and repainted them.”
Murphy said only a small crew worked on the restoration, but the transformation inside the building has been dramatic.
The museum tells the story of Charles Page, the oilman and philanthropist who founded Sand Springs in the early 1900s.
Murphy said Page created businesses, homes and opportunities for families in the area, including an orphan home and amusement park that once attracted thousands of visitors.
“He brought industry, he had children’s homes, and he created opportunities for people,” Murphy said. “It was truly amazing.”
Murphy said preserving the museum is important because it keeps the city’s history alive for future generations.
“Everything in here has told a story of this town when it first started and through the years,” she said.
The museum is also one of the few remaining Art Deco buildings in Sand Springs. Murphy said many of the light fixtures inside were created by the Empire Chandelier Company, a Sand Springs business whose work can also be found in historic buildings across Tulsa.
Museum leaders say the renovations wrapped up just a few weeks ago and hope the improvements will help continue sharing Sand Springs history with visitors for years to come.
The museum is also preparing for its upcoming Founder’s Day celebration on June 6, featuring vendors, food trucks and activities inspired by the city’s early history.
