July 5, 2005
Volume 1, Issue 1

Website: www.VisitDepewOK.com
email: Buzz@VisitDepewOK.com

Aug 6 Downtown
Cleanup...................1

Pre-Clean on
Sat July 2.................2

Photos from
Sat July 2.................4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depew Downtown
Historical Building Cleanup
August 6, 2005

Depew's main street is a 1920s segment of the original alignment of Route 66 lined with early statehood buildings. It's the genuine road as it was put down in the 20s. Public Works Director, Jason Tinsley, proudly indicates "it is the original concrete, with no asphalt overlayment and will never be overlaid."

Coppedge Pharmacy built by Dr. Coppedge is one of Depew's most historical downtown buildings and the most endangered. The Coppedge home, now a private residence sits just behind. The Hospital where Dr. Coppedge treated patients is across from his residence. It has been converted to a home and is currently for sale.

June 27, downtown business and property owners met with City Officials to discuss plans for revitalizing the buildings to save them from abatement and demolition.

Route 66 Association Eastern Vice President, Emily Priddy gave a presentation on historical districts and provided an informative "Helping Hands" preservation guide listing resources for historical preservation and ideas for its use in economic development.

August 6 was set as a volunteer clean up day to remove debris, trim grass, weeds, paint, board windows and generally improve the downtown appearance.

(continued on Page 3)

 
Page 2

Enthusiatic Townspeople
Gathered for Pre-Clean on July 2nd

Depew Citizens were so excited after the June 27th City Council meeting that they couldn't wait until August 6th to get started with the down town cleanup. Jason Tinsley, City Public Works Director, and volunteers from the Depew All Volunteer Fire Department, were out and about early Saturday morning mowing weeds and removing debris.

City Employee Jason Tinsley clearing overgrown lot and removing debris with backhoe.

The Spangler family and friends began clean up of their building, the Original Post Office. Spangler Grocery supplied cold soda, iced tea and bottled water for all the workers. Linda Spangler also provided a home cooked lunch of meatloaf, tuna macaroni salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, and brown beans. Acting Mayor Diona Marker provided brownies that 13-year-old Holli Hanks declared to be the best in the county.

Linda Spangler said plans are to gather every Saturday to continue the cleanup efforts with a grand finale on Saturday, August 6th.

 

 

 

Oklahoma Route 66 Association Eastern Vice President Emily Priddy, and member Pam Reeder wielded paint brushes to give a fresh face to the Original Post Office.
Linda Spangler serving lunch to workers.


(more pictures on Page 4)

 
Page 3

City Cleanup - cont. from Page 1

Assisting with the cleanup will be members of Depew's All Volunteer Fire Department which has an upcoming 90 year anniversary on August 9.

Town's original Post Office on the corner adjacent to Spangler's Grocery. It still has the original vault. Local lore has it that Pretty Boy Floyd stood inside casing the Bank across the street although he never robbed it. It is rumored he visited the town often to seek the discreet services of Dr. Coppedge who purportedly had a soft spot for outlaws.

If you would like to offer your hands or supplies to help on the Depew Downtown Historical Clean-Up day, contact:

Linda Spangler
Spangler's Grocery
918-324-5472

Diona Marker
Acting Mayor
918-324-5695

Emily Priddy
Eastern Vice President
Oklahoma Route 66 Association
918-445-7495

 

Donations of paint and supplies can be made through the Route 66 Association for tax credits.

Watch for more information in next month's Buzz and on the Events calendar.

Entry of the The Depew, the only remains of the town movie theater. Sitting benches have been proposed for the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Page 4

Photos from Pre-Cleanup on Saturday, July 2nd

 

Oklahoma Route 66 Association members putting on base coat of white paint on the building that housed Depew's Original Post Office.

The ordinary plywood covering a window now sports a beautiful mural painted by Emily Priddy, Eastern Vice President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.

Other workers turned out to help. Even this little dog came to offer assistance.