1878
Noah Lael built a pole home (near present day park
headquarters). Many Chickasaws and Choctaws lived in
the area.
1891-92
Colonel R. A. Sneed and others bought about 640
acres from the original Lael Ranch and platted a township
around Seven Sisters Springs. Settlers built homes and
businesses, including the very impressive White Sulphur
Inn northeast of the springs.
1895
The first federal Post Office was established at
Sulphur Springs, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.
1900
Population of Sulphur Springs is now 1,198.
1902
Chickasaw Indians ceded and sold the land around
the Seven Sisters Springs to the U.S. Government to
prevent the commercialization of the area. The government
bought out all the businesses in Sulphur Springs and
the owners were given a deadline for moving.
1903
The second city of Sulphur Springs began to build
and prosper south of the reservation.
1904
A government chemist visited the various springs
on the reservation and found that drainage from the
new city was contaminating them. Again Sulphur's businesses,
buildings and homes where condemned. The third city
of Sulphur began to spring up both north and south of
the newly enlarged Sulphur Springs Reservation. East
and West Sulphur sprang up with Rock Creek separating
the two. South Sulphur also flourished. The name of
Sulphur Springs Reservation was changed to Platt National
Park.
1906
The Windsor, later named the Artesian Hotel, was
completed with 110 rooms; 20 with baths. By this time
Sulphur had 50 2-story brick and stone buildings and
over 4000 residents. SanteFe Railway laid rail from
Davis to the west side of Rock Creek.
1907
The city directory included two gins, one bottling
company, eight churches, ten fraternal societies, 12
lawyers, 14 grocers, six hardware stores, four lumber
yards, one commercial college, 10 rooming houses, four
banks, six dentists, 13 hotels, four newspapers and
16 doctors.
1908
Oklahoma School for the Deaf moved to Sulphur, occupying
the Paul Hotel (currently the First Baptist Church location).
Sulphur became the county seat of Murray County.
1911
Six excursion trains arrived daily, bringing hundreds
of tourists to the Sulphur area. County court records
and seal were stolen several times from one side of
town to the other until the east side court house was
dynamited.
1912
Since West Sulphur got the courthouse, a new high
school was built east of Rock Creek on a hill at the
north end of Second street.
1918
Fire Destroyed 14 stores, 13 offices and three rooming
apartments in the old Hassen Building on W. Muskogee.
1919
The Bellview wells were drilled and the swimming
pool became world famous, hosting over 2,000 swimmers
on most Sundays and holidays.
1922
A tornado destroyed 60 buildings, killing two people
and injuring 20. Polo was played in Sulphur and a golf
course was built in Southtown. Population was aprox.
4,500.
1930's
The Civilian Conservation Corps was established
in Platt National Park, Veterans Lake was dug and the
National Guard Armory was built.
1940's
After Sulphur High School burned, students attended
classes at eh Oklahoma School for the Deaf until the
present high school was built in 1948.
1941
The population of Sulphur was 4,970. Sulphur's National
Guard was dispatched to fight WWII.
1960's
The Lake of the Arbuckles was constructed. The Artesian
Hotel burned to the ground. The Travertine Nature Center
in Platt National Park was built.
1970's
A 13" rain flooded Rock Creek, leaving water
as deep as 6 1/2 feet in parts of town.
