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SUNDOWN TOWNS: Threatt Service Station was safe haven for Black drivers

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AdvertisementRoute 66 service station was safe haven for Black drivers passing through ‘Sundown Towns’Hide TranscriptShow TranscriptBUT IN OKLAHOMA CITY, ONE PLACE SERVED AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR TRAVELERS. KOCO’S PERRIS JONES WITH THE STORY. PERRIS THIS WAS A SCARY TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME. IF I LIVED DURING THAT TIME AND HAPPENED TO BE OUT IN ONE OF THOSE TOWNS AFTER SUNDOWN, I COULD’VE BEEN BEATEN, CHASED O OF TOWN, OR, EVE WORSE, LYNCHED, JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN. BUT THIS BUILDING WAS A SAFE HAVEN FOR BLACK PEOPLE NO ONLY IN OKLAHOMA BUT ACROSS THE U.S. ROUTE 66. A HISTORIC HIGHWAY TRAVELED BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS DURING THE MID-20T CENTURY, HOLDING A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR NATIONS HISTORY. &gt;&gt; 66 WAS THE TRAVELING ROUTE FROM EAST COAST TO WEST COAS PERRIS: BUT FOR BLACK AMERICANS, WITH A RISK. THERE WERE CITIES AND TOWNS ALONG THE WAY KNOWN AS "SUNDOWN TOWNS" THAT WERE OFF LIMITS BLACK PEOPLE AFTER A CERTAIN TIME. DR. HENDERSON: THEY COULD GO T THOSE PLACES, THEY COULD SHOP, THEY COULD WORK, BUT THEY HAD BE OUT BEFORE THE SUN WENT DOWN. IN ESSENCE, IT WAS A MESSAGE THAT SAID, "WE DO NOT WANT YOU LIVING HERE." PERRIS DR. GEORGE HENDERSON IS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROFESSORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA AND A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. HE SAYS THERE WERE A FEW SUNDOWN TOWNS IN OKLAHOMA IN THE 1900’S, INCLUDING NORMAN, EDMOND, AND EVEN SOME AREAS SURROUNDING TULSA. DR. HENDERSON: IN SOME TOWNS TH SAID, N -- FILL OUT THE REST OF THE LETTERS -- DON’T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU DOWN HERE. IN THOSE PLACES, BACK IN T DAY, WE COULD BUY GROCERIES, OR WE COULD BUY SOMETHING TO DRINK OR SMOKE, BUT WE COULD NOT USE THE REST ROOMS THAT WERE FOR WHITE PEOPLE ONL PERRIS: BUT HE SAYS ONE PLACE ALONG ROUTE 66 BLACK TRAVELERS COULD GO WITHOUT FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES WAS THE THREATT SERVICE STATION NEAR LUTHER OKLAHOMA REVEREND: THIS W JUST LIKE -- ALMOST JUST LIKE HEAVEN ON EARTH. IT MEANT A WHOLE LOT TO THE RACE OF WHITE, BLACK, LATINOS, ANYONE WHO WAS TRAVELING 6 IN THE 1950’S, 19 40’S, EVEN IN THE 1930’S. PERRIS REVEREND ALLEN THREAT III SAYS HIS GRANDFATHER BUILT THE THREATT SERVICE STATION IN 1915, AND BY WORD-OF-MOUTH THIS , WAS THE PLACE PEOPLE KNEW THEY COULD STOP AND REST SAFELY DURING THEIR TRAVELS REVEREND: IT WAS A MODERN-DAY 7-ELEVEN. THEY COULD STOP, GET BREAD, WATER, AND EVEN THE NEIGHBORS AROUND THE SERVANT STATION, THREE MILE AWAY, FOUR MILES AWAY, WHERE THEY COULDN’T GO TO TOWNS OR BUY GROCERIES. THEY COULD GET FLAT TIRES FIXED. THEY COULD COME IN, SI DOWN, GET A BEER, DRINK A POP, AND GET A HOT DOG, HAMBURGER. THIS WAS A PLACE THAT PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE. PERRIS HE SAYS FROM BLACK MOVIE STARS TO BLACK ATHLETES, EVERYONE TRAVELING FROM EAST TO WEST ON ROUTE 66 CAME THROUGH THIS SERVICE STATION. REVEREND: PEOPLE KNEW THAT HERE AT THIS SERVICE STATION THEY HAD A PURPOSE, AND THAT PURPOSE WAS TO TAKE CARE OF VISITORS, TO MAKE THEM HAPY. PERRIS: T SERVICE STATION CLOSE DECADES AGO BUT ALLEN AND , HIS COUSIN, EDWARD THREATT, ARE WORKING TO RESTORE A PRESERVE THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK WHICH WAS PLACED ON THE NATIONAL , REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 1995. EDWARD: WE WANT ALSO FOR THIS TO BE A DESTINATION AS PEOPLE TRAVEL UP AND DOWN 66. WE EXPECT THAT AT SOME POINT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SELL SOUVENIRS THAT REPRESENT HIGHWAY 66, SOUVENIRS THAT REPRESENT OUR ANCESTORS. PERRIS: IN THE MEANTIME, THEY CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE YOUNGER GENERATIONS ABOUT A PLACE THAT SERVED AAdvertisementRoute 66 service station was safe haven for Black drivers passing through ‘Sundown Towns’There was a time in Oklahoma – and many parts of the country – where African Americans were not allowed to be in certain places after sunset. They were known as “Sundown Towns.” In many instances, this made it very dangerous for Black people to travel long distances by car. But one Oklahoma place served as a safe haven for travelers for decades. Much of the 20th century was a scary time for Black Americans. If they happened to be out in a Sundown Town after dark, they risked being beaten, chased out of town or even lynched just because of their skin color. But the Threatt Service Station was a place of refuge not only for Black Oklahomans but for Black people across the United States. The building is located along Route 66, the historic highway that was traveled by hundreds of thousands of Americans during the mid-20th century. “Sixty-six was the traveling route from the East coast to the West coast,” said George Henderson, a University of Oklahoma professor emeritus of human relations, sociology and education. For Black Americans, however, traveling down Route 66 came with a risk.There were cities and towns along the way that were off-limits after a certain time. “They could go to those places. They could shop, they could work,” Henderson said, “but they had to be out when the sun went down. In essence, it was a message that we don't want you living here.”Henderson is a civil rights activist and one of the first African American professors at OU. He said Oklahoma had a few sundown towns in the 1900s, including Norman, Edmond and some areas surrounding Tulsa. “In some towns, they said (N-word) fill out the rest of the letters. Don’t let the sun catch you down here,” he said. “In those places back in the day we could buy groceries, we could buy something to drink or smoke, but we could not use the restrooms that were for white people only.”Henderson said one place along the iconic highway that Black travelers could visit without fearing for their safety was the Threatt Service Station near Luther. “This was just like almost Heaven on Earth,” said Rev. Allen Threatt III, grandson of the service station’s founder. “It meant a whole lot to the race of white, Black, Latinos -- anyone who was traveling 66 in the 50s, 40s even in the 30s,” he said. Threatt said his grandfather built the service station in 1915. Word got around that it was a place that people knew they could safely stop and rest at during their travels. “Was a modern-day 7-11,” he said. “They could stop get bread, water, and even the neighbors around this service station 3 miles away, 4 miles away, where they couldn't go to certain towns and buy groceries. They could get gas, fill up, flat tires could be fixed, they could come in sit down, get a beer, drink a pop and get a hot dog, hamburger -- this was a place that people feel comfortable.”He said everyone from Black movie stars to Black athletes traveling east to west on Route 66 came through the service station. “People knew that here at this service station they had a purpose and that purpose was to take care of visitors to make them happy,” he said.The service station closed decades ago, but Allen and his cousin Edward Threatt are working to restore and preserve the historic landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.“We want also for this to be a destination as people travel up and down Highway 66,” Edward Threatt said. “We expect that at some point we will be able to sell souvenirs that represent Highway 66, souvenirs that represent the family, souvenirs that represent our ancestors.”The two hope to continue raising awareness and educating younger generations about a place that served as a safe haven for many in a time when they weren’t welcome in their own country.There was a time in Oklahoma – and many parts of the country – where African Americans were not allowed to be in certain places after sunset. They were known as “Sundown Towns.” In many instances, this made it very dangerous for Black people to travel long distances by car.AdvertisementBut one Oklahoma place served as a safe haven for travelers for decades. Much of the 20th century was a scary time for Black Americans. If they happened to be out in a Sundown Town after dark, they risked being beaten, chased out of town or even lynched just because of their skin color. But the Threatt Service Station was a place of refuge not only for Black Oklahomans but for Black people across the United States. The building is located along Route 66, the historic highway that was traveled by hundreds of thousands of Americans during the mid-20th century.“Sixty-six was the traveling route from the East coast to the West coast,” said George Henderson, a University of Oklahoma professor emeritus of human relations, sociology and education.For Black Americans, however, traveling down Route 66 came with a risk.There were cities and towns along the way that were off-limits after a certain time. “They could go to those places. They could shop, they could work,” Henderson said, “but they had to be out when the sun went down. In essence, it was a message that we don't want you living here.”Henderson is a civil rights activist and one of the first African American professors at OU. He said Oklahoma had a few sundown towns in the 1900s, including Norman, Edmond and some areas surrounding Tulsa. “In some towns, they said (N-word) fill out the rest of the letters. Don’t let the sun catch you down here,” he said. “In those places back in the day we could buy groceries, we could buy something to drink or smoke, but we could not use the restrooms that were for white people only.”Henderson said one place along the iconic highway that Black travelers could visit without fearing for their safety was the Threatt Service Station near Luther. “This was just like almost Heaven on Earth,” said Rev. Allen Threatt III, grandson of the service station’s founder. “It meant a whole lot to the race of white, Black, Latinos -- anyone who was traveling 66 in the 50s, 40s even in the 30s,” he said. Threatt said his grandfather built the service station in 1915. Word got around that it was a place that people knew they could safely stop and rest at during their travels. “Was a modern-day 7-11,” he said. “They could stop get bread, water, and even the neighbors around this service station 3 miles away, 4 miles away, where they couldn't go to certain towns and buy groceries. They could get gas, fill up, flat tires could be fixed, they could come in sit down, get a beer, drink a pop and get a hot dog, hamburger -- this was a place that people feel comfortable.”He said everyone from Black movie stars to Black athletes traveling east to west on Route 66 came through the service station. “People knew that here at this service station they had a purpose and that purpose was to take care of visitors to make them happy,” he said.The service station closed decades ago, but Allen and his cousin Edward Threatt are working to restore and preserve the historic landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.“We want also for this to be a destination as people travel up and down Highway 66,” Edward Threatt said. “We expect that at some point we will be able to sell souvenirs that represent Highway 66, souvenirs that represent the family, souvenirs that represent our ancestors.”The two hope to continue raising awareness and educating younger generations about a place that served as a safe haven for many in a time when they weren’t welcome in their own country.Loading more articles...

AdvertisementRoute 66 service station was safe haven for Black drivers passing through ‘Sundown Towns’Hide TranscriptShow TranscriptBUT IN OKLAHOMA CITY, ONE PLACE SERVED AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR TRAVELERS. KOCO’S PERRIS JONES WITH THE STORY. PERRIS THIS WAS A SCARY TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME. IF I LIVED DURING THAT TIME AND HAPPENED TO BE OUT IN ONE OF THOSE TOWNS AFTER SUNDOWN, I COULD’VE BEEN BEATEN, CHASED O OF TOWN, OR, EVE WORSE, LYNCHED, JUST BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN. BUT THIS BUILDING WAS A SAFE HAVEN FOR BLACK PEOPLE NO ONLY IN OKLAHOMA BUT ACROSS THE U.S. ROUTE 66. A...

SUNDOWN TOWNS: Threatt Service Station was safe haven for Black drivers

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