Broken Arrow: City of Roses and Pure Water

Broken Arrow was established in 1902 as a railroad terminal on the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railroad. It became a trade center for cattle, cotton and corn. In the early days, roses were planted in homes and along streets, and the use of a local spring for city water gave Broken Arrow the title of "City of Roses and Pure Water." The population was stable until 1950, when the rapid growth of the city made it the fifth largest in Oklahoma. Broken Arrow: City of Roses and Pure Water is a collection of vintage images that illustrates the development of the town from an agricultural trade center to a prosperous city of diversified, light industry and a center of education. Featured in this book are the busy streets, parades and festivals, softball tournaments, tourist attractions, and recent civic improvements that make Broken Arrow unique. Historic photographs of downtown stores and residential homes depict the earliest growth patterns of the city and show the development of Broken Arrow as a community.

Author Donald A. Wise has lived in Broken Arrow some 20 years since his retirement from the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. His research into local history has resulted in many articles published in local newspapers and professional journals. In 1988, Mr. Wise received a Certificate of Commendation from the American Association of State and Local History for his contributions to Oklahoma. He has also served as a Gillie, or docent, at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa.