JENKS -- In 1948, Molly Sweetser's spunk and sparkle brought holiday lights to downtown Jenks.
Her good deed was documented in the Dec. 18, 1948, Tulsa World.
The story pictured Molly, then 34, standing atop a ladder and holding steady a huge Christmas bell.
Fifty-six years later, the 90-year-old Molly will be among the crowd at 6 p.m. on Thursday for the city's Christmas lighting ceremony.
The lighting coincides with the 30th Annual Jenks Holiday Open House, which runs from Thursday to Nov. 21. Stores and antique shops will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 21.
Festivities include carolers and other musical entertainment, along with horse-drawn buggy rides.
An old-fashioned holiday parade is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, along with the Holiday Heart Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at First Christian Church.
Christmas in Jenks hasn't always been so festive.
In early December 1948, Molly learned there were no Christmas lights in downtown Jenks. That was absolutely unacceptable to her.
She bypassed committees, meetings and discussions, dropped what she was doing and started a grass-roots campaign.
Within 10 days, the town of 1,500 residents was behind her, and she was on a ladder putting up lights on Main Street.
That's how Molly has approached life -- work hard, talk straight and don't be afraid to laugh.
"Honey," she said, "I have had a wonderful life. I've enjoyed every minute of it and still do, every moment.
"That's what brought me along all these 90 years. I've had fun, and I really love people," she said.
Molly and her late husband, Oscar, moved to Jenks from Houston in 1946 so Oscar could help Molly's brother with his welding business.
Molly, who had worked briefly as a waitress, bought a little diner on Main across from what was the Jenks schools.
Since the school had no cafeteria, Molly made sure there were plenty of hot dogs and hamburgers for the noon rush.
Word of Molly's cooking skill spread, and diners lined up.
"I loved to cook," she said, even if it meant getting up at 5 a.m. to make 10 pies and staying open until 9 p.m.
By the early 1950s, Molly was ready to build a bigger restaurant.
"Somebody's grandmother had money to lend at a fair price," she said.
As for collateral, Molly remembers putting it this way.
"I don't have very much, but I'll tell you what. I'll sign whatever you write up and, if I miss one payment, you can have everything I've got."
Right then, she said, "I stamped in my heart: I'm going to make my payments three days early."
And she did.
On the day of the final payment to the woman's grandson, "he slapped me on my hand and said, 'Girl, I didn't think you could do it.'
"You just didn't know me," she replied. "Determination, honey, determination."
Molly still owns and leases the building, including the Jenks Restaurant, which is still operating.
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Linda Martin 581-8381
[email protected]
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