Brunk & Sapp, co-founded by Jim Brunk and Leonard Sapp, was a staple in downtown Springfield at Washington and First, offering everything from farm supplies including saddles and livestock equipment to home appliances. Many locals fondly recall the store's leather smell from the saddles and the excitement of a contest to win a free pony each spring and fall.

In the 1950s, Jim Brunk bought out Leonard Sapp, and the store became known simply as "Brunk's." While Brunk continued running the business, he also established a Carriage Museum and a pony farm, the source of the free ponies. Leonard Sapp's career shifted toward real estate, where he developed Springfield's first subdivision, Val-E-Vue, famously giving away a pony with each lot purchase. His developments, which also included Fairhills Mall, Sangamon Center North, and Parkway Point, shaped much of Springfield's commercial landscape. He also played a key role in procuring land for Sangamon State University (UIS) and LLCC. Brunk & Sapp is remembered not only as a store but as a community cornerstone that left a lasting legacy on Springfield's history and development.

It's clear they loved a sales gimmick with the pony give-aways, so the "free turkeys" were no doubt part of a Thanksgiving promotion. This sign, found in our museum, was hand painted by Ace in 1945; note the painted Ace logo on the bottom as shown to the right.