On the left, we bring you a glance, looking East towards Herod Hall, on the university campus, sticking up above the tree tops on the right, on the horizon. This view was taken from the corner of 12th Street & Oklahoma Blvd.

The photo on the right is a shot of one of the 12th Street houses before the removal of the roof. The Pigeon's domicile! The infamous house with the "bed frame security guard."

We have spent a couple of weeks doing demolition work on these two houses on 12th Street -- finding lots of hidden treasures and meeting "OkieLegacy Ezine" readers. It has turned out worthwhile and very enlightening.

One of those highlights was getting to meet one of our OkieLegacy Ezine readers and sometime submitter of Oklahoma history memories. The highlight of that was being an honored recipient of an autographed copy of his Oklahoma Novel.

I am speaking, of course, of Marvin Wiebener's novel, The Margin, that takes place just after the Korean War, in northwest Oklahoma as the character, Fred Gray, a veteran and third-generation Oklahoma rancher, discoveries an old journal recording official events as far back as 1893.

I have only begun to read the novel Marv Wiebener wrote, but what I have read has me intrigued to read more. If you venture over to Marv's website, you can view, read comments about his book and purchase it through a link at Amazon.com.
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NWOSU's 110 Celebration - Sept. 20, 2007

You will remember last week we mentioned NWOSU's 110 Celebration of the first classes held, 1897. The corner stone of the Old Science Hall was laid March 6, 1897, of the norhteast corner of Old Science Hall (Now the Fine Arts) building, by the Masons.

While we were in Alva, Oklahoma, doing demolition, we stopped up by Northwestern's university campus to see what was happening, September 20, 2007, 1:00 p.m. -- to get some snapshots, movie clips of their 110 year celebrations since the 1st day of class in 1897.

September 20, 2007 the Mason's joined in the 110 years celebration to rededicate the Fine Arts building and remove the 110 year old time capsule. BUT... They did not remove the old time capsule from the March 6, 1897 corner stone, because they found it to be solidly encassed in granite. It remains securely where it was placed 110 years ago. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

An OkieLegacy Centennial Moment

The Alva Pioneer, dated Friday, Sept., 22, 1893, M County, Alva, O.T., publisher W. F. Hatfield & Oscar Habelein, Editor., had this to say about a week after the 1893 Land Run and their first edition: "The Alva Pioneer was established on Saturday, September 16th, 1893, but this our first issue is dated September 22, 1893, because our regular publication day is fixed on Fridays."

"Evidently our friend Grover made he mistake to set the opening day of the Strip one day to late and thereby prevented us to have the paper ready for distribution as soon as the first flyer set hoof on the townsite of Alva."

Salutatory
"With this our first issue we greet all of our fellow pioneers who located on the townsite of Alva, in M county and northwest Oklahoma generally on the memorable Saturday, September 16th, 1893.

We have made the "run" from the line with you, we drove our "stake" at the same time you planted your little flag on the virgin soil of the beautiful Salt Fork valley, or on the green slopes and grassy planes of this portion of the great American continent. We came here to seek a new home or a broader field of usefulness to our fellow citizens as well as to ourselves. We know that we have struck the right place, it is our intention to hold one stake, and herewith offer our hand of friendship and good fellowship to all who come here for a like purpose.

We are laboring under similar disadvantages to establish ourselves as the pioneer publishers of Alva, as all of those enterprising settlers and business men who went to work almost instantly after their stakes were set to establish themselves here, and in many respects we have obstacles to surmount known only to the pioneer newspaper man.

We have at the present moment hardly time to expand in lengthy explanations and transparent promises, and only say, here we are; here we propose to remain; we will help you if you help us, your interests are ours as well; let us join hands and work together from the start to make Alva the metropolis of northwestern Oklahoma.

The possibilities of our young city and surrounding country are great, and with the firm will and determination evinced (sic) by all the settlers and business men since the opening of the former Cherokee outlet, we are bound to succeed to make Alva a business centre of great importance and the surrounding territory one of the most promising parts of beautiful far-famed Oklahoma.

The "Alva Pioneer" will be devoted to the interests of Alva and M county particularly, and Oklahoma generally. It is our aim to make it a newspaper in the true sense of the word. We will strive to merit the good will of all who aim to make our city, county and territory their future home. Our first aim will be to point out the advantages and possibilities of our new home, so that home seekers and investors may be fully in formed where to locate.

We propose to take an active interest in the organization and the development of our home affairs, and while we intend to keep our readers posted on current topics we frankly admit that at the present time we deem it more important to attract men and money, than to wrangle with political problems or to advocate measures calculated to benefit but a few. The present administration, both national and territorial, has been fortunate in the selection of gentlemen to act as public officers at Alva at the present time.

Time and circumstances prevent us to give them in this issue a more extended notice, but we hope to be able to do so next week. We will aim to keep our readers posted on all matters pertaining to the Land office, M county and the City of Alva, and feel confident our gentleman officials will cheerfully give us all assistance in their power to enable us to do so.

It is our intention to make the "Alva Pioneer" the leading paper in this part of the Territory, and if we receive the good will and support of our people, we aim to merit and hope to receive, it will soon enable us to present to the public a sheet more gratifying to ourselves as well as of more importance and real benefit to the community at large, than can be reasonably expected from this initial number of the "Alva Pioneer."
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Alva Real Estate Notes - 1893

The Alva Pioneer, dated Friday, Sept., 22, 1893, M County, Alva, O.T., publisher W. F. Hatfield & Oscar Habelein, Editor., had this to say about Lots and real estate in the City of Alva.

"There were not enough choice corner lots in Alva last Saturday to go around, but everybody got a fine lot somewhere on the townsite; the editor of this paper, for instance, drove his stake on a very choice corner lot in the (future) most fashionable residence part in a suburb removed from the clatter and turmoil of the business centre of the city, while the publisher of the "Pioneer" had the good fortune to secure a whole quarter section in the aristocratic vicinity of the Eagle Chief, whereon he may erect some future day a splendid mansion and rest on the laurels earned as the pioneer publisher of the metropolis of the Salt Fork.

"The early bird (some say the jaybirds) got the choice lots on the square, and had no trouble to locate themselves, if rumors are true, but those that followed the advance guard were in no danger whatever to stumble on anything like a bonanza. As no plat of the townsite was accessible to the settlers until yesterday chaos reigned for some time, but finally the high grass covering the townsite was trampled down and an idea formed of the different streets and blocks.

We fellows on the train were "not in it" by at least twenty or more minutes we were on an excursion train, out seeing sights, as it were, and are under everlasting obligations to the train managers for the precaution they have taken not to endanger our precious lives by running to close up to the cow ponies who were keeping up their fox-trot ahead of the snorting but fully controlled locomotive.

"Swapping ponies and hard dollars for choice lots on the square began about as soon as the second man struck the townsite, and real estate has ever since been on the move. Lots selling for from five to two or three hundred dollars. At this time the average price of lots fronting on the square is about one hundred and fifty dollars. Since the copious rains throughout this section the demand for inside lots has increased, and those holding down desirable lots are not very anxious to sacrifice them for a song. There are many "soft snaps" for enterprising men here and these are picked up very fast.

"Alva is undoubtedly destined to become a good business point, and men making judicious investments in town property now will surely reap a rich harvest in the near future."
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Treasures Found On 12th Street, Alva, OK

Sometimes unexpected treasures can be found while tearing down old houses. That has happened to us as we continue our demolition journey of our 12th street houses these last couple of weeks.

Besides a January, 1927 letter postmarked from Lyons, Kansas, we found a partially rat-eaten LOOK magazine without its front cover) that dated back to sometime around 1940, maybe the late 1939.

In that LOOK magazine of 1940, there was an article in there about Germany, women's fate in Germany (young & old), with the headlines that read: "Women's Fate In Germany." There was a picture of Adolf Hitler posing with a young girl; women marching; cleaning up at a camp trough; being trained as wives, mothers and baby makers.

The article also mentioned that from 10 to 18 in the League for German Girls, and later in Labor Service, girls were fed propaganda on the joys of mating. When a woman was past the childbearing age, they were divorced by zealous husbands who felt it was their duty to have more children. The older women were sent to the more dangerous benches of a munitions plant so they could serve their country.

Back then the head Fuehrerin of all women's organizations was Frau Scholtz-Klink, "The little woman with a voice like a bell." She was blond, blue-eyed, mother of four and symbolized motherhood. her task was to bring all German women, young and old, into line with the Nazi doctrine.

There was a picture in the LOOK magazine showing a line of girls at their morning clean-up at a camp of the Bund Deutscher Madel (League for German Girls). All girls must belong to the "BDM."

It was also reported that most of the young women enjoyed the camps, club evenings, independence from home discipline. They were proud of their uniform (mustard blouses and navy skirts) -- they were made to feel important to Germany by such community tasks as collecting empty toothpaste tubes.

It goes on to say that two thirds of the activities of the League for German Girls were designed to improve bodily development. Swimming, gymnastics and athletics were compulsory. At camps they learned military drill. Many mothers thought the League's reputation unsavory but two girls who refused to join were jailed for libeling the state.

On that same page there were a group of girls marching off to work in the fields, carrying shovels. They were reported as doing their labor service. Originally voluntary, labor service was back in the late 1940 compulsory for all between 18 and 20. For six months they dug ditches, drained swamps, hoed potatoes. They lived in tents, slept on straw-covered boards, arose at 5 a.m. in summer, at 6 in winter. They did their own washing and cooking. Their motto: "Be true -- be pure -- be German."

The women's domestic duty was another branch of the labor service. Girls did six months unpaid labor in a family with at least three children; tend babies, cook and wash. Labor service used to be compulsory only for girls who wanted to go to college. This was to discourage them. In 1939 only .69 of 1 percent of German girls went to college (in america 4 percent went).

As we turn the page of this old LOOK magazine the German article continues on page 12 with the headlines: Marriage and Babies Are A Mass-production Industry In Germany." It starts out with, "Marriage in Germany is not a religious ceremony, nor is it a personal matter. It is assessed only on its state value, and a marriage which produces healthy Aryan children must be maintained even though the partners don't like it."

This fact -- along with encouragement of illegitimacy and the theory that children belonged to the state -- makes it clear that, however much they exalt motherhood or glorify family life, the Nazis were interested chiefly in mass production of babies. Back then, Germany was a masculine country. AND... if you were blond, Aryan boy and girl, you were physically perfect Germans according to Nazi race theorists. The Nazis made a fetish of blondness. To improve the race they sterilized the unfit, and had set up eugenic clinics where couples intending marriage must pass health tests.

There were 150 "mother schools: where some unmarried women learned to sew; studied hygiene, cooking, care of babies, paying two to five marks for each course. All women were encouraged to attend but the schools were compulsory only for intended wives of SS men.

Tough divorces were increasing, marriage loans and bachelor taxes kept the Nazi marriage and birth rates high. Suppression of birth control also played a part. Even "unwanted" babies were wanted by the state. The war had given marriage a recent further fillip. Registry offices were crowded, and soldiers on duty in the Siegfried line could be married by proxy.

Back in 1940 the LOOK magazine stated that all women must register for work to release men for war duties or jobs in heavy industry. They worked on farms, in munitions factories, as conductors on trains and trolleys. These women conscripts worked 10 hours a day, six days a week, were exempt only in the last months of pregnancy or while nursing infants.

Here is hoping that women have come along way since then! AND... American women, aren't you glad you didn't have to suffer the fate of the German women in the 1940's?
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Remembering When - 1940 & LOOK Magazine

Remember the "Good Old Days' when $645 was the starting price you could purchase a brand new 1940 Plymouth Coupe?

A 1940 LOOK magazine was just one of the many rat-eaten treasures that we found in the attic of one of the houses we have been demolishing for the the last couple of weeks. We took some digital images of the magazine and placed on our OkieLegacy Podcasts site. Just click the link at the top that reads: "1940 LOOK magazine."
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Freedom West CDC, 501(c)(3)

"I serve as a volunteer executive director for Freedom West Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit development entity which serves five counties in Northwest Oklahoma, and Sherrill is the Housing Development Manager for Freedom West CDC. I also serve as the Social Sciences Department Chair at NWOSU and have a lifelong interest in the progress and vitality of our region of the state.

We have been and continue to work with the City of Alva and the Alva Chamber of Commerce in its Revitalization Strategy, which is in its infancy but is gaining ground rapidly. Freedom West CDC is the only non-profit development entity which has the legal ability to develop affordable housing in this region of the state and is recognized by HUD and by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency as a Community Housing Development Organization. As such, both the City and the Chamber have asked us to help them work toward in-fill housing development which is needed in the City of Alva. When the McGill properties on 12th street were condemned by the City, we were asked by the City to be present at the City Council meeting last week to explain how we can and are functioning to assist property owners with this type of issue. Sherrill was present at that meeting--at the City manager's request.

In short, here is what she explained as one example to the Council about our in-fill affordable housing development plan for Alva. The example she gave is as follows: Freedom West CDC has been given one property on Sherman Street whose absentee owners were not able to maintain the property, nor were they able to demolish it. Once we received clear title to the property, we began demolition and removal of the existing structure, which was beyond repair. We were able to issue a market rate letter of acceptance to the owners of the Sherman property which is a recognized tax deduction since we are an exempt organization. In summary, this scenario has become a "win-win" situation for all involved parties. The owners received a qualified deduction, we have a lot in an established neighborhood on which we can build a new affordable home, and the City will eventually receive utility receipts from the unit once it is purchased and occupied. The neighborhood realizes an increase in property values and everyone goes home happy.

I hope that you have learned alittle more about what Freedom West CDC is and why we do what we do. If you would like to check us out on the web, go to www.freedomwestcdc.org. Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions. Thank you for your time, and I do like to read your enews when I have the time! Kay Decker, lifelong Woods County resident, and Freedom resident for the last 20 years." -- Kay Decker - Email: KLDecker@nwosu.edu
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Growing Up In Okahoma & POW Camps

We are in the process of taking down Kenneth Updike's stories and ramblings of "Growing Up In Oklahoma" because Kenneth asked us, "To remove all of my previous writings to you about my Ramblins. Personal stories that I told you and your readers. My Son has had all of my writings, and notes copyrighted so that we can put them in a book or booklet. His idea. I really have no objections to this, but he insists we can be viewed by more people. I leave it up to him. Thanks for your help in the past, and I still read your Okie Legacy nearly every week."

If you find some of Kenneth's Ramblings that I have missed, Please email me the link with Vol. and Iss. numbers so that this NW Okie can remove them. Thanks for your help!
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1939 Ranger Yearbook

"I would very much like to have any info/pictures of ESTIL MURPHY. I believe he must have been a custodian. He was my grandfather's brother. Thanks for your time and trouble. I will check the other yearbooks on your site and maybe something will turn up.

Both my grandparents had roots in Alva, Lambert, Carmen, Dacoma area in the early 1900's. My grandpa was a Murphy and my grandma was a Day. She wrote a poem about the college burning and it was published in the Alva newspaper because I think she won a prize--maybe 2nd place. I do have my grandma's poem but will have to retype it -- I have the newspaper copy and it is getting pretty fragile. My mom had written in the margin 1930's. I think they must have had some sort of contest and she won a few dollars -- if memory serves me, placed second in the contest. Thanks a million for your time and trouble." -- Shirley Email: Swcooper39@aol.com
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An Okahoma Novel: The Margin

"My first mystery novel was published in July and can be found (and purchased) on Amazon.com. The setting is a ranch near Buffalo which may be of interest to your readers, particularly those living in northwest Oklahoma. Do you review and/or display books written by former Alva residents? If you would kindly consider this request, you can view the book and read a synopsis at The Margin. You can also click on Amazon.com from that web-address and read a few comments. Thank you." -- Marvin Wiebener - Email: mwiebener@pldi.net
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Camels In Waynoka

"Do you know anything about this (Camels in Waynoka, OK)? Stories of Waynoka having a history of camels out on the dunes at Little Sahara. We know there have been pictures of locals dressed up with camels for various events showing up on calendars and on post cards. Is there any real history to camels being there, and where did they come from and why? I got the email from Sandie ... that is great info! I will put it in my T&T tonight. Thanks, my friend, you came through in grand style!" -- Butch View/Write Comments (count 2)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Waynoka's Camel History

"This is what I have heard or read (Waynoka's Little Sahara Camels). The camels were a product of the Woods County Chamber of Commerce. Grace Ward Smith of Alva may have had the idea of bringing camels to Little Sahara as a tourist attraction.

I was in high school when the camels arrived. They were penned at the football field before being taken to the dunes. At least one high school boy had a ride on a camel, just for fun and a challenge. I don't know how many camels were brought to Waynoka initially. Through the years, baby camels were born at the dunes. My husband Rex was a veterinarian, and soon after we moved to Waynoka (our hometown), a camel was born, and he was the 'attending physician'. That would have been in about 1966.

The camels were a great attraction. Dale Converse and Ike Ashpaugh are names of men who cared for the camels. Postcards were made. Photos were taken. For several years, a very well-attended Christmas pageant was held at the dunes.

As the popularity of dune buggies increased, the dunes were less and less suitable for the camels, though they were penned near the entrance. The decision was made to remove the camels in the mid-to-late 1970s. I would guess they were sold. I do know that the last camel spent the night at the Waynoka Animal Clinic before being shipped to Arkansas. Our children thought that was very special to have a camel at the clinic.

The Waynoka Historical Society has some nice photographs of the camels, and an original watercolor by Gene Hartsell. Thanks for asking about the camels. People still inquire about them. Some of the funniest stories are about the camels getting out on the highway at night, and drivers doing a double-take, and perhaps feeling a bit self-conscious reporting that they had seen a camel on the highway!" -- Sandie _ Email: sandie.olson@gmail.com
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Gas Prices & Rain Drops In Perry, OK

"We've had a 'trace' of rain three times here in Perry, Oklahoma in the past week. The first one was during the big parade celebrating the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893. It only lasted for about 20 minutes but those of us using digital cameras ran for temporary shelter and kept on shooting pictures. I took video rather than stills. Some of the pictures of the events of Saturday, September 15th can be seen at the website www.perryokchamber.com and my grandson Ben can be seen playing his instrument in the band on the right half of photo #1243.

Today's gas prices (Thursday, 9/20/07) are at $2.73.9 which is up a couple of cents from last weekend." -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pioneer Tidbits of 1893

The following pioneer tidbits were taken from The Alva Pioneer, dated September 22, 1893, Alva, O.T., M County.

* Dr. Murphy has opened his drug store on the southwest corner of the square, and the handsome shelving, show cases and fixtures generally therein would do credit to any city in the west.

* A general "kick" is being made about the high price of bread. Ten cents for a loaf containing three cents worth of flour is said to be the cause. We offer the bakers space to explain the matter, if they so desire.

* Henry Nichols, who resides on a claim on the Eagle Chief, was the first man to bring eggs to market in Alva. He took his chickens with him, and on Tuesday following the opening came to market with several dozen eggs.

* Mr. White of Pratt, Ks., is putting in a tubular well 125 feet deep on the west end of the square. He is an experienced man in that business, and expects to find first class water. The business men in the western part of town are paying for the work.

* W. J. French left here for Medicine Lodge Wednesday, where he will stop a few days. He will then go to Chicago, and thence to his home at New Orleans. Mr. French will return to Alva in about two months. He has valuable property interests here.

* The city has little or no protection except on the north, in case a prairie fire should get on the rampage. Business men should make up a purse and employ some one to plow five or six furrows on each side of the last street south, east and west of the townsite.

* A combination runaway and balky mule created lots of amusement on Sunday evening. He started to run from near the land office and the entire population could not stop him until he finished his exercise, and then he balked when they wanted him to return.

* The Alva Lumber Co., Everhart Bros., proprietors, from Attica, Ks., have located on the north side of Main Street, about half a block west of the northwest corner of the square. Their office is going up and lumber is arriving daily.

* The land office building is a vertible bulletin board. All kinds of notices, in chirography unique and ornamental, are plastered or tacked on the walls, and the spelling punctuation and construction is amusing to the bystanders awaiting their turn to file.

* Two fellows whose names are not known, thought to frighten a fellow from his claim, two miles from town, by drawing a gun on him. The fellow was a German, but he had sand in his craw. He says, "Here's my gun, it's empty, but shoot me if you want to."

* People should be careful to have responsible persons make out their filing papers. Attorneys who occupy responsible position and who are here to stay are the ones upon whom you may safely depend. Don't be humbugged by fellows who are here for money and not for the good of the town and country.

* U. T. Marshal, correspondent, solicitor and collector for the Kansas City Journal, was in the city several days last week, and left for home Saturday. He said there was undoubtedly a united effort on the part of the people to make Alva a splendid town, and the indications in her favor are very flattering.

* An excellent opportunity is afforded for a study of human nature as the homesteaders surround the land office; but there are two classes that are utterly despisable (sic). One class is the claim jumper and the other is the fellow who sooners his filing. Ever since the days of Adam -- or shortly after -- some fellows would rather make a sneak than go straight forward.

* Violators of the law are reaping their harvest every few days. What are laws worth if people do not abide by them? We cannot expect a law will be obeyed in every particular, but we may expect them to be reasonably well obeyed. If a man openly and knowingly violates a law, he must expect to be punished. Then, who is to blame? Is it the violator, or is it these who enforces the law?

* Some fellows are so hard to please. We meet a kicker occasionally who thinks he ought to have a claim fenced, 150 acres broke out and sown to wheat, five acres planted to orchard, a stone front mansion built on the other five acres with a bluegrass lawn around it. He also expects to find a $50,000 stock of goods in every store, in Alva."
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Oct. 20, 1893 - Governor In Alva

This Friday, October 20, 1893, The Alva Pioneer, Alva, O.T., M county, W F. Hatfield, publisher, had this write-up about, "The Governor Was Here."

"Gov. Renfrow made a short visit to Alva last week, arriving Friday night and leaving Saturday afternoon. Mr. Renfrow is a thorough business man in every particular, and people generally have great confidence in his ability to properly administer the affairs of Oklahoma. He is courteous and unassuming, and steps with an elasticity that proves his familiarity with western enterprises. Of course, the office seekers claimed a great deal of his attention, but he looked over the city and expressed himself that she had many advantages that other new towns could not boast of.

"Delegate Flynn reminds us of a young bumblebee -- he is bigger now (politically) than he will be year or two hence.

"We heartily endorse the following from an exchange: Let all Democrats try to be liberal toward those of the same faith who ma differ on financial or other subjects. They will all vote right when the time comes.

"Democrats in every town in the new addition to Oklahoma should begin to get acquainted with each other. Hold meetings, organize, request information from Democratic clubs of the older towns in regard to territorial politics, etc.

"The man who can give testimony that will lead to the ousting of a sooner, not only proves himself to be a true man, but assists some honest man to acquire a good home; and proves himself loyal to the flag of the United States. -- Woodward Jeffersonian.

"In an article entitled "To Young Journalists Gratis" the Courier Journal says: "Journalism has nothing to expect from practical politics except blows and slurs, defeat and chagrin. Let the ghosts of Greely and Raymond tell the ghastly story and let it be a warning to aspiring journalists forever."
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September 16, 1907 News

In the "Alva Pioneer" newspaper of northwest Oklahoma Territory, dated 16 September 1907 in Oklahoma Territory, there was mention of the Ponca's holding their sun dance the week before the '93 Strip Run; A Kingfisher man advertised for a pocket book full of bills; McAlester's telephone force was smoked out one day the week before.

There was another interesting item concerning the Oklahoma broom corn crop being hauled to market September, 1907. They were waiting patiently for the usual puns on the market being swept.

Also... The Oklahoma, dated September 16, 1907, mentioned in the "State Notes" this following item, "The Post refers to Frank Frantz as one who came to Oklahoma on the hurricane deck of a pony. When the returns from Tuesday's election are all in, he will be en voyage up salt creek in the poop of a mud scow."

There was another article in that same paper, dated September 16, 1907, of The Oklahoma, that you might have found interesting about a burglar, Kingfisher hardware store and gallons of whiskey. It stated, "A discriminating burglar visiting a Kingfisher hardware store last week and took some revolvers, rifles, knives and razors and a couple of gallons of whiskey. The dispatch does not state why the last named commodity was dispensed in a hardware store."
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Old News of the '93 Run

"Thank you for the fascinating history of the opening of the Strip, and from early Alva newspapers. I have two questions: Did peple make the Run from Kiowa? What is the date of the Alva newspaper shown as January, 1893 in Okie Legacy - it must be the wrong month or wrong year. Thanks for the special emphasis on the Cherokee Strip for this issue. My grandmother, Florence Lappin (later Corbin), and her father made the Run, and settled in the Galena community." -- Sandie
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1927 Letter - A. H. Rolf, RR 6, Alva, OK

While we were in the process of demolishing a dilapidated house on 12th Street, in Alva, Oklahoma the last couple of weeks, we came across some interesting items that fell from the dusty attic above the bathroom area that I thought some readers might find interesting, genealogy & history-wise.

One of those items was a 1927 letter addressed to A. H. Rolf, Alva, OK, RFD (R.R. 6) from 'Irene & All' -- postmarked Lyons, KS, Jan. 22, 1927, 10:30 a.m., enclosed in a 2-cent stamped enveloped. I am told that Lyons, Kansas was/is North of highway 4 and West of Hutchinson, Kansas.

The letter is below and sent to the A. H. Rolf's family which we learn that there is a Melba, Lizzie and maybe Mary Rolf living, residing in the Rural Route 6 vicinity of Alva, Oklahoma, in January 22, 1927. How this letter ended up in the attic of the old house in the 900 block of 12th Street - I do not know! Perhaps someone reading this might have a clue.

The 1927 Letter - Dated January 22, 1927, Fri. A.M.
Dear Rolf's,
"Rec'd Melba's card and as I am toasting my shins will give you a little of the usual line. Its real winterish today and I've been busy clearing cupboards, etc., but I'm thru now and intend to park here by the stove till this eve. Our S. School Class has a party tonite and as we have missed all of them so far were going to give our garters an extra hitch & go in spite of the weather.

I was in Lyons all day yesterday as I wanted one good last visit with mother before she left. She hadn't intended leaving till this eve but when I got to Lyons she had a telegram from Mack saying that Bess had a liver attack & would be in bed a couple of weeks & that Ida was taking care of them all & for mom to come on as soon as she could.

Now the last letter we got from Bess she had burned her left hand pretty bad by carrying out a newspaper that Meade had thrown onto the gas stove & we don't know if its the hand that is troubling or if its really a liver attack. We are all worried & sure will be relieved when mama gets there & writes us all about it. Sure feel sorry for mama too as she always has to make that trip on a train.

I wish we were living out there so I could help them out again if Bess has to be in bed. She left last night & will stop at Lillian's, but not as long as she would have if she hadn't got that message of course, she didn't know when Walter reserved a place for her nor if it could be changed. Expect she will write us all a card.

Oh! Yes! Art friends husband got the cigs & is smoking like a chimney. Mary, thanks for the accommodations. The telephone is working swell just like a Packard & we haven't forgotten who worked the neat little trick.

We all went to the show last night after mom's train left as we felt os dark deep blue. Sure did hate to see the sweet old dear leaver & especially alone and worried.

Poor Aunt Barbara didn't get to go & I expect she was pretty disappointed, but she intends to go to Wichita & onto Oklahoma for a trip after awhile. Maybe that romance will culminate in the chimes of wedding bells after all. Well it seems she don't have much else to look forward to & maybe that would be the best move in this game of checkers.

Say, Melba, that Tulsa sheik must have an eye on the future to give you such a lovely gift for your Hopeless Box. Sure was fine.

So Howard has the flu? Will! Norman was very sick all last week with it and there's a lot of it around now. Jack Ross has the measles now too & I don't suppose he thinks they're so funny. Well its time to scare up something to fill this aching void. Write to us occasionally so we will know if you're still among the living & we will do like wise.

Lizzie, we sure are enjoying the good chow chow etc. When you write will you please tell me what proportion of the various ingredients of chick feed to use? -- Best love to all, Irene & all"
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October, 1893 - Republican Mismanagement

On October 13, 1893, Friday, Publisher, W. F. Hatfield, Alva, O. T., M County, had this little choice tidbit to say about the Republican mismanagement. This is for all you Democrats out there.

"We are burdened wit the results of 30 years Republican mismanagement, and all the plagues and disasters of the nation could as reasonably be charged to the present administration as to charge it with the being responsible for the deplorable financial condition of the country."

"Poor old Missouri is given a sneering gouge quite frequently by the Republican papers of adjoining states, but the conservative business methods of her Democratic administration makes her a state to be envied generally all over the union. The public affairs of Oklahoma re in good hands."

Hatfield also wrote, "It isn't necessary to be a political bore, but we admire a man who isn't afraid to refer to his political record to substantiate the fact that is not a 'floater' on the wave of modernisms."
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