WHY? WHAT's the reason for this OLD Platte map of Old Alva's (Oklahoma) downtown square? This is what we are working on this week.

Since we have been back in SW Colorado, this NW Okie has been refreshing, rereading some 600 pages of 1911 testimony about the "Old Opera House Mystery" of NW Oklahoma. WHY? We promised another lady publisher/editor that we would write up a short summary of the case for her "Prairie Connections" newspaper. Rosalea, click this image and then right click to save this jpg file for your use in "The Prairie Connection."

Going back through all our research we realized that it has been exactly four (4) years (around the last week of March, 2002) since we began our research on the mystery of the "Old Opera House Murder" that happened November 9, 1910, in Alva, Oklahoma. We remember those four years ago as if it were just last week. It was a week that had given this NW Okie a steady rush of adrenaline -- sleuthing for bits, pieces and clues to this first homicide that occurred in NW Oklahoma.

We started with a date (1910) at Northwestern's college library going through old local newspaper archived on microfilm to see what clues we could find in the local headlines of that year.

With that clue in hand, our journey took us down to the county courthouse archives to retrieve copies of the old court records stored in their basement.

Each new clue lead to another destination for this NW Okie. Our journey four years ago... took us from the College library and old newspaper archives -- to the Woods County court archives in the courthouse basement -- to the Woodward County courthouse archives at the Woodward, Oklahoma -- to the Oklahoma Historical Society newspaper archives and census records -- Finally... weaving a path to the Oklahoma Supreme Court archives stored in the State Library. This last place was where we found over 600 pages of transcripts of Nelson L. Miller's Appeal from the Woods, Woodward murder Case (1911 - case #714, Woodward County, Oklahoma) for the alleged murder of the young, single Mabel Oakes.

Some of the headlines from the old news articles from around that time read: "An Awful Tragedy" - "Tragedy In Old Opera House" - "A Black Crime" - "Alva Girl Murdered, One Arrest" - "Official Accused of Slaying Girl" - "Mis-statement of Facts" - "Alva Man Fears Violence" - "Miller Case Continued" - "Miller Preliminary Postponed & The Miller Preliminary (District Court Room Crowded)" - "Miller Granted Change (Venue)" - "Trial of N. L. Miller Case Postponed & N. L. Miller Transfered to Woodward Jail."

We were and still are searching for anything to get a better understand of the era and the citizens of NW Oklahoma. We have accumulated quite a bit of information and made a list of the "cast of characters" from everything, anything that we could get our hands on. We are still searching for more, though. For instance, a photo of the "Old Opera House" on Barnes Avenue (Alva, Okla.) and a photo of Mabel Oakes whom would have been 23 years of age at her death in November, 1910. There was an "exhibit B" (photo of Mabel Oakes) mentioned in the transcripts, but somewhere that photo got lost or deteriorated. If anyone out there can help us in anyway with any interesting bits, pieces & photos concerning this NW Oklahoma "Murder Mystery of 1910," we would love to hear from you. Especially, if you can lead us to a picture of this young, office girl & typewriter who had worked off and on since 1909 to three weeks before her death for N. L. "Nelson" Miller (Justice of Peace).

Meanwhile... we are still trying to figure out -- creatively, HOW we are going to write, present this potential mystery novel to you in the future. If in the next few months you happen to get a hold of a copy of "The Prairie Connection," you might be able to read a summarized version of the "Old Opera House Mystery." If that avenue isn't open to you, then check out our "OkieLegacy - Mystery" section for the "Old Opera House Murder." OR... subscribe to "The Prairie Connection!"

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Odds & Ends, April Fools & Spring Ahead...

While we were back in NW Oklahoma... we did some checking of the mileage to see where 15 miles west of Alva, Oklahoma took us. That figure was the location of the second Moundridge school, located 15 miles west of Alva, on the Old Smithson homeplace.

Why? The reason we were curious was because we own that building that housed the second Moundridge school house. It has been setting on the SE corner of Maple Street & 9th Street at 827 Maple Street, in Alva, Oklahoma. We were told that it came from 15 miles west of Alva. WE were also told that Bob Case might have more information on it. We only knew of one Moundridge school located out west near Lookout, Oklahoma.

Ever since we got bact to SW Colorado, the gas prices have been running around $2.73.9 to $2.75.9 for unleaded regular. It's getting awfully close to that $3.00 mark they are talking about for the Summer of '06. We hear tell that Oklahoma's prices are in a range of $2.47.9 this week.

April Fools & Spring ahead! You haven't forgotten we loose an hour -- spring ahead to daylight savings time again this weekend, have you? It "ain't" an April Fools joke, either! Do NOT forget to turn your clocks ahead an hour Saturday night. AND... where did the month of March blow away? Into April Showers? That's what we are getting this Saturday in the valley of SW Colorado.
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Era Ends in Waynoka with Tragic Death...

Death of Frank's Department Store Owners
by Sandie Olson, Waynoka Historical Society

(Frank's Old, New Drawings & Facade) - Waynoka was stunned the evening of Thursday, November 3, 2005, when the news spread that Kamell and Dee Cohlmia were involved in a terrible car accident in nearby Alva, and that they did not survive. While family and friends adjust to a great personal loss, the business community bids farewell to an era that spanned more than a century in Northwest Oklahoma.

Many Lebanese Christians immigrated to America around the turn of the 20th century. The area from which they came was then known as Syria, but the specific region is now called Lebanon. Lebanese immigrants opened stores in many American towns, including several in Northwest Oklahoma - Waynoka, Alva, May, Shattuck, Fairview, Cherokee, Selman, Avard, and probably others. The Cohlmia family were the first Lebanese to arrive in Waynoka, followed by the Courys, who had been their neighbors in Lebanon.

Waynoka was a thriving railroad town on the Santa Fe line. The Lebanese immigrants quickly put their business acumen to work and opened grocery and drygoods stores around the downtown square.

Shafik N. "Charley" Cohlmia (1894-1974), and his sisters, Adele (1890-1980) and Edna (1899-1997) came to Waynoka. Their brother, Frank Cohlmia (1888-1973), and his wife, Almas (Mady) (1898-1976), had a store in May, Oklahoma. The store burned, and Frank and his family moved to Waynoka. Frank opened a drygoods store, Frank's Department Store, on Cecil Street in 1902.

Frank and Almas had six children: Leenda (Razook), Mitchell (1915-1957), Kamell (1917-2005), Margaret (Gabriel), Lorine (Mady) (1919-1968) and Don (1931-1990). Only Leenda survives, and lives in Cherokee.

Kamell Cohlmia was about fourteen years old when he had his first job as a bus boy at the Harvey House in Waynoka. He said that he lost the job when he was told to unload a load of coal, and told his boss that unloading coal was not part of his job.

Frank and Almas' daughters worked at Frank's as teenagers. Two of Frank's sons, Mitchell and Kamell, joined the family business after high school. Kamell served in the Army during World War II. Mitchell passed away in 1957, and was survived by his wife, Louise, and two young sons.

Kamell married Wadia "Dee" Barkett (1928-2005) in 1950. After the death of his father, Kamell and Dee operated Frank's Department Store for thirty years until their deaths. Their daughters, Gayla Purdum, Stevie Taylor, and Michele Nelson, plan to keep Frank's open until early 2006.

In 2001, the Oklahoma Historical Society produced a video, A Night of Oklahoma Legends: Airlines, Rail Lines, and Hemlines, telling the story of transportation history in Waynoka. They interviewed individuals with first-hand knowledge of the Santa Fe Railroad, Transcontinental Air Transport, and the Harvey House. Kamell was filmed in the shoe department at Frank's, telling about his experience of working for Fred Harvey.

Charley Cohlmia, brother of Frank, was in the grocery business, Cohlmia's Store, on Main Street. Charley's store was later renamed Bob and Gene's when the sons of Charley and Mary ran the family business. They also had a daughter, Marquette "Keta" (Swyden). After Mary's death, Charley married Adele Kraker.

(Albert & Adele's wedding photo on the left.) - Albert Cohlmia (1878-1970) arrived in the United States in 1900. He peddled hairnets, thread, ribbon, and fabric across Kansas out of a suitcase with a horse and wagon. He arrived in Waynoka and opened Albert's Department Store in 1907. He married Frank Cohlmia's sister, Adele, in about 1913.



(Photo on the right, Sam & Florine in Cart) - Albert and Adele had five children: Florine (Razook), Pauline (Maddox), Sam, Madeline (Ruffin), and Genevieve (Cohlmia). (photo on the left, Sam in uniform) - Sam (1913-1968), was active in his family's business until his death. His sister, Madeline, worked at Albert's while Sam served in the Army in World War II. Sam married Marguerite "Marge" Razook, and they had three daughters: Debbie (Sizemore), Cindy, and Becky (Whitaker) (1954-1991). After the deaths of Sam, Albert, and Adele, Marge continued to operate Albert's Department Store until its closing in 1997.

Today, Marguerite "Marge" Cohlmia, daughter-in-law of Albert and Adele, serves as a docent at the Waynoka History Museum, and manages the Museum Gift Shop.

Tom Coury (dates unknown) immigrated from Lebanon to America, followed by his brothers, Sam H. (1870-1946), William (1874-1928), and Nicholas (1880-1930). They settled in the Waynoka area, and opened a general merchandise store. Some of the family later moved to Avard. Tom returned to Lebanon, where he married and had two children, Joe and Mary. Tom died, and his brother and sister-in-law, William "Bill" and Nessira (Waken), adopted Joe and Mary. Joe Coury became a grocer, operating a Red Bud Food Store in Alva.

Sam Coury met his future wife, Rosa (1886-1965), at Ellis Island when they were both entering the country. They returned to Beirut for their wedding. After the births of their first two children, Sylvia and Annis, they returned to America, and Sam, Rosa, and the children moved to a dugout east of Waynoka. Three more children, John, Alyce, and Annis, were added to the family. Their first-born son, Annis, had been killed in a shooting accident at the age of 11. They named their youngest son Annis, in memory of their first-born. Sam Coury was a builder, and built a home for his family at 107 North High Street in Waynoka, on the same street where his friends from the old country, the Cohlmias, lived.

At the age of 10, John Coury, son of Sam and Rosa, began working at Albert's Department Store. Albert was a good teacher, and John a good student. John borrowed money and opened his own store, Coury's Department Store, at the age of 16 across the street from Albert's in a rented building. He bought the building in 1926. John married Quantella "Quennie" Wehba in 1935. Their store had groceries and meat, as well as clothing for men, women, and children. Eventually, they sold the large fifty-foot-store-front building, opened a Red Bud grocery store about two blocks east across the street from City Hall, and bought the Oldsmobile dealership on Main Street. John, nearing 98, and Quennie, 88, parents of Ameel "Sam", Jeannette Ackal, Sharon Kay Moss, and Alice Sue "Suzie" Homsey, have been married for 70 years. They live in Oklahoma City.

Much has been written about the immigrants from Lebanon. The Lebanese in America, a rare out-of-print book written by John G. Moses, is reviewed online by Samir Mattar. Mattar writes that the book "is about the tides of Lebanese who left Mount Lebanon during the repressive Ottoman Empire before World War I and crossed borders and oceans for lands unknown. They were escaping persecution and desperate conditions, apprehensive but full of hope and faith. They fled poverty and destitution, filled with the prospect of a new life of plenty in freedom. Many of them began as door-to-door peddlers, traveling the country, hawking their wares from Manhattan to the dirt roads of Iowa and beyond, selling clothes and other necessities to remote farms. It was strenuous work and required long hours of walking, carrying a heavy suitcase of merchandise, usually bedspreads, shirts, combs, and brushes. It was as hard as the work they had left behind, but in America they discovered a robust sense of challenge and fulfillment in boundless opportunity. An early Lebanese immigrant once proposed that a statue be erected to the dauntless Lebanese peddler. Moses records many legends about the Lebanese peddler .... The portrait that emerges from these pages is that of a good, proud, fiercely independent yet gregarious, affable family person struggling to make the most of opportunities. They maintained awareness of ancestral origins through the institution of the family, preserving ties to the "old country" by sending financial support or sponsoring relatives to join them. Moses' affection and admiration for the resolve, the nerve, the courage and the strength of the first Lebanese immigrants is evident throughout the book." The full review of The Lebanese in America may be read at www.aljadid.com/reviews/0737mattar.html.

To read the full obituaries of Kamell and Wadia "Dee" Cohlmia, visit the online web site of Marshall Funeral Home.
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The Rest of the Story...

Moundridge School... I believe the other Mound Ridge school was 15 west of Alva on the north side of highway 64 on the old Smithson place.

Alva, OK - Block 29, Lots 17 thru 32... I also attended Longfellow 1936, 1st grade, under Mrs Summers. You may remember a little boy getting in lots of trouble, thats me. also my grandfather Huff ran in the 'Run' settled 4 miles south of Capron, friends and neigbors of the Fash,s. small world?

Airport & Flying School East of Alva... by Vic Vickers -- "Srickland Airport Flying School was written by my oldest brother, Clifford M Vickers, A.K.A. Max. Max was a retired American Airline Captain and resided in Las Vegas. Last year, while driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee and pulling his small RV travel trailer to the mountains and desert which he loved to do, he lost control rounding a curve and was killed. My name is Leon Strickland Vickers and I was born in Alva on East Barnes in November 1937. I grew up in Wichita, KS and as Alva was my Mother''s home, we visited a lot. When I was about 10 or so, I briefly attended scholl at Longfellow there in Alva. I can remember going our to my Uncle Leo's airport and playing with the Link Trainer. My Uncle Dave Arndt lived west of Alva, somewhere around Buffalo (I think). Whenever we visited there, we had to go through the caves found on the farm. My parents, Clifford M and Flossie Irene Vickers are buried in the Alva Cemetery (the one on the hill west of town). I have a cousin still in Alva, Carolyn Strickland DeMaree. Max had mentioned this site to me but this is my first visit."

WARRICK/WARWICK Researcher... Louis, this is a nice write up. Keep me informed if you get any results. I wish one of our Warricks could do the DNA.

The WARWICK Clan of Virginia... by Carmon Conder McManigell - I am the grandaughter of Susan Emma Warrick Puckett, her father John Thomas Warrick, his father Dempsey George Washington Warrick. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Obituary: Eileen Darnell - 05/05/1916 to 03/24/2006...

Obituary: Eileen Darnell - 05/05/1916 to 03/24/2006, Service Saturday, April 01, 2006 at 10:00 AM, Wharton Funeral Chapel, Alva, Ok -- Eileen, daughter of Jim and Opal Bliss, was born May 5, 1916, in Woods County, Oklahoma. She passed away peacefully at the Providence Memorial Hospital in El Paso, Texas, on March 24 at the age of 90.

She lived throughout her childhood on a ranch near Lookout, Oklahoma. From the time that she could first ride a horse, her best memories come from time she spent working cattle with her father.

Eileen was home schooled by her mother for three years. After completing her home-schooling, Eileen went on to attend school in a one-room school house in Lookout. She quickly advanced through the school system in Lookout and was always proud of the fact that she had ridden her horse to and from school. Another one of her fondest memories was the rare occasion when she was able to ride her Father...s horse, Rowdy, to school.

During the Depression, Eileen lived with a family friend in Alva, Oklahoma while she attended high school and college. She started high school at the age of 13 and graduated at the age of 16. Because of the impact that the Dust Bowl had on cattle prices, money her mother made selling eggs from the hens helped to pay for Eileen to attend both high school and college. Eileen also worked to try to make ends meet.

Eileen earned her Bachelor's degree from Northwestern State Teachers College at the age of 19 and later became certified and licensed as a medical technologist. Eileen moved back to the ranch where she began teaching a Coy School, a one-room school. She also coached the wrestling team to the Oklahoma small school State Championship.

Eileen was accepted to medical school in the late '30's, but passed up on that rare opportunity to marry Victor Lee Darnell and begin raising a family.

Eileen's greatest loves were her children, her grandchildren and the ranch where she and her beloved sister Lois were raised. After her father passed away, she made sure that she kept the brand alive and in the family passing on its legacy to one of her grandchildren. The J- Brand initially registered by her father, Jim Bliss, has been in use continuously since the opening of the Cherokee Strip in 1893.

Eileen is survived by two sons and their wives, Jim and Sue Darnell, and Eric and Ann Darnell; a sister and her husband Lois and Frank Layton; five grandchildren, Jeep, Ryan, Jake, Tiffy and Eric Darnell. In her later years, these grandchildren were the apples of her eye and she followed their many accomplishments with great pride until the very end.
Wharton Funeral Obit - Eileen Darnell & The Oklahoman Obit - Eileen Darnell
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NW OkieLegacy Blog - Minnesota...

"When I was a kid I lived in Effie MN from about 1974 until 1982. Which is located a few miles from Craigville. At that time, there was a population of 1 in Craigville, MN. An elderly lady who lived in a tiny little house right next to the Bigfork River where we used to swing from a rope tied to a tree limb hanging over the river. (If I recall she worked in one of the brothels back in the 1930's, of which are still there rotting away.) I remember her little house having an old wood burning pot belly stove and lots of old pictures on the wall and antique bottles and vases lined up along shelves by her windows. I am not sure when she passed away, but since then (as far as I know) she was the last person to dwell in Craigville.

I know there is an old railroad grade running from Craigville through Effie and toward Bigfork along Hwy 38. Along that grade we found a few rotted and flattened shacks where we managed to find some artifacts in the shacks, like old booze bottles and medicine tins and bottles, rusted axes and hatchets, a chair carved out of a log and we even found railroad ties which was left behind when the tracks were removed. Again, I am not sure when they tracks were removed either. There was also a rodeo held near Craigville every year. (Not sure if it is still held there anymore) which was owned by A native american family who resided near Bigfork." -- Dianne Albrecht - Email: slydianne@msn.com - NW OkieLegacy Blog - Minnesota
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Researching WWII For School Project...

"I love this website!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was doing some research for a WWII project I did in school when I stumbled upon all of this wonderful information. I couldn't believe that there were actually prisoner of war camps in my home state! I was so amazed that I did a fourth of my report on it. Thank you for all of your information and pictures. I got an A on my project! My grandfather fought in WWII for the marines and recieved a purple heart while stationed in Okinawa. He has made my interest for this war considerably increase this year! Many things devistate me including POW camps and concentration camps. I cant believe how many cruel things were done to the inmates and how long the Nazis got away with it!" -- Katherine B. View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Theatres Extra Rental Income...

"Don't know whether it'd been mentioned before, but if I remember correctly, when that theatre in Alva had been in the planning stages, Homer Jones had insisted on adding offices upstairs to be rented out (doctors, dentists, lawyers, etc.) plus office space for his own business in order to insure a modest income in addition to the movie business. Many theatres had extra income from small rental shops of some sort, including the Rita Theatre at Britton, Oklahoma, where Pug Hawkins had been a manager and I had first started my 'showbiz' career." -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Researching Craigville, Minnesota...

"I am looking at more history information on the town of Craigville, MN up by Effie Mn. There is still a rodeo every summer in Effie. It is the place to be during that time. I wanted info on the stories from the brothels, and logging camps. Growing up my family hunted and stayed in Craigville at an old cook shack that was part of a logging camp. Only way to it now is by canoe since the beavers dammed it up. My familly owns property still in Craigville/Effie area." -- Laura Winkler - Email: winks@paulbunyan.net
See Comment posted at NW OkieLegacy Blog - Minnesota View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Orion Cemetery (Oklahoma)...

"In the latest issue of Okielegacy there was a bit about a concrete slab across the road from the Orion cemetery. In past years the cemetery was an assembly point on Memorial day for many of the families that had loved ones buried there. Many would bring picnic provisions. Local talent would usually provide music and singing for the crowd. Too bad times have changed. The cemetery board has just voted to erect a shelter of the existing slab in the hope the comfort that it will afford man bring back some of the fellowship as in the past." -- Duane Bensch View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Pine Valley, Oklahoma Story...

"Hi, I really enjoyed the story of living in Pine Valley as a child. My wife and I love the area and purchased 8 acres next to my parents only 1/2 mile down the road to the south across the river." -- Kevin Hall - Email: hall_okc@yahoo.com View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

Gas Prices Going Up Again...

"I was told by a fairly reliable source that local gasoline prices are headed for the $3 per gallon price again this summer. The only reason I can think of is that the oil companies are trying to outdo each other on record breaking profits again like they did last fall.

Our prices here in Perry, Oklahoma have jumped back up to $2.47.9 as of yesterday (Thursday, March 30) and I was told they may not go back down this time. We'll just have to wait and see. I've parked mom's Oldsmobile in the warehouse for over a month now. Fortunately everything is close by and I can walk to almost everyplace I need to go. I filled the tank while the price was below $2.35 and have only driven less than 10 miles since then.

Some of the state had rain and hail along with the high winds yesterday (no tornados that I know of), but as usual, our county missed out on everything except the winds. We're still experiencing 'high fire danger' and there is no moisture in sight. I guess that Hawaii is still getting our share." -- Roy View/Write Comments (count 0)   |   Receive updates (0 subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

The Western Normal College...

by the Pilgrim Bard (Scott Cummins), Pg. 39 - Musings of the Pilgrim Bard

Look ye! once that hill was bare,
Sunset rested on a prairie;
Short the space since buffalo
O'er the spot grazed to and fro;
Has Alladin's lamp and fairy
Caused the change so wondrous there?

Look ye! once upon that hill
Stood the roving red man's tepee;
There at pow-wow and at dance
Roasted dog was served perchance;
Squaws and bucks, in blankets creepy,
Sought repose when all was still.

Gone, the shaggy bison wild --
Gone poor "Lo," his business busted;
Far away the gray wolf's yell
Of the past the funeral knell;
Farmers, with the east disgusted,
Claim the place of nature's child.

Look ye! towering o'er yon slope
Stands a monument of knowledge;
Thing of beauty, massive, grand,
builded by skilled workman's hand --
Alva's Western Normal college,
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Knob Institution Passed 46th Anniversary In March (1943)...

Knob Institution Passed 46th Anniversary In March (1943), 50th Anniversary Edition, dated September 12, 1943, The Alva Review-Courier, Section B.

Opening of the Cherokee Strip in 1893 brought hardy group of pioneers to Alva -- a group who soon conceived the idea of locating a Normal school in the bustling little city and a group that devoted every energy to the fight.

Alva and the surrounding territory developed so rapidly after the opening rush that the pioneers began clamoring for a Normal school and a bill was introduced to the territorial legislature in 1895 for that purpose.

A committee composed of S. L. Johnson, chairman; H. L. Ross, secretary; W. F. Hatfield, editor of the Alva Pioneer; James Kelley, editor of the Alva Republican; C. C. Hudson, editor of the Alva Review; A. H. Andrews, city attorney, and Jesse J. Todd, met and advertised for offers of land near town for a college site. They formulated other plans and applied pressure on the legislature to secure location of school in Alva.

Several responses were made to the advertisement for land, but the most desirable was the hill, one-half mile south of the town, and about two blocks east of where the old Administration building stood.

Their next move was a standing "push" committee to go to the territorial capital at Guthrie and lobby for the school. The committee was instructed to assist Councilman J. P. Gandy and Representative G. W. Vickers. , S. L. Johnson, James Kelley and C. C. Hudson were the first named and others on the committee went to Guthrie occasionally to relieve these for a day or two at a time. They were unsuccessful in this first fight, but they were only temporarily beaten.

On April 1, 1896, a group of businessmen met and formed the Alva Commercial Club. The club gave its attention to general matters until the November election, and then set about getting in touch with the newly elected representatives and councilmen who would make up the legislature to convene January 12, 1897.

S. L. Johnson was again chosen to head the "push" committee and among those who spent more or less time in Guthrie helping in the cause were: Captain Stine, J. D. Share, G. W. Crowell, H. E. Noble, H. A. Noah, J. W. Monfort, Dr. J. D. Karr, C. W. Hobbie, E. Rall, S. B. Share, Jos. Miller, Jesse J. Dunn, H. C. McGrath, F. M. Cowgill and W. C. Douglas.

A record of all the maneuvers in the fight would fill a good sized volume, but the bill passed the council by a vote of eight to five on February 26, 1897. Senators D. P. Marcum of Woodward and William Garrison of Grant county were staunch workers in the cause.

After another bitter fight the bill passed the house of representatives on March 10, 1897. After this those opposed still tried to keep Governor W. C. Renfrow from signing the bill before the close of the session. The men friendly to the bill refused to sign the appropriations bill until the governor signed the college bill. It was either sign the bill or to try to run state affairs without funds for the following year.

The bill was signed about midnight, just before the session closed, March 12.

According to the late Hugh S. Johnson, fiery former head of the NRA, work was actually started on the building and it was in process of construction before the bill passed. So intent and confident were the pioneers that education would reign in northwest Oklahoma.

The contract for a building was to have been let on July 22 but the governor and board of education would not let it go through until they could decide what size building would be necessary.

Therefore the Commercial club offered to furnish a building in which school could start in the fall of 1897 and the Alva Congregational church was rented for $150 and classwork started there.

President James E. Ament came here shortly before school opened and on September 20, with two teachers, Mrs. Sarah Bosworth and Mrs. Mary DeLisle, and fifty right students, Northwestern college started operating. By the first of November the enrollment had grown to a hundred and President Ament and the Commercial club started a campaign to convince the governor and board of education that a large building was needed.

On December 1 the board met again, but again put off the letting of the contract. Then for some unexplained reason, the secretary of the board received hundreds of letters from young people all over Woods and adjoining counties. Bids were finally advertised for and on March 10 the contract was let to John Volk and Company. No appropriations had as yet been made for the building., with all the available funds being $5,000 -- in bonds that were voted by the city in order to get the school building here.

Mr. Volk held a consultation with the Commercial club and a number of citizens in this vicinity. They signed a bond to Mr. Volk for $86,018, the amount of the contract. Four of the original signers of the bond still live in Alva. They are J. W. Monfort, W. F. Hatfield, Anton Shafer and George Crowell.

Dr. Ament widely traveled educator, furnished the inspiration for the building, assisting the architect, Joseph Foucart, a native Frenchman, in drawing up plans for the edifice. Dr. Ament had visited one of the old Norman Castles in France and used the general outline for the college buidling.

The structure, first condemned as a folly because of the appearance was later hailed as a masterpiece of architectural beauty.

Actual work on the building started on April 1, 1896, and from then on the work progressed rapidly. The laying of the cornerstone on July 1st brought a large crowd to Alva, a huge parade was staged and many notable people were here.

The structure was of native red brick. It was Dr. Ament's plan to reproduce the gigantic castle he had seen in France, and the huge three-story building here with its towers, turrets and battlements, was to be only one wing of the structure. Dr. Ament's vision was never realized, although he carried it with him long after he left Alva. He died in New York City, July 21, 1936.

According to initial plans the cost was to have been $86,018, but the building was ultimately completed at a cost of $110,000. The dedication speech was written by one of the greatest and most colorful figures in Oklahoma history -- Temple Houston, son of Texas' Sam Houston.

The magnificient structure, booed by many as the "Prairie Prince's Plight," was hailed by thousands. Alva Adams, Colorado governor, who was attorney for the Santa Fe railroad and for whom the city of Alva was named, arranged for a special train to provide transportation for the territorial legislators to come to Alva for the dedication.

The erection of the building was steady and the college grew with no more interruptions until Governor Ferguson needed president Ament's place for a friend and he was replaced with T. W. Conway, coming here in the summer of 1902.

After Mr. Ament came to Alva, the school and city had no stauncher worker than he, and it was conceded by all that the school had the most rapid growth of any ever opened west of the Mississippi river.

The building served the college students as a hall of learning and a meeting place for many school and social activities for many years. Here were held all gatherings of the towns that were too large for other meeting places. Here were welcomed speakers and entertainers of national repute. And here was gathered an immense crowd to attend burial services for one of the best loved of the college instructors and legislators -- Professor E. A. Herod, for whom Herod hall is named.

Science Hall -- In May, 1905, the demand for another building was so great that the state legislature appropriated $50,000 for a Science building. The action was validated by the federal government in June, 1906, and President Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill a few days later. The Science hall was completed in the fall of 1907 and the rapidly growing college had added another mark in its progression to one of the leading institutions of the state.

That same year, 1907, the central heating plant was completed at a cost of $50,000. No other buldings were added until 1919 when Wyatt gymnasium was constructed.

In 1919 the Normal school was no more -- it became a four-year college with power to confer bachelor degrees. Success of the transfer was greeted with delight by boosters for the college, who then sensed an additional growth.

Herod Hall -- It was necessary to bring the school up to a par with other state institutions then and in 1923, after several years of effort, the state legislature appropriated $100,000 for building Herod hall and making other improvements. Herod hall was designed after the main building at Oklahoma City University.

The institution, known after 1919 as Northwestern State Teachers' college, prospered until 1935, when the Administration building burned. Herod Hall, in the center of the campus, housed the auditorium and music classrooms in 1943.

The "old castle on the hill" had woven itself strongly into the hearts of everyone -- it was a landmark, not only to those who had been students in the college, but to every one who had occasion to pass this way.

It was with grief in their hearts that townspeople watched the building burn March 1, 1935. They realized that it could never be replaced in fact or in sentiment.

Action for a new building was begun immediately, a meeting on March 2, resulting in immediate action in the state legislature.

The two new buildings at Northwestern college, although of entirely different design than the administration building, are regarded as monuments to the fearlessness of those early day pioneers.

Northwestern college today stands as one of the best equipped and most modern of schools in the state and a continued advancement is forecast for the center of northwest Oklahoma activities.

The presidents who have served at Northwestern college (as of september 12, 1943 article):

President Ament from 1897 until 1902, then Thomas W. Conway from 1902 until 1908.

He was succeeded by Walter Ross, who served from 1908 to 1910, when Grant B. Grumbine, superintendent of schools at Geary, came to Northwestern.

Mr. Grumbine ws moved to Central State Teachers' college at Edmond, in 1916, and J. W. Graves had previously been president of the School of Mines at Wilburton and served here one year.

A. S. Faulkner, professor of education at Southeastern Teachers' college, was then sent her.

In 1919, James P. Battenberg, superintendent of schools at Atoka, was elected president here. His was the longest administration in the history of the institution, serving until 1928. He was mainly instrumental in securing the appropriation for Herod hall.

Walter W. Parker, dean of faculty at Warrensburg Teachers' in Missouri, became president in 1928 and served until July 1933, when he became president of the Cape Giradeau Teachers in Missouri.

He was followed by O. E. Hatcher, an instructor in history at Oklahoma A.& M. College. It was during his administration that the building was destroyed by fire.

In May, 1935, President Hatcher was succeeded by Dean Sabin C. Percefull, during whose administration $245,000 was obtained from the federal government to match the $300,000 appropriated by the state to construct Jesse Dunn hall and the new Demonstration building.

In February, 1936, Ernest E. Brown, former president of the Teachers' college at Weatherford, became president.

President Brown was succeeded in 1939 by Dr. C. O. Newlin, former professor of education at the University of Oklahoma. Newlin's resignation on December 31, 1942, brought about the return of Sabin C. Percefull, then president of Northeastern Oklahoma Junior college at Miami, as head of the school he served as professor and dean of many years.

Jesse Dunn Hall (1943 View) -- Jesse Dunn Hall replaced the "Old Castle on the Hill." after the March, 1935 fire. It has one of the best equipped Physics laboratories in the state. All the recent Northwestern students will remember the many hours spent in NSC's wellstocked library located in Jesse Dunne Hall.

A Prairie of Dreams (Castles of NW Oklahoma)...

by - LK Wagner

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it." -- William Arthur Ward. Another saying I like is, "If you build your prairie of dreams (your Castle on the Hill), they will come!"

We all have dreams! All we need is the determination and support to carry out some of those dreams. What if our ancestors had not followed their prairie of dreams to the new world? What would life have been like back in January, 1895 if the pioneers of the growing city of Alva and the county of "M" (Woods, Alfalfa and Major) in this northwest Oklahoma territory had not had their dream of a Northwestern State Normal School and the determination of a community to accomplish that dream?

There would have been NO unique and splendid "Castle on the Hill" March 12, 1897 that stood until March 1, 1935 when it was ravished completely by fire. One of those dreamers was James E. Ament who helped structure the architectural outline of the Norhtwestern Normal school building after the outlines of the Norman Castles of France that he loved so much. Ament was the first President of Northwestern State Normal College when he came to Alva in September 20, 1897.

It took the support and organization of the Commercial Club of businessmen and citizens of the community to unite and "Push" for the lobby of the bill through the State Legislature from January, 1895 to March 12, 1897. After much maneuvering on both sides, Governor Renfrew reluctantly signed the bill granting a Normal School for this determined community of Alva, Oklahoma.

While the committee was faced with several long, maneuvering and bitter fights lobbying the legislature, the citizens back home were gathering land and finances. They were beginning to build on their dream. That is how determined they were to fulfill their dreams of higher education in this growing farming town and county of "M" in Oklahoma territory. They had a dream and as a community they came together to build it.

For more details concerning the "Castle on the Hill", you may go to my Okie Legacy web site at Building of the Northwestern Normal School and read more about it.

The early morning hours of March 1, 1935, Friday, will live in infamy for many of the Old Timers of this NW Oklahoma community. That is when their beloved "Castle on the Hill" burned down. The cause of the fire has been largely a matter of speculation ranging from faulty electrical wiring -- To spontaneous combustion in a janitor's closet -- To a carelessly tossed cigarette.

From a journal that my Grandpa McGill kept this is what he wrote March 1, 1935 -- "The old Administration building burned down -- Boy! Was everybody sick! March 14, 1935 -- $300,000 passed by both houses to rebuild. Only 4 opposition -- Parade by everybody at noon, March 14, 1935."

The pioneers of the growing city of Alva and county of "M" (Woods, Alfalfa and Major) in Oklahoma territory had their prairie of dreams. One of those dreams was to see their children educated. They set their goal to build their "Castle on the Hill" for themselves, their children and their children's children. It began with 166 students in September, 1897 and grew to 2,000 students in 1999. They accomplished their prairie of dreams with the pioneer spirit and determination that drove so many to this new land of opportunities -- And they came in droves from the eastern and western seaboards and across the oceans for a new beginning.

Don't give up on your dreams. Where would we be if our pioneers had given up on their dreams. There may be times that you take a step back, but there will always be times when you take two steps forward to seeing your dreams fulfilled. What we need is more dreamers and people with determination to ease and move us progessively forward in the evolution of our life.
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