Castle On The Hill

Northwestern State Normal School
Alva, Oklahoma, Woods "M" County

Photo taken January 22, 1901 --

(printed date on front in white), Alva, O. T. (Oklahoma Territory). On the back there is pencil notations of "BFS Elkton O.T. 2221 50 Guinn Warrick". My Grandmother, Constance E. Warwick, would have been around 18 years going on 19 and may be in the student body assembled in the foreground.

[Click Here to see a shell of the "Castle" after the 1 March 1935 Fire. The Shell of Castle shows backside looking down Sixth St. or College Ave. ]

What I know so far... Northwestern Normal School was at one time scorned by thousands as "Prairie Prince's Plight." A Bill was introduced in 1895 to establish the Normal School in Alva, M County, O.T. It was the second Normal School and Central State in Edmond was the first. The building was started in the Fall of 1897. By March 10, 1898 a contract was given to John Volk and Co. to build it. On April 1, 1898 they began actually work. By July 1, 1898 they laid the cornerstone. The Alva Congregational Church was used as the school until the Normal School was finished. On March 9, 1900 it was dedicated by President James Ament.

. . . The Campus . . .

A Silent message thru the ages
Is delivered to the races passing by,
And the wisdom of the sages
Flashes futily from the sturdy eye,
Watching Life's laughter, song and tears
Thru the eager march of onward years;
With quiet, unperturbed, mobile face
Inspires us to live with equal grace.
[taken from The Ranger 1926 yearbook]

NSN Ranger 1917 Yearbook
NSTC Ranger 1926 Yearbook
NSTC Ranger 1937 Yearbook
NSTC Ranger 1938 Yearbook
Old NW Oklahoma Yearbooks
Northwestern Normal School History - Castle on the Hill, 1895
Northwestern Normal School Report - 1903
More Normal History - from The Alva Pioneer Souvenir Edition 1904
Normal School Photos - from 1916-1917 yearbook
Winning Basketball Ladies of 1919 - Northwestern Normal School
Burning of the Castle on the Hill - March 1, 1935
Shell of the Castle on the Hill - March, 1935, looking north at backside of Castle towards town down College Ave. (6th Street). Notice Administration building on the left side.
Science Hall -
Fine Arts Building -
Carter Hall -
Jesse Dunn Building - Photo August 30, 1999
McGill Boys at Normal School - Gene & Bob McGill, Jan 1919 & May 1920
Reading by Mary Drucille Abrams - Northwestern State Normal School, Alva, Okla., 31 January 1907.
Alva Mural (May 2000) - Depicting the burning of the Castle on the Hill, March 1, 1935
Brunsteter bldg., SE corner of 5th & Barnes: PIC #2, PIC#3, PIC#4
Poem by Pilgrim Bard (Scott Cummins) - The Western Normal College

OkieLegacy NSN Pages...

Castle on the Hill -- NW Normal School -- History of... Normal School
NSN Burning of Castle on the Hill -- Northwestern State Normal
NW Normal Basketball Ladies

NWOSU Web Sites...

NWOSU Web Site -- NWOSU... History of the School

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