The Naming of Alva

Alva, Oklahoma, Woods County

In an old "Alva Pioneer" issue dated March 9, 1894, a small article appeared as a news item, "Thomas A. Edison's middle name is Alva. We are not particularly superstitious, but we always believed that the steady, reliable and yet, unexplained progess of Alva was due to some kind of a 'Mascot', and that must be the 'stuff'."

An article in the "Alva Chronicle" dated April 26, 1895 stated, "Alva was named after Alva Adams, ex-governor of Colorado. He was the best governor the State of Colorado ever had and Alva is the best town in this Territory -- Both are democratic."

There is a book entitled, "Oklahoma Place Names", that was written by George H. Shirk that mentions, "Alva --County Seat of Woods County. Post office established August 25, 1893. Named for Alva Adams, railroad attorney, who later was governor of the state of Colorado."

The Alva Review-Courier's September 12, 1943 news article states, "Santa Fe Railroad Responsible for Alva's Name -- Alva the first town in Woods county owes it's name to an attorney for the Santa Fe Railroad Comapny, Alva Adams."

Alva was located as the first town south off the Kansas line when the panhandle line of the Santa Fe was built through the Cherokee Strip in 1885-1886. The suggestion for the name of the town was made that it should be called "Alva" in recognition of the service of the company attorney.

The book, "The Cherokee Strip -- Why Some Towns Were So Named" -- by Rainey, states, "Alva, the county seat of Woods County was named by the Santa Fe Railroad Company, as were a number of other towns along that line of road, before the opening of the Strip. Alva Adams was at one time attorney for the railroad and the place was named in his honor. This is the same Alva Adams who was afterward Governor of Colorado."

Another publication written by James Marshall states, "Santa Fe -- The Railroad That Built An Empire -- More than 200 place names on the system are those of officials, employees or members of their families, ranging from brakemen to presidents." Alva was simply listed as "Alva, Okla. -- Attorney."

There was a late pioneer, A. E. "Gene" Pardee who wrote a letter that was published in the Alva Record, November 4, 1926 what was as follows:

"I saw in the Wichita Beacon of Oct. 27th, that Alva was trying to learn where and when it received the name'Alva'. Perhaps I can enlighten you on the subject. At the time the Santa Fe came into this part of the world this was a big cattle country, called the Cherokee Strip, as you know, and this particular part comprised the 60,000 acre UIN Ranch owned by Finis Ewing and I was his foreman. The last ten years of the ranch's existence the Santa Fe came into our pasture on it's way to the southwest about the year 1885. About a mile and a half from our camp where Alva is now located they build cattle pens, switch yards, a section house and small office to house a telegraph station which was only used during the shipping season. They named it Alva and it has been Alva from that time to this. After the road was built we had our own mail bags and our mail was sent from Kiowa and put off at the section house but no stop was made. Anthing else you would like to know I am at your service. Yours truly, (A.E. ) Gene Pardee.

In an article in the "Alva Review-Courier", dated September 12, 1943, concerning the Northwestern State College history there is a paragraph stating, "Alva Adams, Colorado governor, who was an 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 legislature to travel in for the dedication."

The final choice of how Alva received it's name is up to you. All of the above articles have very much to offer as to the actual source of how Alva got it's name and if you run across anything that is not mentioned hear, please contact Linda at OakieBelle.