Alva's Castle On The Hill
Northwestern State Normal School

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 photo 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.) ]

I just got back from taken that "Castle on the Hill" photo to my favorite copy center to get enlarged on their enlarger so I could get a better look at some of the people in the photograph. It is NOT a 1907 photo like I originally thought. It is January 22, 1901.

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, 1899 they began actually work. By July 1, 1899 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.