Northwestern Oklahoma State University - Ranger Yearbook (Alva, OK)

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WANdunes The Ranger ATTN and energetic, and today these qualities show as their most prominent characteristics. The merchants are progressive and are organized together for the benefit of the entire community. They have instituted a plan of advertising and business methods that are strictly honest and fair, and make their own businesses to prosper by satisfying their customers. “Bargain Day,” which comes once a month, attracts hundreds of people from distances of fifty and seventy-five miles. Lately Alva has entered into the “Better Cities” contest, and is making rapid strides toward the goal of becoming the best city in the State in which to rear a family. Alva is a center of education and religious worship. There are nine churches in the city, so that any who comes to Alva will find the religious home of his own choice. Alva is famous for her schools. There are two ward schools and a par- ish school, and a fully accredited high school with an enrollment well over four hundred. In 1897 the Northwestern State Nor- mal School was established at Alva, and in 1920 it was changed to the Northwestern Normal College with power to grant de- grees. Tt has kept pace in growth with the city, growing from one b uilding and six graduates in 1900 to five buildings and approximately one hundred graduates in 1920. MMC ee pan TTT Five

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WANN Ti heRangper NUGUNUCANCLULEDYACUDCLICU ONG Alva, Home of Northwestern va. County Seat of Woods County, is situated on the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in the northwestern part of the State, about one hundred sixty miles from Oklahoma City. It is fortunately located and easy of access, being served by two railroads, the southern transcontinental line of the Santa Fe from Chicago to San Francisco, and the Rock Island lines mak- ing direct communication with Oklahoma City and with points in Kansas. It is an important point on the Albert Pike Highway which extends from Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is the western terminal of Young's Trail which leads to Oklahoma City. Alva is the center of a prosperous TOULUPTEALACUOOEOATETE DEER EEERORUACEERELCCESESEETEROCOEETE ET S” AULEUDEDTEADAEREEDERDEEDSSAL SC GEDDD ESAT LEESORELES Liaee farming community in which wheat, feed crops, broom corn, alfalfa, fruits and vegetables are raised in abundance. Woods County farmers are proud of their fine horses, cattle, hogs and poultry, The climate of Woods County 1 is healthful with mild, pleasant winters and delightful summers, with just enough rain- tall to keep crops in good condition and to keep the public and private parks green and beautiful. The altitude is a little more than thirteen hundred feet. It is in the heart of this region that Northwestern Normal College is located. Years ago these plains were covered with tall, succulent grasses and the herds of buffalo roamed over them at wiill. Indians built their wigwams along the Nescatunga and lived peaceably among themselves or waged war against other peo- ples. Then came the pioneers who blazed the trail for civili- zation, They traded and hunted with the natives, and some who still survive say that they killed buffalo on the very spot where the College now stands. Herds of buffalo gave way to herds of cattle, and Indian wigwams gave way to the dug-outs of the pioneers. In 1893 the country was opened to settlement and cities grew up over night. Woods county was laid out and Alva was designated as its county seat. On the second day of its history Alva was a busy town of several hundred people. Since then it has grown steadily until now it numbers almost five thousand inhabitants. Its men and women were hardy JT he Page TTT Four

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