Volume 11 , Issue 26

Remembering the Alva Greenhouse

This Photo was scanned from a Postcard of my Grandmother's. I am not sure of the date. On the back of the card where the stamp goes it reads: "Place Postage Stamp Here - Domestic and Canada One Cent - Foreign Two Cents."

The Alva Greenhouse was located at Church and Logan Streets. The Alva Greenhouse owned and operated by the William R. Maxwell family, was established in 1909 when the family moved to Alva from Goltry, Oklahoma.

Before establishing a successful flower business, the Maxwells sold fruit and vegetables with cabbages being their main money crop.

In the foreground of this postcard view is their extensive vegetable garden which had its own irrigation system. The greenhouses and the family home, both built in 1909, are in the background.

The flower business was started in the basement of this home in 1911. The business, which later became known as Maxwell Florists, was sold in 1961. The greenhouses are gone but the house is still standing. The following information was sent to me my Marvin Henry concerning the postcard of the Alva Greenhouse. If anyone else out there has any other memories that they would like to add, please Email this NW Okie.

Marvin says, "My long-term memory immediately recognized the house and greenhouses as being Maxwell Florist. Cannot guarantee this is fact, but when I saw the picture it immediately came to me that this was what was known as Maxwell Florist when I was a kid, and was/is located at what is now Dorothy's Flower's on Logan.

"In the late '40's, I delivered papers for the Alva Review Courier on a route which was in that area. There was a canyon, having since been partially filled in, between Logan and I think it is Meno street. There were a few more houses in that area than when the photo was taken, but the house and greenhouses were there. As a matter of fact, I think the original house from the picture, with some remodeling, is still there.

"The Maxwell of the Maxwell Florist was probably the grandparent of Allyson Maxwell (class of '55) who I believe married Max Ridgway (class of '55), and at one time lived across from the new AHS on Flynn. However, I think Allyson grew up in that house."
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