Volume 17 , Issue 9

1909-1910 Alva Rest Room Guestbook

Northwest Oklahoma had a community resting place in Alva, Woods County, Oklahoma known as "Alva's Rest Room" where travelers, country folks and others used as a stopping off place to rest before the long journey back home.

Some should come in town by train from other states, but most were from around Northwest Oklahoma and a few from the other parts of the State of Oklahoma.

The Matron of the Rest Room from February, 1909 to around October, 1909 was Mrs. Thompson. Mrs. Conner took her place after Mrs. Thompson moved away. The Alva business men and the women's groups had something to do with the Alva Rest Room, giving travelers a place to rest between train depots. Also far families used it before the long journey back home.

Few signatures found in 1909 Guestbook

August 2, 1909 -- Notation of "Closed for painting" underneath the first couple of signatures.

August 5, 1909 -- "Mrs. W. T. Beadles, Avard, Oklahoma finds the rest room nice. A comfortable and enjoyed a rest very much and think the city of Alva a nice place to trade."

August 19, 1909 -- "Mrs. Hary Zacher, Dacoma, Okla. We find the rest room a great advantage over sitting on the street or walking in the hot sun and especially for children. We sincerely hope it may continue for the benefit of everyone."

"How pleasant it is to go and rest yourself. It is very nice of the business men of Alva to furnish a rest room for the tired mother and children. - Grace Bartlett"

August 26, 1909 -- "so thankful to the merchants of Alva for providing such a nice place to rest."

"Mrs. L. A. Swisher, 316 S. 4th St., OK. City - This rest room of Alva is certainly a neat quiet home like place for a weary tired traveler. And the good ladies & citizens who contribute to this are to be commended for their work. Mrs. Swisher is in city a few days in interest of the Oklahoma children's Home Society. This Society has placed 350 dependent & homeless little ones in good homes. It is located at Guthrie & State wide in its work."

Sept. 9, 1909 -- "The Rest Room is certainly a blessing to tired country folk. The instigator of the rest room proposition is certainly to be complimented on her good judgment in proposing such a refuge. - Mrs. I. T. Strickland, Ashley (Oklahoma)"

Sept. 10, 1909 -- " Mrs. McMillen - Being strangers in Alva and our friends failed to meet the train, we were setting around on the street when the matron of the rest room came and gave us a most cordial invitation to the rest room. We were certainly glad to find such a lovely place to rest and received kindly treatment at the hands of the matron."

Jan. 8, 1910 -- During my recent visit through southern Kansas, I found nothing that compared to our Alva Rest Room for usefulness for our country friends, much credit should be given to our few aggressive women who have labored so earnestly for its support. Also our businessmen who give so L____ly to keep it going & the matron who we always find in her place who keeps things all in fine order. -- Mrs. E. T. McKnight"

A few years ago I found and scanned the pages of the 1909-1910 Alva Rest Room Guestbook that I found in my grandmother's (Constance Warwick McGill) family treasures. The pages were so mostly written in pencil and have become faded, but perhaps some of you can find some ancestors listed through these PDF files.

On the last page, notice the circled name and address (Mrs. Nettie P. Self, 120 Barnes Ave., Alva, OK, phone No. 196). I do NOT know if this was a guest who signed or could it be a possible location of the Rest Room.

Just CLICK each PDF File on the right of website, under "Guestbook PDF Files" to open and save to your computer. At first glance of the PDF files you will notice they will need to be flipped 90 degrees in your Adobe Acrobat program.

If you know of someone or see some familiar names that others might be of interested to others, please feel free to share these files. Hope it helps someone out there locating an ancestor that passed through NW Oklahoma between 1909 and 1910.
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