Volume 8 , Issue 9

Castle On the Hill of the Prairies...

Northwestern State Normal School was also known as the famous "Castle on the Hill" by many. It was also scorned as the "Prairie Prince's Plight."

This photo was taken January 22, 1901. This additional information along with the date, was printed on the front in white, faded ink: Alva, O. T. (Oklahoma Territory). On the back there are 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.

This photo was taken sometime after the March 1, 1935 fire. The Shell of Castle is shown from the southside (backside) looking North down Sixth St. (College Ave.)

What we know so far is that Northwestern State 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 -- 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, 1898 they began actually work. By July 1, 1898 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.

This poem, "The Campus," was found in the 1926 Ranger album:

A Silent message thru the ages
Is delivered to the races passing by,
And the wisdom of the sages
Flashes futily from the sturdy eye,
Watching Life's laughter, song and tears
Thru the eager march of onward years;
With quiet, unperturbed, mobile face
Inspires us to live with equal grace.

Look for more "Castle on the Hill" history in the following week's of our OkieLegacy newsletter/ezine. Meanwhile, keep those memories flowing this way.
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