Volume 10 , Issue 8

Alva's Downtown Square

On the West side of the Woods county courthouse there was a triangular space created by sidewalks, where there was a large fish pond with an ornamental iron railing surrounding a three-tiered fountain.

In the center of this pond was a cast iron fountain featuring cranes whose uplifted bills sprayed water into the air. This beautiful and unique fountain was removed in 1955 prior to the demolition of the old Courthouse in 1956.

On the North side of square, Flynn Avenue, on the NW corner of Flynn & 5th Street was Snyder's Cigar Store. In cigar store rankings it was number two to the Oklahoma Cigar Store. Just up the block, to the West, from Snyder's Cigar Store was the palace of the county, the Rialto Theater.

Snyder's Cigar Store was where the very serious domino players held fort because it was quieter and you could concentrate on your game. Snyder's lunch counter featured cornbread and buttermilk -- we hear that was a tasty filler when funds were low. Back in 1910 we know that the NE corner of 5th & Flynn Avenue housed the "Woods County Bank" downstairs with the "Republican Headquarters" upstairs.

A Cigar Store (pool hall, domino parlor) building on the NW corner was "Snyders Cigar Store." There was a grocery store just to the west of the cigar store, but we are not sure of the name at present. Did George Snyder that opened the first Dry Goods Store in Alva, Oklahoma, also have something to do with Snyder's Cigar Store?

G. W. "George" Snyder George W. Snyder was a native of Ohio. He came to Kansas in the early 1880's, and to Alva at the opening (1893) and started the first dry-goods store in the city.

George Snyder's business grew with the city and at the beginning of 1904 he was at the head of the Snyder, Makemson Mercantile Co., which occupied three large rooms, and was one of the largest department stores in Oklahoma. Mr. Snyder had always been a loyal supporter of public improvements in Alva, and in 1904 was a member of the city council.
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