Volume 11 , Issue 6

March 1, 1935 - Castle On the Hill Burn

If you would have read the headlines on March 2, 1935, in The Oklahoman, on the front page, the headlines might have read, "Teachers College building at Alva Goes Up in Flames."

The photo on the left shows the fire at its peak. The administration building of the Northwestern State Teachers college at Alva was a mass of smoking ruins on the Friday after flames, supposed to have started from defective wiring raced through the structure in the early morning hours.

This picture shows the blaze at its height. Plans already were under way to obtain funds to rebuild the structure. meanwhile, classwork was going on as usual.

Action Starts Quickly

U. S. May furnish half of the funds and Governor Marland parley set for Monday.

Plans were underway to obtain $450,000 for the rebuilding of the administration building of Northwestern State Teachers College, in Alva.

Following a survey, J. M. McCollom, State Rerpresentative from Medford, and Charles Albright, Capron Senator, drew a bill to authorize the rebuilding.

Abandonment Fought

Before it was submitted the legislators held a conference with Governor Marland. McCollom said he had information about 50% of the money might be obtained from the federal government.

Both legislators said any action upon a reported move to abandon the school would meet with opposition. McCollom pointed out that attendance at the school had been gaining as an argument for its continuance.

Budget Officer Visits Alva

Louis H. Ritzhaupt, chairman of the senate committee on education, said such a move was not practical insomuch as the school was the only one of the type in the wide territory. A similar view was held by Carl Twidwell, head of the house education committee, who reported that he had heard of no such move.

In anticipation of the legislative action, R. R. Owens state budget officer went to Alva, Friday to get firsthand information.

Classwork Resumes In Churches

Alva, March 1, 1935 -- Northwestern State Teachers college, its administration building destroyed early Friday by fire, made plans Friday night to resume class work work Monday and open a campaign to have the state replace the burned building.

At a mass meeting of 1,500 students and citizens a petition urging the replacement was pasted and was sent to the board of affairs and members of the legislature.

Work Not Interrupted

W. P. Marsh, registrar reported that classes were held Monday in churches and other buildings which had been turned over to the college. The new schedules had been prepared and there would be no interruption in the work. citizens had donated the use of typewriters, pianos and other equippment so that they classes could go ahead.

The huge administration building, the largest educational structure in the state, was damaged beyond use is what R. R. Owens, state budget officer, told Marsh.

Loss is $500,000

Mr Owens looked over the building and said that the walls, the only part of the building left standing, could not be used. Owens said he would confer with the board of affairs and the legislators and see what could be done about replacing the building.

The fire loss was estimated at $500,000. The structure, which was built in 1898, housed the college library, music department, the museum of fine arts and industrial arts departments.

The library of 60,000 volumes, valued by L. A. Ward, librarian, at $150,000, was destroyed as were music instruments, valued at $10,000. The building itself was listed as worth $200,000.

Three Students Rescued

Three student employees who were sleeping in the building when the fire broke out at 3 a.m. were rescued, partially overcome by smoke, by firemen. The three boys were: Floyd Anthis; Clyde Friend, Cashing; and Tony Anderson, Pitcher, were on the top floor and made their way to the roof, from where they were taken by firemen.

A nearby ten-room house was set afire by sparks from the school blaze and burned. Several other nearby houses also were damaged. The origin of the fire had not yet been determined.
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