Volume 9 , Issue 6

NWOSU's Old Science Hall

"Look ye! towering o'er yon slope
Stands a monument of knowledge;
Thing of beauty, massive, grand,
builded by skilled workman's hand --
Alva's Western Normal college,
Nucleus of our country's hope."

These are the last few lines of a poem written by the Pilgrim Bard (Scott Cummins). It is entitled "Western Normal College" for Northwestern State Normal school, in Alva, Oklahoma.

We are hoping we can jog some memories out there this week concerning the old Science Hall on Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) campus. NWOSU will be celebrating the 100th birthday of the oldest building on campus sometime in the near future. Some of you might know it as the "Fine Arts" building. Others might remember it as the "Science Hall." Whichever you remember it as, NWOSU is looking for old photos, stories of professors, classes that were held in the old Science Hall.

Also... When, How did the Rangers acquire the their name, mascot of the Ranger? Was there some sort of contest in the early years of "Northwestern Normal" when the idea of "Rangers" was first suggested?

AND... NWOSU is looking for any official college songs in the years before the current "Ride Rangers, Ride" and "Northwestern Alma Mater" were composed. If anyone has copies of the music or the words to any of these songs, NWOSU would very much like to have copies of them for their archives.

If you can help, CONTACT: Rodney C. Murrow, Ph.D., Ranger Class of 1971, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva ~ Enid ~ Woodward - EMAIL: RCMurrow@nwosu.edu. Thanks!

We have accumulated a lot of information about Northwestern's Castle On the Hill since its creation. You may view the old Ranger Albums over at our NW OkieLegacy - Old Albums. So far we have accumulated the Ranger albums for 1917, 1926, 1937, 1938 and a student directory dating back to 1937-38. We have scanned, placed the above mentioned items into PDF files located at the URLs below:

'37-'38 Student directory

1926 Ranger Album

1937 Ranger Album

1938 Ranger Album

In the 1926 Ranger Album, there is a photo entitled, "The Gang On the Warpath." It shows a "pep" demonstration at Northwestern when they conform into "one essential, entire student body marching to town enmasse." It goes on to say, "Here we see the first assembly of the group last fall (1925). The occasion was the marking of the Highways. Just in front of the college is the intersection of three State Roads and a National Highway. When the whole aggregation gets organized and tuned upon, On Northwestern all small boys or other obstruction had best take for tall timber. Ranger spirit reigns unbridled and defeat is impossible."

It mentioned the song "On Northwestern." It seems we have talked about this before, but could you all help this middle-aged NW Okie jog her memory? Do you know the words to "On Northwestern?" Do you know any other school songs, Alma Maters that Northwestern might have used? Thanks for all your memories!
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