Volume 11 , Issue 9

78 Year Ago Today - Alva OK

On March 1, 1931 (78 years ago today) this is what was happening in Alva, Oklahoma, as reported in The Oklahoman, page 56., with headlines reading: "Full Program Made Up For Road Meeting - U. S. 64 Association Members Expect Large Crowd At Alva Gathering."

"An outstanding feature of the fourth annual convention of the U. S. 64 highway association which convenes this year at Alva, Monday, March 23 (1931), will be a parade of Arkansas delegates headed by S. Birnie Harper of Fort Smith, the Arkansas vice-president of the association.

"Under his direction, plans are now being perfected for all delegates between Fort Smith and Memphis to gather in Fort Smith Saturday evening, March 21 (1931), leaving there at 6 o'clock on the morning of March 22 for a 194-mile drive to Pawnee, where they will stop for the noon lunch. From there they will be joined by Major Gordon W. Lillie "Pawnee Bill" with his band of 20 Pawnee Indians, arriving in Alva after an additional 141-mile drive, late that evening.

Parks Will Speak
"The principal speaker on the afternoon program at the convention will be J. S. Parks, member of the Arkansas State Highway commission and editor of the Fort Smith Southwest Record. He will also be a member of the Arkansas delegation in the parade across Oklahoma.

"Major Lillie, president of the association and E. Bee Guthrey, executive secretary, have just closed negotiations with Ray O. Weems and Charles J. Brill, editors of Wilds and Waters to make the current issue of that magazine an official publication of the U. S. 64 Highway association. This special edition will consist of approximately 60 pages dealing extensively in historical and current data with reference to the highway and the association promoting it. It will be off the press not later than March 15 (1931), giving time for wide circulation before the annual session.

New Mexican Indians Coming
"Word has also been received at association headquarters, 15 West Seventh Street, Tulsa, from Mayor Ben Harbert of Taos, N. M., announcing that a delegation of Taos Indians will meet Major Lillie and his band of Pawnee Indians at Alva, March 23 to take part in the parade and preliminary exercises prior to the opening of the general convention program.

"The Alva Daily Review-Courier is also preparing a special convention edition which will be ready for distribution on the morning of the convention date.

"The officials of U. S. 64 are looking forward to this year's annual convention as one of the most largely attended and successful gatherings ever held by the association."
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