Volume 15 , Issue 7

1909-10 Alva Rest Room Guestbook

Have you ever wondered if your ancestors passed through Alva, Woods county, Oklahoma back in the 1909-1910 era? 1909-1910 Alva Rest Room Guestbook was a guestbook of those who visited Alva, Oklahoma back in 1909 and 1910. It was a place that travelers, country folks and others used as a stopping off place to rest before the long journey back home. Some would come in by train from other states, but most were from around Northwest Oklahoma and a few from the other parts of the State of Oklahoma.

The Matron of the Rest Room from February, 1909 to around October, 1909 was Mrs. Thompson. Mrs. Conner took her place after Mrs. Thompson moved away. It sounds like the Alva businessmen had something to do with the Rest Room and that train travelers often used it as a stop over between train depots. Also farm families coming to town to do shopping also used it before the long journey back home.

Rest Room Guestbook (Alva, Oklahoma). The first 25 pages of 100 pages of the Alva Rest Room Guestbook dated, February-1909 thru March-1910 can be found by clicking on this link file and navigate to 1909-10AlvaGuests1.pdf. There are seven PDF files. These are just a few of the 1909 Alva Rest Room Guestbook picked at random:

Aug. 2, 1909 -- "While walking up and down the street as a stranger in your town, I spyed the 'The Rest Room.' Entered and how refreshing I found it." -- Mrs. J. D. Carter, Waynoka

Dec, 1909 -- "It is more of a question than one would think. To express ones idea's of the Rest Room. We westerners and Ranch people are so accustom to spending money for anything we receive away from home. It over whelms us and we can not think of anything nice enough to say of such enterprise. Long May it last." -- Margarita Roberts, Fairvalley, Oklahoma, a visitor of Rest Room.

Dec. 1, 1909 -- Mrs. W.G. Baer, Enid, Oklahoma, "The Rest Room is filling a long felt want. In every city we find places for men to drop in where it is warm and comfortable but it is hard to find a place where a women can rest and not feel in the way. Alva can well feel proud of such a refuge for women who when tired can rest and at no expense but on the other hand, feel a hearty welcome. Long may it Live."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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