Volume 10 , Issue 25

More Alva Square Stuff

"I can't remember if I have sent this photo to you before or not (it seems that I have), but I am attaching it now. I copied it from the Alva Chamber of Commerce membership card that belonged to my father-in-law Noel Taylor (who, by the way, was one of the members of that 1936 NSC class in your most recent OkieLegacy). Pay special attention to the number of cars parked around the square and bear in mind this was when Alva still allowed center parking. There were so many people in town on Saturdays that you had to weave your way along the sidewalk when walking around the square.

To clear up a point: I note after reading my comments in your last OkieLegacy that I said Minton's was slightly East of the old New Deal Tavern and Cafe area. Actually, I meant WEST. Sorry 'bout that.

And just to the West (yes, WEST) of that was Mr. Rebel's Antique and used furniture store. I mention this because it was housed in one of the only two old wooden false-front buildings that I remember on the square. His son, H.C., had a shoe-shine stand out on the sidewalk there. H.C. was later a fine lineman for the Goldbugs. He died about three years ago.

The only other false-front wooden building that I can recall on the square was over on the south side in the 500 block of Barnes. This is the building that housed the Radiometer of which Marvin Henry wrote. The optometrist's name, however, was Dr. Homes Crisp, not Dr. Qvast. Dr. Crisp also ran a small jewelry business along with his optometry work. Dr. Quast was a dentist and his practice was located in a walk-up office over on the north side of the square in the 500 block of Flynn.

Using an old 1940's phone book and my memory, I estimate that there were over 190 businesses located on or within one block of the square at that time. This does not count the businesses along the highway, the neighborhood groceries, or any of the industrial area around the grain elevators and railroad track. Alva was a jumping place then! I loved Marvin Wiebener's skunk story. I wish it had appeared in my column!" -- JIM
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