Alva in Woods County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Burning of the Castle on the Hill

— Alva Mural Society —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

1. Burning of the Castle on the Hill Marker

Inscription.
Northwestern Territorial Normal School Main Campus Building burned March 1st, 1935.

Erected 2000 by Alva Mural Society. (Marker Number 6.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Disasters • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1935.

Location. 36° 48.209′ N, 98° 39.9′ W. Marker is in Alva, Oklahoma, in Woods County. It is on 5th Street just south of Barnes Street, on the left when traveling south. The marker is mounted on the west facade of the building at this address. The 3-panel mural spans the top portions of the one-story building's angled west entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 427 Barnes Street, Alva OK 73717, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and Cherokee Outlet.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Alva POW Camp (a few steps from this marker); 45th Infantry Div. (within shouting distance of this marker); The Supply Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Woods County Centennial Wall (within shouting distance of this marker); In Honor of the Growth of Cooperative Extension Continuing Education in Woods County (within shouting distance of this marker); Thunderbirds (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Monfort Drug and Book Store / Jim and Mary Holder (about 300 feet away); World War I Memorial (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alva.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Castle on the Hill

Also see . . . (1935) Burning of Castle On the Hill (The Okie Legacy).

Excerpt: The following is taken from The Alva Daily Record, Volume 33, Number 53, pg. 1 & 2, Friday, March 1, 1935. It concerns the burning of "The Castle on the Hill" (Northwestern State Normal School) that burned completely down Friday, March 1, 1935, in the early morning hours around 2:30a.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

2. Burning of the Castle on the Hill Marker
Looking east from 5th Street; the marker is mounted between the 2 three-pane window bays on the left side of the angled entrance.

The following is from the front-page article stretched across the page with one-inch double headlines: ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OF TEACHERS COLLEGE DESTROYED BY $200,000 BLAZE — FLAMES RAZE HISTORIC PART OF NORTHWESTERN AS ALVA'S FIREMEN SAVE THREE LIVES.
These sub-headlines stated: Sleeping Students Trapped In Room, Take To Roof, And Are Brought To Safety With Use Of Long Ladder After Cries For Help Heard By Engineer.
BULLETIN: Every citizen in Alva interested in the Northwestern State Teachers college is called to meet this morning at 10 o'clock at Herod hall to discuss plans for rebuilding the college administration building. The announcement of the call was issued this morning at 5 o'clock by Charles Lamphere, president of the chamber of commerce. The call is urgent and every person in Alva is asked to be present.
BULLETIN: Arrangements will be made to carry on college class work Monday in spite of the destruction of the administration building. "There positively will be school Monday," Dean Sabin C. Percefull declared this morning. "Efforts will be made to obtain the use of local churches for classrooms," he said. "Old Main," the
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

3. Burning of the Castle on the Hill Mural (left panel)
The mural was painted by Kansas artist Stan Herd in 2000.
administration building of Northwestern college, was completely destroyed by flames of unknown origin that broke out early Friday morning…

(Submitted on February 1, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Burning of the Castle on the Hill Mural (<i>center panel</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

4. Burning of the Castle on the Hill Mural (center panel)

The mural was painted by Kansas artist Stan Herd in 2000.

Burning of the Castle on the Hill Mural (<i>right panel</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024

5. Burning of the Castle on the Hill Mural (right panel)

The mural was painted by Kansas artist Stan Herd in 2000.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 302 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 1, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.