Alva in Woods County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
McKeever School
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024
1. McKeever School Marker
The school was organized on August 30, 1894, and was first held in the dugout home of the Hulets. During the 1894-1895 school year, Dick McKeever purchased the Hulet claims and donated the southwest corner of section 24 for a school located 6 miles west of Alva. A frame box house was moved to this corner from a location near Alva. The building underwent extensive remodeling in 1938 using WPA funds and it remained in use until 1948 serving students through the 8th grade. It was donated to NWOSU by Dean and Patty Nusser in 2000 and was restored and moved to its current location by Dr. Milt and Becky Lehr in 2001.
Helen Litton Martin,
Louise Litton Dietrich
Nate, Wayne & Harvard Litton
April 2014
Erected 2014.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 30, 1894.
Location. 36° 47.81′ N, 98° 40.169′ W. Marker is in Alva, Oklahoma, in Woods County.
this page online
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 least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Joe J. Struckle Education Center (within shouting distance of this marker); J. W. Martin Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Fine Arts Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); ΦΛΧ Commemorates Veterans of Foreign Wars from Northwestern State College (about
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024
2. McKeever School Marker
Looking north; the McKeever house is behind the marker. A parking lot is on the left [west] and the NWOSU Presidents House is on the right [east].
Also see . . .
1. History of McKeever School (The Okie Legacy).
(By Milt Lehr, Professor Emeritus, NWOSU.) Excerpt: The Cherokee Outlet of the territory of Oklahoma was opened to settlement by the Land Run of 1893. After securing a homestead, the pioneers' immediate concern was the education of their children. The first schools were often a soddie or log building and later schools were built using clapboard, stucco, of wood and plaster construction.(Submitted on February 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
The original building that is standing today was constructed at a cost of $300, which was financed by bonds. All labor was donated by residents of the district except the plastering, which was done by Nick Edwards who was hired to do this work. A. B. Messmore was overseer of the carpentry work. The school bonds were paid off in five years.
The teacher salaries were sometimes paid in cash obtained from donationsand some salaries were paid in warrants, which could be cashed at banks for 60 cents on the dollar. Sometimes teachers were paid in sod breaking since most of them owned nearby land or had a claim.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 20243. McKeever School Dedication Plaque(located beside the front door)
Established in 1894
Dedicated to Northwestern by
Dean and Patty Nusser
Restored and Moved to Current Site by
Dr. Milt and Becky Lehr
Summer 2001
The original building underwent extensive remodeling in 1938 when WPA funds were provided by the federal government to modernize school buildings. A basement was constructed a few feet west of the building and it was then moved over onto the completed basement after the anterooms at the front and a coal bin at the back were removed.
2. Those dear old Golden Rule days McKeever schoolhouse will continue to teach (The Oklahoman).
(By Steve Lackmeyer) Excerpt: The McKeever school, which traces its history to the opening of the territory, served first- through eighth-graders but rarely had more than 15 students. Parents took turns providing the students with hot lunches. It was started by people who made the run in 1893, Dr. Milt Lehr said. Circa 1900, the United States was home to about 200,000 of these one-room schools. The school represents not just(Submitted on February 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)the history of rural America but the commitment of early Oklahoma settlers to education, Lehr said. When Oklahoma was settled, one of the first things people did was to set up schoolhouses for their kids. The first teacher, Maggie Shiel, taught 23 students for about 70 days and probably earned about $20 a month. By 1902, salaries were raised to $35 a month as the school year expanded to 100 days.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 20244. McKeever School (southeast elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 8, 2024
5. McKeever School (southwest elevation)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 182 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
