Pictured here are a couple of strollers making their way through the Oskaloosa town square, also known as the city park. For many, the sidewalks cut through the city park served as a shortcut to get home or to another business located diagonally…
Pictured here is the Westside of the Oskaloosa town square as it appeared in the late 1800's. The Westside of the square was located on South Market Street. The city park was located just across the street, which is where many of the town's…
This is a photograph of the H.L. Spencer and Company basement stockroom that was taken in the 1890's. Harry Lindley (H.L.) Spencer started a grocery business in 1867 with F.J. Terry in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Over the years the business gained much…
This is a photograph of the H.L. Spencer and Company loading shed that was taken in the 1890's. Harry Lindley (H.L.) Spencer started a grocery business in 1867 with F.J. Terry in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Over the years the business gained much success and…
Small business and entrepreneurship were the hopes and dreams of many Americans, especially in the late 19th Century. Store owners took pride in the fact that they were able to build up enough in savings to start a business venture. Pictured here…
When a stagecoach came through your town in the late 1800's it could have meant several things. First, the stagecoach might have been carrying a family on its way to settling down in the community or just to stop in the middle of their journey east…
This image captures the common method of transportation used in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in the late 1800's. The horse and buggy served many Americans during this time period and were utilized until the 1910's, when the automobile industry changed the…
The town square in many small towns across America served as a link for town members to connect with one another. In this photograph, for example, the square allowed for casual socialization among friends, spouses, and business owners. From the…
The town square has been a place of social importance in American history, especially in small towns like Oskaloosa, Iowa, depicted in this photograph. Taken in the late 1800's, the crowd gathering outside the town square could have been doing so…
The Young Men's Christian Association has played a pivotal role in the history of Mahaska County. Located in Oskaloosa, this YMCA has served as a place for growth spiritually and athletically for over a hundred years. This is a photograph taken of…