This was a photograph taken of a Gaar Scott Threshing Machine owned by Frank Harris in Beacon, IA, in 1901. The threshing machine was a mechanism designed to help farmers separate wheat grain from their stalks. The original threshing machine was…
This is a photograph of the H.L. Spencer and Company building that was taken in 1908. 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 Spencer…
This is a picture of the historic Frankel Block located on South Market Street in Oskaloosa, Iowa, around 1900. Isaiah Frankel ran a successful dry goods store out of the building. Eventually, Frankel's sons were responsible for starting the…
Pictured here is a scene in downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa, around 1900. The horse and buggy was still the main method of travel during this time, but eventually the automobile would replace the horse and buggy between 1910 and 1920 in Oskaloosa. On the…
Depicted in this photograph is an ice machine that was used in production at the Oskaloosa Ice Plant back in March of 1904. Since refrigerators had not been invented yet, ice delivery would be made in the same fashion that the milk man came back in…
This is a picture of the Indianapolis High School baseball team in 1916. The players in the photograph are as follows from left to right: Top Row: Earl Wymore, Ralph Hatcher, Ernest Brown, Ader Ray, Joe Pringle, Merle Brower, Leonard Smith, Lloyd…
Pictured here is the horse and buggy of J.B. McCurdy, owner of J.B. McCurdy and Company, which was a furniture and undertaking business. Located north of the Mahaska County Courthouse on North 1st Street, McCurdy opened his business in 1866 and…
This photograph depicts a scene from the 1912 Labor Day parade in downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa. In this image, the participants of the parade are marching down High Ave West. The citizens of Oskaloosa deeply respected all who worked and the workers…
This is a picture of the Lacey Block on the 100 block of North Market Street in downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa. The block was named after Congressman John F. Lacey, who lived on the very same block in Oskaloosa. Aside from being a lawyer and Congressman,…
John F. Lacey was a successful soldier, attorney, and businessman in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Pictured here is one of his many successful business ventures, the Lacey Hotel, dating from 1903-1913.