This is a picture taken at the Givin coal mines in East Des Moines Township, Iowa, in the late 1800's. Many communities, like Givin, have little or no presence in Mahaska County today. Once the coal industry diminished, the people in communities…
This is a town plat of Givin with an unknown date for the map. Givin was founded in 1870 by Harry Brewer, who named the town Givin after John Givin, Superintendent of the Keokuk and Des Moines Railway Company. In 1910, 315 people lived in Givin. …
This is a picture taken of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) building, which served as a meeting site for veterans of the Civil War from 1885 until 1890. Veterans that served under the 33rd Iowa Regiment would most likely have utilized this…
In 1876,Webster School was erected to serve the children residing in the Fourth Ward of Oskaloosa. This is a photograph taken of the school in 1896, at which time the building principal was A.L. Comstock. Teachers serving the school at this time…
Granville was platted by Theodore Spain on June 18, 1851. By January of 1883, the post office of this town closed, because like so many other small communities in Mahaska County, the railroad missed them. This is a town map in 1913. Notice how the…
This is a photograph taken of the McNeill home in the late 1880's. The home was located on Park Place on the northeast side of Oskaloosa. The home burned down in May 0f 1924. At the time it burned down, the McNeill home was one of the finest homes in…
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 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 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…
This is a drawing of the H.L. Spencer Memorial Chapel. Harry Lindley (H.L.) Spencer served in the Civil War in the 9th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. After the war, Spencer moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he started a grocery business in 1867 with F.J.…