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…
In the early 20th Century, towns would publish postcards of the most esteemed businesses and sights in the community. One of the sights in Oskaloosa, Iowa was the Elmhurst Country Club. Established in 1928, the Elmhurst Country Club was an…
Pictured here is an advertisement designed to promote a golf benefit at Elmhurst Country Club in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Based on the style of clubs and the apparel of the man promoting the event, the time frame of this photograph is around 1945. In 2008,…
Socializing in and around the Oskaloosa town square was a very familiar sight in the early 1900's. What is fascinating about this photograph is not the two women mingling, but rather the display of various modes of transportation in it. On the left…
Pictured here is the construction of the livestock pavilion at the Southern Iowa Fair in Oskaloosa, Iowa in 1917. The livestock pavilion was designed and built by building contractor P.W. Sparks. The pavilion was eventually finished by 1919. The…
Pictured here is the Oskaloosa City Hall as it appeared around the year 1920. The building was originally finished in 1912. The building still stands in its original location today, but has been renovated as time has passed. Note the various…
It was not uncommon to see vendors, residents, and visitors mingle with each other on the streets of downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa in the early 20th Century. It was a great way to promote a business, make a friend, or just be courteous. In this…
Road building in Oskaloosa, Iowa began towards the very end of the 19th Century. As time progressed, road building became more prevalent, especially with the creation of the automobile, which generated thousands of miles worth of road construction…
Pictured here is the eastside of the Oskaloosa town square (a.k.a. the city park) along South 1st Street. On the left side of the photograph is the Mahaska County Courthouse. Originally built in 1886, the courthouse was one of the oldest buildings…
The Elmhurst Country Club in Oskaloosa, Iowa originally opened in 1920 as a nine hole course and was exclusively available to members only. In 2008, the course became public and was renamed Oskaloosa Golf. Pictured here are some of the first…