Description
Religion has always played a very important role in Mahaska County, Iowa. One of the credits to the county has been its people's tolerance for others to worship freely without fear. Pictured here is the Congregational Church in Beacon, Iowa, around 1900. Beacon, once known as the town of Enterprise, did not fully switch its name over until 1874. Beacon's success revolved around its coal mining connection and proximity to the railroad lines. Before Oskaloosa established a railroad line through its community, many goods came via railway to Beacon, allowing it to grow and become a thriving community, even more so than Oskaloosa.
Identifier
www.wmpenn.edu/library/about.html
http://cdm16125.contentdm.oclc.org/u?/p270701coll6,271