The Roop, Harbour, and Co. Steam Flour Mill and Distillery, more commonly known as the Benny Roop Distillery, opened officially in 1852 for business and is the oldest known distillery in all of Mahaska County, Iowa. This is a picture of the home of…
This is an image of Congressman John F. Lacey's daughter, Bernice, goofing around on the family tennis court circa 1900. Women's apparel around 1900 was not the most comfortable, especially if playing a sport like tennis, as seen here. Congressman…
This is a photograph of Bernice Lacey, daughter of Congressman John F. Lacey from the 6th Iowa District, whose home residence was Oskaloosa, Iowa. This picture was during a parade in Oskaloosa and depicts the clothing and accessories worn by young…
This image captures children riding their bikes through the downtown square in Oskaloosa, Iowa, around 1915. The streets have brick pavement in this photograph, but there are no automobiles present, illustrating the fact that few residents in…
Billiards was known as a gentleman's game throughout American and European society in the 19th Century, although the game became popular in Great Britain around 1770, eventually making its way to America predominantly in the early 19th Century. As…
This is a photograph of the downtown business district of Oskaloosa as it appeared between the years 1903-07. The main focus of the picture is on North and South Market Street, where the vast majority of business were located in Oskaloosa during the…
Black Oak Township sits on the western edge of Mahaska County. Two communities have summed up the township in its history; Lardeo and Leighton. Leighton is the only community that still exists today in the township.
This image portrays the Blackford Feed Company situated in Oskaloosa, Iowa around 1890. Feed was an essential element to cattle farms, as they still are much today. The farmer would take his horse and wagon into the feed store and pick up several…