Prine School was a one-room school house situated just west of Oskaloosa. It opened in 1861 and was named after Henry H. Prine, who donated the property for which the school was to be built. As Oskaloosa began consolidating its one-room school…
This is a photograph taken of the town square in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1868, following the Civil War. This view of the square comes from the northeast looking west.
The north side of Oskaloosa's town square as it appeared in 1942. By this point, buildings had been modernized and one could begin to capture the real essence of life around a town square.
The north side of Oskaloosa's town square as it appeared in 1868. The park stood on the inside of the white fence line, but it was not for some time that the bandstand/gazebo was in existence.
The north half of the east side of Oskaloosa's town square as it appeared in 1942. By this point, roads had been paved and the Mahaska County courthouse had taken the place of the once established grocery and clothing stores.
The north half of the east side of Oskaloosa's town square as it appeared in 1868. Notice how roads were not yet paved and wouldn't become paved for almost another 30 years.
One of the advantages to building a farm around a thick of timberland is the wild game that is found within it. The Nelson family kept the wooded area by their log cabin and eventual brick home for this purpose. Pictured here is the thicket of…
Martha Jane Nelson was the only daughter of revered farmer and pioneer, Daniel Nelson, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, in Mahaska County. Martha Jane endured many of the same hardships as her mother and father when first coming to Iowa in 1844, helping with…
Margaret Nelson could be summarized as the epitome of a pioneer mother and spouse. Moving with her husband, Daniel Nelson, in the late 1840's to Mahaska County, Iowa, Margaret had to endure a great deal once arriving. Facing the elements, wild…
John Nelson was the second oldest son of revered farmer and pioneer, Daniel Nelson, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, in Mahaska County. John endured many of the same hardships as his father when first coming to Iowa, helping his father with chores associated…
