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.
Like Mahaska County, many counties throughout Iowa have depended on their water supply from local rivers running within their community's vicinity. This photograph is an example of that. It also serves as an example of how long communities have…
Bridge going over the Skunk River in 1896. The Skunk River is a mid-size river in terms of both its width and distance. The Skunk River also consists of two branches: the North Skunk River and South Skunk River. The irony of the two branches is…
In 1869, Jefferson School was erected to serve the children residing in the Second Ward of Oskaloosa. This is a photograph taken of the school in 1896, at which time the building administator was Milo Hunt. Teachers on staff included: Floy…
The Skunk River as scene through the eyes of the beholder in 1896. The Skunk River was once known as the Chiquaqua River by Native Americans and pioneers residing in the area in the early 1840's. Because of the Des Moines and Skunk Rivers, Mahaska…
Scene of the Skunk River dam in 1896. Along with the Des Moines River, these two rivers served as natural borders for the layout of Mahaska County in the 1840's.
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…
