The Young Men's Christian Association has played a pivotal role in the history of Mahaska County. Located in Oskaloosa, the YMCA has served as a place for growth, spiritually and athletically for over a hundred years. This photograph was taken of…
This picture shows the hard work that went on in machine shops during the late 19th Century. This image was taken inside Seever's Mfg. Co. of men inside a machine shop. Seever's Mfg. Co. specialized in creating iron bridges, water heaters, and…
This is a scene of a residential area close to downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1896. Note that the roads on this residential street still have not been paved with blocks of cement and would not be for about a decade later.
This is a picture of men working in the small farming community of Lacey, Iowa, in 1894. Lacey was a town named after Congressman John F. Lacey, who brought the railroad past this point named after him. The men pictured here look to be involved in…
This is an image displaying what Main Street in Fremont, Iowa, looked like in the late 1800's. Note all the buggies pictured in the photograph along the sides of the busy Main Street.
This photograph illustrates the high water marking on Eddyville, Iowa's Main Street on June 1, 1903. Eddyville lies along the Des Moines River and received some of the worst flood damage of all towns along the river during this flood.
This scene depicts travelers going through the busy river town of Eddyville, Iowa, in the late 1800's. During this time period, travelers wanting access over the river had to pay a toll, much like travelers have to do today when they travel long…
It is mail time in Cedar, Iowa, circa 1890. Mail might have been slower than it is today, but it was still just as consistent as the mail is today. Mail carriers like the one pictured here, walked or rode many miles to cover his respected route. …
Here is a scene of the hustle and bustle taking place in downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa, circa 1895. Specifically, the view here is of South Market Street from High Avenue; the two busiest streets in all of Oskaloosa.
This photograph captures a scene of men paving the 200 block of High Avenue West in downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa. The hours were long and hot, as the job could only be done when there was no rain.