It was not uncommon to see vendors, residents, and visitors mingle with each other on the streets of downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa in the early 20th Century. It was a great way to promote a business, make a friend, or just be courteous. In this…
This is what a familiar scene would appear as in downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa around 1935. The automobile has become the chosen method of transportation for residents of the community. Places where people used to park their horse and buggy have now…
This is a photograph taken of downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa in the late 1800's along South Market Street and 1st Avenue East. Market Street is also known as Iowa Route 63 and serves as one of Oskaloosa's main two roads, the other one being A Avenue…
This is a photograph taken of downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa circa 1910. This image focuses on the corners of 1st Avenue East and South Market Street, each street being the source of numerous shops and businesses during this time. Just across the street…
Pictured here is an image of Market Street in downtown Oskaloosa, Iowa. Market Street was one of two main streets that go through the town; the other being A Avenue, also known as Route 92. Market Street continues to serve the downtown Oskaloosa…
This was the how the downtown of Oskaloosa, Iowa appeared in the early 1900's. Brutal winters in Iowa made travel very difficult and almost remote at times, even if it was just to travel to the downtown area to pick up something from a store. Note…
Pictured here is the town square of Oskaloosa, Iowa as it appeared in the late 1800's. Note the number of wagons that have parked around the perimeter of the town square, as was common and highly encouraged, especially if the wagons had goods to…
This 1900 photograph taken of Oskaloosa, Iowa's famous town square and Mahaska County Courthouse from 1st Avenue East captures the organization and layout of Midwest towns of the period. Space was set aside at the town square so that horses and…
This image captures the common method of transportation used in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in the late 1800's. The horse and buggy served many Americans during this time period and were utilized until the 1910's, when the automobile industry changed the…
This is a picture of downtown Beacon, Iowa, circa 1910. Note the railroad track running straight through the middle of the busy downtown block pictured here. Beacon used to service more people via railroad than its neighbor, Oskaloosa.
