Oskaloosa College; Oskaloosa, IA

Oskaloosa College; Oskaloosa, IA

Oskaloosa College, not to be confused with Penn College which is also located in Oskaloosa, was the first college to open in Mahaska County in 1861. George T. Carpenter served as Oskaloosa College's first president. The college was never financially secure and went through many moments of financial turmoil, ultimately leading to its demise in 1898. The college was started as a school of higher learning for Iowa's ministers. Aaron Chatterson was the visionary that made the school possible. Joining a branch that had separated from the Baptist Church, known as the Disciples of Christ, Chatterson dedicated his time and energy to establishing a college to help his fellow brethren. In 1880, the college lost all but one of its faculty members, as the Disciples of Christ felt that the only way for the school to stay in operation would be to have it moved to Des Moines. General Francis Drake, future Governor of Iowa, donated $20,000 to the college, and in honor of his contribution, the school was named after him. So, the Drake University of today has its roots in Oskaloosa College. The College graduated its final class in 1898. Since then the building has taken on a number of roles. From 1902-1916 Charles J. Burton utilized the space and founded what was known as the Iowa Christian College, but it eventually failed in business and closed. In 1919 C.L. Barnhouse bought the building and used it for his music publishing business until 1942. For the next 13 years the building was used for apartments until 1955 when the former college became the Tower Park Nursing Home.

Mahaska County Historical Society

Mahaska County Collection

Curtis Media Corporation: Dallas, Texas

2008-06-30

www.wmpenn.edu/library/library/about.html

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Wilcox Library

http://cdm16125.contentdm.oclc.org/u?/p270701coll6,32