Historic Iowa Postcards

Grinnell College Libraries' Historic Iowa Postcard Collection. A collection of postcards from 1900 through the middle of the 20th century, covering all parts of Iowa.

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Sailboat
The original seminary was founded by the city's founder, Thomas Mitchell, in 1872. It fell on hard times and was bought by the state of Iowa who turned it into a reformatory school for girls. In the early 1980's it was turned into the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women. 1908 postmark.
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The closed-spandrel arch bridge on Sixth Avenue was designed by Edwin Thatcher from New York and built in 1907. In 1965 it collapsed due to bad infrastructure and was replaced in 1966. 1908 postmark.
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Simmons, J.D.
Entrance to the main building at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. 1908 postmark.
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Wooden bridge over stream leading to the South Bridge over the Iowa River near Belle Plaine, Iowa. A horse and buggy are in the left foreground. 1908 postmark.
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The two story "brick grade school building, was known as the South Side School and later Longfellow and was erected in 1879 by L. Wallace & Son of Cedar Rapids at a cost of $10,500". It was razed in 1956. 1908 postmark.
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Looking southwest on Main Street with the Fillmore Block Building in the left foreground. Some signs shown include Ole Houg's, Dr. George, William Meister Boots and Shoes, Chuck's Cafe, and C.W. Schmitt Meat Market. Dows, Iowa (originally named Otisville) was established in 1880 and named for a railroad contractor. Number 12.
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This St. Patrick's Academy building, built in 1908 by C.F. Mayer, a contractor from Humboldt, Iowa, replaced the white wooden academy built in 1887 due to lack of space. The new academy had a full basement and four floors. It was heated with steam heat and electricity. The first floor held high school classroom and an auditorium; the third floor held rooms for the nuns, the fourth floor or attic had several rooms for roomers who stayed at the convent. The building was destroyed by fire in 1910. 1908 postmark. Title supplied by cataloger.
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Interior rooms in Steiner Hall. Title supplied by cataloger. 1908 postmark.
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Interior room with fireplace in Steiner Hall. Title supplied by cataloger. 1908 postmark.
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Looking east from Broad Street. In 1901 Joel Stewart, a farmer, banker, and state legislator, offered to build the public library on land donated by the Congregational Church Society. The cornerstone was laid on May 7, 1901. 1 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 908 postmark. Number 60.
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Looking east from Broad Street. In 1901, Joel Stewart, a farmer, banker, and state legislator, offered to build the public library on land donated by the Congregational Church Society. The cornerstone was laid on May 7, 1901. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1908 postmark. Number 156897.
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Looking northwest at a two-story brick building with sign "J.N. Freeland General Merchandise" on the side. There is a small dog standing near the utility pole on the left. 1908 postmark.
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Looking north from the National Savings Bank on Main Street. Sign on second building to left says, Loomis & Murphy. Sign on building to the right says "Money orders for sale here. Cheaper rates than charged by post office & express co." 1908 postmark.
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Looking southwest at the neoclassical post office building built in 1902 at a cost of $100,000. It was designed by Louis Simon and built by James Knox Taylor, Supervising Architect, U.S. Treasury Department and M. Yeager & Son, Contractor. The building is still standing as of 2016 and located at 301 Fifth Avenue South, Clinton, Clinton County, Iowa. 1908 postmark. Number 15930.
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Looking south. The United Presbyterian Church was built in 1907 and razed in 1977 for the new church. 1908 postmark. Title supplied by cataloger.
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The first church building was constructed in 1888 to serve the faculty, staff and students at Drake University. In 1909, a large auditorium seating 2,000 was constructed beside the original church. Located at 2500 University Avenue, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. 1908 postmark. Number 10.
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Built in 1878 and originally named the LeGrand Christian Institute, the building was closed in 1885 due to financial problems. It was reopened 1889 renamed the LeGrand Christian College, but financial problems persisted until a benefactor, H.A. Palmer donated a large sum to which the college was renamed in 1897 to Palmer College. The college was closed in 1912 when it was moved to Albany, Missouri. 1908 postmark.
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The electric trolley replaced the "Dinkey" in 1907. The "Dinkey" was a railroad steam line that connected the campus to the town. 1908 postmark. Number 63.
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This island has had many names beginning with Credit Island well known for the 1814 Battle of Credit Island, one of the westernmost battles of the War of 1812 fought between the Sauk Indians with British support and a regiment under the command of Zachary Taylor. Other names for the island were Offerman's Island, Grand Island [Isle], Manhattan Island, Offerman's Island, and Suburban Island. 1908 postmark. Number 6677.
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This fountain was constructed and dedicated in 1939 for Washington's Centennial Celebration. It is the only one of its type in the continental United States. The fountain was refurbished in 1995 by a group of local citizens.1908 postmark. Number 4476.