Centennial Block Welcomed To Historical Walking Tour
Emily Russell (left) and Ann Fender (right) unveil the building plaque that will hang on the front of the Centennial Block on the north side of the Oskaloosa square.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Centennial Block in Oskaloosa is one of the oldest structures on the square. It has a rich history, with the structure itself making state-wide news.
The celebration began with a welcome and introduction by Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt.
Four individuals have helped to spearhead the project. Sherry Vavra, Ann Brouwer, Jennifer Main, and Calvin Bandstra have all worked with a group of other volunteers to locate history, find photos and gather other historical information on the buildings that make up Oskaloosa’s historic downtown.
Emily Russell spoke about the history of the building, that is really three separate buildings in which the owners worked together to create a unified look.
The three properties that make up the Centennial Block were originally owned by Isaiah Frankel, Richard Parker, and Christian Houte, and constructed by Frankel in 1876.
In 1876 Frankel opened his bank at 105 High Avenue East. By 1889 105 High Avenue East continued on as a bank, but also housed J.O. Malcom Attorney and C. Phelps Insurance.
That same year, next door at 107 High Avenue East (Town Square Dental today), four attorneys hung their shingle. Lafferty & Kissick, as partners, and then Carroll & Davis, as partners.
At 109 High Avenue East J.W. Morgan operated a drug store, while C.H. Lee also ran his tailor store from the location.
Many businesses occupied the store in-between 1889 and 1936 when we take another look back in time.
Emily Russell can remember Fitch-Himes, a cigar store and billiard hall being located at 105 High Avenue East. “I thought it was a pool hall. I never came in here.”
She remembers the square canopy that went straight out from the entrance of the cigar store.
Vernie Wells remembered the farm boys would bring their lunch to the location and sit on the chairs alongside of the pool tables and watch people play pool. “I didn’t have a nickel to play pool.”
Wells remembers that up to a dozen kids were lined up on each side of the table watching.
In 1956, Sieferts opened their doors at 105, and was at the location for 29 years before moving to other locations in town.
The building made news when the owner of 107 High Avenue painted his portion of the building a green and light brown. “They’re California colors. It’s a pastel,” building owner Hubert Rickman told the Des Moines Register in September of 1992.
“It wasn’t a nice green,” remembers Russell of the scandal that erupted from the painting of the building.
The controversy surrounding the painting of the building lead to a city ordinance referred to as “The Green Building Ordinance”, which now requires businesses to apply for a certificate of appropriateness to make changes to the buildings.
“We got lots of publicity. Lots of things in the paper” remembered Russell. “My husband Chuck just about had a fit.”
In 1986, the 105 building was sold to Alan Adams, who occupied the location for 30 years and then sold to Town Square Dental Care in 2016 under the ownership of Eric DeBoef.
Town Square Dental Care now occupies 105 and 107 High Avenue East, and during the renovations, many fun historical remnants were found, including a wall filled with the signatures of Oskaloosa residents.
DeBoef then spoke to the group about the efforts to restore the building and offered tours to those interested in seeing the extensive renovations that were made.
