Historic Oskaloosa Home Has New Owner

Betty Stanley (left) and Tara Rozenboom (right) stand in front of the “Old Brick” house recently purchased by Rozenboom.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – There may be more iconic buildings in Oskaloosa, such as the Mahaska County Courthouse or Oskaloosa City Hall, but even those buildings haven’t been a part of Oskaloosa like “The Old Brick” home at the intersection of High Ave. East and South 7th.

The home recently came onto the market, after long time owner Betty Stanley decided to sell. Tara Rozenboom found the home an exciting opportunity, not only for a home for herself but also a home for her business, Tara Rozenboom Design.

The Smith-Johnson-Stanley House located at 713 High Ave. East was built in 1853 for William T. Smith. That year, Smith also became Oskaloosa’s first mayor.

The simple brick styling was probably provided by a local contractor in the vernacular style. The home consists of stone lintels, a flat roof, denticulate cornice and consists of three blocks of varying height that gives four different floor levels, with steps between various first floor rooms.

The original owner of the home, William T. Smith was a lawyer, banker, farmer and railroader. He purchased land about 1/4 of a mile east of the Oskaloosa City limits to build his home.

Smith planted trees all over his block of prairie. He then built a brick wall on the east and south sides of the home.

In the 1860’s Abijah Johnson bought the property, and by the 1880’s the property was owned by J. Kelly Johnson who was a lawyer and judge.

In 1879, the brick wall that had been built by Smith was removed and the iron fence, that currently stands on the south and east sides of the home, was installed.

In all, the Johnson family owned the house for three generations, until 1961 when Chester and Vivian Williams bought the home..

In 1971, Jack and Betty Stanley became the owners of the home. in 1977, after a lot of dedicated work, the Smith-Johnson-Stanley House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rozenboom now becomes the owner in 2012, and with it, the home’s rich history.

The original design of the home has been carefully preserved.

Betty Stanley, who has owned the home for 41 years, shared some thoughts about her home and its importance to the Oskaloosa community.

“It has been a wonderful privilege for Jack and Me [Betty Stanley] to have called the “Old Brick” or Smith-Johnson House our home for 41 years. We have shared it with many school children and others in the community who have visited here. We were always pleased to allow so many to see our home.”

“The house has been an important part of the City of Oskaloosa since it was built in 1853. Jack and I were excited when it was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.”

“It is good to cherish the past with its great memories of early town builders who have lived there. We were proud to have been a part of that legacy. “

“Now I look to the future with confidence as I pass ownership to Tara Rozenboom. She will be a good steward of the property and will cherish her new home as Jack and I did for 41 years.”

“Best wishes to the people of Oskaloosa who share a common interest in local history and preservation of historic sites, as well as to all of its citizens who wish for Oskaloosa to be ‘good today and better tomorrow’.”

On that day, Tara Rozenboom said she was excited and also a little bit scared. Mrs. Stanley reassured Rozenboom there wasn’t anything to be scared of.

Rozenboom will be running her design business out of the library room of the home. In keeping with the tradition of the home, Tara also plans to entertain family and friends in the spacious dining room.

“I’ve never really had a home base to bring clients to,” Rozenboom mentioned. She explained that most of her time has been in clients homes. She explained that, in cases when someone is building a new home, this will give her more options in helping her clients.

One other structure in the area is possibly older. Located at 116 2nd Ave West, next to the Oskaloosa Public Library. It was built in 1852 and is reported to have been the stagecoach stop for the area.

The sale of the home was handled through Hawkeye Real Estate.

A few shots from around the house can be found here  – Photo Album