Historical Downtown Markers Continue To Highlight Rich History

Lyle Siefering next to the historical marker plaque that will hang on the outside of the IMB Building.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Tucked inside the lobby of Hawkeye Real Estate on Tuesday afternoon, volunteers unveiled a part of the history of the building that has seen Oskaloosa evolve over the past century.

The event was opened by Ann Brouwer, who has helped lead the historic plaque program. Brouwer introduced Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt, who spoke about the people who helped to build and make Oskaloosa, and its buildings, so we could enjoy them even today.

Calvin Bandstra, who is a research volunteer for the historic plaque committee, took the participants back in time to when the building was erected.

It was initially built to serve the needs of a local insurance business.

The building is two separate buildings, completed in different years. The insurance business, the IMB (Iowa Masons Benevolent) Society, saw rapid growth, which is why they needed the addition.

Eventually, IMB was bought out, and the company they were absorbed with failed.

The building then housed several businesses, such as hardware, attorneys, and real estate, until Alsop’s opened in 1936, at the height of the Great Depression. They remained in the building, occupying the space until it moved into Penn Central Mall in the middle 1980s.

Current owners, Becky and Lyle Siefering bought the building in July of 1995, and Hawkeye Real Estate moved in.

Siefering then unveiled the Historical Marker for the IMB (Iowa Masons Benevolent) Society Building. That marker will be hung on the outside of the building so individuals can learn more about the structure and its history in Oskaloosa.