IMB Society Building Historical Marker
Unveiling set for Oct. 29 at 2 pm
OSKALOOSA – The unveiling ceremony for the IMB (Iowa Masons Benevolent) Society Building Historical Marker will take place in the lobby of Hawkeye Real Estate and Mahaska Title offices, 121 High Ave. East on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
The ceremony will include a welcome by Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt, a power point slide show by Volunteer Research Team Leader Calvin Bandstra, and a program by IMB Society Building Historian Lyle Siefering. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour parts of the building.
Bandstra said that Seifering uncovered many interesting facts about the building while serving as historian. “When you look toward the top of the building, you see ‘IMB Soc.’ engraved, which stands for Iowa Mason Benevolent Society,” Bandstra explained. “This was an Oskaloosa-based life insurance company that targeted the Masonic fraternal community.”
According to Bandstra, it was a luxury at the time to own a life insurance policy. Eventually, the insurance company could not keep up with claims and folded. In 1901, the IMB Soc. Building was sold on the court house steps for $28,200.
“What most people don’t know is that the building is actually two separate buildings that were joined to make the one that you see today. Look at the top of the building and see if you can tell,” Bandstra challenged. “The contractor did an amazing job of joining the second half of the building to make one.”
Ann Brouwer, who is on the steering committee for the project, said the IMB Society Building will be the seventh of 10 historical markers being placed as part of the volunteer, community-based project. The Fire Station, Courthouse, Iowa Building, Trolley Place, Centennial Block and the Frankel Building historical markers have already been installed. However, the Frankel Building marker is temporarily down due to the façade work currently being performed.
“Many hands in our community have been involved to make the project a reality and we could not be happier with the response we are receiving,” Brouwer exclaimed. “Each historical marker includes the year the building was built, pictures of the building through the years and a few interesting and fun facts to appeal to community members and visitors.”
Interesting facts and photographs regarding the IMB Society Building and the other historical buildings targeted in the project can be viewed at the Oskaloosa Area Chamber and Development Group (OACDG) website. The Historical Building Marker webpage is being maintained by Oskaloosa Main Street Director Emily Brown. Brouwer said that the webpage is a work in progress and more information is being added as it is acquired.
“The webpage is a place where people can go to get a more extensive history of the historical buildings,” Brouwer explained. “We encourage people with any information regarding the history of the building or its occupants to contact us. Any photos of the building throughout the years is also welcomed.”
Sherry Vavra, who also serves on the steering committee for the Historical Building Marker project, said that many volunteers from throughout the community collaborated to make the historical markers possible. Those instrumental in the project’s success include John Grahek from Clow Valve, a company that is donating the brass for all of the markers. The donated pattern for the mold that Clow Valve used was developed by Tom Stone from Musco Sports Lighting. Colt Mefford is donating his services to install the historical markers and Lyle Siefering of Mahaska Title is providing the “chain of ownership” on each building for the chamber website.
“In addition to the researchers who have stepped up to uncover the history of these buildings, countless others have helped in various ways to make the project possible,” Vavra stressed.
If you would like more information or you have information to share about the historical buildings in Oskaloosa, contact Brouwer at 641-660-8075 or Vavra at 641-660-7504.
