Trolley Place Recognized With Historic Plaque Recognition
Bill Akason and Cheryl Lockwood then unveiled the bronze plaque to those in attendance. (photo by Ginger Allsup)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Sitting mostly neglected, with one of its three structures gutted by fire, the buildings now known as Trolley Place were part of a project that took millions of dollars to complete, preserving another part of Oskaloosa’s downtown from the wrecking ball.
The three buildings that make up Trolley Place are the Fitch, McGregor and Malcolm buildings.
The name Trolley Place comes from the earlier days of Oskaloosa when the trolleys would park right out front of this location. In 1880 the Oskaloosa Street Railroad and Land Co. had three lines radiating from the square, with a total of 4 cars and 21 horses over 4 miles of line. 1898 saw standard gauge track, and the cars were electrified. In 1902 the name was changed to Oskaloosa Traction and Light Co. In 1906 the interurban also served Beacon, and had a line that ran to the then boom town of Buxton, Iowa 15 miles to the southwest of Beacon, Iowa.
Between 1913 and 1925 the system was bought and sold a couple of times, but by 1926 the trolleys had been switched to buses. 1930 saw the demise of the buses, and Oskaloosa has been without public transportation since then.
Three other buildings have already received historical markers, which include the Oskaloosa Fire Station, the Mahaska County Courthouse, and the Iowa Building.
Thursday’s historical marker unveiling took place in the space that is ready for a future entrepreneur inside the McGregor Building. “This is unique in that it’s three buildings in one, and it was a multi-task building,” explained Calvin Bandstra, one of the many volunteers helping to document Oskaloosa’s historic buildings.
Of the history of the building in Oskaloosa, Bandstra said, “This represents the guts of commerce of what makes a city tick.”
There were many different businesses located within the three buildings over time. Everything from learning shorthand, to buying shoes, coffee, coffins, a bed or a beer to end the end.
McGregor family members and long-time employees were on hand to see the Trolley Place historical marker unveiled on Wednesday afternoon.
Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt spoke at the gathering celebrating the installation of the historical marker. Krutzfeldt said, “This is really bringing to light some of the history of Oskaloosa that really ran the risk of being forgotten.”
“It gives us an appreciation for the people who’ve come before us,” added Krutzfeldt of the history being discovered during the investigations of the buildings.
“Buildings, even though they don’t live and breath can have a very deep impact on the culture of Oskaloosa,” added Krutzfeldt.
Bill Akason introduced the gathered crowd to the three buildings, taking them back in time, describing the many businesses that have filled the walls over the past century.
The McGregor Building housed the Barton Skating Rink and the Oskaloosa Business College. In 1896, James Stull and James McGregor opened their furniture business, until a fire destroyed the building in 1905.
The building was rebuilt, and a third floor was added. Then it once again burnt in 1918 while a grocery store occupied it. The building was rebuilt, and by 1925 JC Penney opened in the location. “I bet almost 100% of Mahaska County stepped into this building during those 30 years, and purchased something,” said Akason. JC Penney moved in 1956.
During the 1950’s, the Younker Brothers moved in, “we really got high class”, Akason said.
The second floor was occupied by doctors, dentists, fraternities, and financial advisors.
In 1987, McGregors Furniture moved back into the building they had initially called home and was in the location until 2002. At that time McGregors Furniture moved into Penn Central Mall, where they remained until 2008.
Employees and relatives of McGregors furniture were on hand to help celebrate the historic day of recognition.
Trolley Place on High Ave West Oskaloosa (file photo from 2010)
Cheryl Lockwood next spoke about the buildings and their history, which included the horse-drawn trolleys. “It’s the Trolley Place because they came right in front of these buildings.”
Lockwood spoke about how interesting it was researching the three buildings, and how they changed over the years.
In 1956, Sears occupied the Fitch Building; Younkers was in the McGregor building until 1975. Afterward, that space sat vacant until 1986.
For the Fitch Building, we can trace its history to 1881 when the building was two stories tall. It housed Jewelers, hand printing, and sewing machine sales, as well as a meat market, and a saloon.
The saloon was called ‘The Senate’, and in 1898, the Columbia Brewing Company purchased the building. In 1902, the building was sold to RF and WD Fitch, with it having a long history in the Fitch family until 1986.
In 1905, the building was destroyed by fire, and the Fitch family began reconstruction immediately. This is when it then became a three-story building.
The Fitch company was a wholesaler of saddlery, trunks, and travel bags, eventually evolving into a wholesaler of auto parts.
In 1918, fire once again destroyed the building, and for a second time the Fitch brothers rebuilt the structure. “They had a real commitment to Oskaloosa obviously,” added Lockwood.
Sears became the occupant of the building starting in the middle 1930’s until the late 1960’s.
In 1987, AVCO Financial leased the building, and a heating business was also located there.
“In 2005, the building once again suffered a fire,” explained Lockwood. “It was not as devastating as the two previous fires of 1905 and 1918. At the time of the third fire, it was occupied by an Asian grocery store.
Removal of old walls during rennovation of the second floor of the Malcolm Building. (file photo from 2010)
The Malcolm Building gained its name in 1911, but it remains a mystery how it got its name. A Malcolm didn’t own the building until 1923. “So we haven’t quite figured that particular mystery out,” added Lockwood.
In 1911, the third floor was added to the Malcolm Building for the Knights of Pythias, which included a formal ballroom.
The Malcolm Building had many different businesses during its time. Furniture, undertakers, jewelry stores, a restaurant, tailors, saloon, printing shop, vacuums, a barber shop, pool hall, shoe sales, all before 1911.
In 1917, the building became a variety store, with offices on the second floor.
In 1925, until 1955, it was called the Leader Store, before changing to Leaders and Grahams Department store. In 1956, the name changed to Grahams Department store.
For a short time, a Ben Franklin store occupied the space, and from 1986 to 2002, McGregors Furniture once again took occupancy.
Purchased in 2008 by the Oskaloosa Downtown Development group, the Malcolm Building joined the Fitch and McGregor buildings as plans to redevelop the properties started. Pizza Ranch moved in during 2009.
Akason and Lockwood then unveiled the bronze plaque to those in attendance.
Many people help to make the historical marker program what it is. Ann Brower was the ignition for the program and has amassed a small army of volunteers to help investigate the history of each building that will hold a historical marker.
The ribbon was cut in October 2012 officially opening ‘Trolley Place’.
Other major players in making the project what it is, include Sherry Vavra, Jennifer Main, and Calvin Bandstra.
Others who have played, or continue to play an important role include Clow’s John Grahek and Clow Foundry for pouring the brass. Musco’s Tom Stone developed the mold for the plaque and was donated by Musco.
Colt Mefford is installing the historical plaques, and Lyle Siefering of Mahaska Title provided the chain of ownership on each building.
Members of the Oskaloosa Chamber and Development group have been designing and building a website to host expanded information on each building being designated.
There are plans to present five more historical markers over the coming months.
