The Universalist Church is a historic building located in Mitchellville, Iowa, United States. The congregation was organized in 1868 with a membership of thirty-five people. The first officers were: Thomas Mitchell, Moderator; Barlard Slate, Clerk; and Tillie Mitchell, Treasurer. The deacons were W.S. Jones, A. Rothrock and Pauline Weeks. Pastors included: W.W. King, T.C. Eaton, J.R. Sage, A. Vedder and F.W. Gillette. The church building was erected at a cost of $2,000.
The Louden Machinery Company was an American engineering, manufacturing and design company based in Fairfield, Iowa. Founded by William Louden, the company in its early years manufactured and sold the patented hay carrier that he invented in 1867. The company later expanded into a wide variety of farm equipment and, in 1906, began an Architecture Department that reportedly designed more than 25,000 barns from 1906 to 1939. During World War I, Louden's monorail equipment carrier began to be applied to industrial and military applications. By the 1920s, much of the company's revenues were derived from industrial applications of its monorail equipment carriers.
The Vermilion Estate is a historic building located in Centerville, Iowa, United States. W.F. Vermilion was a native of Kentucky who settled in Iowa after earning his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. He served as a captain in the Union Army during the Civil War. After the war he was admitted to the Iowa Bar, and served a term in the Iowa Senate as a Republican.
The August and Vera Luedtke Barn is a historic building located north of Fairfield, Iowa, United States in rural Jefferson County. The barn was built by Luedtke from plans prepared by the Louden Machinery Company of Fairfield. He had previously built other barns using the same company's designs in the area. This barn features a gambrel roof, concrete walls, and eleven intact Louden dairy stanchions and a hay carrier system that are original to the building's construction in 1947. Built for a dairy operation, the structure has subsequently been used for storage. The barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
The Henn Mansion, also known as Ewing Hall, is a historic building located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. A native of New York, Bernhart Henn served two terms in the United States House of Representatives representing Iowa's 1st congressional district as a Democratic. Previously he had served as the Registrar of the U.S. Land Office. He had this two-story, brick, Greek Revival house built in 1858. However, the financial panic of 1857 almost wiped out his fortune. When he died in 1865, the house and the 40 acres (16 ha) of land that surrounded it had to be sold. The house is representative of the financial success one had in the public sector in the pioneer economy. It was also the birthplace of Parsons College in 1875. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The McElhinny House is a historic building located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. Built about 1850, the house is a dwelling from the city's early years. The two-story frame structure follows an L-shaped plan. Its prominent feature is the two-story porch that covers three of the five bays on the main facade. It was built for Robert McElhinny, a Pennsylvania native. He was elected the first president of the Jefferson County Library Association, one of the first groups of this type in Iowa. He also served on the board of Fairfield University when it was established in 1854, and contributed to its successor, Parsons College, at its founding. The house went on to become the home of the Fairfield Women's Club. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
The Wells-Stubbs House is a historic residence located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. This house was built for George and Priscilla Wells in 1874. Its notoriety is derived from the residency of Daniel P. Stubbs, who lived here from 1877 to 1905. Stubbs was a leader in the Greenback Party in Iowa, and he served as their candidate for state and national offices. Early in his law career he was a partner with future congressman and Senator from Iowa, James F. Wilson. Stubbs was a successful defense attorney, as well as an attorney for the railroads. While still a Republican, he was elected mayor of Fairfield and to the Iowa Senate. He did not hold office as a Greenbacker.
US Senator James F. Wilson House, also known as the Hamilton House and the Fulton House, is a historic residence located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. This house was built for attorney William L. Hamilton in 1854. Its notoriety is derived from the residency of James F. Wilson, who lived here from 1863 to 1895.
The William and Mary Jane Louden House is a historic residence located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. It historical significance is derived from its association with William Louden, a co-founder of Louden Machinery Company with his brother R.B. Previously, he secured his first two patents by 1867: one was for hay-stacking, and another was for hay-carrying. He would go on to obtain over 100 more patents. Being the inventive genius of the firm, William brought it to a national reputation in barn construction and farm equipment. The house is a 2½-story, frame, single family dwelling. It was built for the Louden's by C.E. Ward from 1896 to 1897 in the Queen Anne style. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
The Louden Monorail System in the Auto Repair Shop, also known as McGuire Motor Company and Crandall's Electric Service, is a historic structure located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. The monorail system is located in a former auto repair shop along an alley between East Broadway Avenue and East Briggs Avenue. It is the rear, single-story, portion of the building at 117 E. Broadway Ave where the system is located. The storefront portion of the building, also historically associated with the automobile industry, is a two-story brick building built on a stone foundation. The east side of the central business district in Fairfield had become the center for automobile related businesses by the 1920s. Harley Carter bought this building in 1920, and had the monorail system, manufactured by the Louden Machinery Company, installed about 1922. The overhead material handling system is permanently attached to the east wall of the shop. It allowed the mechanics to more easily move the heavy engines and other parts to and from vehicles. The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
The Louden Whirl-Around is a historic object located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. It is a type of a playground merry-go-round manufactured by the Louden Machinery Company. It was built about 1930 on the grounds of the Fairfield Country Club. The octagon-shaped apparatus is composed of steel pipe, malleable iron couplings, and wood. It is located south of the swimming pool behind the clubhouse. Louden had to begin a line of playground equipment in order to acquire patent rights that it needed to develop its line of overhead material handling systems. They acquired the J.C. Porter Company of Ottawa, Illinois, which manufactured the playground equipment and held those rights. The playground apparatus exemplifies the company's growth in the 1920s. Most of the schools in Fairfield had playground equipment manufactured by Louden. The object was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
The Iowa Malleable Iron Company was a historic industrial complex located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. At one time the historic designation included nine buildings, most of them have been torn down. The remaining building was the two-story office building for the factory that was constructed in 1924. Most of the complex was built in 1904 north of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad tracks. The company produced malleable iron castings for agricultural implement manufacturers, including Fairfield's Louden Machinery Company. For the most part it was established by the officers of the Louden Company, and it is thought to be the first foundry of its kind between the Mississippi River and Pueblo, Colorado. The two companies maintained a close association throughout their histories. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
The Former US Post Office Building is a historic building located in Fairfield, Iowa,[United States. The two-story, brick, Italianate structure was built in 1876 by James F. Wilson. It was the first building in Fairfield built specifically for the federal government. In 1865 Wilson, helped to establish and was the president of the First National Bank in Fairfield. He also built several store fronts as investments, including the immediately adjacent Wilson Building. By the time this building was constructed Wilson had been a three-term Republican congressman representing Iowa's 1st congressional district. Seven years after this building was constructed, he began the first of two terms in the United States Senate. At that time, the post office typically rented buildings for its use. The historic significance of this building reflects Wilson's political connections in the federal government. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Fairfield Public Library is located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. A library association was founded by a group of local men in 1853, and funded by dues from its members. It was housed in several different buildings for the first 40 years. U.S. Senator James F. Wilson from Fairfield was instrumental in obtaining a grant from Andrew Carnegie for a building of its own. The grant for $40,000 was accepted on January 15, 1892. It was the first Carnegie Library outside of Western Pennsylvania and the first of 101 built in Iowa. It was also one the few libraries Carnegie funded without stipulations concerning its use, public support, or design. The building was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style by Kansas City architect C. Stafford. It was officially opened on Friday, September 29, 1893, and it was dedicated on November 28 of the same year. The association continued to run the library until 1899 when voters approved a referendum to support it with taxes. The building has been altered in the ensuing years, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The library moved to a new building in 1996, and the historic building is now home to the Jefferson County Service Center of Indian Hills Community College.
The Cook Farm is a collection of historic domestic and agricultural buildings located south of Charles City, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The historic designation includes a large house, a smaller house, and a barn, all constructed in locally quarried limestone. There are very few agricultural stone buildings in Iowa. The main house is the most sophisticated of the three. The two-story structure features dressed limestone blocks laid in a random ashlar pattern, a front-gable main block, and a single-story dining/kitchen wing. The older house is a single-story structure composed of rubble stone. The barn's westernmost section has a unique cube shape.
Clermont Public School, also known as Larrabee School, is a historic building located in Clermont, Iowa, United States. The school was named for its patron, William Larrabee, who was the twelfth Governor of Iowa. Larrabee himself had been a teacher in Allamakee County, Iowa. During his time in the Iowa Senate and as governor he championed education reform. He used as one of his campaign slogans: "A schoolhouse on every hill and no saloons in the valley." Larrabee and his wife Anna studied school buildings for a number of years, and were involved in planning this building. They hired Cedar Rapids, Iowa architect Charles A. Dieman to design the structure. R.A. Wallace, a contractor from Cedar Rapids, was responsible for its construction. The building was over-engineered as Larrabee insisted that the strength of everything be doubled. The bricks were produced, and the limestone was quarried, locally. It is a two-story Neoclassical building that features a classical portico, brick pilasters with Doric capitals, and two arched dormers on the hipped roof.
The S.S. Farwell House is a historic building located in Monticello, Iowa, United States. Farwell was an Ohio native who settled in Iowa in 1852, and spent of couple years in the late 1850s in Missouri before returning to the Monticello area. He was engaged in farming before the American Civil War, during which he served as a captain in the 31st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He saw action at Chickasaw Bayou, Vicksburg, and Missionary Ridge. He mustered out as a major. After the war he served in the Iowa Senate and in various political appointments before becoming a banker. The two-story, frame house was built in two parts. The original Italianate section was completed in 1868, and the Colonial Revival addition with the front porch was added about 1909. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The Harlan House Hotel is a historic building located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, United States. It is associated with James Harlan, the first Republican to represent Iowa in the United States Senate. He was also Secretary of the Interior (1865-1867). His daughter Mary was the wife of Robert Todd Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln's only surviving son. Harlan built the oldest part of this building as his house in 1857. After his career as a Senator, he could no longer afford the house and bought another house in Mount Pleasant. Harlan built the first addition onto his old house and converted it into a hotel so he could support himself. He added onto the hotel two more times, c. 1880 and 1892. The first two additions are on the alley side of the building, and the third addition faces Jefferson Street. The middle section of the building with the bracketed cornice and mansard roof is the original house. Harlan moved into the hotel in the early 1890s and died here in 1899. A few minor alterations were made to the building in the 20th century. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
The Peterson Manufacturing Building, also known as the New London Cooperative Creamery, is a historic building located in New London, Iowa, United States. The first floor of this building was constructed in 1908 by John Edgar Peterson so he could expand his glove and mitten factory. Peterson was also instrumental in the establishing the First National Bank in New London and served as its president, the Henry County Telephone Company, the New London Improvement Company, and the New London Land Company. The second floor of this building was completed in 1909 by the local Masonic lodge. Peterson died in 1917 and glove and mitten factory closed briefly before it was reopened by the Fairfield Glove and Mitten Factory. In 1928 that factory closed and the building housed a creamery until 1968. After being used as a warehouse it was donated to the Dover Historical Society for a historical museum. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Economy Advertising Company is a historic building located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is important due to its association with John Towner Frederick, and the journal he founded and edited, The Midland. This was a literary magazine that focused on regional literature from the Midwest. It featured writers whose work was not being accepted by literary journals in the eastern U.S. that dominated national literary circles. While The Midland had several offices during its run from 1915 to 1934, Economy Advertising Company typeset, printed and bound every edition of the journal. They also provided financial support. Frederick had worked here as an apprentice when he was a student at the University of Iowa. He went on to become the first educator to organize and teach a course in American literature when he taught at the University of Iowa. Together with Frank Luther Mott, who was sometimes a co-editor of the journal, he organized the Saturday Luncheon Club, a literary forum that was a forerunner of the Iowa Writer's Workshop. When Frederick took a position at Northwestern University, the magazine relocated to Chicago. The Midland was never financially self-sufficient, and Frederick took on its deficits himself. Financial factors finally doomed it in 1933.
