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Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

Exploring the Stories and History of Mount Vernon, Iowa

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  • Historic Districts
    • Owning Property in a Historic District
    • Ash Park District
      • Ash Park District Description
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    • Commercial District
      • Commercial District Description
      • Commercial District Walking Tour
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      • Cornell College District Description
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    • Mount Vernon Photos
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    • A Short History of Mount Vernon
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    • Mount Vernon / Lisbon Newspapers (1860 – 2012)
    • A Centennial History of Mount Vernon, Iowa: 1847-1947
    • A Survey of Brick Buildings in Mount Vernon, Iowa 1850-1859
    • 2023 Treasure Play
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Commercial District – Photos

Photo of Painting of Downtown Southside Sun Newspaper by Mark Benesh

If you want to see where it all began, take a stroll through the Commercial District. Mount Vernon began as a town which serviced travelers along the first north-south highway in the state: Highway One. The town consisted of dry goods stores, repair shops for wagons and harnesses, and a watering trough at the intersection of Main Street and Highway One. This intersection was the birthplace of Mount Vernon.

Today the Commercial District harbors several outstanding restaurants, antique shops, and boutiques. The district also serves as headquarters for many of Mount Vernon’s quintessential events—Chalk the Walk, Chili Cook-Off, Magical Night—so stop by! No matter the season, there’s always something exciting happening in the Commercial District.


Main Street

photo of Main Street-1970

Shutz pharmacy on main street Date @1970’s

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Fashion, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Men, Mount Vernon, Pastimes, Who am I?, Women

Main Street

photo of Main Street
Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Mount Vernon, When is this?

Gus and Tony’s Pizza And Steak House

photo of Gus And Tony's Pizza and Steak House
Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Mount Vernon, When is this?

Football Float

photo of Football Float

Float for the football team who was playing Marion. Standard Station and DX oil station … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Crofter Collection, Fashion, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Men, Mount Vernon, Sports, Who am I?, Women

Main Street

photo of Main Street-1919

1st Street East (100 block. Interurban car in snow. Before the two lower buildings on … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Mount Vernon

Main Street – North Side in the Winter

photo of Main Street - North Side in the Winter

Photo of an attempt at snow removal on Main Street. Note presence of horses, as … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Mount Vernon, When is this?

First Street SW

photo of First Street SW

Bauman’s men’s clothing store. Stolls Variety Store (southside) consolidated several buildings, paved street. New street … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Mount Vernon, The New Age

Wolfe-Ellison Block

photo of Wolfe-Ellison Block

Parade of school children at corner of highway #1 and main street — moving east. … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Fashion, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Men, Mount Vernon, Who am I?, Women

Bank – Brackett Building

photo of Bank-Bracket Building

Built as a local bank in 1891 but failed within a few years. Business run … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Fashion, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Men, Mount Vernon, Who am I?

Mount Vernon Bank

photo of Mount Vernon Bank @1891

City Bank built in 1891. Located at 107 1st Street.

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Mount Vernon, When is this?

Main Street

photo of Main Street-1919

Corner of 1st Street west and 2nd Ave. north including vehicles. Date @1919

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Fashion, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Men, Mount Vernon, Pastimes, The New Age, Who am I?

Main Street

photo of Main Street @1910

Corner of 2nd Ave. and 1st Street West (note the street lights). Date @1910

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Glass Negative, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Mount Vernon
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Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

2 years ago

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission
The MVHPC partnered with the Linn County Historic Preservation Commission and the Mount Vernon Lisbon Community Development Group on the placement of two new informational kiosks about the history of the Lincoln Hwy in Lisbon and Mount Vernon. There was a commemoration at the Kiosk in Lisbon on Oct. 6 with a poem created for the event by Poet Laureate Amanda Kibbie. The MV Kiosk is located in Prairie Park next to the Cornell football field. The MV kiosk faces one of the last remaining brick portions of the Lincoln Hwy and is near the 10th Avenue Overpass. The overpass was built in approximately 1910 as a part of the Lincoln Hwy. Credit to Steven Ciha of the LCHPC for images. ... See MoreSee Less

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Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

2 years ago

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission
UPDATE!!! Thanks to Jay and Arlie Willems, the circa 1910 glass negatives are now in the Mount Vernon Archives. We are grateful to Arlie and Jay for transporting the negatives and to Joe Burkart of Crestview Florida for donating them.Photo collectors in Crestview Florida have glass plate negatives of a photographer named Hodson who worked in and around Mount Vernon in 1910. The collectors have offered the negatives to the MVHPC. The plates are fragile and very heavy, so shipping them is not a good option. Is anyone planning to travel by car to Florida anytime in the next year and willing pick up these negatives in the panhandle of the state? If so, please send a message on this site to the site administrator. ... See MoreSee Less
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Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission updated their status.

2 years ago

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

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