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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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      • Procedures of the Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission
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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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    • Mount Vernon Photos
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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.


100 First Street W

Photo of building at 100 First Street W

100 First Street W, W. E. Platner Hardware Store and Tin Shop built originally as … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

100 First Street E

Photo of building at 100 First Street E

100 First Street E – Olliver Day Building constructed in 1856. The oldest building in … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

101-103 First Street W

Photo of building at 101-103 First Street W

101-103 First Street W was the E. D. Waln Building constructed in 1881.

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

113 First Street W

Photo of building at 113 First Street W

113 First Street W was built in 1891 and was originally the Collins Bank.

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

109 First Street W

Photo of building at 109 First Street W

109 First Street W, Smith-Hogle Building of 1894. It was part of a rebuilding after … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

107 First Street W

Photo of building at 107 First Street W

107 First Street W, Mount Vernon Bank. Largely owned by William Smith and Dr. Charles … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Bank

105 First Street W

Photo of building at 105 First Street W

105 First Street W was built as a Post Office for T.S. Brokaw in 1888 … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Post Office

117 First Street W

Photo of building at 117 First Street W

117 First Street W was the third Wolf Brothers Building built in 1895.

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

106-108 First Street W

Photo of building at 106-108 First Street W

106-108 First Street W. On December 16, 1996, the original 1860 building was heavily damaged … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

110 First Street W

Photo of building at 110 First Street W

110 First Street W. Kopf Brothers constructed the building in 1904. The lower floor was … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

120 First Street W

Photo of building at 120 First Street W

120 First Street W. Known as the “Old Bank” Building @1894-1900

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, Mount Vernon

122 First Street W

Photo of building at 122 First Street W

122 First Street W @1894-1900. “Old Wicon” Building. Grocery/queensware and millinery stores occupied the 2-unit … Read more …

Categories Commercial District - Photos, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos Tags Commercial Historic District, 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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