Newsletters & Articles Archives - Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

2022 Fall Newsletter

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Historic District News – Fall 2022 Mount Vernon’s Historic Preservation … Read more …

2022 Spring Newsletter

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Historic District News – Spring 2022 Operation Democracy: Mount Vernon, … Read more …

2021 Fall Newsletter

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Historic District News – Fall 2021 Mount Vernon’s Historic Preservation … Read more …

Tommy Rhomberg

Tommy Rhomberg has always been an inventor. So, it was no surprise that he turned … Read more …

The Virgil Crofter Collection

Photo of Virgil Crofter with his pony and dog

Prepared and donated by Carolyn Wellso, 2004 Adapted for web in 2021 Virgil Crofter (1921-2012) … Read more …

Mount Vernon High School

Among the historic resources found in Mount Vernon is the 1927 High School Building. This … Read more …

Our Architectural Heritage in Historical Context

Mount Vernon has historic structures that date from the 1840s to the present. The principle … Read more …

Porches

photo of Unidentified Young Man with Little Girl on a Front Porch

Changing Architecture: From the Front Porch to the Back Patio Adapted for web from Iowa … Read more …

Operation Democracy: Mount Vernon, Iowa to Diekirch, Luxembourg

Photo of two paintings of Diekirch, Luxembourg, 1949

On March 12, 2020, Carine Welter, Director of the Museum of Histories Diekirch, Luxembourg, contacted … Read more …

Cleaning Out

Please Keep Us in Mind!

Fewer demands and more time at home have motivated many of us to…
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Historic Windows – Vital to the Spirit of a Historic Building

One of the most important architectural features on a historic building is its original windows. … Read more …

MVHPC Newsletter – January, 2020

Below is a PDF document version of the Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission’s newsletter for … Read more …

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Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

18 hours ago

The leftmost building in the Paul Scott Alumni Center was built as the home of Henry Harrison and Frances (Armstrong) Rood. Rood house was built in 1884. It was purchased by the Cornell Class of 1894 and presented to the College in 1919. Two houses from an area known as Linden Terrace were moved and joined to it, one in 1936 and another in 1954. The Roods had 7 children and Frances was a homemaker. Henry served as a Lt. Col. in the civil war in the 13th IA, Crocker's Brigade. Early on, Henry had a dry goods mercantile with a man named Young. He arranged for construction of the building at 105 1st St NW in Mount Vernon that was the post office for many years. In 1893 he purchased 1/3 interest in Mount Vernon Bank and served as its Secretary. He also served for 47 years as the Secretary to the Cornell College Board of Trustees. Lt. Col. Henry Harrison and Frances (Armstrong) Rood are buried in Mount Vernon Cemetary. ... See MoreSee Less

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Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

3 weeks ago

Gone but not Forgotten!According to The Centennial History of Mount Vernon Iowa "A mass meeting of citizens in 1902 decided that a new hotel was a most compelling need. Traffic along the Lincoln Highway was increasing, and it was felt that Mount Vernon should bid for patronage of the traveling public. A stock company was at once organized ; shares selling at $100 each." The Altoona Hotel was built on the current site of the Mount Vernon Visitors Center and was opened to guests in 1903. As transportation to Cedar Rapids was more easily available, Altoona Hotel/Hall took on different functions, including as an Army barracks in WWI and housing for Cornell students later. Altoona Hall was demolished in 1985. ... See MoreSee Less

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Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

3 weeks ago

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