Skip to content
Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

Exploring the Stories and History of Mount Vernon, Iowa

  • Our Program
    • Newsletters & Articles
    • Commission Documents
      • Design Guidelines
      • Owning Property in a Historic District
      • Meeting Agendas
      • Meeting Minutes
    • Resources
    • About Us
  • Historic Districts
    • Owning Property in a Historic District
    • Ash Park District
      • Ash Park District Description
      • Ash Park Walking Tour
      • Ash Park NRHP Registration Form.pdf
    • Commercial District
      • Commercial District Description
      • Commercial District Walking Tour
      • Commercial NRHP Registration Form.pdf
    • Cornell College District
      • Cornell College District Description
      • Cornell College NRHP Registration Form.pdf
  • Media
    • Interactive Historic Tours
    •    Our Facebook Page
    •   Our  YouTube Videos
    • Mount Vernon Photos
    • Ash Park District – Photos
    • Commercial District – Photos
    • Cornell College District – Photos
  • History
    • A Short History of Mount Vernon
    • Map of How Mount Vernon Grew
    • Brick Homes on the NRHP & Nomination Forms
    • City Directories
    • Building Genealogies
    • High School History Reports
    • Architectural Curriculum
    • Organizations
    • 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
  • Contact Us

Newsletters & Articles

2022 Fall Newsletter

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Logo

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

Categories Newsletters & Articles

2022 Spring Newsletter

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Logo

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

Categories Newsletters & Articles

2021 Fall Newsletter

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Logo

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

Categories Newsletters & Articles

Tommy Rhomberg

Photo of Tommy Rhomberg

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

Categories Mount Vernon's Historic Photos, Newsletters & Articles Tags Derecho, Mount Vernon

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 …

Categories Mount Vernon's Historic Photos, Newsletters & Articles Tags Bohemian Life, Cedar River, Crofter Collection, Ivanhoe

Mount Vernon High School

photo of High School

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

Categories Building Genealogies, Mount Vernon's Historic Photos, Newsletters & Articles Tags Mount Vernon High School, Ward Elementary School

Our Architectural Heritage in Historical Context

photo of Ford Model A

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

Categories Newsletters & Articles Tags Design Guidelines Booklet

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 …

Categories Newsletters & Articles Tags Porches

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 …

Categories Newsletters & Articles Tags Diekirch Luxembourg, Mount Vernon, Operation Democracy

MVHPC Newsletter – May, 2020

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Logo

Cleaning Out

Please Keep Us in Mind!

Fewer demands and more time at home have motivated many of us to…
Read more…

Categories Newsletters & Articles Tags Newsletter

Historic Windows – Vital to the Spirit of a Historic Building

old fashioned window

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

Categories Newsletters & Articles

MVHPC Newsletter – January, 2020

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Logo

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

Categories Newsletters & Articles
Older posts
Page1 Page2 Next →

Follow Our Facebook Page

Cover for Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission
Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

18 hours ago

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission
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

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

3 weeks ago

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission
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

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission

3 weeks ago

Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission
Timeline photos ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Website by Market Street
© 2023 - Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission. All rights reserved.
Next Page »
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)cs Czechen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russiansk Slovakes Spanish