The following information comes from the National Register of Historic Places.
Full Article >>The one Room School House Project was the original idea of Richard Krone, 5th Grade Teacher at South Elementary school in Rowley, Iowa. Mr. Krone, other faculty and employees at South Elementary had the idea of moving and restoring a one-room school house. The one – room school house would be unique in that it…
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July 31, 1856 The first church service held in Independence by a group of Episcopalians was on July 31, 1856 in the Methodist chapel. The Right Rev. Henry Washington Lee, D.D., L.L.D., bishop of Iowa officiated. In February, 1858, the Rev. Benjamin R. Gifford held services for the group in the German Presbyterian Church here…
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OTTERVILLE MILL About 1863 a Grist/flouring mill was built on the north side of the swift moving Otter Creek. According to an 1886 map, Mill street became the traveled street to and from the Mill. Edward Ross owned and ran the mill in its later days. He died in 1891. A grist mill that stands…
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State of IowaDepartment of Human Services One of 4 Mental Health Institute’s in the State of Iowa. – the others being Mt. Pleasant, Cherokee and Clarinda. The “Mission Statement” of the Mental Health Institute, Independence is “To assure that the mentally ill adult citizens of Northeast Iowa and mentally ill children from Eastern Iowa have…
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The Malek Theatre opened in 1946 on land previously occupied by the Grand Theatre and was constructed in the still popular style of the age – ART DECO. The Malek was part of what was known as the Gedney Block, which contained a theater and a grand hotel called the Gedney Hotel, which was a…
Full Article >>King’s Hall, known formerly as King’s Opera House was built in 1876 by Charles King at an estimated cost of $10,000. Opening night, October 3, 1876 saw .75 seats or reserved seats for $1.00. For many years the great and non-great actors and actresses of the nation visited the hall to present stage productions to…
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