Ottumwa


Book Description

Ottumwa was established in 1843 on the banks of the Des Moines River. The city quickly became a center of retail trade and industry for southeastern Iowa, as well as a railroad hub that shipped products across the country. More than 200 vintage postcard images show the booming industrial and retail city at the beginning of the 20th century and afterfrom the river to the railroads, from parks and recreation to business and retail, from quiet residential streets to churches and ice-cream parlorsbringing back the bygone days of a still thriving city.




Gone... But Not Forgotten


Book Description

Businesses, restaurants, hangouts, entertainment, stores, events and people -- memories of a bustling Iowa city in the 20th century. Memories which are now gone... but are never to be forgotten.







The Plan for Ottumwa, Iowa


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Carrier on the Prairie


Book Description







Ottumwa


Book Description

Long one of Iowa's most important industrial cities, Ottumwa was established on the banks of the Des Moines River in 1843. The river was both a blessing, providing transportation as well as ice for early meatpacking plants, and a curse, inundating the city with periodic floods until it was tamed in the latter half of the 20th century. This collection of vintage photographs highlights the city's industries and laboring people, the river's role in the shaping of the community, and Ottumwa's unique place in history as the location of the Iowa Coal Palace and Industrial Exhibits of 1890 and 1891 and the Ottumwa Naval Air Station during the World War II era.