Oskaloosa in Mahaska County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Trolley Place
FKA: Fitch (1905), McGregor (1905), Malcolm (1911)
November 5, 2023
1. Trolley Place Marker
• The Knights of Pythias, one of Oskaloosa's most prominent lodge organizations, located its ballroom & membership quarters in the third story of the Malcolm Building in 1912. Over 5,000 people attended its grand opening.
• In 1896 this property housed two saloons named "The Senate" and "The Golden Palace." The Senate's owner, Henry Van Vliet, was subject to an 1898 Federal court case that tested Iowa's state Prohibition laws against federal Interstate Commerce laws.
• McGregor Furniture was founded at this location in Oskaloosa in 1896. At opening, they handled both furniture & undertaking. in 2018 the company is still in operation and being run by descendants of J.R. McGregor. The store had the first elevator in town. In 1913 they hosted a "Free Day" event, however "Free" in this case was the name of a sewing machine company!
• Horse-drawn trolley service began in Oskaloosa in 1888, was converted to electric street cars in 1897, and ended its operation in 1925. The trolley service ran in front of this property.
• In an effort to salvage these historic structures, the Oskaloosa Downtown Development purchased the property in 2008 and renamed it "Trolley Place" in 2012.
The rest of the story...www.oacdg.org/history
Golden Palace Saloon
Free Day Event,
this page online
Oskaloosa Historic District
Erected 2018.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.
Location. 41° 17.713′ N, 92° 38.756′ W. Marker is in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in Mahaska County. Marker is on High Avenue West east of North A Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114-120 High Ave W, Oskaloosa IA 52577, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Local Trolley History (within shouting distance of this marker); Iowa Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Mahaska (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Centennial Block Building (about 300 feet away); Spanish Torpedo (about 400 feet away); Oskaloosa City Park Band Stand (about 400 feet away); Woman's Relief Corps War Memorial (about 500 feet away); IMB Soc. Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oskaloosa.
Also see . . .
1. Trolley Place - Oskaloosa Historical Building Markers | Mahaska Chamber. (Submitted on November 18, 2023.)
2. Trolley Place Recognized With Historic Plaque Recognition - Oskaloosa News | Oskaloosa News. (Submitted on November 18, 2023.)
November 5, 2023
2. Trolley Place Marker, from the west
November 5, 2023
3. Trolley Place Buildings
Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2023. This page has been viewed 47 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 18, 2023.
