Paradise Block Historic District
National Register of Historic Places

Paradise Block Historic District

Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa
Listed
December 13, 1991
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
91001767

About this property

The Paradise Block Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. At the time of its nomination it contained 43 resources, which included 26 residences, two churches, 12 garages, two brick driveways, and a vacant lot. Of these, 35 are considered contributing properties. The eight non-contributing properties include the vacant lot, two houses and a garage built after 1935, and four otherwise historic houses that have been significantly altered and have lost significant architectural elements. The contributing properties were built between 1853 and 1917, with 15 of them being built between 1880 and 1900. Two of the houses, the Smith-Johnson House (1853) and the Seeberger-Loring-Kilburn House (1859), are individually listed on the National Register. The churches include the First Church of Christ, Scientist (1912), a Neoclassical structure covered with stucco, and St. Paul Congregational United Church of Christ (1914), a Neoclassical brick structure. The neighborhood was historically the home to leading businessmen and professionals in Oskaloosa. It contains the largest and most intact examples of late 19th and early 20th century residences in the city. Both vernacular and high style designs are included. Several of the structures were designed by architects, including the two churches. All of the houses are single family residences, and most are frame structures, with five being brick and one of stone construction.

Location

402, 406, 408, 410, 414, 418 and 510--714 High Ave. E.
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa
41.29545, -92.63930

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Paradise Block Historic District

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Seeberger-Loring-Kilburn House
Industrial
0 mi
McMullin, Maj. James W., House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Smith-Johnson House
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. James Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Hoffman, Phil, House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Paradise Block Historic District listed on the National Register?

Paradise Block Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Paradise Block Historic District?

Paradise Block Historic District is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Paradise Block Historic District?

The period of significance for Paradise Block Historic District is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1935.

Can I research the history near Paradise Block Historic District?

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