National Register of Historic Places

Smith-Johnson House

Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa
Listed
November 9, 1977
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
77000538

About this property

The Smith–Johnson House, also known as The Old Brick, is a historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. It was built for William T. Smith in 1853, the same year he was elected as the first mayor of Oskaloosa. A lawyer, Smith was a native of Pennsylvania who settled in the town in 1848 and became county attorney the same year. In addition to his political and legal responsibilities he founded the first bank in town, and he was involved with other profitable financial ventures. He lived in the house until 1865 when Abijah Johnson, a Quaker merchant who moved to Oskaloosa to be a part of the flourishing Quaker communities here and in the surrounding areas. John Kelly Johnson, an attorney who served in the Iowa Senate, took over the house after his father's death in 1894. The house follows no particular architectural style, but is an unusual expression of vernacular architecture. It is composed of three blocks of varying heights. The interior features four different floor levels, with steps that lead up or down among the first floor rooms. The house was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was included as a contributing property in the Paradise Block Historic District in 1991.

Location

713 High Ave., E.
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa
41.29548, -92.63711

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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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Hoffman, Phil, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Paradise Block Historic District
Industrial
0.1 mi
Seeberger-Loring-Kilburn House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Ulysses Simpson Grant Elementary School
Industrial
0.2 mi
McMullin, Maj. James W., House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Smith-Johnson House listed on the National Register?

Smith-Johnson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Smith-Johnson House?

Smith-Johnson House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Smith-Johnson House?

The period of significance for Smith-Johnson House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Smith-Johnson House?

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