Oskaloosa City Park

Located across the street from the Mahaska County Courthouse, Oskaloosa City Park is the physical and social center of the the city. In the center of the the park is a historic band stand that was built in 1912. Designed by local architect Frank Wetherell, it combines Craftsman, Art Nouveau, and Neoclassical architecture. In addition to the band stand, the park also includes a torpedo mine from the Spanish-American War, a Chief Mahaska sculpture, a Gold Star Mothers' rose bed, and a Women's Relief Corps memorial. Iowa artist Sherry Edmundson Fry created the sculpture in 1907 in Paris, France where it received wide acclaim. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 as the Oskaloosa City Park and Band Stand.

The park, which was included in the city's original plat in 1844, is surrounded by the central business district. It has always been a gathering place for the community, particularly through the early 20th century when musical performances were often held at the park. Music, in fact, has played an important role in the county's history and the park reflects this tradition. Welsh immigrants, who came to work in nearby coal mines, brought their tradition of eisteddfod festivals, during which singing and poetry are performed. In the early 1900s, Oskaloosa became known for band and instrumental music written by local composers including Frederic Knight Logan, who wrote popular songs such as "Pale Moon," the "Missouri Waltz," and "Valse Chopinesque." Music publishing became an important industry as well. A publishing company called the C.L. Barnhouse Company was apparently the country's second largest publisher of band and orchestra music. It was established in 1891 and still exists today.

The Chief Mahaska sculpture, which was installed in the park in 1909, honors a leader of the Iowa tribe, Chief Mahaska (1784-1834). When he was a young man, he became chief after he killed a number of Sioux warriors in revenge for murdering his father. Eventually, Mahasks disavowed violence and chose to live in peace with white settlers. He also decided to live like them by building a log house and starting to farm. When he was 50, Mahaska helped a federal Indian agent arrest a group of Iowa warriors who killed six Omaha warriors in revenge for the murder of another Iowa chief. One of those arrested escaped and murdered Mahaska at a camp on the Nodaway River. When the Mahasaka sculpture was unveiled in the park, around 12,000 people attended the festivities, which lasted most of the day.

The torpedo mine was removed from the Harbor of Guantanamo in 1899 by Lieutenant Commander Frank F. Fletcher, who was from Oskaloosa and donated the mine to the city. It is apparently similar to the mine that destroyed the Battleship Maine (which started the Spanish-American War) and is placed in position as it would be in water.

Olson, Greg. "Noble Savage in the Courthouse Square: Patronage and Legacy in Sherry Edmundson Fry's Mahaska." The Ioway Cultural Institute. 1998. http://ioway.nativeweb.org/history/mahaskaolson.htm.

Page, William C. "Oskaloosa City Park and Band Stand." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. July 28, 1983. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/83000389_text.