Welcome to the exciting past and present of an unusual small community in the heart of the Heartland!
This site opens our historical resources to the worldwide Internet and invites you to share in adding information, correcting our sources, and asking us for specific information you cannot find here. This site is like an organic history book –it continues to grow from the input and knowledge of anyone in the world. Almost all of our known historical resources will eventually be available to anyone with an Internet connection.
This Home Page quickly introduces you to this site
In About Us you will find helpful information about the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), its policies, activities, membership and history.
A subcatogory in About Us, Design Review, is directed to persons who wish to help maintain the historic ambience of their property or own historic property in Historic Districts. Here you will find the guidelines and the requirements for making changes in their structures.
History is divided into two sections. One deals with printed sources about the town – texts and documents including a brief introduction and overview of the city from the beginning, understanding our official Historic Districts, a presentation of how the town grew, and a working copy of the latest revision of, The Mount Vernon Centennial Book (with index) (now available here). If you are searching for ancestors you may want to check the Mt Vernon Cemetery Records – plots and maps (coming in November 2011)
The second section of the History is an extensive collection of historic images – many following the 1880’s when studio photographers were in abundance in Mt Vernon partly because of college students ordering graduation photos, post cards, etc. The Introduction to these images explains the very simple system for finding specific photos. You are invited to share your knowledge about any picture by a simple process.
Our history is linked to the story of Cornell College. Click here to visit our links, which point to the college and the College Archives as well as city, county, state, and federal history and preservations organizations and resources.
Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission :: Mount Vernon, Iowa