Entering Oskaloosa from the south on US Highway 59. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Entrance to "Old Jefferson Town" off US Highway 59. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Old Jefferson Town is the work of the Jefferson County Historical Society. They have over nine acres here to which they have moved interesting buildings from all over Jefferson County, Kansas. They have fourteen structures including the Winchester Jail, Tibbott School, Library & Museum, Edmonds Evangelical United Brethren Church 1891, and a bandstand. The Research Center Library is open Saturdays from one to five p. m. throughout the year, and Sundays from one-thirty to five p.m. in April through November.
Photo of a map of the Old Jefferson Town plat. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Winchester Jail building at Old Jefferson Town. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Reynolds Store at Old Jefferson Town. Notice the boardwalk in front of the stores and the millstone in front of Reynold's store. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Millstone in front of Reynold's store. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Millstones were used to grind grain to make meal (course) or flour (fine). The making of a millstone was technical and each part of the stone had a name. The hole in the center was called the eye and needed to be right in the center so the stone was balanced. The grooves in the stone were called furrows. Farmers could relate to this as they plowed furrows in their fields all day long during planting season.
Tibbott School Building. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Kilgour & Plum Grove Schools ~ Library & Museum. Corner view. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Kilgour & Plum Grove Schools ~ Library & Museum. Front view. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Edmonds Evangelical United Brethren Church 1891 (corner view). Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Notice the two tombstones to the right of the entrance to the building and the pond out in the field to the right.
Edmonds Evangelical United Brethren Church 1891 (corner view). Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
Notice the two tombstones to the right of the entrance to the building, the little bell tower out front, and the pond out in the field to the right.
Edmonds Evangelical United Brethren Church 1891 (corner view). Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.
It was built in 1891 and originally located four miles north of McLouth on Highway 92. The building was moved to Old Jefferson Town in 1970.
This is called a bowstring bridge. It was originally made in Cleveland, Ohio, and served in a couple of locations in Jefferson County, Kansas, before finding a home here. Photo taken 30 Aug 2018.