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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Mt. Pleasant Beautiful
With the cooperation of the Southeast Iowa Union, the Mt. Pleasant Historic Preservation Commission will be publishing weekly peeks at some of the featured homes in the 1909 book, 'Mt. Pleasant Beautiful.” In the series, the 1909 picture will be contrasted with one of recent vintage. The commission has been collecting information for the eventual issuance of a new book updating the information on the still-standing homes from the 1909 publication.
You can test your knowledge of historic Mt. Pleasant with this column. The identity of the featured home will be published the week following the initial publication.
Last week's featured home: F.B. Crane House, 602 E. Monroe St.
This week's home served three generations of the Van Allen family in its former location on West Washington. It was built in 1862 by George Clinton Van Allen, a New Yorker who established a law firm and pioneered the abstract business in Henry County. The home was moved in 2019 to its present location and has been restored for use as a museum by the Henry County Heritage Trust.
G. C. and his wife, Jennie. had one son, Alfred Morris (A.M.) who was born in the house in 1869. He carried on his father's law and abstract business and continued to live in the house his father built. Along the way, he served on the City Council, the school board and was mayor,
He and his wife, Alma, had four sons: George, James, Maurice and William, in that order. George stayed in Mt. Pleasant and carried on the family law firm that had been established by his grandfather,
Maurice became a neurosurgeon and the neurology clinic at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is named after him.
William pursued a business career and was employed by Hughes Aircraft but died at age 50.
The most noted son was James who became a noted physicist. His contributions to the U.S. space program are legendary, and he was inducted into the Space and Satellite Hall of Fame in its first class in the 1980s for his design of the Explorer I. our first successful satellite.
