Historic Photos of Altoona, Kansas
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Altoona Baseball Team 1910	Altoona Brick - Altoona V Brick Company	Altoona Bridge	Altoona Burning Oil Tank 1920's
Altoona High School 1907 to 1918	Altoona High School	Altoona American Indian Jacket Emblem of Junior Wilson	Altoona Glass Plant 1905
Altoona Kerr Glass Plant	Altoona Main Street	Altoona Main Street West Side	Altoona Main Street West Side
Altoona Main Street East Side	Altoona Main Street East Side	Altoona Main Street East Side	Altoona Main Street
Altoona Main Street East Side	Altoona Main Street East Side	Altoona Main Street Looking North	Altoona Main Street Looking North
Altoona Main Street Looking North	Altoona Mason Jar Box	Altoona Methodist Church 1911	Altoona Methodist Church
Altoona Methodist Parsonage	Altoona Train Depot	Altoona MoPac Depot 1904	Altoona MoPac Depot 1904
Altoona Gas Well	Altoona Portland Cement Plant 1909	Altoona Portland Cement	Altoona Portland Cement
Altoona Presbyterian Church	Altoona Presbyterian Church Parsonage	Altoona Public School Inter Grades 1908	Altoona Riverside Mills 1909
Altoona Verdigris River	Altoona Wagon on Bridge	Altoona Water Tower	Altoona Zinc Smelter

 

A Little History of Altoona

Altoona was started in 1869. The settlers had previously been calling it Geddesburg. The Altoona town company was formed with Dr. T.F.C. Dodd as president and J.N.D. Brown as secretary. Dodd was the first physician to locate in the town. Spencer Brothers, from Lyon County, set up a saw mill at Altoona in the summer of 1859 but were unable to keep up with the demand for lumber. They erected a water powered flouring and grist mill in 1870-71. George Schultz and John Hoopes sold groceries under a tree on the Verdigris near the saw mill in 1869, so were the first merchants. W. H. Tatham opened a store in the town proper the fall of 1869. Altoona expanded greatly in 1870. About sixty-five stores and houses were built that year. The first school was located in a cabin on the bank of the Verdigris in 1869 and was taught by Hannah Hite (Tucker.) The first Sunday School was organized as a union school at the house of A. Pollock, but was itinerant; sometimes held at the saw mill with logs for seats; probably in 1869. The Methodist Church was organized in 1870 by Sheldon Parker at the house of A. Parker. Their first church building was completed in 1887. Other early churches were the Congregational Church and the Adventist. Early lodges were: William Cowgill Lodge, No. 118, A.F. and A.M., I.O.O.F., Modern Woodmen of America, Unity Camp Royal Neighbors, Rebekah Lodge, Order of Eastern Star, and Knights and Ladies of Security.

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Revised: 12/06/06