Williamsburg Historical Commission
Housed in the 1898 I.O.O.F. building on the square
516 Elm Street,
Williamsburg, IA 52361
(319) 668-1822 (call for hours of operation)
Email: WHC
Sesquicentennial Site: Building Photos, Historical Photos
Order the 2 book set The History of Williamsburg, Iowa.
The Historical Commission, through the efforts of, and funding by, local philanthropists Ron and Arlene Holden, was established and given a home in the beautifully restored I.O.O.F. building on the square. The building come to life during the spectacular Williamsburg Sesquicentennial celebration (the 150th anniversary of the town) in 2007. The commission sponsored the Williamsburg Sesquicentennial Committee and the celebration itself. The building houses a museum and is developing a library and archives. Period desks, file cabinets, and other items furnish the upstairs rooms that hold the archives. Research assistance is available to help with Iowa County related genealogy inquires. More on the WHC from Netha Meyer
The commission's library and archives have been established by the donation of the entire Iowa County genealogical and historical collection of Netha Meyer. This collection includes:
Inside display / Outside night view I.O.O.F Building / Indian Arrows Display
(arrows collected in Iowa County) Display Case
Portrait:"First Lady of Williamsburg", Ann Evans Pugh Williams First Floor Activity
Sesquicentennial meeting place and souvenir store Sesqui. Committee Member and Arlene Holden (right) Netha's daughters (Virginia, Sandy, Rita), Netha and Steve
Founding Family Descendants
Jerilyn McCarthy Fisher and Kathleen Jones Lori Wyland and Richard Williams
Lori married into the Evans line & Richard is a gr-grandson of the founder Historical Commission Parade Float
Netha, Callie, Owen and ?
- Obituaries (over 7,000)
- Family Histories
- Research material gathered through requests over many years
- Cemetery Listings
The commission has added:
- A digitized collection of Williamsburg Newspapers - fully searchable
- Donated Photo Collections
The Museum area includes:
- Iowa County Indian Arrow Collection
- Williamsburg Memorabilia
- Military Uniforms and Memorabilia
- Civil War Display
- Eugene Ely Display
- Historical Photo Display
- Historical Artifacts