Original Plat Of Washington, Iowa
Last updated 12 Feb 2016
This information is from The Evening Journal, Washington, Iowa - Centennial Edition - August, 1939, and was transcribed by J. L. Breen.
Survey made June 17, 1839, by I. M. Snyder
Records of 100 Years Ago Show Washington Had Small Beginning
Washington originally was a town of only 25 square blocks of land, as you can see from the plat above, which was copied from the official records in the county recorder’s office at the court house, from the book in which it was placed 100 years ago.
There were only eight streets in the town, and five of them bore the same names they do today.
On the page above the plat in the recorder’s book, in script that is very faded, evidently written by the same hand that drew the lines for the plat and wrote in the names of the streets, there appears the follow explanation:
“The above is a draft of the town of Washington, seat of Justice for the County of Washington, Iowa Territory, which is situated on the southwest quarter of Section 17, Tp. 75 N. of R. West. The lots front sixty-six feet and extend back one hundred and thirty two (132) feet except blocks No. 11-12-14-15 in which they are 66 by 124 feet. The four center streets passing the public square are each 99 feet in width and the out streets are each 66 feet wide – running at right angles. The alleys are all 16 ˝ feet wide except the blocks immediately east and west of the square, in which they are 16 feet. The alleys run east and west in Block No. 12 and 14, which run north and south. The stone from which future surveys are to be made is placed at the southwest corner of the public square, which is the northeast corner of Lot No. 1 in Block 17 (see plat).
The public square, which is Block No. 13, together with the streets and alleys, are donated pubic highways.
“This is to certify that I surveyed the above town at the request of Joseph Neal and Joseph B. Davis, Board of County Commissioners of the County of Washington, on the 17th day of June A. D., 1839. -- I.M. Snyder, surveyor.
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