Nodaway Valley Historical Village

Five historical buildings from the Nodaway Valley region have been preserved for your tour. They include the following from north to south:

College Springs Railroad Depot

Bethesda General Store

Hawleyville Barber Shop

Page Center/Blanchard Smithy

Northboro Store/Doctor's office

College Springs Railroad Depot

In the early 1900's the College Springs Depot was built

about a block north and west of Amity Hall.

When the railroad stopped service in 1917,

the depot was no longer needed.

It was moved south of the business block and became a home.

When the depot was moved to our museum complex in 2005,

it was restored and features displays of railroad memorabilia.

Bethesda General Store

The Bethesda General Store was built in the late 1800's

and not only served as a grocery store, but also as

a farm equipment supplier, local produce trade location,

a gas station, even a mail drop for the post office in Hepburn.

The Bethesda General Store was purchased in 1911 by Victor Oline

and was owned and run by William and Frieda Baumgarten

from 1959-1974. It was moved to the museum complex in 1991.

Hawleyville Barber Shop

The Hawleyville Barbershop

was built

around 1900.

Later it was used as the post office

until 1916

and city hall

for official and community gatherings.

In 1994 the barbershop was moved to the museum grounds and now displays early barbering equipment as well as the antique dental equipment of

Dr. Sidwell of Villisca and

Dr. Eller of Clarinda.

Page Center/Blanchard Smithy

John W. Nance returned to Blanchard in 1935

to take over his father's blacksmith shop. John's son, Lonnie Nance who was practiced in the trade, did much of the restoration to the building himself.

The building was moved to the village at the museum complex in 1995 and the equipment in the shop was once used by John W. Nance.

Northboro Store/Doctor's office

In the 1920's John Long and

Roy Malcum

ran a barber shop on the north side of Northboro's Main Street.

.