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History

Washington cherishes its rich heritage, which dates all the way back to 1835, when the land first became available for settlement following treaties with the Sac and Fox Indian tribes. Originally, the town was designated as Slaughter, a name given in honor of William B. Slaughter, Secretary of the Territory of Wisconsin. The name was not well taken and was soon changed to Washington, after George Washington, on January 25, 1839, the same year the town became the county seat.

Original settlers came to Washington for many reasons: the land was fruitful and quality farms were sold at a low-cost, or given away for free. Today, with a population reaching 7,200, the city’s history continues to be seen and appreciated here through a number of preserved structures. Make sure to stop by each of these sites described below and take a glimpse into Washington’s vibrant past!

THE BOULEVARD (WEST WASHINGTON STREET)
Take a step back and view some of Washington’s oldest homes along The Boulevard. Many were built in the late 1800s, coming in a variety of architectural styles. The street’s original cobblestone drive continues to be utilized today.

RED BRICK SCHOOL
This one-room schoolhouse, home to the Red Brick School District (formed in 1877), was used until May 8, 1960. It is a well-known landmark within the county and was donated to the Washington County Historical Society on January 8, 2006.

WALNUT SCHOOL
In addition to serving as a school in the area – located six miles south of Washington – Walnut School was utilized by the Walnut Women, who formed on October 6, 1921.

BRINTON HOUSE
Frank Brinton, an inventor of early prototypes of motion pictures and air ships, and his wife, Indiana, originally built this home in the Washington community.

BLAIR HOUSE
Referred to as the “Little Sister” to Terrace Hill (the Governor’s Mansion), Blair House was constructed in 1880 by Winfield Smouse and ultimately sold to Edwin Blair, a grain dealer who made this his residence until his passing. The Washington Commercial Club bought the house in 1902 and in 1925, it became the city hall. A group of local citizens acquired and restored the house in 1974, which today serves as an office and meeting center.

THE F TROOP MILITARY MUSEUM
Initially, this structure was used as the administrative office of Troop F, World War I’s 113th Iowa National Guard Cavalry. Now, patrons can peruse through unique military memorabilia from the Civil War, WW I, WW II, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iran and Iraq.

CONGER HOUSE
Built in 1847 by one of the county’s earliest settlers, Thomas Ritchey, what is now known as Conger House eventually fell into the hands of Jonathan and Jane Conger in 1855. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and, since opening as the Jonathan Clarke Conger House Museum in 1973, displays a variety of collections of the Washington County Historical Society.

DUBLIN STORE
The Dublin Store, built in 1873 as the Odd Fellows Lodge hall, is positioned just seven miles outside of Washington along 250th Street. The store has been home to a post office and a number of other business activities until its closing in June of 1964.

ALEXANDER YOUNG LOG CABIN
This cabin, located in Sunset Park among a lively flower garden, was home to Alexander Young, his wife Mary and their eight children after its construction in 1840. Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the cabin is open for viewing by appointment.

CENTENNIAL FOUNTAIN
Situated within Central Park, Centennial Fountain was erected and dedicated in honor of Washington’s 1939 Centennial Celebration. The fountain stands as the only one of its type in the continental U.S. and, after a rehabilitation in 1995, features a multi-colored light show. Centennial Fountain is certainly the focus of downtown Washington’s Central Park, an area encompassed by retailers, professional firms and additional businesses, and hails as the site for many of the community’s special events. ;

A SIGNIFICANT WASHINGTON FIGURE:
OLA BABCOCK MILLER

Ola Babcock Miller, best known as “The Mother of the Iowa Highway Patrol,” hails as one of the state’s most prominent public figures in large part due to her tireless dedication to the betterment of her home state, along with the rest of the nation.

Born in Washington County on March 1, 1871, Viola “Ola” Babcock and her parents moved to the Washington community when she was five years of age. Ola married Alex Miller, a newspaper editor who operated the weekly Washington Democrat and also actively participated in the Democratic Party.

Upon her husband’s death in 1927, Ola remained active in the Democratic Party by promoting many social reforms. Because of her dynamic voice in the party, Ola was placed in the running for office, becoming Iowa’s first female Secretary of State in 1932.

Upon the death of a close friend’s child, Ola began to campaign for support for a uniformed state road patrol. The patrol was launched on August 1, 1934 with an enrollment of 15 officers. By 1938, the patrol’s numbers reached 150, making a great difference in the safety of Iowa’s drivers.

Ola Babcock Miller died on January 25, 1937. Though it has been over 70 years since her passing, Ola is still remembered and honored to this day. In 1975, she became one of the first four women inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame, and in 1999, the Old Historical Building was renamed the Ola Babcock Miller State Office Building, which houses the State Library and additional state offices.