History - Fairfield Cultural District

This is a just brief outline of the cultural history of Fairfield.

Fairfield has a long history of entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.

1837 - The pioneer system of town and country schools began with the first school in 1837 with 18 scholars, two years before the county was incorporated.

1849 - Higher learning was also available in Fairfield from 1849 when the Female Seminary opened, then Axline University and Fairfield College followed. Due to many struggles these schools were only open for short periods. In 1875, Parsons College was founded, replacing these earlier institutions and through the years the college brought a great influence on both the economy and the culture of the County. Parsons College closed in 1973, but the campus was purcures for what is now Mahrishi University of Management.

The Jefferson County Agriculture Society was set up in 1846 and the first "Annual Fair" was held in the fall of 1852, at which time $125 was offered in premiums for stock. Out of this the Iowa State Agricultural Society began and in 1854 the first State Fair was held in Jefferson County.

In 1853 Fairfield was the first town in Iowa to offer library services to its residents. The library was first proposed by Ward Lamson in an editorial in The Fairfield Ledger. He later worked to solicit funds and the library was born in a rented room off the town square. (from the http://www2.youseemore.com/fairfield/about.asp?p=8 In 1893, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie who had been solicited by his friend Senator James F. Wilson, pledged $40,000, which enabled Fairfield to build the first Carnegie library west of the Mississippi. The building was finished in 1893. 1854- A public library begin in Fairfield. One of the most influential citizens in the County was James F. Wilson, who served in the United States Congress from 1862 to 1869. He was responsible for the Andrew Carnegie gift which established the Fairfield Public Library.

Beginning with the first mill in 1838, industry flourished in the County. 1858 - Railroad reached Fairfield

1870 - Various groups in the city worked together to urge the Rock Island Railroad to come through Fairfield instead of Ottumwa.

In 1872 a group of community leaders organized to encourage location of manufacturing establishments,

1882 - Early power plant.

1887 The Louden Company began.

1888 - The Turney Wagon Works was moved to Fairfield in 1888. City Fathers convinced Turney Wagon Works to move here instead of Mt. Pleasant.

The first golf course west of the Mississippi was started in Fairfield, Wit and Wisdom group formed - still in existence.

FAC in late 70's.

Strategic plan.

1st Fridays Art Walk started in by Art Life Society, was awarded the 2005 "Iowa Tourism Event of the Year".

Civic Center begun.

Copies of the book A Fair Field, a history of Fairfield, is in the Fairfield Public Library.

A Fair Field, by Susan Elizabeth (Fulton) Welty. Call number - 977.794 WELTY c.01

Some of the above excerpted from: http://iagenweb.org/jefferson/CountyHistory.html,

A Brief County History
Written by L. Taylor, Feb. 18, 1977

A link to more Jefferson County history:

The IAWebGen Project website has:
A photo of the 1st county courthouse (scroll down),
Old maps,
Old newspapers,
First families of Jefferson County,
A look at farm life in northeastern Jefferson County in 1888,
And much more.