During 2007, we're focusing special attention on the ghost town of Wassonville, Iowa and its rich early Iowa heritage.   Settled just east of the boundary line of the Blackhawk purchase, Wassonville was a true frontier town for several years.   As the treatied Sac and Fox Indian lands opened up directly to the west in 1843, a major trail developed through Wassonville that brought a continuous flow of travelers hoping for a new life in the West, and was exposed to the frequent outside influences that went with a developing frontier town.  Wassonville, and its companion town of Dayton were sometimes referred to as "Sodom and Gomorrah"  in the early days, due to the availability of whiskey and frequent agitation by broader, external political interests and activities.  Settled in a scenic, low-lying valley of the English River, the town flooded semi-annually, devastating the homes and businesses, which were quickly rebuilt on higher ground by the tenacious settlers. 

Do you have old Wassonville information, family history, photographs or memorabilia you would like to share to help with this project?    Images and family histories may be scanned and sent electronically (.jpg, .bmp, .pdf ).  Please indicate whether you  are willing to have information shared on the web, written publications, and/or shared with local historical and genealogical societies.   
Contact us for more information.