If you’re a follower of our website, you know that I’m constantly on the lookout for Iowa-themed treasures, especially postal covers that date back to the earliest days of Iowa City. In August 2021, I was so disappointed that this stampless postal cover listed on Ebay – pictured above – got away from me. So, what’s the importance of this letter?
This is a letter from George Matlock in St. Louis writing to William Brownell in Bloomington (Muscatine), Iowa. The date on the letter looks to be April 27, 1840, and it is postmarked in St. Louis on April 29.
Historical records indicate that Brownell is a well-respected construction man in nearby Bloomington, Iowa and is one of the first men contacted by Chauncey Swan and/or John Rogue as they were working on the construction of the new capitol building in Iowa City. I’m sure Brownell, through his many contacts up and down the Mississippi River, got the word out that Iowa City was looking for experienced builders. And in this letter, that call for experienced workers has now reached George Matlock, a construction man in St. Louis. And it’s this April 27, 1840 letter that is Matlock’s attempt to gather workers who will eventually coordinate the construction of the doors, shutters, and railings we find on our beloved Old Stone Capitol today. One amazing letter, indeed!
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