Washington County Courthouse (Iowa)

Washington County Courthouse
Location N. B Ave.
Washington, Iowa
Coordinates 41°17′58.96″N 91°41′38.18″W / 41.2997111°N 91.6939389°W / 41.2997111; -91.6939389Coordinates: 41°17′58.96″N 91°41′38.18″W / 41.2997111°N 91.6939389°W / 41.2997111; -91.6939389
Built 1885-1887
Built by T. Colwell, et al.
Architect Foster & Liebbe
Architectural style Romanesque Revival
Part of Washington Downtown Historic District (#13000297)
MPS County Courthouses in Iowa TR
NRHP Reference # 81000273[1]
Added to NRHP July 2, 1981

The Washington County Courthouse in Washington, Iowa, United States was built in 1887. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource.[1] In 2013 it was included as a contributing property in the Washington Downtown Historic District. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.

History

Washington County’s first courthouse was an 28-by-18-foot (8.5 by 5.5 m) frame building built in 1859.[2] It was used as a school house and church as well as a courthouse. The second courthouse was built in 1847. The county was not satisfied with the carpentry work performed so they deducted $50 from the cupola alone and $110 on the balance of the building.[3] The present courthouse was built for $75,000 in 1887.[2]

Architecture

The courthouse for Washington County is considered an excellent example of Victorian Romanesque courthouses in Iowa.[4] It features a variety of arch forms, and a three-stage clock tower. It was constructed of locally made bricks and was trimmed in stone. The bell in the clock tower is made of bronze, tin and brass.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 "Washington County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  3. ↑ Stanek, Edward and Jacqueline (1976). Iowa's Magnificent County Courthouses. Des Moines: Wallace-Homestead. p. 190. ISBN 0-87069-189-9.
  4. ↑ "Washington County Courthouse" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
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