Benton County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Benton County Courthouse
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | E. 4th St. Vinton, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1906 |
| Built by | George Rickman & Sons |
| Architect | Bell & Detweiler |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000733 |
| Added to NRHP | October 8, 1976 |
The Benton County Courthouse is an important building in Vinton, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1906. This courthouse is a historic landmark. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized for its special history and design. This building is the fourth one Benton County has used for its court and government offices.
A Look Back: The Courthouse Story
Benton County's first courthouse was very simple. It was a log building. But it didn't even have a roof or a floor when people started using it! When the weather was bad, the court met in a log home nearby.
There was a disagreement about where the main county office should be. Because of this, the second courthouse was not finished for a while. Its main floor was finally completed in 1852. This provided a space for the courtroom. County officers worked in two rooms on the unfinished second floor. Sadly, the building was destroyed by fire the next year.
Three brave men saved the county's important records from the fire. One of them was hurt and later died from his injuries. The county's third courthouse was built for $13,000. It was officially opened in December 1856. This building was a two-story brick structure. It had an octagon-shaped tower called a cupola on top. The second and third courthouses were built in the same spot as the one we see today. The first stone for the current courthouse was placed on October 14, 1905. It was finished in 1906 and cost $105,000.
What Does It Look Like?
The current courthouse was designed by Bell & Detweiler. They were architects from Minneapolis. George Rickman & Sons built the courthouse. The building has a simpler version of the Beaux Arts style.
A tall central tower makes the building stand out. This tower is about 112 feet (34 meters) high. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the community. The tower has a clock with four faces that light up. It also holds a large B-flat bell that weighs about 1,500 pounds (680 kg). A dome sits on top of the tower.
The courthouse has two main stories. It sits on a raised basement. The building has a central part with two sections on each side. The basement level is made of rough-looking Kettle River sandstone. The two upper floors are covered in smooth Buckeye gray sandstone. The central part of the building has the most decorations. These are found around its round-arch window and on its flat columns, called pilasters.
