Bremer County Court House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bremer County Court House
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 415 E. Bremer Ave. Waverly, Iowa |
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| Area | about 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1937 |
| Built by | Drape Construction Co. |
| Architect | Mortimer B. Cleveland |
| MPS | PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000821 |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 2003 |
The Bremer County Court House is an important building in Waverly, Iowa. It was built in 1937. This courthouse is special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a historic building worth protecting. It's actually the fourth building Bremer County has used for its court and government work.
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History of the Bremer County Courthouse
Bremer County has used several buildings as its courthouse over the years.
Early Courthouses
The very first courthouse was a small wooden building. It was used from 1854 to 1857.
Then, a new two-story brick building was built. It was much bigger, about 63 feet by 43 feet. This building cost $23,000. The person in charge of the jail and their family even lived in the basement!
This brick courthouse was used for many community activities. But by 1869, the county leaders decided to use it only for government and local group meetings. In 1870, a "fireproof" building was added next to it. This new building kept important county records safe. It also held several county offices.
Building the New Courthouse
By the 1920s and 1930s, the 1857 courthouse was getting too small. People started talking about needing a new one.
In 1935, the county asked for money from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The PWA was a government program that helped fund building projects during the Great Depression. Bremer County received $60,750 for the new courthouse. This was one of ten courthouses in Iowa that got PWA money.
The county leaders chose Waterloo architect Mortimer Cleveland to design the new building. There was some talk about moving the county seat (the main government town) to Tripoli, but the leaders decided against it.
In March 1936, people in the county voted to approve paying for the rest of the building costs. Drape Construction Co. from Tripoli won the job to build it. Work started in October 1936 and finished the next summer. The total cost was $119,000.
Dedication and Changes
The new courthouse was officially opened on June 6, 1937. About 1,500 people came to the dedication ceremony. Important speakers included Justice Richard Mitchell from the Iowa Supreme Court. P.P. Hopkins, the State PWA Director, also spoke.
After the new courthouse was ready, the old courthouse was taken down. An old music pavilion and a fountain on the square were also removed. The area around the new courthouse was then smoothed out and made into a nice landscaped space.
Architecture and Design
The Bremer County Courthouse has a special look called Depression Modern or PWA Moderne.
Building Style
The building has a balanced design. The middle part is 3½ stories tall. On each side, there are two shorter sections that are 2½ stories tall. The building sits on a slightly raised basement.
The outside of the building is covered with brick and Kasota stone. This stone is a pretty cream color. Inside, each floor has a long hallway down the middle. Offices open up from these hallways.
The interior design includes colorful terrazzo floors. These floors are made from small pieces of stone or glass set in cement. The walls have marble wainscoting, which is a protective paneling on the lower part of the walls. The ceilings have acoustic tile to help with sound.
Courthouse Square Features
The courthouse is located on the main square in Waverly. This square is also considered a historic site. Two items on the square are important parts of the courthouse's historic listing:
- The building's original flagpole.
- A replica of the Statue of Liberty from 1950. This statue celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.
