Cass County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cass County Court House
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5 W. 7th St. Atlantic, Iowa |
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| Area | less than 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1934 |
| Built by | C.C. Larsen Co. |
| Architect | Dougher, Rich and Woodburn |
| Architectural style | PWA Moderne |
| MPS | PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000819 |
| Added to NRHP | August 28, 2003 |
The Cass County Courthouse in Atlantic, Iowa, is a special building. It was built in 1934. This courthouse was the very first one in Iowa to get money from a special government program. This program was called the Public Works Administration (PWA). The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building. It's the third building used for county government in Cass County.
Contents
A Look Back: The Courthouse Story
Early Days of Cass County
Cass County started in 1853. The first county leaders met in a place called Indiantown. They chose Lewis as the county seat. This is the main town where the county government is located. They used a two-story house as their first courthouse.
Later, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad built tracks to Atlantic. The town of Atlantic offered land for a new courthouse. In 1869, the county accepted this offer. They built a small wooden building on the site.
A New Building and a Fire
The small wooden building soon became too small. The county had to rent extra space nearby. In 1888, the county spent $50,000 to build a new courthouse. This one was made of brick and stone. It even had a clock tower. Sadly, this building was destroyed by fire in March 1932.
Building During Hard Times
The fire happened during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people had little money. Because of this, the first vote to build a new courthouse failed in 1932.
The next year, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the PWA. This program helped create jobs and build public projects. Cass County was the first of ten counties in Iowa to get money from the PWA.
Voters approved the second plan for a new courthouse in 1933. The county hired Dougher, Rich & Woodburn. This was an architectural firm from Des Moines, Iowa. C.C. Larsen Co. from Council Bluffs, Iowa won the job to build it.
Construction and Dedication
Work on the new courthouse began in March 1934. It cost $119,000 to build. The new building was officially opened on December 26, 1934. Governor Clyde L. Herring was the main speaker at the event.
The architects, Dougher, Rich & Woodburn, used a similar design for other courthouses. This helped save money for three other Iowa counties. Newspapers in Buchanan and Humboldt counties showed almost the same drawings for their new courthouses.
A small garage was built near the courthouse later. Around 1984, a new section was added to the west side. This addition was for a correctional facility.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
Building Style and Materials
The Cass County Courthouse has a special design style. It's called Depression Modern or PWA Moderne. The building looks balanced and even. It has a main middle part with two lower sections on each side.
The outside of the building is made of light brown brick. It also has trim made from Bedford limestone. The courthouse is three stories tall. It also has a basement that is partly above ground.
Inside the Courthouse
Inside, there are long hallways on each floor. These hallways run through the middle of the building. The offices open up into these hallways. The floors are made of colorful terrazzo. This is a special type of flooring with chips of marble or glass. The walls have marble wainscoting. This is a protective paneling on the lower part of the walls. The ceilings have special tiles to help with sound.
The main front of the building has three tall windows. They have fancy metal designs. These windows go from the second to the third floor. They show where the courtroom is located. The courtroom itself was decorated with dark wood and Art Deco designs. The newer part of the building, the correctional facility, uses similar brick. It does not have windows.
The Courthouse Square
The courthouse is located on a special square. This square is just south of the main shopping area. The old courthouse was also on this same spot.
There are a few other important parts of the courthouse area. The square itself is considered a historical site. The flagpole is believed to be the original one. It is also a historical object. The small two-bay garage is another historical building.
