Delaware County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Delaware County Courthouse
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. Manchester, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Bell & Kent |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000234 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Delaware County Courthouse is an important building in Manchester, Iowa, United States. It was built a long time ago, in 1894. This courthouse is where important county government work happens. It's also recognized as a special historic place because of its unique design and history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. This building is actually the fourth one used for court and county offices in Delaware County.
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History of the Courthouse
When Delaware County was first created in 1837, people had to decide where the main county office, called the county seat, would be. At first, Ead's Grove was chosen. But citizens thought a place closer to the middle of the county would be better. So, a spot near Silver Lake, which later became Delhi, was picked.
It took four years to buy the land for the county seat. Two citizens even loaned the county $200 to help.
The First Courthouses
The very first courthouse was a two-story log building. It was built in the winter of 1843-1844 by county citizens themselves. This was the first building ever constructed in Delhi. It was about 18 by 24 feet (5.5 by 7.3 meters).
- It had no roof, windows, or doors at first!
- People serving on a jury had to climb a ladder to get to the jury room on the second floor.
- It took two more years for the county to raise $65 to finish the building.
A second courthouse started being built in 1850. Since no building companies wanted the job, citizens again did the work themselves. They used their own tools and were paid with town lots in Delhi, each worth $5. This second building, which was both a courthouse and a jail, was finished in 1853.
Moving the County Seat
Soon, the towns of Delhi and Manchester began to compete over which one should be the county seat. Manchester tried several times to win in special votes, but they kept losing. Finally, on November 2, 1880, Manchester won!
The county seat then moved to Manchester. A temporary two-story wooden building was built there to serve as the courthouse.
The Current Building
The courthouse you see today was finished in 1894. It cost $38,000 to build. The county found money for it in different ways, including from a bridge fund, a dog tax, and by selling swampland.
The building was designed by an architectural firm called Bell & Kent from Council Bluffs. The clock in the tower was paid for by donations from 700 citizens of the county. The building was officially opened on January 7, 1895. This courthouse is important because it shows the history of county government and the importance of Manchester as the county seat.
Architecture of the Courthouse
The Delaware County Courthouse is a 2½-story building that sits on a raised basement. It's made of red pressed brick. The building combines two interesting architectural styles: the Romanesque Revival and the Chateauesque styles.
- The Romanesque style can be seen in the main entrances. They have rough-cut stone and rounded arches. You can also see it in the heavy stone bands around the building and the round-arched windows on the second floor.
- The Chateauesque style is shown in the very steep roofs and the steep, pointed gables (the triangular parts of the wall under a sloping roof) on the different towers. These gables have decorative tops called finials.
The main part of the building is about 76 by 100 feet (23 by 30 meters). The clock tower and its pointed top, called a spire, reach 135 feet (41 meters) high. The walls of the building are very thick, about 18 inches (46 centimeters). Inside, the first floor has fancy metal ceilings and detailed wooden decorations, which are all original to the building.
Images for kids
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Delaware County Courthouse, 1908
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Delaware (Iowa) para niños
