Fayette County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
The
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Fayette County Courthouse
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 114 North Pine Street West Union, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | J.G. Ralston |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Part of | West Union Commercial Historic District (ID15000191) |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000236 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Fayette County Courthouse in West Union, Iowa, United States, was built in 1923. This important building is where the local government for Fayette County does its work. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 because of its historical value. Later, in 2015, it became part of the West Union Commercial Historic District. This courthouse is actually the third building used for court and county offices in West Union.
Contents
History of the Fayette County Courthouses
West Union was chosen as the main town, or county seat, for Fayette County. However, some people didn't want the courthouse built there. People from the southern part of the county disagreed. Another town, Fayette, even offered to build the courthouse if it could be located there.
The First Courthouse (1857-1872)
To settle the argument, the people of West Union offered $3,000 to help build the courthouse in their town. So, a two-story brick building was constructed in West Union in 1857. It cost $8,000 and was about 40 by 60 feet (12 by 18 meters) in size.
The county citizens did not want to build a separate jail. Because of this, a part of the courthouse itself was used as a jail. In 1872, a person held in this jail started a fire while trying to escape. The building was destroyed, but luckily, most of the important county records were saved.
The Second Courthouse (1874-1922)
After the first courthouse burned down, the debate over the county seat started again. Business owners in West Union stepped up. They offered to rebuild the courthouse if the county would provide $5,000 for the project. They also wanted to use any materials that could be saved from the burned building.
The second courthouse was finished in 1874, based on this offer. However, the new building was too small for the growing county. Between 1894 and 1896, several additions and improvements were made. But on February 5, 1922, this courthouse also caught fire and was destroyed. Work quickly began to build a new one.
The Current Courthouse (Built 1923)
John G. Ralston, an architect from Waterloo, Iowa, was hired to design the courthouse we see today. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on June 21, 1923. The building was officially opened on October 8, 1924.
The final cost to build this courthouse was $299,000. This building is very important because it shows the history of local government in Fayette County. It also represents the political power and importance of West Union as the county seat.
Architecture of the Courthouse
The Fayette County Courthouse was designed in a simpler version of the Beaux-Arts style. This style often features grand, classical designs.
Building Materials and Design
The courthouse is three stories tall. Its outside is covered with a type of stone called Bedford Stone. The very bottom part of the building is made of granite.
Large, flat columns called pilasters separate the windows on the second and third floors. You enter the building through strong bronze doors.
Inside the Courthouse
The inside of the courthouse is just as impressive. It has a domed skylight that lets in natural light. There is a lot of marble used throughout the building, along with decorative plaster cornices (molding along the top of walls).
You'll also see brass railings and ceramic tile floors. In the courtroom, the walls have strips of wood arranged in cool, angled patterns. When the building first opened, it even had a room displaying items from the Grand Army of the Republic, a group for Civil War veterans.
