Greene County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Greene County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | E. Lincoln Way and Chestnut St., Jefferson, Iowa |
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| Built | 1918 |
| Architect | Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Part of | Jefferson Square Commercial Historic District (ID11000503) |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001222 |
| Added to NRHP | December 14, 1978 |
The Greene County Courthouse is an important building located in Jefferson, Iowa, in the United States. It was built in 1918 and serves as the main place for county government and court activities in Greene County. This courthouse is special because it's the third building used for these important jobs. It even has a tall bell tower called the Mahany Tower, which is 120 feet high! The courthouse is recognized as a historic place and is part of the Jefferson Square Commercial Historic District.
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History of the Greene County Courthouse
The very first courthouse in Greene County was a simple wooden building. It was built in 1856 and cost $1,825. Before that, county workers used a building owned by Thomas Phillips.
The second courthouse was finished in 1870 and cost $37,000. This building had a bell in its cupola (a small dome on the roof). This bell was very useful! It rang to warn about fires, to call the court into session, and to announce curfew.
The current Greene County Courthouse was officially opened in 1917. It was a much bigger project, costing $200,000 to build.
Important Monuments and Memorials
In 1918, a statue of President Abraham Lincoln was added. This statue was placed to honor the Lincoln Highway, a famous road that runs right in front of the courthouse.
The Mahanay Tower, a tall bell tower, was built in 1966. It stands on the southwest side of the courthouse grounds.
Later, in 1993, the Lindsey Memorial was moved to the courthouse. This memorial honors Darrell R. Lindsey, a hero from Greene County who received the Medal of Honor after World War II. The memorial was brought all the way from Germany to the southeast corner of the courthouse grounds.
Architecture and Design
The Greene County Courthouse was designed by a well-known architectural company called Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson. They designed the three-story building in a style called Beaux Arts. This style often features grand, classical designs.
The building is about 124 feet long and 86 feet wide. Its outside is covered with beautiful Bedford Stone. The north and south sides of the building look exactly the same, and so do the east and west sides.
The main entrances, on the north and south sides, have impressive Ionic porticos. These are porch-like structures with tall columns. Above these porticos, you can see a clock set into the triangular pediment (the triangular part of the roof). These triangles are decorated with carved figures and swags (decorative garlands).
Inside the Courthouse
The inside of the courthouse is designed around a central rotunda, which is a large, round hall. This rotunda goes all the way from the basement to the attic!
The floor of the rotunda has a huge, 14-foot wide mosaic tile design. It's a colorful picture of the county seal. Looking up, you'll see a beautiful stained glass dome. Four murals (large paintings) decorate the inner dome. These paintings, created by William Peaco, show scenes like The Buffalo Hunt, The Emigrants, The Pioneer, and The Modern Farm.
The Mahanay Tower
The Mahanay Tower is a famous landmark in Jefferson, Iowa. It cost $350,000 to build, and the money came from the family of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Mahanay. The tower was officially opened on October 16, 1966.
This tower is 165 feet tall and is built in a style called Brutalist. It has a unique shape with three curved sides. Inside, there are 14 bells that were made by the Petit & Fritsen Bell Foundry in the Netherlands. These bells chime every 15 minutes and can also be played using an electric keyboard.
One of the coolest features of the Mahanay Tower is its observation deck. This deck is 120 feet high and offers amazing views! You can reach it by riding a special glass elevator.
