Grundy County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grundy County Courthouse
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grundy Ave. Grundy Center, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Built by | Seeley, Son & Co. |
| Architect | Kramer & Zoll |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000239 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Grundy County Courthouse is an important building located in Grundy Center, Iowa. It was built a long time ago, in 1891. This courthouse is special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a significant historical site in the United States.
The courthouse is where many important county government activities happen. It's the second building used for court cases and managing county business in Grundy County.
History of the Grundy County Courthouse
Grundy County was officially started in 1856. It was formed from parts of other counties, Benton and Buchanan counties. At first, a town called Holland, Iowa was chosen as the county seat. The county seat is the main town where the county government is located. Later, Grundy Center became the new county seat.
The First Courthouse: The Old Cheese Box
The very first courthouse in Grundy County was built in 1857. People called it the Old Cheese Box. This was because it had a unique shape. It was the only courthouse in Iowa that was shaped like an octagon, which means it had eight sides. It also had an eight-sided tower on top. This building served the county for 40 years.
Building the Current Courthouse (1891)
The current Grundy County Courthouse was built in 1891. It replaced the older "Old Cheese Box" building. The new courthouse was designed in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style often features strong, heavy stone walls and rounded arches.
The architects who designed it were Kramer & Zoll. The company that built it was Seeley, Son & Co. The construction cost about $45,532.48. During the building process, the contractors realized they had bid too low. This meant they wouldn't make a profit. However, they kept their promise to build a high-quality courthouse. Even though they faced big financial problems, they finished the job well.
The courthouse has a tall, slender clock tower. This tower makes the rest of the building, which looks very solid and heavy, seem more balanced. The courthouse is important because it represents the county government. It also shows the importance of Grundy Center as the main town for the county.
