Hancock County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hancock County Courthouse
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Hancock County Courthouse looking southeast
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 855 State Street Garner, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1899 |
| Built by | Gross Construction |
| Architect | F.W. Kinney |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000240 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Hancock County Courthouse is a special building in Garner, Iowa, United States. It's where important county business happens. This courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. This means it's recognized as an important historical place. It is the second building used for court and county government in Hancock County.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
Early County Buildings
The story of the courthouse began with a man named Truman Seymor. He donated land in Hancock County, Iowa for the first county seat. A county seat is the main town where the county government is located. This first spot was named Concord.
In 1865, two small buildings were built there. They cost $2,000. But these buildings quickly became too small. So, in 1868, a new courthouse was built for $10,000.
Choosing Garner as the County Seat
Later, in the 1890s, the city of Garner grew and took over Concord. At the same time, people from Britt, Iowa wanted the county seat moved to their town. But Garner worked hard to keep it.
A group of business people in Garner bought a new piece of land. They built a brand new courthouse on it. Then, they gave this new building to the county. This helped Garner stay the county seat.
Building the Current Courthouse
The current courthouse was finished in 1899. Citizens from the east side of the county helped pay for it. They contributed $25,000. The building was designed by an architect named F.W. Kinney. Gross Construction built it.
The courthouse is two stories tall. It is made of tan brick. It also has special details made of limestone and granite. The bottom part of the building has rough-looking stone, which is called rusticated stone.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the courthouse has changed a bit. It used to have a small dome on the roof called a cupola. It also had a tall tower and a decorative railing on the roof. These parts are no longer there. Some of the upper windows have also been covered up.
The courthouse has also grown. In 1977, a separate building was added. This building was for the sheriff's offices and the jail. It was built just south of the main courthouse. Then, in 1999, a new section was built to connect these two buildings.
The Hancock County Courthouse is very important. It shows the history of county government in the area. It also represents the importance of Garner as the county seat.
