Hardin County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hardin 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 | Edgington Avenue Eldora, Iowa |
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| Built | 1892 |
| Built by | J.F. Atkinson |
| Architect | T.D. Allen |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Part of | Eldora Downtown Historic District (ID09000297) |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000242 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Hardin County Courthouse is an important building in Eldora, Iowa. It was built in 1892. This courthouse is where the local government for Hardin County does its work. It's actually the third building used for court and county offices in the area. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Later, in 2010, it became part of the Eldora Downtown Historic District.
A Look Back in Time
The very first courthouse in Hardin County was a two-story wooden building. It was built in 1856. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire in October of that same year. A new courthouse was quickly built to replace it the following year. The courthouse we see today opened in 1892. It cost about $48,000 to build back then, which was a lot of money!
In 1921, a fire spread from a nearby building and damaged the courthouse roof and tower. Later, in 1967, officials said the building needed major repairs to be safe. The next year, people voted to approve money for these repairs.
The work included many updates:
- New electrical and heating/cooling systems were put in.
- The old windows were replaced.
- The open space in the center of the building was filled in.
- Old wooden beams and floors were replaced with stronger concrete and steel.
- An elevator was added to make the building more accessible.
County workers moved out in July 1969 and returned to the updated building in October 1970. The total cost for these repairs was about $422,000. People also gave private donations to help with the landscaping around the building.
Building Style and Features
The Hardin County Courthouse was designed by T.D. Allen. He also designed courthouses in other Iowa counties like Dickinson and Franklin. He designed Hardin's courthouse in a style called Romanesque Revival. This style often uses round arches and strong, heavy stone.
The outside of the courthouse is made of special red bricks from St. Louis. It sits on a raised first floor covered in rough, pink stone called Kasota stone. You can see a cool checkerboard pattern of brick and stone above the main entrance. This pattern also appears on the front parts of the east and west sides of the roof, called gables. The same type of stone frames the windows.
The north and south entrances have big, rounded arches. These arches are a classic feature of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. They are supported by red granite columns. However, some parts of the building look like the Queen Anne style. These include the small towers on the corners (called turrets), the sloped roof, and the rough stone trim.
The building has a tall bell tower that is about 128 feet (39 meters) high. It looks a bit like the bell towers you might see in old Italian towns. In a special alcove under the bell tower, there are statues. These statues represent important ideas: Justice, Mercy, and Liberty. The half-circle windows on the middle of the east and west sides have the official seal of the State of Iowa made from frosted glass.
This courthouse is important because it represents the local government. It also shows the power and importance of Eldora as the county seat, which is the main town where the county government is located.
