Harrison County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harrison County Courthouse
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7th St. Logan, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1911 |
| Built by | Yeisley & Stowell |
| Architect | Joseph E. Mills |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000243 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Harrison County Courthouse in Logan, Iowa, is a really important building that was finished in 1911. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special building with a lot of history. This courthouse is actually the fifth building the county has used for its court and government work!
Contents
A Look Back: The Courthouse Story
Early Days in Magnolia
The very first main town, or county seat, for Harrison County was a place called Magnolia. Their first courthouse was just a simple log cabin. Sadly, this cabin and all the county's important papers inside burned down.
After that, a second courthouse was built in 1854. To pay for it, the county sold pieces of land in the town. But by 1873, this building was thought to be unsafe. So, the county quickly built a third courthouse that same year. This building served the county for three years.
Moving to Logan
In 1876, Logan became the new county seat. The first courthouse in Logan was built that same year. It cost $14,000 to build. The county provided $5,000, and the people of Logan donated the other $9,000.
The builders were Yeisley & Stowell. This building was made of brick and had two stories. It measured about 55 feet by 70 feet. On the first floor, there were offices for important county officials like the Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk, Recorder, Sheriff, and School Superintendent. The second floor held the courtroom and rooms for juries.
The Current Courthouse
Plans for the courthouse you see today started in 1905. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on October 5, 1910. The building was officially opened on November 3, 1911. It cost $103,205.15 to build.
Building Design: What It Looks Like
Outside the Courthouse
The Harrison County Courthouse was designed by architect Joseph E. Mills from Detroit. It's built in a style called Neoclassical, which means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. It has three stories and measures about 68 feet by 96 feet. The very top of the dome is 77 feet above the street!
The building is made of steel and concrete blocks. The outside is covered with a special kind of stone called Bedford stone. On the east and west sides, there are three parts that stick out. The middle part on each side is more fancy. It has a tall, round-arched window between Ionic columns. The roof is a hipped roof, which means it slopes down on all sides. On top of the roof, there's a small dome called a cupola. It has cut corners and three round windows on each side.
Inside the Courthouse
While the outside of the courthouse looks quite simple, the public areas inside are very rich and detailed. It has a special oval-shaped main hall called a rotunda. The floors have beautiful patterns made of tiles. There's also a metal staircase that adds to the grand look.
The rotunda is separated from the hallways by screens made of columns. In 1920, during a redecorating project, four large paintings called murals were added to the main stairway. These murals were painted by Frank Enders from Milwaukee. They were painted on canvas and then attached to the walls.
The murals show different scenes:
- The old courthouse in Magnolia.
- The first courthouse in Logan.
- A horn of plenty, which is a symbol of good things and abundance.
- Lady Justice, who represents fairness and law.
This courthouse is very important because it's where the county government works. It also shows the political power and importance of Logan as the main town of the county.
