Lucas County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
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Lucas County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Courthouse Square Chariton, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1893 |
| Built by | G.J. Stewart & Co |
| Architect | Foster & Liebbe |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Part of | Lucas County Courthouse Square Historic District (ID14000324) |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000254 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Lucas County Courthouse is an important building in Chariton, Iowa, United States. It was built a long time ago, in 1893. This courthouse is special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a historic place that the country wants to protect. It's also part of a bigger area called the Lucas County Courthouse Square Historic District. This courthouse is actually the third building Lucas County has used for its court and government work.
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History of the Lucas County Courthouse
The very first courthouse in Lucas County, Iowa was built in 1850. It was made from oak logs and cost $374. This small building was about 22 feet long and 18 feet wide. The spaces between the logs were filled with lime and sand.
The second courthouse was much bigger, about 50 feet by 50 feet. It cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to build. Its foundation was also made of logs. After ten years, cracks appeared in the logs. A judge even told the sheriff to find a church for court meetings. The building did not fall down, so court returned there for a few more years.
The people of Lucas County voted in 1885 to build the courthouse we see today. It was finished in 1894. The clock in its tall tower has been working ever since then.
Building Design
The courthouse was built using rough-cut sandstone. It was designed in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style often uses round arches and strong, heavy stone. The architects who designed it were Foster & Liebbe from Des Moines, Iowa. The building was constructed by G.J. Stewart & Company, a local company from Chariton.
The courthouse has many interesting features. You can see both round and curved arches. It also has small, round towers called turrets with pointy, cone-shaped roofs. There are also decorative top pieces called finials. The windows are tall and narrow. The main tower used to have a tall, pointed top called a spire. Smaller caps were on each side of it.
This courthouse looks similar to the Wapello County Courthouse in Ottumwa, Iowa. That building was also designed by Foster & Liebbe and finished just one year earlier.
What's Around the Courthouse?
The open area where the courthouse stands is called the Lucas County Courthouse Square Historic District. This square is also important for its history. Besides the courthouse, you can find other interesting things there:
- A Civil War Memorial, built in 1916.
- A Mormon Trail Marker, placed in 1923.
- A bandstand, built around the year 2000.
- A Veteran's Memorial, also built around 2000.
The courthouse is important because it shows the history of county government in Lucas County. It also highlights the importance of Chariton as the county seat, which is the main town for the county's government.
Images for kids
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Close view of the courthouse.
