Marshall County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Marshall County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
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The south elevation in 2007
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Courthouse Square Marshalltown, Iowa |
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| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | John C. Cochrane |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Part of | Marshalltown Downtown Historic District (ID01001463) |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000478 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1972 |
The Marshall County Courthouse is an important building located in Marshalltown, Iowa, United States. It's where the local government of Marshall County does its work. The building you see today was finished in 1886. It replaced an older building that was no longer suitable.
This courthouse is a very noticeable landmark in downtown Marshalltown. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's recognized as a special historical place. Later, in 2002, it became part of the Marshalltown Downtown Historic District. This is the third building Marshall County has used for its courthouse and county offices.
History of the Courthouse
When Marshall County first started, county business was done in the homes of officials. The first main town for the county government, called the county seat, was Marietta. It was a few miles northwest of Marshalltown.
The very first courthouse was built in Marietta. It was a small, one-story wooden building. It was sold for $175 when the county seat moved to Marshalltown.
The people of Marshalltown, which was then called Marshall, really wanted the county seat to move there. So, they built a new courthouse for free! This building was made of brick and had two stories. It was built by hundreds of people from the community. It opened in 1860, facing the town square. County offices were on the first floor, and the courtroom was on the second floor. By the mid-1870s, this building was falling apart. But voters didn't want to replace it at first.
In 1881, people in Marshall County voted to spend $100,000 on a new courthouse. It would be built on the public square in Marshalltown. David Wood Townsend was in charge of building the new courthouse. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was laid in 1884. The new courthouse was officially opened in 1886.
The building was designed by John C. Cochrane. His company also designed the State Capitol Building in Des Moines. The courthouse was built using local limestone over brick. On November 21, 1972, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1973, the building needed major repairs. It had been well cared for until the tough economic times of the 1930s. During those years, people couldn't afford to pay for repairs. So, the building started to get old and worn. A new group called the Friends of the Courthouse Committee decided to save the building. People voted, and it was decided to restore the courthouse. In 1974, voters approved a plan to borrow $3.2 million to pay for the renovation. The newly fixed courthouse was celebrated on November 19, 1978.
The courthouse was damaged by a tornado on July 19, 2018. The storm ripped the tall, pointed top, called a spire, from the building's dome. The building also got water damage. The first repair cost was estimated at $15.5 million. By June 2019, this cost went up to $30 million. This higher cost included making the building even better than before. The dome was taken off for repairs on May 13, 2019. A new dome was put into place on March 31, 2020.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Marshall County Courthouse is a 2½-story building made of limestone. It sits on a raised base of rough-cut stone. The middle part of the front of the building sticks out. It goes above the roofline and has three statues at the very top. On the north side, there's a porch-like entrance with four columns. These columns go up to a balcony on the second floor.
Around the roof, there are fancy windows that stick out, called dormers. The roof itself slopes down on all sides, which is called a hip roof. In the very center of the building, there's a tall, square limestone tower. This tower has a clock, a dome, and a small, rounded top called a cupola. It reaches a height of 175 feet (about 53 meters).
Inside, the courthouse has a round hall called a rotunda with a dome above it. You'll also see columns, shiny floors made of a material called terrazo, and beautifully carved wood. The courthouse is located right in the middle of the town square.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Marshall (Iowa) para niños
