Montgomery County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
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Montgomery 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 | Coolbaugh and 2nd Sts. Red Oak, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Built by | Richard & Co. |
| Architect | H.C. Koch & Co. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Part of | Red Oak Downtown Historic District (ID16000868) |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000259 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Montgomery County Courthouse is an important building in Red Oak, Iowa. It's where the local government works and where court cases happen. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, meaning it's recognized as a special place. Later, in 2016, it became part of the Red Oak Downtown Historic District. This courthouse is actually the third building Montgomery County has used for its government and court activities.
Contents
A Journey Through Time: The Courthouse Story
The First Courthouses
Long ago, Montgomery County's first "county seat" was a place called Frankfort. A county seat is the main town where the county government is located. The very first courthouse was just a room in a log cabin! The family's dining room furniture was used for official business. When the jury needed to talk privately, they went outside.
This cabin courthouse was soon replaced by a two-story building. It cost about $1,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then. This building was about 36 feet long and 18 feet wide.
Moving the County Seat
In 1863, people voted to move the county seat to Red Oak. There was some confusion about the vote, so officials had to check with voters again. By June 1864, the decision was confirmed.
When the county seat moved, the old courthouse building moved too! It was placed on large sleds. Thirty teams of strong oxen pulled it through a big snowstorm. The storm was so bad that the oxen got lost. They were unhitched, and the courthouse just "wandered" off on its own! Luckily, it was found on a farm northeast of Red Oak. It was then guided to its new spot in one of Red Oak's town squares.
Building the Current Courthouse
Over the years, there were many tries to build a new, better courthouse. Some plans didn't work out. Finally, a decision was made to build the current courthouse. An Omaha, Nebraska, builder started the work but didn't finish it. They also left many unpaid bills.
The courts decided that the county didn't have to pay the builder's debts. This meant the county got many building materials for free! The first stone for the new courthouse was placed on July 4, 1890. The building was finished just one year later. This beautiful building cost $100,000 to construct. The design came from H.C. Koch & Company, an architecture firm from Milwaukee. Richard & Company built the courthouse.
Amazing Architecture: What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Montgomery County Courthouse is a tall, impressive building. It has 3½ stories and sits on a raised basement. The lower parts of the building are made of rough-cut limestone. This style is called "rusticated," which means the stones have a rough, natural look. The upper parts are made of brick.
The outside of the courthouse has many interesting features. You'll see lots of towers, small turrets (small towers), and decorative points called finials. There's also fancy metalwork along the roof called cresting. A large, many-sided section sticks out from the building. On top of the main hip roof (a roof that slopes on all sides), there's a small dome-like structure called a cupola.
The building also has a very tall clock tower. Its roof is steeply pointed, making the building look even taller. Many people think this courthouse is one of the best examples of Victorian Romanesque style in Iowa. The courthouse is important because it shows the power and importance of county government. It also highlights Red Oak's role as the main town for the county.
