Osceola County Courthouse (Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Osceola County Courthouse
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Osceola County Courthouse, July 2014.
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3rd Ave & 8th St. Sibley, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1903 |
| Built by | C.E. Atkinson |
| Architect | E.N. Kinney |
| MPS | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000261 |
| Added to NRHP | July 2, 1981 |
The Osceola County Courthouse is an important building in Sibley, Iowa. It was built in 1902 and is where the county government does its work. This courthouse is special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's the second building Osceola County has used for its court and administrative offices.
History of the Osceola County Courthouse
Sibley became the main town, or county seat, for Osceola County, Iowa. This happened because it was the first town built in the county. Also, all the wagon trails led to Sibley after the railroad was finished there in 1872.
The first courthouse was a two-story building made of wood. It was built in the same year, 1872, and cost $5,000. This building had shutters on all its windows.
The courthouse you see today was designed by E.N. Kinney. It was built by C.E. Atkinson between 1902 and 1903. The building doesn't really fit one specific architectural style. It used to have a small tower on top, called a cupola, with a clock. There was also a statue of Lady Justice on the very top.
The building had big updates in the 1920s and again in 1961. During the 1961 update, the cupola, clock, and the statue of Lady Justice were all taken off.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The courthouse is a two-story building made of stone. It sits on a raised basement and has a flat roof. The bottom part of the building, the basement level, is made of rough stone.
On the south side, there's a part that sticks out. It has a single-story portico, which is like a porch with two columns. This is where the main entrance is. Above the second-story windows, there are three round windows. Each corner of the building also sticks out a bit. These corners have arched windows on the second floor.
The inside of the building might be even more interesting. The main hall, called the rotunda, is separated from the other hallways by columns. The rotunda also has wide decorative bands, called friezes, with round designs. There are also oval openings in the floor, wooden railings (called balusters), and brass railings. The first floor has tile floors.
This courthouse is important because it shows the history of county government. It also represents the political power and importance of Sibley as the county seat.
