Jones County Courthouse (Iowa)

Jones County Court House
Location 500 W. Main St.
Anamosa, Iowa
Coordinates 42°6′34″N 91°17′24″W / 42.10944°N 91.29000°W / 42.10944; -91.29000Coordinates: 42°6′34″N 91°17′24″W / 42.10944°N 91.29000°W / 42.10944; -91.29000
Built 1937
Architect Dougher, Rich and Woodburn
Architectural style PWA Moderne
MPS PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA MPS
NRHP Reference # 03000822[1]
Added to NRHP August 28, 2003

The Jones County Courthouse in Anamosa, Iowa, United States was built in 1937. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 as the "Jones County Court House."[1] It is a part of the PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA Multiple Properties Submission, and is the second building the county has used for court functions and county administration.[2]

History

The first Jones County Courthouse was built in 1847 for $800.[3] The building measured 30 by 40 feet (9.1 by 12.2 m), and was occupied on January 3, 1848.[4] The county declared the building unsafe and vacated it in 1864. It was destroyed by fire in 1875. The county rented space until the town of Anamosa appropriated $6,000 to buy the second floor of the Shaw Block to insure the county seat would not move to Center Junction. A plan to build a courthouse in 1920 failed.

The county board of supervisors applied to the Public Works Administration, or PWA, for a grant to build a new courthouse and a referendum was approved by 77 percent of voters on September 10, 1935.[2] Des Moines architects Dougher, Rich & Woodburn designed the new building. Excavation for the courthouse was begun once the PWA approved the grant. The cornerstone was laid on August 9, 1936. C.C. Larsen & Sons Co. of Council Bluffs won the contract to build the building. Completion was delayed because of contract delays and cost overruns. The building's final construction costs were $200,000.[2] County offices moved into the building in August and the dedication was held on September 10, 1937. Nearly 6,000 people attnded the ceremonies.[2] Governor Nelson G. Kraschel delivered the main address. Other speakers included State PWA Director P.P. Hopkins and Justice J.M. Parsons of the Iowa Supreme Court, who was a Jones County native.[2]

Architecture

The architectural style of the building is known as Depression Modern or PWA Moderne.[2] The building features a symmetrical façade with a central section that is flanked by two lower sections. The exterior is composed of buff colored brick and Bedford limestone trim. It is three stories tall and built on a raised basement. On the interior, the central corridors extend the length of the building with the county offices opening onto the corridors. The building features multi-colored terrazzo floors, marble wainscoting and acoustic tiles. The court room was originally decorated in dark wood tones and Art Deco ornamentation. The court room is also located in the back of the building, overlooking a state penitentiary.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Svendsen, Marlvs A. "PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA MPS" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  3. ↑ "Jones County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  4. ↑ Stanek, Edward and Jacqueline (1976). Iowa's Magnificent County Courthouses. Des Moines: Wallace-Homestead. p. 112. ISBN 0-87069-189-9.
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