Mitchell County Courthouse (Iowa)

Last updated
Mitchell County Courthouse
Mitchell County Courthouse - Osage, Iowa 01.jpg
Mitchell County Courthouse (Iowa)
General information
TypeCourthouse
Architectural style Italianate
Address212 South Fifth Street
Town or city Osage, Iowa
Country United States
Coordinates 43°16′57″N92°48′50″W / 43.282612°N 92.813768°W / 43.282612; -92.813768
Construction started2014
Completed2015
Technical details
Floor countTwo
Design and construction
Architecture firmFEH Associates
Mitchell County Courthouse
(former)
Mitchell County Courthouse, Osage.jpg
The old courthouse in 1974
USA Iowa location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location500 State Street
Osage, Iowa
Built1858
Built byJohn Bishop, John Robb, Jacob L. Chase
Architectural style Italianate
MPS County Courthouses in Iowa TR
NRHP reference No. 77000542 [1]
Added to NRHPAugust 29, 1977
Main contractorHenkel Construction

The Mitchell County Courthouse in Osage, Iowa, United States, was built in 2015. The former courthouse, built in stages between 1858 and 1926, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. [1] The courthouse is the second building the county has used for court functions and county administration.

Contents

History

Original courthouse

There was a dispute from 1855 to 1857 as to whether Mitchell or Osage should be the county seat of Mitchell County. [2] A commission of delegates from other counties chose Osage and construction was begun on the courthouse. Because another election was held to decide the issue construction was halted. Even though a final decision would not be made until 1870 the courthouse construction proceeded and the main block was completed in 1858. The Italianate style building cost $25,000 to complete. [3] The exterior was faced in brick and a silver domed cupola capped the structure. Two wings were added on either side of the main block in 1879 and 1882. A third wing was added to the rear of the building in 1926. The exterior was restored from 1975 to 1976. [4]

Threats and demolition

By 2011 the courthouse was no longer receiving funds for maintenance from the Mitchell County Board of Supervisors. An ad hoc group rallied to preserve the building before it deteriorated. [5] County offices were moved to the Fox River Mills complex and Town & Country Plaza in late 2012. [6] In the spring of 2013, the Mitchell County Board of Supervisors voted to replace the historic courthouse as structural issues had rendered the building unusable. The cost to rehabilitate the courthouse was nine million dollars. A proposed plan for a new courthouse including demolition of the existing structure is estimated at seven million dollars. On February 4, 2014, demolition of the courthouse began. [7]

New courthouse

A new $8.7 million courthouse was built on the location of the former courthouse, although it faces South Fifth Street and the former courthouse faced State Street. [7] Its architectural style mimics the former courthouse from its brick exterior, to the portico in front, to the cupola on top. It was designed by the Sioux City architectural firm FEH Associates. Henkel Construction of Mason City, Iowa was responsible for building the 30,000- square-foot (2,800 m2) structure. [7] It was opened for business on August 20, 2015. [8] The county's Veteran's Memorial is located on the west front of the courthouse.

Related Research Articles

Dubuque County Jail United States historic place

The Dubuque County Jail is a historic building at 36 East 8th Street in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. Completed in 1858, the jail is an example of the uncommon Egyptian Revival style. It is architecturally a highly original work of John F. Rague, who also designed the 1837 Old Capitol of Illinois and the 1840 Territorial Capitol of Iowa. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architecture in 1987. It served as a jail for more than a century, became a museum in 1975, and was converted into county offices in 2016.

Hawkins County Courthouse United States historic place

The Hawkins County Courthouse is the seat of county government for Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States, located in the city of Rogersville. It was built in 1836, it is one of six antebellum courthouses still in use in Tennessee, and it is the second oldest courthouse still in use in the state.

Old Indiana County Courthouse United States historic place

The Old Indiana County Courthouse is a former courthouse located in Indiana, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The courthouse was built between 1869 and 1870 and designed by local architect James W. Drum. It was the second courthouse to serve the county, with the first demolished in 1868. The final cost of the project was $150,000. A dedication ceremony took place on December 19, 1870. Former Governor of Pennsylvania William F. Johnston spoke at the ceremony.

Webster County Courthouse (Iowa) United States historic place

The Webster County Courthouse is a historic building in Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States. Built in 1902, it primarily houses local government offices for Webster County. The courthouse is the second building the county has used for court functions and county administration. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, and as a contributing property in the Fort Dodge Downtown Historic District in 2010.

Humboldt County Courthouse (Iowa) United States historic place

The Humboldt County Courthouse is located in Dakota City, Iowa, United States, and dates from 1939. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 as a part of the PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA Multiple Properties Submission. The courthouse is the second building the county has used for court functions and county administration.

Des Moines County Court House United States historic place

The Des Moines County Court House located in Burlington, Iowa, United States, was built in 1940. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 as a part of the PWA-Era County Courthouses of Iowa Multiple Properties Submission. The courthouse is the fourth structure to house court functions and county administration.

Warren County Courthouse (Iowa) Courthouse in Iowa, United States

The Warren County Courthouse is located in Indianola, Iowa, United States. The courthouse that was built in 1939 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2003 as a part of the PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA Multiple Properties Submission. It was the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration. The building was demolished in the summer of 2019 and removed from the NRHP in September of the same year. A new courthouse and justice center is expected to be completed in 2022.

Scott County Courthouse (Iowa) Courthouse in Iowa, United States

The Scott County Courthouse in Davenport, Iowa, United States was built from 1955 to 1956 and extensively renovated over a ten-year period between 1998 and 2009. It is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration. It is part of a larger county complex that includes the county jail, administration building and juvenile detention facility. In 2020 the courthouse was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Floyd County Courthouse (Iowa) United States historic place

The Floyd County Court House in Charles City, Iowa, United States was built in 1940. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 as a part of the PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA Multiple Properties Submission. It is the only property in this group, however, that was built without funding from the Public Works Administration (PWA). The courthouse is the third structure to house court functions and county administration.

Lee County Courthouse (Fort Madison, Iowa) United States historic place

The Lee County Courthouse is located in Fort Madison, Iowa, United States. The courthouse serves the court functions and county administration for the northern part of Lee County, and it is the county's first courthouse. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. In 2014, it was included as a contributing property in the Park-to-Park Residential Historic District. Southern Lee County is served from a courthouse in Keokuk in the former Federal Courthouse building.

Montgomery County Courthouse (Iowa) United States historic place

The Montgomery County Courthouse is located in Red Oak, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. In 2016 it was included as a contributing property in the Red Oak Downtown Historic District. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.

Davis County Courthouse (Iowa) United States historic place

The Davis County Courthouse in Bloomfield, Iowa, United States was built in 1877. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Two years later it was listed as a contributing property in the Bloomfield Square historic district. The courthouse is the second building to house court functions and county administration.

Page County Courthouse (Iowa) United States historic place

The Page County Courthouse in Clarinda, Iowa, United States, was built in 1887. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the fourth building the county has used for court functions and county administration.

Hancock County Courthouse (Iowa) United States historic place

The Hancock County Courthouse is located in Garner, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the second structure to house court functions and county administration.

Black Hawk County Courthouse (Iowa)

The Black Hawk County Courthouse is located in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, United States. It is the third dedicated courthouse to house the county's offices since it was created in 1843.

Carroll County Courthouse (Iowa)

The Carroll County Courthouse is located in Carroll, Iowa, United States. The current structure is the fourth courthouse to house court functions and county administration.

Cerro Gordo County Courthouse (Iowa)

The Cerro Gordo County Courthouse is located in Mason City, Iowa, United States. The courthouse is the fourth structure to house court functions and county administration.

Dickinson County Courthouse (Iowa)

The Dickinson County Courthouse is located in Spirit Lake, Iowa, United States. Built in two phases in 2006 and 2009, it is the fourth building to house court functions and county administration.

Osage Commercial Historic District Historic district in Iowa, United States

The Osage Commercial Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Osage, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. At the time of its nomination it contained 50 resources, which included 46 contributing buildings, one contributing structure, and three non-contributing buildings. The historic district covers most of the city's central business district.

Central Springs Community School District Public school district in Manly, Iowa, United States

Central Springs Community School District is a rural, public school district headquartered in Manly, Iowa. The district is located in sections of Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Mitchell, and Worth counties. It serves Manly, Nora Springs, Hanlontown, Plymouth, and Rock Falls.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Mitchell County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  3. ↑ Stanek, Edward and Jacqueline (1976). Iowa's Magnificent County Courthouses. Des Moines: Wallace-Homestead. p. 138. ISBN   0-87069-189-9.
  4. ↑ W.H. Biedermann. "Mitchell County Courthouse". National Park Service . Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  5. ↑ Jim Cross (December 29, 2011). "Mitchell county residents organize to save their courthouse". Globe Gazette . Mason City . Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  6. ↑ David Namanny (December 7, 2012). "Mitchell County offices re-open in new location". Globe Gazette . Mason City . Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  7. 1 2 3 Deb Nicklay (October 16, 2015). "Room to move and admire: Mitchell County Courthouse begins its next chapter". Globe Gazette . Mason City . Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  8. ↑ Deb Nicklay (August 13, 2015). "Move in, out: Mitchell County offices close next week for courthouse move". Globe Gazette . Mason City . Retrieved 2015-12-29.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Former Mitchell County Courthouse (Osage, Iowa) at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.