Shelby County Courthouse (Iowa)
Encyclopedia
The Shelby County Courthouse in Harlan, Iowa
, United States
was built in 1859. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.
was located in a place called Shelbyville. After it was moved to Harlan a two-story frame building was erected in 1860 for the courthouse. A second courthouse was built for $4,250 in 1875. Construction on the present courthouse was begun in 1892 and it was built for $62,733.90. The cornerstone
was laid on August 4, 1892 and the building was dedicated on November 13, 1893. A $300,000 renovation of the building, which included installation of its first elevator, was completed in 1978.
designed the Romanesque Revival style building. W. H. Cockerell was the contractor. It is constructed of solid stone and features a slate roof. The dimensions of the building are 72 x 112 feet and it is three stories tall. Originally a bell tower at a height of 130 feet topped the building. It was removed in 1899.
Harlan, Iowa
Harlan is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States, along the West Nishnabotna River. The population was 5,282 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Shelby County.-History:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was built in 1859. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.
History
The first county seat for Shelby CountyShelby County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,167 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,542 housing units, of which 5,085 were occupied.-2000 census:...
was located in a place called Shelbyville. After it was moved to Harlan a two-story frame building was erected in 1860 for the courthouse. A second courthouse was built for $4,250 in 1875. Construction on the present courthouse was begun in 1892 and it was built for $62,733.90. The cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
was laid on August 4, 1892 and the building was dedicated on November 13, 1893. A $300,000 renovation of the building, which included installation of its first elevator, was completed in 1978.
Architecture
C. E. Bell of Council Bluffs, IowaCouncil Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
designed the Romanesque Revival style building. W. H. Cockerell was the contractor. It is constructed of solid stone and features a slate roof. The dimensions of the building are 72 x 112 feet and it is three stories tall. Originally a bell tower at a height of 130 feet topped the building. It was removed in 1899.