Delaware County Courthouse
301 E Main St., Manchester, Iowa
Designed by C.E. Bell
Photos
Overview Looking Southeast
Photo taken by J.R. Manning
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Map
Coordinates:
+42.48385, -91.4550142°29'02" N, 91°27'18" W
Quadrangle map:Manchester
Description
The first courthouse in Delaware County was a log structure in Delhi. The two-story structure measured 18 by 24 feet and had no roof. Jurors were required to climb a ladder to the jury room on the second floor. A second courthouse was built in 1850 and because there were no contractors available to build the building it was constructed by citizens who used their own tools. The present courthouse was built when the county seat moved to Manchester, and it was completed in 1894 for $38,000. The clock in the tower was paid for with contributions from 700 county citizens.
C.E. Bell designed the Romanesque Revival building, which is constructed of red pressed brick. The main body of the building measures 76 by 100 feet. The tower and spire are 135 feet (41 m) high, and the walls of the building are 18 inches (45.7 cm) thick. The decorative metal ceilings on the first floor and the elaborate woodwork are original to the building.
National Register information
- Status
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on July 2, 1981
- Reference number
- 81000234
- Architectural styles
- Victorian: Renaissance; Other architectural type; Victorian: Romanesque; Chateauesque
- Area of significance
- Architecture
- Level of significance
- Local
- Evaluation criteria
- C - Design/Construction
- Property type
- Building
- Historic function
- Courthouse
- Current function
- Courthouse
- Period of significance
- 1875-1899
- Significant year
- 1894
Update Log
- June 9, 2013: Updated by Dave King: Added description and corrected GPS coordinates
- December 18, 2010: New photo from J.R. Manning