|
|
HOME
| USA
The Courthouse
of Madison County
Winterset, Iowa
Italianate Revival
1875
Photos courtesy of Ken Rudine, Wayne Davis
and the Madison County Iowa Chamber of Commerce |
|
|
Madison
County Courthouse
Photographer: Wayne Davis.
Photo
Courtesy Madison County Iowa Chamber of Commerce |
More
famous for their covered bridges, Madison County has some other notable
structures - not the least of which is their beautiful limestone courthouse.
Like thousands of early county seats across the country, Madison County's
first courthouse was a log building (1849). The second courthouse
(no date available) was constructed of stone. Not unlike many courthouses
of the period - jail cells were incorporated into the design. In this
case, the prisoners occupied the second floor.
In 1875, Wintersetters were making plans for celebrating the nation's
upcoming centennial the following year. But their second courthouse
caught fire and in four hours it was a complete ruin. They spent 1876
building their third courthouse on the foundations of the second. |
|
|
|
|
Madison
County Courthouse clock and dome
Photos
courtesy Ken
Rudine, October 2005 |
The
third courthouse was built of locally quarried limestone and erected
precisely in the center of the county. For $120,000 the people of
Madison County got an oversized dome, four clockfaces and even a 1500
lb bell. The building's height has been given as 122 or 135 feet -
close enough not to argue.
The style is said to be Italianate-Revival and it is proudly listed
on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photographer Ken Rudine
was in Winterset attending Madison County's annual Covered Bridge
Festival in October of 2005 when he took these photos to share with
our readers. The courthouse dome here is strikingly similar to another
of Ken's courthouse photos (Presidio
County Courthouse in Marfa,
Texas).
Information on Iowa's other courthouses can be found
on the Iowa state site: http://www.judicial.state.ia.us/about/history/courthouses/
|
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
|
|
HOME
