|
|
|
| History |
The Existing Courthouse
On July 5th, 1847 the Commissioners decided to have a courthouse erected on lot 1, block 1, range 4 of the city of Centerville. On September 10, it was ordered that the dimensions of the proposed building be 24x20 feet, the structure to be built of logs, and one and one half stories high. Very complete specifications were included, some of which are listed here. The logs were to be well hewed down, inside and outside, and the two lower rounds were to made of good sound burr or white oak. The lower story was to be eight feet in the clear, and the upper half story was to be four and a half feet to the top. The roof was to be of good three-feet oak boards, well-nailed on. The gable ends were to be weather boarded with sawed or shaved lumber, with a space in each for a nine-light 8x10 foot window. The corners of the building were to be sawed down close and square. Good stone was to be placed under the corners and also of the center of the side logs of such size as to raise the house eight inches above the surface of the ground.
The log courthouse was to be completed by the 1st of January of 1848. Sheriff Jack Perdue immediately announced that the board was ready to receive bids, and the contract was awarded to James J Jackson for the sum of $140. The contract was altered in 1847 to use seven inch logs on the ground allowing an additional $5.
The contract for the remaining work of completing the courthouse was let on April 10 1848. James Jackson got the job of sawing out the door and window spaces and the chinking and plastering for $49. Jesse Wood was awarded the work of laying the floors and putting in the doors and windows for $119.00. In October 1848 G.W. Perkins was selected to provide window shutters and stair banisters for $11.
Total cost of construction of the courthouse was $324. The work was completed by July 1849. The work was funded by selling city lots.
This log courthouse was located where the bargain rack is now located three doors west of the south east corner of the Centerville square. A plaque has been placed over the door.
The Second Courthouse
A special election was held May 19 1860 to decide whether a new courthouse should be built at a cost of $15,000. The election passed with 906 votes for the measure and 89 votes against it.
After the election Judge Galbraith made a contract with Callen and Pearson to build the new structure in the center of the courthouse square. The foundation was laid during the year of 1860.
Money from the sale of swamp land along the Chariton river was appropriated for the construction.
The cornerstone was 24x48 inches and was of white marble. It was laid by T.h. Benton of Burlington.
The Civil War intervened in the spring of 1861 and delayed the construction. Also, an accident occurred where the wind blew down the west wall after the brickwork had been finished. The new courthouse was finally completed in January 1863.
The new courthouse was a brick structure 52x76 feet in size and two stories high with a basement. On the first floor were halls crossing each way and on this floor were the county offices and the fireproof vaults were situated. A spacious courtroom and jury rooms occupied the upper stories.
The walls of the courtroom were handsomely frescoed with several appropriate designs, including the god of justice in the rear of the judges' stand, and the goddess of liberty on the front wall.The ceiling was frescoed in various figures surrounding the American Eagle. The covering of the edifice was fireproof and surmounted by a tower rising 99 feet from the ground.
Independence Day Fire in the Second Courthouse
With the Civil war so fresh in the minds of the Veterans, there was always a patriotic display on the fourth of July. There were always fireworks and sometimes reenactments of Civil War battles.
On Independence day of 1881, the fireworks display was being held from the cupola of the courthouse, always an ideal place from which to produce a spectacular display.
Fireworks were sent out on a wire called a flying pigeon. After flying to the end of the wire the pigeon took a sudden notion to fly back. It fell into a box of fireworks setting the whole tower on fire. Roman candles, pinwheels, and sizzlers shot out in every direction.
The vast fire burned and severely weakened the cupola and the second story of the courthouse. The second story was patched up and used for a while. In 1891 the building was condemned by the board of supervisors as being unsafe, after which the second story was removed and roofed over. The offices remained in use until the building was torn down.
The Present Courthouse
In 1902 Smith & Gage were selected as the architects for the new courthouse. In February 1903 the contract for the building was let to William Peatman for $69,900. Completion date was specified as July 1904. The heating and plumbing contract was let to W.A. Thompson of Ottumwa for $5,500.
Mr. Peatman erected a ten foot high fence around the Property to keep sightseers out of harm's way. He began on the foundation as soon as weather permitted. The basement rock came from the northern part of the state on the Iowa Central Railroad. It was planned that the street car company would lay a track to permit the fine dressed stone to be taken directly to the building to prevent it from being damaged during shipping.
The cornerstone had been removed from the previous courthouse as it was being demolished. It was found to have leaked and the tin box inside of it was badly rusted and many of the articles it contained were ruined.
The present courthouse rises majestically in the center of park with each one of its four faces turned to one of the thoroughfares of the city. The building is of stone veneer with a green terra cotta tile roof.
A massive tower rises from the center, in which a clock of spectacular craftsmanship resides. From its four dials the time may be read by any passing from any side of the square at any time.
|
|
