Mitchell County Courthouse (Iowa)

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.

Mitchell County Courthouse
General information
TypeCourthouse
Architectural styleItalianate
Address212 South Fifth Street
Town or cityOsage, Iowa
CountryUnited States
Coordinates43.282612°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)
The old courthouse in 2012
Location500 State Street
Osage, Iowa
Built1858
Built byJohn Bishop, John Robb, Jacob L. Chase
Architectural styleItalianate
MPSCounty Courthouses in Iowa TR
NRHP reference No.77000542[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 29, 1977
Main contractorHenkel Construction

History

Original courthouse
The original courthouse in 1974

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.

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References
  1. "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. 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.

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