Des Moines County Court House

Des Moines County Court House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	513 N. Main St., Burlington, Iowa
Coordinates:	40°48′42″N 91°5′59″W / 40.81167°N 91.09972°W / 40.81167; -91.09972Coordinates: 40°48′42″N 91°5′59″W / 40.81167°N 91.09972°W / 40.81167; -91.09972
Built:	1940
Architect:	Keffer and Jones
Governing body:	County Government
MPS:	PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA MPS
NRHP Reference#:	03000817 [1]
Added to NRHP:	August 28, 2003

The Des Moines County Court House in Burlington, Iowa, United States was built in 1940. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 as a part of the PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA Multiple Properties Submission.^[1] The courthouse is the fourth building the county has used for court functions and county administration.^[2]

History

The first court sessions in the county were held in log cabins until Marion Hall was leased by the county.^[3] Mozart Hall was bought in 1866. The building and many county records were destroyed in a fire in 1873. Marion Hall was once again used on a temporary basis. A four-story building with a cupola was built in 1882 for $130,000.^[3] The building was constructed of sandstone and brick. Empty spaces between the ceiling and floor above were filled with concrete intending to fireproof the building. The county sold the building in 1940 after the present courthouse was built.

The county board of supervisors applied for and received a grant from the Public Works Administration, or PWA, in August 1938 to assist with the funding for the new courthouse. Voters passed a bond referendum the following month. The Des Moines architectural firm of Keffer & Jones designed the building. Bids to construct the building were received in February 1939, and Paul Steenberg Construction Co., of St. Paul, Minnesota won the contract. The original construction costs came in at about $280,000.^[2] Construction was initiated a short time after the bidding process was over, however, poor soil conditions and various labor problems slowed construction. With work nearly finished, county workers moved into the new courthouse in April 1940. The courtroom was dedicated by Justice Oscar Hale of the Iowa Supreme Court on April 6, 1940. A larger celebration was deferred because on the onset of World War II.

Architecture

The architectural style of the building is known as Depression Modern or PWA Moderne.^[2] The building features a symmetrical façade with a central section that protrudes slightly forward. The exterior is composed of buff colored brick and Bedford limestone trim. On the interior the central corridors extend the length of the building. Vaults were built into the corners of the structure with the county offices opening onto the corridor.^[2] The interior featured multi-colored terrazzo floors, marble wainscoting and acoustic tile. Originally, the courtroom was decorated in dark wood tones and Art Deco ornamentation.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-11-08. http://www.nps.gov/nr/. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Svendsen, Marlvs A.. "PWA-Era County Courthouses of IA MPS". National Park Service. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64500856.pdf. Retrieved 2011-02-09. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Des Moines County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. http://www.iowacourtsonline.org/wfdata/frame1759-1464/pressrel29.asp. Retrieved 2011-02-09.