|
| History
of Calhoun County Courthouse |
In
1851, when the western half of Iowa was organized, the name
of Fox was given to the county. The Sac and Fox Indians had lived
in the area, and, accordingly, the county west of Calhoun was name
Sac in honor of the Indians. A friend of former U.S. Vice President
John C. Calhoun did not like the name Fox, so the Iowa Legislature
changed the name to Calhoun in 1853.
Before Calhoun County was organized, residents paid taxes to Greene
County. They observed that very little revenue came back to make improvements
in Calhoun County, so they took the necessary steps to organize in
1855, with a population of less than 100. Until a courthouse was built
in Lake City in 1856, county business was conducted in the homes of
the officials.
When the Illinois Central Railroad was built in 1870,
the counties northern towns of Manson and Pomeroy had grown and become
rivals of Lake City for the county seat. In 1876, this came to a head
and it was voted to put the courthouse as near the center of the county
as possible. Rockwell City, platted on the only high ground within
a one-mile radius of the center of the county, was founded and became
the county seat.
The first courthouse in Rockwell City was completed for less than
$2,000 and also served as a schoolhouse.
In 1880, town founder Mr. Rockwell learned that F.M.
Hubbell was bringing his railroad as far as Jefferson. Rockwell went
to Des Moines and promised Hubbell half of the town lots if he would
bring the railroad to Rockwell City. The first train arrived August
7, 1882, and the population doubled that year.
Few people are aware that the early courthouse on the square was used
for activities other than "holding court". The Calhoun County
courthouse was used as an auditorium for public entertainment, political
gatherings, and church dinners.
When the courthouse burned down in 1884, a hotel
and another building were rented for $1 a day apiece to house county
offices. The Board of Supervisors decided to build the new courthouse
further away from the railroad, because when trains came through,
all courthouse business at the old location was suspended because
of the noise. A fourth courthouse was built in 1913. |
Our
present Calhoun County Courthouse is located at the city
square in Rockwell City Iowa. Inside, a beautiful stained glass dome
shines from above greeting many visitors. The Calhoun County Courthouse
is an architechural masterpiece with many arches, painted murals,
brass stair rails, oak woodwork, and mosiac tiled floors. Since construction
of the courthouse in 1914, it has required very little maintenance
other than paint and general touchups. Starting in 1982 a restoration
and beautification of the courthouse began. Jon, a local contractor
began stripping and varnishing the woodwork in each room. Another
construction company removed the sagging ceiling and replaced it with
a new tile ceiling, and in 2001 an Iowa company took down the stained
glass dome, cleaned, and reassembled it in its original place. Calhoun
County should be proud of its courthouse, for in 1966 it was placed
on the National Register of Historical Buildings.
During
the turn of the century, drainage came to Calhoun County. Through
digging of dredge ditches and laying of countless miles of clay drain
tile, the county was lifted out of water and has now become one of
the best and most productive agricultural counties in the state.
Sources:
-Calhoun County History 1854-1982, Calhoun County Historical Society,
Copyright 1982.
-Doug Jensen, Fort Dodge Messenger article 9/27/87
-Brief
History of Calhoun County, adapted and extended by Ruby Pridemore,
-Who's
Who in Iowa, 1940 "Calhoun County Historical Society"
|
|
|
