Tama County Courthouse

United States historic place

Tama County Courthouse

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

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Location| State St.
Toledo, Iowa
Coordinates| 41°59′49″N 92°34′39″W﻿ / ﻿41.99694°N 92.57750°W﻿ / 41.99694; -92.57750
Area| less than one acre
Built| 1866
Built by| P.B. McCullough
H.B. Belton
Architect| W.R. Parsons & Son
Architectural style| Romanesque
MPS| County Courthouses in Iowa TR
NRHP reference No.| 81000269[1]
Added to NRHP| July 02, 1981

The Tama County Courthouse is located in Toledo, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The courthouse is the second building the county has used for court functions and county administration.

## History

[edit]

The first courthouse for Tama County was a two-story frame structure built in 1854 for $1,300.[2] The present courthouse is a Victorian Romanesque style building completed in 1866.[3] It was designed by W.R. Parsons & Son. P.B. McCullough of Toledo won the contract to build the building, however their bid was artificially low and they could not afford to complete it. H.B. Belton completed construction. The final construction cost was $22,000, but the county had accepted a $5,000 bid and that is what they paid.[4]

## Architecture

[edit]

The courthouse is a two-story structure composed of red bricks and stone. The main facade features a large stone arch with a recessed entry. A large square clock tower rises in the middle of the same facade and it is capped with a pyramid roof. The belfry can be reached from a stairway on the second floor. The foundation is rusticated stone while the roof is corrugated iron. Gable ends rise above the roofline at various places around the building. The significance of the courthouse is derived from its association with county government, and the political power and prestige of Toledo as the county seat.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
2. ^ Stanek, Edward and Jacqueline (1976). Iowa's Magnificent County Courthouses. Des Moines: Wallace-Homestead. p. 178\. ISBN 0-87069-189-9.
3. ^ a b M.H. Bowers. "Tama County Courthouse". National Park Service. Retrieved December 28, 2015. photo
4. ^ "Tama County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. Retrieved December 28, 2015.

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National Register of Historic Places in Tama County, Iowa

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* Round Barn, Buckingham Township

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* Chambers Ford Bridge

Gladbrook|

* Conant's Cabin and Park

Le Grand|

* Le Grand Bridge

Tama|

* King Tower Historic District
* Lincoln Highway Bridge

Toledo|

* First United Brethren Church
* Hope Fire Company Engine House
* Tama County Courthouse
* Tama County Jail
* Toledo Bridge
* Wieting Theater

Traer|

* Star-Clipper-Canfield Building and Winding Stairway
* John W. Young Round Barn

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Tama County, Iowa and List of National Historic Landmarks in Iowa
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