The Davis County Courthouse in Bloomfield, Iowa, United States was built in 1877. It was individually listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1974. Two years later it was listed as a contributing property in the Bloomfield Square historic district. The courthouse is the second building to house court functions and county administration.

History

Davis County's first courthouse was a two-story log structure measuring and constructed for $339. Repairs were made to the building in 1846 and 1848. By 1851, the building was unusable and space for a courtroom was rented for $100 per year. The county started using a Methodist church for a courtroom in 1863. By 1869 the county was paying $300 a year in rent, but voters continuously voted down proposals to build a new courthouse. Finally, in 1875, voters authorized the construction of the present courthouse, but it was not to exceed $50,000. The

Second Empire Second Empire may refer to: * Second British Empire, used by some historians to describe the British Empire after 1783 * Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396) * Second French Empire (1852–1870) ** Second Empire architecture, an architectural styl ...

structure was designed by the

Fort Wayne, Indiana Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...

architectural firm T.J. Tolan & Sons. John Lane supervised construction and Larkworthy and Menke of Quincy, Illinois did the

stonework Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, m ...

. The Kimberly Bell Works of

Troy, New York Troy is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the county seat of Rensselaer County. The city is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany ...

cast the bell, and the

Seth Thomas Clock Company The Seth Thomas Clock Company was founded by Seth Thomas and began producing clocks in 1813. It was incorporated as the "Seth Thomas Clock Company" in 1853. The company manufactured clock movements for the Self Winding Clock Company from 1886 th ...

provided the four-faced clock. Both date from 1876. The building itself was completed in 1877. The old courthouse was purchased by D.C. Van Duyn for $50, and he moved it to his farm where it served as his house. In addition to court functions and county administration, the courthouse has a served as a center for civic functions. Over the years it has hosted such events as band concerts, scrap metal drives during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, barbecues, and civic rallies. with

Architecture

The Second Empire structure is an example of post-

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

architecture known as "General Grant Gothic." It is surrounded by a landscaped park. The two-story building measures . Its brick walls are faced with

Bedford stone Indiana limestone — also known as Bedford limestone in the building trade — has long been an economically important building material, particularly for monumental public structures. Indiana limestone is a more common term for Salem Limestone, ...

. The building features a mansard roof, a

cupola In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, most often dome-like, tall structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome. The word derives, via Italian, fro ...

that serves as both a bell and clock tower, roof cresting, bracketed eaves, and Bedford stone-strimmed windows. The central tower is a wood structure that is topped by a statue of the goddess of Justice. It is visible from miles away, and it is the focal point for the community.

References

{{NRHP in Davis County, Iowa Government buildings completed in 1877 Second Empire architecture in Iowa Bloomfield, Iowa Buildings and structures in Davis County, Iowa National Register of Historic Places in Davis County, Iowa Courthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa County courthouses in Iowa Clock towers in Iowa Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Iowa 1877 establishments in Iowa