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Sioux County was organized on January 20, 1860, on land occupied by the indigenous [[Sioux]] until they were forced to abandon it under the terms of the fourth [[Treaty of Prairie du Chien]] in 1830.<ref name="Schwieder pp7-20"/><ref name="Sioux County History"/> The original courthouse was a log structure on the [[Big Sioux River]] in the hamlet of Calliope, Iowa (now part of [[Hawarden, Iowa|Hawarden]]). That building was part office, part residence, and part fort, but in 1869-1870 the [[White people|White]] residents of Calliope fled to [[Sioux City, Iowa]], 40 miles to the south, temporarily abandoning the log courthouse during renewed armed [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] resistance to the newcomers. The courthouse was sold off soon after the Whites returned, when after a referendum in 1872 the county seat was moved to Orange City. Sioux County had no central county offices until the present courthouse was finished over 30 years later.<ref name="Sioux County History"/><ref name="Hawarden Calliope"/>
Sioux County was organized on January 20, 1860, on land occupied by the indigenous [[Sioux]] until they were forced to abandon it under the terms of the fourth [[Treaty of Prairie du Chien]] in 1830.<ref name="Schwieder pp7-20"/><ref name="Sioux County History"/> The original courthouse was a log structure on the [[Big Sioux River]] in the hamlet of Calliope, Iowa (now part of [[Hawarden, Iowa|Hawarden]]). That building was part office, part residence, and part fort, but in 1869-1870 the [[White people|White]] residents of Calliope fled to [[Sioux City, Iowa]], 40 miles to the south, temporarily abandoning the log courthouse during renewed armed [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] resistance to the newcomers. The courthouse was sold off soon after the Whites returned, when after a referendum in 1872 the county seat was moved to Orange City. Sioux County had no central county offices until the present courthouse was finished over 30 years later.<ref name="Sioux County History"/><ref name="Hawarden Calliope"/>


With the approval of a bond issue, Sioux County selected W.W. Beach (1872-1937) as its architect. Beach had been born in 1872, the same year that the county seat was moved to Orange City. His birthplace was [[Alton, Iowa|Alton]], in Sioux County, just three miles east of the new county seat. Beach had established his architectural practice in Sioux City only in 1899, with his first major commision being the Main Hall (later Lewis Hall) for [[Morningside College]] in that city. By the time the Sioux County Courthouse was completed, Beach had hired promising young [[William L. Steele]] (1875-1949) as his draftsman, and the two would later form a brief partnership.<ref name="Sioux County History"/><ref name="Shank 1999"/>
With the approval of a bond issue, Sioux County selected W.W. Beach (1872-1937) as its architect. Beach had been born in 1872, the same year that the county seat was moved to Orange City. His birthplace was [[Alton, Iowa|Alton]], in Sioux County, just three miles east of the new county seat. Beach had established his architectural practice in Sioux City only in 1899, with his first major commision being the Main Hall (later Lewis Hall) for [[Morningside College]] in that city. By the time the Sioux County Courthouse was completed, Beach had hired promising young [[William L. Steele]] (1875-1949) as his draftsman, and the two would later form a brief partnership.<ref name="Sioux County History"/><ref name="Shank 1999 pp18-19"/>


Construction on the courthouse began in June 1902, but the construction company went bankrupt, delaying completion until October 1904. Just five years later, lightning destroyed the top of the tower in 1907, and it was replaced with a hip roof and a 10-foot tall cast bronze statue personifying Justice (Vrouwe Justitia).<ref name="Sioux County History"/>
Construction on the courthouse began in June 1902, but the construction company went bankrupt, delaying completion until October 1904. Just five years later, lightning destroyed the top of the tower in 1907, and it was replaced with a hip roof and a 10-foot tall cast bronze statue personifying Justice (Vrouwe Justitia).<ref name="Sioux County History"/>
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==Architecture==
==Architecture==
Beach's design is classic, muscular Richardsonian Romanesque, an architectural style developed by [[Henry Hobson Richardson]]. Although of high quality, its timing is unusual, since that style was associated with the late 1880s rather than the early 20th Century. A deep rusticated arch forms the principal entrance at the base of the central tower, which is six stories tall. Doors and windows appear to be cut deeply into the dark red sandstone, and the effect is heightened by the light buff sandstone trim.<ref name="Gebhard and Mansheim p490"/>
Beach's design is classic, muscular Richardsonian Romanesque, an architectural style developed by [[Henry Hobson Richardson]]. Although of high quality, its timing is unusual, since that style was associated with the late 1880s rather than the early 20th Century. More typically in Iowa at this time, public buildings were done in a [[Neoclassical architecture|classical revival]] style, influenced by the [[World's Columbian Exposition]], held in [[Chicago]] in 1893.<ref name="Gebhard and Mansheim p490"/><ref name="Shank 1979 pp66-67"/>
A deep rusticated arch forms the principal entrance at the base of the courthouse central tower, which is six stories tall. Doors and windows appear to be cut deeply into the dark red sandstone, and the effect is heightened by the light buff sandstone trim.<ref name="Gebhard and Mansheim p490"/>


==See also==
==See also==
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</ref>
</ref>


<ref name="Shank 1999">
<ref name="Shank 1979 pp66-67">
{{cite book |last1=Shank |first1=Wesley I |authorlink1= |title=Iowa's Historic Architects |year=1999 |publisher=University of Iowa Press |location=Iowa City, Iowa |isbn=978-0-87745-651-3 |pages=18–19 }}
{{cite book |last1=Shank |first1=Wesley I. |authorlink1= |title=The Iowa Catalog: Historic American Buildings Survey |year=1979 |publisher=University of Iowa Press |location=Iowa City, Iowa |isbn=978-0-87745-092-4 |pages=66–67 }}
</ref>

<ref name="Shank 1999 pp18-19">
{{cite book |last1=Shank |first1=Wesley I. |authorlink1= |title=Iowa's Historic Architects |year=1999 |publisher=University of Iowa Press |location=Iowa City, Iowa |isbn=978-0-87745-651-3 |pages=18–19 }}
</ref>
</ref>


Revision as of 21:08, 1 July 2011

Sioux County Courthouse
Sioux County Courthouse (Iowa) is located in Iowa
Sioux County Courthouse (Iowa)
LocationOff Iowa Highway 10, Orange City, Iowa
Built1902-1904
ArchitectBeach, Wilfred W.
Architectural styleRomanesque Revival, Richardsonian Romanesque
MPSCounty Courthouses in Iowa TR (AD)
NRHP reference No.77000559[1]
Added to NRHPApril 11, 1977

The Sioux County Courthouse is a Richardsonian Romanesque courthouse in Orange City, Iowa, the county seat of Sioux County, Iowa. Designed by Wilfred Warren (W.W.) Beach, it was built from 1902 to 1904.

History

Sioux County was organized on January 20, 1860, on land occupied by the indigenous Sioux until they were forced to abandon it under the terms of the fourth Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1830.[2][3] The original courthouse was a log structure on the Big Sioux River in the hamlet of Calliope, Iowa (now part of Hawarden). That building was part office, part residence, and part fort, but in 1869-1870 the White residents of Calliope fled to Sioux City, Iowa, 40 miles to the south, temporarily abandoning the log courthouse during renewed armed Native American resistance to the newcomers. The courthouse was sold off soon after the Whites returned, when after a referendum in 1872 the county seat was moved to Orange City. Sioux County had no central county offices until the present courthouse was finished over 30 years later.[3][4]

With the approval of a bond issue, Sioux County selected W.W. Beach (1872-1937) as its architect. Beach had been born in 1872, the same year that the county seat was moved to Orange City. His birthplace was Alton, in Sioux County, just three miles east of the new county seat. Beach had established his architectural practice in Sioux City only in 1899, with his first major commision being the Main Hall (later Lewis Hall) for Morningside College in that city. By the time the Sioux County Courthouse was completed, Beach had hired promising young William L. Steele (1875-1949) as his draftsman, and the two would later form a brief partnership.[3][5]

Construction on the courthouse began in June 1902, but the construction company went bankrupt, delaying completion until October 1904. Just five years later, lightning destroyed the top of the tower in 1907, and it was replaced with a hip roof and a 10-foot tall cast bronze statue personifying Justice (Vrouwe Justitia).[3]

The building was extensively renovated in 1976-1982, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.[1][3]

Architecture

Beach's design is classic, muscular Richardsonian Romanesque, an architectural style developed by Henry Hobson Richardson. Although of high quality, its timing is unusual, since that style was associated with the late 1880s rather than the early 20th Century. More typically in Iowa at this time, public buildings were done in a classical revival style, influenced by the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893.[6][7]

A deep rusticated arch forms the principal entrance at the base of the courthouse central tower, which is six stories tall. Doors and windows appear to be cut deeply into the dark red sandstone, and the effect is heightened by the light buff sandstone trim.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Schwieder, Dorothy (1996). Iowa: The Middle Land. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press. pp. 7–20. ISBN 978-0-8138-2306-5.
  3. ^ a b c d e "History of Sioux County". Orange City, Iowa: Sioux County, Iowa. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Calliope Village". Hawarden, Iowa: City of Hawarden. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  5. ^ Shank, Wesley I. (1999). Iowa's Historic Architects. Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-0-87745-651-3.
  6. ^ a b Gebhard, David; Mansheim, Gerald (1993). Buildings of Iowa. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 490. ISBN 978-0-19-506148-2.
  7. ^ Shank, Wesley I. (1979). The Iowa Catalog: Historic American Buildings Survey. Iowa City, Iowa: University of Iowa Press. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-0-87745-092-4.
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