Wapello County Courthouse (1892-93)

Historic view of the Wapello County, Courthouse with tower.

This building was designed by the well known Des Moines architectural firm of Foster and Liebbe in the popular Richardsonian Romanesque style. It features the large round arches of the medieval Romanesque style, with the massive form and rusticated stone surfaces made popular by American architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886). This style was used for commercial buildings and churches as well as public buildings such as courthouses. It remained popular through the 1890's.

Around 1950 the clock tower was removed for safety purposes, and the decision was made to remove the decorative turrets around the building. The loss of these vertical elements makes the building appear even heavier and more massive than originally.

This view of the courthouse from the park shows the facade (front of the building) as well as the east (Court Street) elevation and illustrates several of the major characteristics of this style: rusticated stone walls, round arches, and strong horizontal emphasis with the belt courses around the building. Also in evidence is the statue of Chief Wapello on the front gable.

The highly textured surface of these stones is commonly referred to as rock-faced, or rusticated. This texture allows for an interesting play of light and shade on the surface. Not all of the stones used on the exterior are of the same size and shape. A stone water table (or belt course) of long narrow blocks divides the first and second floors, and above this is found an area of patterned smaller blocks of different shapes (square as well as rectangle).

Details of main entry from steps to statue

The massive round arched entry is echoed on the floor above by the triple window with arched opening in the center. Note the use of polished granite for the short clustered columns on each side of the entrance, and the use of smooth faced limestone for the columns between and flanking the second floor windows. This juxtaposition of smooth and rough is typical of the style.

Details of granite columns with foliated capital

View of rounded arched 2nd floor windows and turret base

Just to the left of the entrance, on the second floor, are three tall individual round arched windows. These windows indicate the location of the most important room in the building, the courtroom. At the corner is a vertical rounded form that extends from the belt course to above the roofline. This was the base of the turret that originally would have been topped by a conical roof. Such rounded forms are found throughout the building, all without the conical roof.

View of east elevation

This view shows how each story of the building is separated from the others by a belt course, a horizontal row of stone blocks, that goes around the building. The one between the first and second floors is usually called a "water table" as it was originally designed to keep rainwater from running directly down the wall and into the basement. The next belt course, between the second and third floors is a little narrower, but it juts out as far as the water table. The belt course between the third and fourth floors is much narrower.

Details of denticulated cornice

Just below the roofline is another horizontal course known as the cornice. This features small square blocks of stone called dentils. The word dentil comes from the Latin work for tooth, and this looks like a row of teeth around the top of the building. (Dentils are also found on the other two public buildings around Central Park.) This view also shows the heavily textured stone lintels found above each of the windows.

Detail of triple window

A shallow gabled pavilion extends from the center of the east wall. This echoes the triple window with round arched center that is found on the facade. Here again are the smooth limestone columns dividing the windows. A shorter triple window is located in the gable itself. Originally there would have been three vertical turrets on that gable end.The corner clock tower is the location of two stones carrying information about this building.

Detail with panel

At the top of the tower, between the two round arches and the cornice is a large panel, composed of four individual tones which identifies this as the Wapello Co. Courthouse.

Cornerstone

At the outside corner of the tower, immediately below the watertable, is the cornerstone which provides the date of construction (erected A.D. 1892), architects (Foster & Liebbe), builder (G. Stafford), local superintendent of construction (F.H.W. Young), and says that is was "Laid by the Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M. on Sept. 28th A.L. 5892." It was and remains, common for the local Masonic Lodge to participate in the laying of cornerstones for public buildings. These cornerstones are invaluable for giving us information about many buildings around the state, and across the country.

Broad iron staircase

On the interior of the Wapello County Courthouse, it is more difficult to identify architectural elements that directly represent the Richardsonian Romanesque style, other than the windows with the distinctive round arches. The interior illlustrates late 19th century public interiors in general, rather than the specific style.

When you enter the courthouse today, almost immediately you come face to face with a large blank wall of the elevator shaft. Although this is necessary to provide accessibility, it detracts from the original design of the building and could have been placed in a less intrusive location. Originally the first impression upon entering the building would have been one of a large open central portion with a broad iron staircase rising to the second floor. Such staircases remain on both the first and second floors, but are located behind the elevator which extends to the third floor.

Newel post

The use of iron for the staircase is very practical. Buildings such as this courthouse needed to be fireproof to protect the many records contained in their files. The functional aspect of the stairs is balanced by the ornate detailing on both the newel post and balustrades.

Note that the bottom of the newel post is a short, squat column with a foliated capital like that seen flanking the exterior entrance. The large square base and finial complete the design.

The ironwork is a combination of both linear and curvilinear forms, creating a pleasing design while serving a functional purpose.

Iron column with decorative capital

Structurally a building of this size needs not only weight bearing walls, but other support in the large open areas such as the foyer. The metal columns providing this support have been given a decorative capital to become part of the overall interior design.

Throughout the building most doorways are similar to this one. The doors are deeply recessed, and feature a transom above the multi-paneled door. The framing around the door consists of milled woodwork creating the effect of fluted pilasters, with decorative corner blocks and side blocks. The side blocks vary from door to door and are floral in design. The corner blocks are consistent throughout the building and contain a fleur-de-lis. The doorway is capped by a simple wooden cornice.

Glazed tile wainscoting

On the first floor, the wainscoting (also called the dado) around the central foyer is of colorful yellow and blue glazed tile. This was a popular building material in the 1890's, as new glazing and firing techniques were becoming available. The tile was a practical material for use in a heavily trafficked area, while also being attractive.

The wainscoting (or dado) throughout the rest of the building is of decorative wood panels. Note the continued use of the fluted pilasters, and square panels with flowers. This decorative element is found in hallways, staircases, and offices.