Henry County, IA

The first County Courthouse in Iowa was built in Central Park in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa with receipts from the sale of lots from a preempted ¼ section of public lands and subscriptions plus donations of materials and labor in 1839 and was occupied in 1840. Even before the county was established in its final form, efforts were instituted to construct a courthouse in the center of the public square and a petition with a subscription list appended was presented at the second meeting of the Supervisor's Court held on Monday, February 13, 1837. Citizens responded generously with $642.50 with considerable amount subscribed in property. A survey was ordered and six months credit was given in the sale of lots to the highest bidder. Sealed bids were received by the supervisors on April 10, 1837. The lots yielded less than anticipated. The Supervisors decided the money from subscriptions and etc. was not enough so nothing was done for nine months. In May of 1838 seven enterprising citizens were appointed to proceed with the project. They notified the public that they would receive bids for 100,000 bricks delivered on the public square on or before August 10, 1838.

The building was to be 24' square and two stories high with 10' ceilings. Funds were raised by subscription, brick and lumber delivered and work was begun. The money the county commissioners had in the County Treasurer was planned to be used for a jail but the County paid $289.69. The building was built and paid for without a bond issue or any special tax levies. The sale of the land probably yielded considerable revenue with the appointment of a county agent to sell the land. After a lagging fall and winter work progressed and the building was substantially completed by the close of 1839. A planned cupola was never built.

The full cost was never definitely recorded but was estimated to be between three and four thousand dollars. It was a handsome building at one time for which the county was proud. It lasted from 1839 to 1872 when it was demolished.

The old courthouse stood in the exact center of the square, had four entrances, one on each side and with sidewalks leading to the four sides of the Square. Later the entrance on the east side was closed in order to make more office room. While the county offices were fairly satisfactory in the courthouse the arrangements for the courts were unsatisfactory, and in the mid-sixties an arrangement was made with Mr. Henry Ambler and E. L. Penn for the rental of the third story of the Union Block on the north side of the square and to be adapted to the necessities of the court. It was also believed the second story courtroom in the first building was not safe to hold large meetings so it was used for storage.