The Polk County Courthouse was built during 1898-1900. This is the third courthouse for Polk County, the first having been built north of the La Creole River (so designated on old maps) during the 1840s. While no rendering or photo exists of the building, it was described as a two-story, 30 by 24-foot wooden structure built for $755.50
In 1852, the town moved to the south side of the La Creole, where water would be available year-round.
The second, two-story courthouse was then built on the south side at same site as our current courthouse in the early 1850s. Built of wood, its façade of four tall Grecian columns, under a pediment of a simple low-pitch, gable roof, gave the building the look a classic Greek temple, a popular style in the Romantic Era (1820-1880).
The second courthouse burned down in a suspected arson fire on June 10, 1898. Conceptual work on a third courthouse, a much more elaborate and permanent building, began immediately. Prominent Portland architect, Delos D. Neer, was contracted as the architect due to his acquaintance with large, impressive public buildings – he was the architect (and likely the superintendent of construction) for the courthouses of Clackamas, Benton, Lake and Washington counties as well as ours.
This third and current courthouse was constructed during the period 1898-1900, in a Richardsonian Romanesque design using locally quarried limestone and lumber. The quarry where the stone originated was located on Limestone Road off Liberty Road just to the south of Dallas.
Romanesque buildings of this style are most easily identified by their pronounced round entrance and window arches and heavy massive stone or brick construction. Most have round or, less frequently. square towers, squat columns and asymmetric facades. With its strong sense of gravity and permanence, the Romanesque Revival style was especially suited to churches, university buildings, and other public uses such as government offices where a striking public impression was called for. This courthouse is thus a good example of this style, capturing most of its quintessential features.
Built for a cost of about $30,000, planning and constructing a large public building of this gravity and exuberance must have signaled that Dallas had arrived as a serious player, breaking with its frontier courthouse roots of its rather humble and flammable predecessors.
In the early 1960s, there was a scare when a group of officials made plans to modernize the Courthouse by tearing down the limestone building and replacing it with a then very fashionable Brutalist style concrete and glass building. These plans became very advanced and ready for implementation when a group of prominent locals started a movement to save the old building. After a fairly public row over the issue, the preservationists won the argument and the compromise was to build the still standing, Courthouse Annex and append it to the back of the original building. This new building quickly became an out-of-fashion eyesore, much derided over the years until it received a facelift in the 2019 which covered up and softened its harsh look.
The courthouse grounds have had many landscape changes over the years. After WWI there was a German trench mortar brought over from France and a Krasp 22mm Howitzer sitting on the courthouse lawn until they were swept up in a WWII scrap metal drive in late. After the Second World War, they were replaced with two Japanese field cannons, which were on the corners for 40+ years. Old timers still remember the Gerlinger Automatic Fountain, a cast bronze fountain donated to the City in 1931. The fountain was on the lawn for 73 years until 2004 when it was removed for restoration and possible reinstallation. In recent years, the building and grounds underwent a major façade restoration and landscaping upgrade about around 2020 and has a very fresh and well-kept look.
Its history of celebrations and gatherings dates back to 1905 W.C. Brown Nickel Toss where he tossed $100 worth of nickels on the courthouse lawn and approximately 2000 people watched 400 children scramble for the coins (many residents still have some of these coins). The Dallas Band of 1911 performed on the courthouse steps, and funds were raised to build a community bandstand on the south side of the lawn. Several carnivals were funded by Henry Lee Fenton and his wife, Retta Blanche (Collins), who were very active in community affairs. There was a carnival in 1908, held on the northeast corner lawn and another in 1910. The first county fair in1912, was held there as were farm auctions. Today, many activities are still held on the much-admired Courthouse Square, including Easter Egg hunts, festivals, parades and Santa’s annual lighting of the holiday tree.
Its strong character, classic design, durability and public appeal have made it the acknowledged centerpiece of the community, a reliable and much-admired building for the ages.
KEY REFERENCES:
- Historically Speaking, Vol XIV published by PCHS
- Polk County Pioneer Sketches Vol 1-2, 1927-1929 published by PCHS