Shelby County Courthouse

The Shelby County Courthouse in Harlan, Iowa, United States was built in 1892. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.HistoryThe first county seat for Shelby County was located in a place called Shelbyville. After it was moved to Harlan a two-story frame building was erected in 1860 for the courthouse. A second courthouse was built for $4,250 in 1875. Construction on the present courthouse was begun in 1892 and it was built for $62,733.90. The cornerstone was laid on August 4, 1892 and the building was dedicated on November 13, 1893. The courthouse tower was too heavy for the structure and it had to be removed for $563 nine years after it was built. A $300,000 renovation of the building, which included installation of its first elevator, was completed in 1978.ArchitectureCharles E. Bell of Council Bluffs designed the Richardsonian Romanesque style building. W. H. Cockerell was the contractor. It is constructed of solid stone and features a slate roof. The dimensions of the building are 63by and it is three stories tall. Originally a bell tower at a height of 130ft topped the building.