Built 1892 NRHP Reference # 81000271 | Architectural style Romanesque Revival | |
 | ||
Location Court Ave.
Bedford, Iowa Architect E.M. Ellis
Allen H. Chaffie MPS County Courthouses in Iowa TR | ||
The Taylor County Courthouse in Bedford, Iowa, United States was built in 1892. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse was the second building the county has used for court functions and county administration.
History
The first courthouse for Taylor County was begun in 1863. It was constructed of stone on the south side of the square. Additional office space was rented as the county grew and required more space for county government.
The cornerstone for the present courthouse was laid in June 1892. The three-story Romanesque Revival building was completed in the spring the following year. It was constructed of pressed brick and Bedford stone. A large dome tops the building. The interior features fireplaces in most of the rooms. The building was built for $38,000. Because the contractor lost money on the project the county gave him an additional $1,000 and a gold watch for adhering to the original contract price.