Fayette County marks centennial of West Union courthouse with historical retrospective

The Fayette County community celebrated the 100th anniversary of the county courthouse in West Union, Iowa, with a program that recounted the building’s 1924 dedication, its architectural lineage and subsequent restorations.

The program noted the courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 2, 1981, and described the current three‑story, Beaux‑Arts structure as completed and dedicated on Oct. 8, 1924. Presenter (interviewer) said the original construction cost was nearly $300,000 at the time, a figure the program converted to about $5.5 million in today’s dollars.

Why it matters: the courthouse has served as the historic seat of county government, a focal point for public business and a civic landmark. The centennial program combined archival description with first‑hand recollections to trace how the building’s form and function have changed while many original features remain in use.

The program traced the courthouse’s early contests for the county seat: after the first 1851 election, West Union prevailed over several competitors. Presenter said the county’s first courthouse (built 1857) burned in 1872 after a prisoner-set fire; a second courthouse built in 1874 was expanded in the 1890s but was destroyed by an electrical fire in 1922. West Union residents raised $100,000 toward rebuilding the current structure, the presenter said.

Presenter identified Waterloo architect John G. Ralston as the courthouse designer and named a Minnesota contractor hired for construction. The program described a June 21, 1923 cornerstone ceremony attended by Masonic lodges and 25 World War I veterans; a copper box with historic items was placed in the cornerstone. At the Oct. 8, 1924 dedication, Supervisor Chair W.K. Humphrey presented the building; Dr. G.D. Dornell accepted it. Judges H.E. Taylor, W.J. Springer and J.D. Cooney and Iowa Chief Justice Thomas Arthur delivered addresses, and members of local bands and the university glee club performed.

The presentation detailed interior materials and fixtures: Alaskan marble wainscoting, Tennessee marble in restrooms, bronze entry doors, and an original electric elevator that once ran from the basement to the attic. Presenter said much of the original oak furniture remains in use and that the building was equipped with fireproof vaults and a master clock system donated by local families; the clock system was repaired and returned to working order in 1990.

Former Fayette County Attorney Wayne Sauer recounted a high‑profile legal matter from 1970 — State of Iowa v. Sound Storms Enterprises Inc. — that involved an injunction related to the Wadena Rock Festival. Sauer described the sequence of filings and a later writ of mandamus that allowed the festival to proceed on the condition that sanitary and safety measures be met; the court’s order made contempt proceedings possible if those promises were violated.

Custodian Dave House, who said he worked at the courthouse from 2000 until his 2015 retirement, recalled touring a near‑duplicate Ralston courthouse in Miller, Hand County, South Dakota, and noted similarities in marble work and staircase design.

Presenter reviewed later repairs and upgrades: an interior repainting and gold‑leaf work in 1990; relocation of the magistrate courtroom in 1998; demolition of a 1927 red‑brick jail to expand parking in 2008; stained‑glass dome repair and restoration by Bovard Studios of Fairfield in 2016 at a reported cost of $51,000; and tuckpointing completed in 2017 at an approximate cost of $120,000. Presenter said the courthouse joined West Union’s geothermal project in 2017, replacing boilers and window air conditioners with modern HVAC units and installing new energy‑efficient windows; the elevator was most recently replaced in 2022.

Longtime county staff were also featured: Hazel Gehring was noted as serving Fayette County for 54 years (36 as county auditor). Larry Copenhagen, who succeeded Gehring as county auditor, said he was elected on Nov. 2 after filling an appointed term and highlighted ongoing challenges for county government, including declining population and the influence of state legislation and administrative rules on county operations.

Gloria Barker, who said she started in the treasurer’s office in 1962 and retired in 2010, described administrative changes across decades — from typewriters and metal plate machinery to computers, staggered registration systems and the later addition of driver‑licensing responsibilities.

The program closed by honoring the original vision of Fayette County residents and the continued stewardship by county and city officials, while noting recent improvements such as a joint streetscape project and expanded parking completed in 2022.

The program combined archival detail with oral histories but did not include formal county actions, votes or new policy decisions; it served as a commemorative and informational presentation rather than a governance meeting.