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Delaware County Courthouse
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| Location: | Main St., Manchester, Iowa |
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| Built: | 1894 |
| Architect: | C.E. Bell |
| Architectural style: | Romanesque |
| Governing body: | Local |
| MPS: | County Courthouses in Iowa TR |
| NRHP Reference#: | 81000234 [1] |
| Added to NRHP: | July 2, 1981 |
The Delaware County Courthouse, located in Manchester, Iowa, United States, was built in 1894. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource.[1] The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.
The first courthouse in Delaware County was a log structure in Delhi.[2] The two-story structre measured 18 by 24 feet and had no roof. Jurors were required to climb a ladder to the jury room on the second floor.[2] A second courthouse was built in 1850 and because there were no contractors available to build the building it was constructed by citizens who used their own tools.[2] The present courthouse was built when the county seat moved to Manchester, and it was completed in 1894 for $38,000.[2] The clock in the tower was paid for with contributions from 700 county citizens.[2]
C.E. Bell designed the Romanesque Revival building,[1] which is constructed of red pressed brick. The main body of the building measures 76 by 100 feet.[3] The tower and spire are 135 feet (41 m) high, and the walls of the building are 18 inches (45.7 cm) thick.[3] The decorative metal ceilings on the first floor and the elaborate woodwork are original to the building.
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