1 Rock Island County Courthouse History & Significance HISTORY: The Rock Island County Courthouse was built in 1896 in downtown Rock Island. Rock Island County was established in 1833 and Stephenson, as the city was known then, was the county seat. Stephenson Square, the block between what is now Second and Third Avenues and 14th and 15th Streets, was selected as the site of what would be known as Courthouse Square. In 1836, a two-story square brick courthouse was erected on the south or Third Avenue side of the square. Some years later, that early courthouse was remodeled to become much more imposing more governmental looking -- with the addition of a two story pedimented porch supported by four massive columns on the front (north) side. As the population of the county increased, a larger courthouse was needed. In 1895, the county accepted the design from the Kansas City architectural firm of Gunn & Curtiss for a four-story, 60-room building that was called, on different occasions, Spanish Renaissance or Roman style, although now we would consider it heavily influenced by the Beaux Arts movement. It was constructed by local contractor and stonecutter Charles J. Larkin and dedicated on March 13, 1897. It cost $112,201, not including the heating system. After the new courthouse was occupied, the old one on Third Avenue was demolished. That new courthouse is today s historic County Courthouse. It was described as 170 feet long with a Bedford limestone exterior selected to have a blue tint at the foundation level and buff above that. The lower two stories have deeply recessed joints between the stones, while the upper floors are smooth. There was a variety of forms round topped entrances and windows, circular windows in the triangular pediments, balconies, and bulbous standing-seam metal roofs on domes at least six of them, large and small. The original main dome or steeple extended 154 feet above the street. Drawing published in Rock Island Argus, October 1, 1895. Although the cupolas on the domed areas were built, it appears that the finials depicted were not.
2 Rock Island County Courthouse History & Significance (cont.) Left: Photo circa 1900 The interior was designed to be as beautiful as the exterior. Offices and courtrooms were constructed around a central rotunda that extended all four stories to the building s top where it was crowned by a windowed dome. The floors of the rotunda were small marble tiles on two lower floors and terrazzo on upper ones. Other flooring in the building was hard maple. Walls in the rotunda and main corridors had pink Tennessee marble wainscoting. Other interior walls were paneled in quartersawn oak or were plastered (frescoed). Railings around the open area of the rotunda as well as on stairways were ornate cast iron. SIGNIFICANCE: The courthouse is significant as the site of county government for 130 years. Although some governmental offices have had to move to other buildings because of lack of space in recent decades, this courthouse has still contained most of the courtrooms and offices for the better part of its lifetime. Since the establishment of the county and city, Courthouse Square has been headquarters for county government. The courthouse is also significant as a fine example of the work of (Frederick C.) Gunn and (Louis S.) Curtiss, a Kansas City architectural firm that designed large structures across the country, especially in the Midwest. The Tarrant County Courthouse in Fort Worth, Texas, was built by Gunn & Curtiss about the same time (1893-95) as the Rock Island County Courthouse and bears a remarkable similarity in style and detail. Curtiss reportedly had studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. The firm began in 1889 and dissolved in 1899 when each of the architects decided to work independently. Below: Postcard ca 1910; Right:Tarrant Co. Courthouse
3 CURRENT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Exterior: Much of the exterior description is the same as when built. The Bedford limestone exterior has deeply recessed joints between the stones on the lower two stories and smooth stonework on the upper stories. Smooth horizontal banding between the two stone textures continues around the entire building. There is a full basement, but it is not exposed on the exterior. The basement appears designed for document storage in its many rooms, some with metal doors. Front (east): This, like the other facades, is symmetrically divided into three nearly equal sections. The sections at either end have a central area that is set apart and extends for three stories. There are recessed mortared blocks at the lower two stories with double banding directly above. In this center area, the first and second floors have long rectilinear windows framed by massive stone blocks in a square pilaster-like form. Smaller round Doric columns set atop square stands divide the area within into thirds, each containing a window at the first and second story level. At the third story level, pairs of square pilasters frame three round-topped windows with protruding decorative lintels. Atop this area is a stone balustrade with vase-shaped balusters that replaced the original pediment. The fourth floor windows are rectangular and relatively small. Outside the central area of either end, each story has a pair of windows; rectangular on all stories except the first where they have round tops with radiating stone arches. The center area of this facade projects about 15 feet from the plane of the ends and is also symmetrical It has rectangular windows on both north and south sides of the projection two at the first floor level, which also have rectangular transoms, and a single window at upper stories. The second story has a triangular pediment. The front of the projecting area is the grand entrance with three arched openings framed by massive textured square stone columns. The central arch is larger than its flanking ones, but all have radiating stone tops. The recessed entry area, which was changed many years ago, has modern glass and aluminum doors. The roundtopped windows above doorways that extend to the second floor are still original. Above the entry is a three part balustrade with rectangular stones dividing it and forming a front to the recess that continues to the top of the building. At the third and fourth stories, the recessed area holds a triple window in the center with single rectangular windows on either end. Square pilasters are used throughout the upper stories, with single story ones on the protrusions and two story ones on the recessed area. Front (East) Facade
4 CURRENT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION (page 2) PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION (cont.) Sides (north and south): Both ends of the structure are similar, with a protruding central area containing three two-story arched openings with windows on either side and a center doorway. At the ground level, the windows have round tops, while the upper story windows are rectangular. Pediments at the fourth story level above the central area have been removed in the distant past. There is a similarity with the central front of the building, but with less detail although there is still extensive use of square pilasters at the upper levels. Back (west): The west façade is inaccessible at the current time because of construction vehicles and fencing surrounding it. However it is believed to be very similar to the front of the building, because it, too, was a prominent façade. It has a large fire escape exending to all stories. Left: North Façade Right: South Facade Interior: The interior is quite intact, especially in its public areas. The central rotunda is open on all four stories and is topped with a decorated windowed dome. The floors of the rotunda are the original tiny marble tiles on the two lower floors and original terrazzo on the upper two. All are in excellent condition. Most of the other wood floors are likely present but are covered with laminates and carpet. Original wall surfaces generally remain throughout as well. Original iron railings still surround the rotunda and form stairway railings. Half of the split staircase has been enclosed to house an elevator but the original square fluted columns remain. Partitions have been changed somewhat on the original courtrooms and offices, but since there are no original plans, the extent of these changes is unknown. There is definitely much original woodwork and many original interior doors. Ceilings have been dropped throughout with suspended tiles. Right: Original square Corinthian columns and stair rail
5 CURRENT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION (page 3) PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION (cont.) Interior (cont.) Right: Central rotunda, A. Looking down B. Looking up C. Looking up A b C. Left: Detail of floor Belgian, French, & Italian marble tile
6 INTEGRITY The three lower main stories of the courthouse have a high degree of integrity, appearing much as when it was built. There have been a few changes, however. Entry doors on all four sides have been changed to modern glass panels to aid access and windows have been replaced although the openings of both doors and windows are the same as when built. Fire escapes have been added on the west (back) side of the building as well. The fourth story, which was never as imposing a the first three, has had relatively minor changes. The main integrity issue is the loss of the superstructure above the fourth story. Domes of various sizes on the corners and a larger one in front have been removed at different times beginning in the late 1940s. The last major demolition was the removal of a tall central tower, which was done in 1958, reportedly because it was leaking. A cubic structure remains at the center of the roof, which appears to cover the interior dome. Whether these outer domes and the tower were actually functional or even accessible is not known. Decorative pediments at the fourth story level on the east (front) façade were also removed, likely at that time. A photo from circa 1950 shows some of the smaller domes have been removed while the central and a front one remain. A few years later in 1958, a front-page picture in the Argus newspaper shows the main dome or tower being demolished. Once all of the domes were gone, there appeared a large Kaaba-like structure at the center of the roofline. Today there is a truncated version of the original roof superstructure. Yet, despite the compromised roofline, the courthouse still retains its outstanding masonry and the interior has kept most of its original fine materials even some original furnishings Right: Courthouse circa 1950 Domes partially removed Left: Rock Island Argus, September 27, 1958 Dome removal in progress
7 INTEGRITY (page 2) Within the past year, construction has begun on a new courtroom building on the west side of the historic courthouse. This does compromise the original square block which for many years was once occupied only by the courthouse. When the courthouse was built, a jail stood at the southwest corner (see Sanborn map from 1898 below). The original street to the west, 14th Street, was closed circa 1982 so that a new jail building could be constructed. That building previously impacted the site only slightly. Right: 1898 Sanborn Map The interior is quite intact, especially in its public areas. The central rotunda is still open on all four stories and is topped with a decorated windowed dome. The floors of the rotunda are the original tiny marble tiles on the two lower floors and original terrazzo on the upper two. All are in excellent condition. Most of the other wood floors are likely present but are covered with laminates and carpet. Original wall surfaces generally remain throughout as well. Original iron railings still surround the rotunda and form stairway railings. Half of the split staircase has been enclosed to house an elevator but the original square fluted columns remain. Partitions have been changed somewhat on the original courtrooms and offices, but since there are no original plans, the extent of these changes is unknown. There is definitely much original woodwork and many original interior doors. Ceilings have been dropped throughout with suspended tiles.
FLOOR PLAN 8 Offices & Courtrooms Elevator The floor plan is focused around the central rotunda, with hallways extending in four directions. At the ground floor level, shown above, there are doorways at the end of each hall or, on the west, by the staircase. Upper floors are enclosed at the hall ends except at the stairway side. SITE PLAN Location of closed street and new jail, ca 1982 LOCATION MAP