Iowa Almanac
Iowa Almanac -- Tuesday, October 08, 2024
Dedicating a courthouse more from the Iowa Almanac in a moment. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th. Now is the time to make a plan. Whether you plan to vote absentee by mail in person at your county auditor's office before election day or at your polling place on November 5th, it's important you take steps now to make your plan at voterready.iowa.gov. Remember Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th. Find more information at voterready.iowa.gov. This message presented by the Iowa Secretary of State. Fayette County in Northeast Iowa has a unique history. It's named for the French General who helped the colonists in the Revolutionary War. The Marquis de Lafayette. And it was originally one of the largest counties ever organized. It had an area of 140,000 square miles and included all of the present state of Minnesota west of the Mississippi River. In fact, almost all of the counties in northeastern Iowa were formed out of the original Fayette County, which was reduced to its current boundaries in 1847 shortly after Iowa became a state. Back in 1851, a vote was held to determine where the county seat would be. Voters had six choices, with the top two advancing to a later ballot when the final choice would be made. Voters chose West Union over Lightville. The county seat of West Union was originally called Knob Prairie. And although a courthouse was proposed in 1853, one was not built until three years later, county business was transacted in the Methodist Church until the courthouse was ready. But that original building burned to the ground when a prisoner in the jail started his cell on fire. A second courthouse was then built, but it was destroyed by fire as well in 1922. Before a third courthouse could be built, there was another fight over where the county seat should be located. Fayette and Old Line made their cases. But again, West Union prevailed, in part because citizens of West Union and the surrounding areas donated $100,000 toward the total building cost of almost $300,000. But after losing the previous two courthouses due to fire, this one is a gray Bedford Stone structure. This version of the Fayette County Courthouse was formally dedicated and opened for business on this date in 1924. And that's Iowa Almanac for October 8th. Follow us on Twitter @IowaAlmanac. Until tomorrow, I'm Jeff Stein.