Cass County Courthouse

During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the federal government established several agencies tasked with boosting the economy. One of these was the Public Works Administration (PWA), which provided funds to help build a variety of projects around the country including dams, bridges, and public buildings. The Cass County Courthouse, erected in 1934, is historically significant for being the first of ten courthouses in Iowa built with PWA funds. It is also significant for its architecture. Designed by the firm Dougher, Rich and Woodburn, the courthouse is a fine example of what came to be known as PWA Modern architecture, which was popular in the 1930s and early 1940s. The building is also significant for serving as the seat of county government.

Cass County was founded in 1853 and the town of Lewis was named the county seat. There, a two-story house was used as the first courthouse. In 1868, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad built a line from Des Moines to Council Bluffs that bypassed Lewis. As a result, Atlantic became the county seat in 1869 and a small wood-frame courthouse was built that year. However, it soon became too small for the growing town and the county rented a house across the street. A new building was erected in 1872 and was used until a much larger courthouse was built in 1888 where the current one now stands. It was used until a fire leveled it in March 1932.

In need a new courthouse, the county submitted a grant request to the PWA and residents voted in favor of a tax to help build it. Construction began in December 1933 and the building was dedicated on December 21, 1934. The planning and construction of the courthouse served as a model for the subsequent PWA-funded courthouses built in Iowa. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

"Cass County Courthouse." Iowa Judicial Branch. Accessed September 20, 2021. https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/educational-resources-and-services/iowa-courts-history/iowa-county-courthouse-history/cass-county-courthouse.

Svendsen, Marlys A. "Cass County Courthouse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. August 28, 2003. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/d19ff95d-9398-4a40-b2c0-b97fe55778a8.