The cornerstone of the present Adair County Courthouse was laid in downtown Greenfield on July 4, 1891. The cornerstone features historical items including a bible; bottles of wine, corn, and oil; the history of Greenfield; and a letter to be opened by the oldest man present when removed. The $27,000 courthouse was designed by S.E. Maxon of Council Bluffs, the firm which also designed the Fremont County Courthouse in Sidney.
Postal service was established in the Jefferson County community of Packwood in 1883. When the local Farmer’s Savings Bank moved to a new building in 1918, the post office moved to the bank’s old building, which was constructed 30 years earlier. The facility housed the post office for 55 years before moving to its current location. The pictured brick post office building was dedicated March 15, 1974.
Nearly sixty years after a Catholic congregation formed in the Chickasaw County community of North Washington, the decision was made to construct the present brick church. The prior limestone church was torn down, with some of the crushed limestone used for the new building. With a seating capacity of 600, the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington was – and is – the largest church in the county. The church is now part of a cluster of four in the Good Shepherd Catholic Cluster with services held every other Saturday.
In 1878, Holbert Horse Importing Company was established in the Delaware County town of Greeley and quickly garnered an international reputation for horse selling and breeding. The last man to work for the company was R.M. “Bob” Brady, whose sons are honored on the community’s welcome sign. Walt and Don became famous as horse handlers and drivers for the Budweiser Clydesdale Hitch. In addition to the sign, the Brady brothers are honored with a life-size replica of a Clydesdale horse.
Delaware County was established in 1837 when Dubuque County was divided into a number of smaller counties. Shortly after, Delhi was chosen as the county seat with the first log courthouse constructed in the winter of 1843. After two larger courthouse buildings, and several elections, a vote on November 2, 1880, named Manchester the county seat. Following this election, Manchester citizens quickly constructed a two-story frame courthouse. The temporary structure served the county for a decade before the current facility was constructed in 1894. A clock tower was added the following year, thanks to contributions from 700 county residents.