Fairbury City Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fairbury City Hall
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 101 E. Locust St., Fairbury, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Wiggoner Brownson, Joseph Stickoffer (builders) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000090 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1996 |
The Fairbury City Hall is an old and important building in Fairbury, Illinois, USA. It was built way back in 1892. Later, in 1912, a cool clock tower was added. This tower was a special gift from local businesses. Because of its history, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Building History
In September 1888, the city of Fairbury decided to build a new city hall. They rented land from the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway. The city council then approved spending US$23,060 to build it.
The Fairbury City Hall was finished in 1892. It stands at the corner of Locust and Third Streets. This spot faces the main business area in Fairbury. Wiggoner Brownson did all the wood work, like the roof and the decorative trim called a cornice. Joseph Stickoffer handled all the stone and brick work.
The Clock Tower
A special bell and clock tower were added to the building in 1912. This was a gift from local business owners. The tower has a Seth Thomas clock with four faces. It also has a large bronze bell.
You can see double brick arches above each of the four clock faces. The clock was officially given to the city on January 1, 1913. Isaac and J.W. Walton, who owned Walton's Department Store, presented it at a city council meeting.
Building Design
Fairbury City Hall is a two-story building. It is about 29 feet wide and 60 feet long. The building is on a corner lot. Its main entrance is angled towards the intersection of Locust and Third Streets.
The roof has a fancy metal cornice along its edge. Fairbury City Hall is a good example of city halls built in America during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Why It's Important
Fairbury City Hall has been the main place for the city's government since it was built. It still serves this purpose today. Over the years, many important groups have used the building.
These include the city council, the fire department, a justice of the peace, and the city clerk's office. Many big decisions for Fairbury were made inside this building. Because of its importance to local government, Fairbury City Hall was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1996.
