Livingston County Courthouse (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Livingston County Courthouse
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| Location | Pontiac, Illinois, United States |
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| Built | 1874-1875 |
| Architect | J.C. Cochrane |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 86003165 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1986 |
The Livingston County Courthouse is a historic building in Pontiac, Illinois. For many years, it was the main place for legal and government work in Livingston County. It's a very important building in the county seat of Pontiac.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
The Livingston County Courthouse you see today is actually the third building to serve this purpose. Construction on this courthouse began in late 1874. It was finished about a year later, in late 1875.
This new courthouse was built because the second one burned down. That fire happened on July 4, 1874. The people in charge of the county, called the County Board of Supervisors, chose the design for the new building. They picked it from ten different plans.
They said the chosen plan cost more money. However, they believed it was the best choice. It was big enough, strong, and looked much better than the other designs. In 1892, a large clock tower was added to the courthouse. This building was the main court center for Livingston County until 2011. That's when a new building, the Livingston County Law and Justice Center, opened across the street. But officials decided to keep the old courthouse and protect it.
Building Design and Style
The Livingston County Courthouse was designed by John C. Cochrane. He was an architect from Chicago. He designed the building in a style called Second Empire style. This style was popular in the late 1800s.
The courthouse is a two-story building. It is shaped like a rectangle and is perfectly balanced on both sides. Each of its four corners has a small tower. There is also a large central clock tower on top of the building.
The building has many interesting design features. These include quoins (corner stones that stick out), cornices (decorative ledges), and a mansard roof (a special type of sloped roof). You can also see modillions (small brackets under the cornice) and patterned roof tiles. From the basement to the roof's edge, the building is 55 feet tall. The clock tower reaches 70 feet above the basement.
Why This Building is Important
The Livingston County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 19, 1986. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.
It was added to this list for two main reasons. First, it played a big role in the politics and government of Livingston County from 1875 until the 2000s. Second, it is a great example of the Second Empire architectural style in the local area.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Livingston (Illinois) para niños
