Old DuPage County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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DuPage County Courthouse
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 Location in Illinois
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| Location | 200 Reber Street, Wheaton, Illinois |
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| Built | 1896 |
| Architect | Mifflin E. Bell |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 78003107 |
| Added to NRHP | June 7, 1978 |
The Old DuPage County Courthouse is a historic building in Wheaton, Illinois, United States. It was designed by Mifflin E. Bell in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This building was the main government center for DuPage County, Illinois, starting in 1896. It served this important role until a new courthouse was built in 1990.
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History of the DuPage County Courthouse
The first DuPage County Courthouse was built in 1868. It stood on land bought from Warren L. Wheaton. A newer courthouse replaced this first building in 1896. This new building, the one we are talking about, saw many important events.
Key Moments at the Courthouse
In 1924, famous lawyer Clarence Darrow defended George Munding in a trial here. This trial made big news in the area. The courthouse was used until 1990. That's when the current DuPage County Courthouse was finished.
Saving a Historic Building
The old courthouse was almost torn down. But in 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This special list helps protect important historical sites. In 1988, lightning struck the building. It destroyed the original tower, but the tower was later rebuilt.
New Life for the Old Courthouse
In 1993, National Louis University bought the building. They used it as a smaller campus. Later, in the mid-2000s, the building was sold again. It was then changed into apartments called condominiums.
Design and Architecture of the Courthouse
The Old DuPage County Courthouse is made of red brick. It has a tall bell tower and several smaller towers called turrets. These features were added to make the building look like a castle. This castle-like design was meant to show that the building stood for law and justice.
Inside the Courthouse
Inside, the ground floor has marble panels on the walls. These panels go up about 4 feet (1.2 meters). This courthouse is one of the few Richardsonian Romanesque buildings in Northern Illinois. This style was popular for only a short time. Buildings in this style were also very expensive to build.
