Old McHenry County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Old McHenry County Courthouse
|
|
The Old McHenry County Courthouse in Woodstock, Illinois. The jail, added in the 1870s, is on the right.
|
|
| Location | Woodstock, McHenry County, Illinois, United States |
|---|---|
| Built | 1857 |
| Architect | J.M. Van Osdel |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002183 |
| Added to NRHP | November 1, 1974 |
The Old McHenry County Courthouse is a special historic building located in Woodstock, Illinois, within McHenry County, Illinois. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 1, 1974. This building was once the main courthouse for McHenry County. Today, it is home to different private businesses, like a restaurant and an art gallery. It is also a very important part of the Woodstock Square Historic District.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
The Old Courthouse was built in 1857. Its design is called Italianate style. It looked very similar to the Cook County Courthouse built in 1853, which was later destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. The person who designed this beautiful building was John M. Van Osdel. He was the very first licensed architect in Chicago.
Next to the courthouse, the Sheriff's House and Jail were built in 1887. The county government offices used the Old Courthouse until 1973. When the government moved out, there was a worry that the building might be torn down. This was because it was on valuable land for businesses.
However, on November 1, 1974, the National Park Service recognized its importance. They listed it on the National Register of Historic Places. Eight years later, it became a key part of the Woodstock Square Historic District. This district is a 13-acre area in downtown Woodstock. Today, the two buildings have restaurants, an art gallery, a pottery shop, and the Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum.
Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum
Chester Gould was the creator of the famous Dick Tracy comic strips. He lived in Woodstock for 50 years. The Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum used to show original comic strips and many items related to Dick Tracy. These included things from the character's appearances on radio, television, and in movies. The museum closed its physical doors in June 2008. Now, it exists as a virtual museum online.
Building Design and Features
The Old McHenry County Courthouse faces the public square in Woodstock. This Italianate building was constructed using brick with special limestone decorations. The building has four identical wings, each about 20 by 44 square feet. These wings are built around a 44-square-foot center. This design makes the building look like a Greek cross from above.
The courthouse stands two stories tall and has a brick basement. A small dome-like structure, called a cupola, is located at the very center of the building's roof. Later, a bay window was added to the southern wing. Small additions were also made from the judge's room and a vault. A one-story addition is found at the southwest corner. The jail was first in the basement. But in the 1870s, it was moved to a new building along the north wall.
Images for kids
-
The Old McHenry County Courthouse in Woodstock, Illinois. The jail, added in the 1870s, is on the right.
- . Retrieved 2008-05-04.
