Wednesday, August 29, 2012

McHenry County, Illinois, Courthouse

From the Dec. 1, 2010, Crystal Lake,(Il) Northwest Herald "Old Courthouse Deal"

The City of Woodstock has agreed to accept the Old Courthouse as donated by and bring it up to code and work with private groups to take it over.  It will cost $261,000 plus materials to do it, plus, there are $125,000 in outstanding taxes, they don't call McHenry County Tax Land for nothing (I'll be reminded painfully on 9-11 when I have to pay my second half tax installment of $4800).  There are another $60,000 in legal fees and a $25,000 judgement against the last owner.

The structure, at 101 North Johnson Street was built in 1857 and is a National Historic Landmark.  The sheriff's house and jail were added in 1887.  McHenry County vacated it in 1972, when a new one was constructed north of town.  The courtroom was on the third floor and has been used for parties and receptions.  There is no elevator as I sorely found out when I took a job deejaying there one time.  I was beat moving all that equipment up those three flights of stairs. 

The Italianate structure closely resembled Cook County's (Chicago) Courthouse which was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire.  The architect was J.M. Van Osdel.

The Dick Tracy Museum was at one time in the building.  Dick Tracy's writer was from Woodstock and it can be seen several times in the backgrund of the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day."  The bar scene in the restaurant where they dank to "World Peace" was downstairs and when he got thrown into jail was also filmed there.

You Always Keep Your Old Courthouse and Find Some Other Use For It.  --Cooter

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