Showing posts with label Courthouses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Courthouses. Show all posts
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Illinois' Sesquicentennial in 1968
From the October 10, 2018, MidWeek "Looking Bacl."
1968, 50 Years Ago.
"The DeKalb County Court House in Sycamore has received some outdoor decorations in honor of the 150th 'birthday' of Illinois.
"The Sesquicentennial salute lists Northern Illinois University, the Farm Bureau, barb wire, and the home of Chief Shabbona as unique facets of DeKalb County's history."
--Cooter
Monday, December 4, 2017
Sparrows Take Over the County Courthouse in 1917
From the November 29, 2017, MidWeek "Looking Back."
1917, 100 Years Ago.
"It appears DeKalb has its blackbirds to contend with and Sycamore has its sparrows, but in Sycamore's case, the birds select the small tree at the entrance to the courthouse property at State and Maple streets.
"Yesterday morning it is estimated there were more than 2,000 birds in the tree, and rather than having a wintery look as is the case most of the day, it looked fully leafed. Efforts have been made to exterminate the birds but with little success."
Da Birds in Sycamore. --Cootfeather
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Eradication of the Mexican Weed (Marijuana) in DeKalb County, Illinois
From the July 21, 2015, DeKalb (Il) Midweek "Looking Back"
JULY 1940, 75 years ago.
Two years more is the time limit set by Sheriff W.D. Runnels for thye first eradication of every stalk of tye Mexican weed, Marijuana. He estimate results from a survey of patches and the progress that has been made in combatting the weed in the last two years.
Genoa Township to have a 4.6 acre park at tye site of the old Chamberlain homestead on the southeast corner of Derby Line and Route 23. It is at the bequeath in the will of the late Miss Lila Chamberlain.
A survey was made on the courthouse grounds in Sycamore for new sidewalks to be built on the grounds by the WPA.
Marijuana in 1940? --Cooter
JULY 1940, 75 years ago.
Two years more is the time limit set by Sheriff W.D. Runnels for thye first eradication of every stalk of tye Mexican weed, Marijuana. He estimate results from a survey of patches and the progress that has been made in combatting the weed in the last two years.
Genoa Township to have a 4.6 acre park at tye site of the old Chamberlain homestead on the southeast corner of Derby Line and Route 23. It is at the bequeath in the will of the late Miss Lila Chamberlain.
A survey was made on the courthouse grounds in Sycamore for new sidewalks to be built on the grounds by the WPA.
Marijuana in 1940? --Cooter
Monday, June 16, 2014
Old Courthouse Dome Cost Higher Than Expected
From the June 5, 2014, Northwest herald by Shawn Shinneman.
Costs are already $80,000 more than expected at the Old Courthouse in Woodstock, Illinois. On Tuesday, the city council approved another $32,608 toward the original contract of $775,000. The city had previously already upped its cost $50,000.
Complications have been found because the contractor wasn't able to get a closer look at the cupola before the scaffolding was installed.
Crews were finishing their installation of the copper covering this week.. After the scaffolding is removed, they will begin work on the roof itself.
Expected date of completion has been moved from June 30th to September 30th.
Always More Than You Expect. --Cooter
Costs are already $80,000 more than expected at the Old Courthouse in Woodstock, Illinois. On Tuesday, the city council approved another $32,608 toward the original contract of $775,000. The city had previously already upped its cost $50,000.
Complications have been found because the contractor wasn't able to get a closer look at the cupola before the scaffolding was installed.
Crews were finishing their installation of the copper covering this week.. After the scaffolding is removed, they will begin work on the roof itself.
Expected date of completion has been moved from June 30th to September 30th.
Always More Than You Expect. --Cooter
Friday, September 14, 2012
The McHenry County (Il) Courthouse-- Part 2
A seventy page architect's report has been made and it estimates that about $4.7 million is needed for improvements and repairs on he structure. The City of Woodstock is recommending a five-year spending program to cover $2 million of it. The rest will be covered by a private investor.
Immediate repairs are needed to stop the cause of all the water damage. Also, the front steps are in bad shape as is the dome. These last two are eligible for a grant to which the city has applied.
The courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is also discussion as to when the building will be available to the private sector. Mayor Brian Sager thinks January 2014 by the earliest, but perhaps 2015 more realistically.
Here's Hoping Things Will Work Out, But At Least No One Even Considers Tearing It Down. That Would Be a Huge Mistake. --DaCoot
Immediate repairs are needed to stop the cause of all the water damage. Also, the front steps are in bad shape as is the dome. These last two are eligible for a grant to which the city has applied.
The courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is also discussion as to when the building will be available to the private sector. Mayor Brian Sager thinks January 2014 by the earliest, but perhaps 2015 more realistically.
Here's Hoping Things Will Work Out, But At Least No One Even Considers Tearing It Down. That Would Be a Huge Mistake. --DaCoot
Thursday, September 13, 2012
The McHenry County (Il) Courthouse-- Part 1
From the September 5th Northwest Herald "Sights set on Old Courthouse" by Chelsea McDougall.
A former sheriff's garage located behind the old courthouse may be in jeopardy as a result of a joint City Council and Historic Preservation Committee meeting. The unsightly building has deteriorated significantly and has no roof and its windows are boarded up. Its structure also limits access to the water main, which is causing damage to the courthouse and needs replacing anyway.
The garage, however, has a bit of a history as it was built by jail inmates, including two members of the Dino O'Banion gang, Dapper Dan McCarthy and Heimie Weiss, who had been convicted of hijacking booze during Prohibition.
One Historical Preservation Committee member thinks that fact alone is significant and a good reason to save the structure.
More to Come. --Cooter
A former sheriff's garage located behind the old courthouse may be in jeopardy as a result of a joint City Council and Historic Preservation Committee meeting. The unsightly building has deteriorated significantly and has no roof and its windows are boarded up. Its structure also limits access to the water main, which is causing damage to the courthouse and needs replacing anyway.
The garage, however, has a bit of a history as it was built by jail inmates, including two members of the Dino O'Banion gang, Dapper Dan McCarthy and Heimie Weiss, who had been convicted of hijacking booze during Prohibition.
One Historical Preservation Committee member thinks that fact alone is significant and a good reason to save the structure.
More to Come. --Cooter
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
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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