The first courthouse was built of logs on property that is now the
Ten years later, the county had outgrown this 18' x 24' log structure and made plans for a larger one on the same site. The new brick building measured 50' x 50' and - costing roughly $15,000 - was considerably more expensive than the first. The contractors were Harbird Weatherford and Jefferson Weatherford.
Abraham Lincoln frequently represented his clients in this courthouse. In fact, when the State Preservation Agency examined the Courthouse records in the 1990's, they found over 3,000 documents with the signature of A. Lincoln. Those original documents are now in
The courthouse that
Four prominent citizens were commissioned to erect a new courthouse: A McKim Dubois, George H. Holliday, T.L. Loomis and Isham J. Peebles. They selected E.E. Meyers as architect and determined that the construction not begin until there were sufficient funds in the county treasury.
The court also ordered that a property tax of 50¢ per $100 be assessed in
Bonds totaling $50,000 were issued for ten-year terms and bore interest at 10 percent. By September, over $13,000 had been spent and in October the cornerstone was set in place. The cost escalated dramatically from then on. By January 1869 nearly $500,000 had been spent and building was still not complete. The great dome and roof would cost an additional $125,115. More bonds were issued, and by the time the courthouse was officially completed in 1870, the project had cost a staggering $1,342,226.31. Thus evolved the nickname, the "Million Dollar Courthouse."
Not only was the courthouse an exorbitant expense to the taxpayers, rumors of a scandal involving misused appropriations also tarnished the project. Initially, the blame was laid on Judge Thaddeus Loomis and George H. Holliday, county clerk. Judge Loomis was apparently innocent of any wrongdoing. (We may never know the truth about Mr. Holliday, however, because one night in 1870, he boarded a train out of town and simply disappeared.)
Upon completion, this courthouse became the largest county courthouse in the
Despite the scandal and the expense, citizens supported this project with amazing dedication. In 1910, a mere 40 years after the cornerstone had been set in place, the last bond was burned and the debt retired. To mark the occasion, 20,000 people gathered in Carlinville for a memorable two-day celebration on July 20 and 21. At a pre-determined hour, all mine whistles, church bells, alarms and anything else that could make a loud noise raised quite a ruckus. The noise wasn't limited to one mighty blast, however, because history records that athletic contests, balloon rides and even airplane rides gave the citizens plenty to cheer about. A parade of cars that stretched more than a mile also entertained the crowds. That doesn't seem like such a spectacular event today, but it was quiet impressive at a time when so few people owned cars.
Macoupin
The historic 1869 Macoupin County Jail was also designed by E.E. Meyers. It was built using the "cannon ball" method which prevented jail breaks by making it nearly impossible to remove the blocks. This unique medieval-inspired fortress housed many lawbreakers during its 119 years of use, but only one prisoner escaped. He was soon apprehended a few blocks from the jail.
The interior is designed in the "jailer residence" style, a popular 19th century prison design, requiring the jailer and his family to reside in an apartment above the jail. The cell block ceiling, walls and floor are constructed of one-inch iron plates with 20 inches of solid stone above and below. The jail was built to house 16 male prisoners and one female, but at one time it held 33 prisoners, four of whom were accused murderers. This historic structure was finally retired when the new county jail was built and dedicated in 1988.
The Macoupin County Historical Society was organized in March 1970 and is dedicated to the study of the area's history and the collecting and preserving of memorabilia of its people. In 1973, members purchased the house known locally as
In 1883, the original residence, built by John Anderson, was a one-story structure, but as the
The main house has become a museum with exhibits that chronicle the development of
Macoupin County Historical Society is located in the northwest quadrant of Carlinville. Over the years, MCHS members have restored the home and several outbuildings, and established a museum.
Sears Homes/Standard Addition
Standard Addition is the largest, concentrated collection of Sears homes in the
For the first time, customers could order home kits in a variety of models through the famous mail-order catalog. Eight different models in the "modest" variety (5 or 6 rooms on two floors) were selected for Standard Addition, ranging in price from $3,000 to $4,000. Standard Oil placed an order for 156 mail-order homes, which were delivered by rail, and within the year, all 156 had been erected. Today 152 of those original homes still stand, making the 9-block Standard Addition neighborhood the largest single repository of
While many homeowners have improved their Sears houses over the years, the distinctive roof lines, windows and porch arrangements help identify the original house styles. Inside, a common feature of the homes is a ceramic-tiled bathroom floor with an identical design using a color scheme of white with blue, or white with green.
For more information contact Laurie Flori: 217-854-9327
War Memorial
The Macoupin County War Memorial is a permanent reminder of county men and women who served in World War I,
The memorial project was spearheaded by Martin Rogers, a Carlinville native and WWII veteran. Completed in 1996, the Macoupin County War Memorial stands in the southeast corner of the Macoupin County Courthouse grounds.
Although the square has many wonderful buildings, probably the most significant is the Loomis House. Built by Judge Thaddeus L. Loomis, it was designed by architect E.E. Meyers who also designed the Macoupin County Courthouse and 1869 Jail. When it was completed in 1870, the Loomis House was opened as a hotel with fifty rooms on three floors and a large dining area. Eight years after it opened Judge Loomis sold the building due to financial problems and the name was changed to the
Carlinville's downtown is part of a large historic district which has been on the National Register of Historic Places in
Route 66
Cruise the
Although Route 66 was decommissioned nationally in 1985 (due to the Interstate Highway System), its popularity and mystique never died. Ten years later, the Illinois Department of Transportation officially recognized the Route 66 revival movement and posted historic markers along its length of the "
Founded in 1837,
In 1844, six local citizens set aside a sizeable parcel of land near the center of town for an Episcopal church, but it took more than two decades to raise the funds to build it. Since its dedication in 1867,
The first priest to serve the
This large stone commemorates the spot where Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech on
