The Woodford County Board is seeking historical designation for its courthouse.
“There will be grants that are available once it is determined to be a historical site,” County Board member Tom Karr said. “Then, obviously, we have to let the state and nation know this is a historical site and maybe we can get a bit of tourism this way.”
The application process is just beginning, and it will be sometime before it is considered by both the state and national registers of historic places.
Last week, the County Board allocated $200,000 to rewire the courthouse building. The board hopes, with additional grant money, it will be possible to refurbish the building and make it more appealing to visitors.
When Woodford County was created in 1841, its citizens were charged with providing a courthouse building free of charge.
It also provided for a popular election to establish the permanent location within two years. The temporary courthouse was duly provided, and its first trials were in 1841. Abraham Lincoln, David Davis and Asahel Gridley were some of the circuit-riding attorneys in attendance.
According to retired Circuit Judge Richard M. Baner, who compiled a history of the courthouse, “Amidst considerable controversy and devious political maneuvering it was decided by the commissioners that a permanent courthouse would be constructed in the town of Hanover (now Metamora).”
The courthouse remained in Metamora for more than 50 years despite various efforts to move it. In 1894, Eureka, again made another attempt and prevailed. All the county offices were moved to various temporary locations in Eureka.
For the permanent structure, in 1897, the architectural firm of Bell and Kent from Council Bluffs, Iowa, was hired. The H.C. Bruning firm from Havana handled construction, which was completed in 1898 at a cost of $90,232.
This did not include the Corinthian-columned bell tower, two-ton brass bell and Howard clock donated by the citizens of Eureka in 1906 at a cost of $1,268.
The basic structure is of steel-reinforced concrete and brick with a complete stone exterior. The roof trusses are steel and the roof deck is of concrete slab. The tall windows have skylights on the upper two floors.
The interior included marble floors and wainscoting, wrought-iron stair and balcony railings, solid oak doors and paneling, and deeply molded high ceilings on the upper floors.
The tower clock was electrified in 1963 by Eureka watchmaker Ben Schumacher.
In 1991, the courthouse underwent a major renovation that included re-sheeting the dome roof, restoring the bell tower stone and steel and replacing the cupola and installing a light that can be seen for miles.
Catharine Schaidle can be reached at 686-3290 or [email protected]
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