A view of the Schuyler County Courthouse located in the rural west central Illinois community of Rushville. Completed in 1882 at a cost of $36,000, it is the third courthouse in the county's history. The Italianate-style building is based on the plans of the Monroe County Courthouse in Michigan, designed by Edward O. Falls.
In its early years, the two-story building featured a central arcade surrounding the entrance, a clock tower with spire on one corner, and short square towers on other corners. The courthouse's present appearance dates from the 1990s, following a storm that forced the removal of the spire. Most of the interior resembles its original appearance: modernization projects in the 1970s greatly modified the interior, but the damage was repaired two decades later.
The population of Schuyler County at the 2020 census was 6,902, with just over 3,000 people living in the county seat of Rushville.
Source: Schuyler County Courthouse (Illinois), Wikipedia
Tags: Rushville Seat Schuyler County West Central Illinois IL Schuyler County Courthouse Civic Public Architecture Architectural Style Italianate Season Autumn Fall Canon 5D Mark IV 5DM4
Explore #73 on November 9, 2023
On Saturday I drove back to Rushville to take a few aerial shots of the downtown with my new drone. It was a pleasant day to be flying outdoors with warm temperatures and little wind. On the 110 mile round-trip from our home in Springfield, I was pleased that plenty of fall color could still be found in this first week of November.
A courthouse view is where I began this series on Rushville ten days ago. Flying above the square, this view looks toward the southwest with the Schuyler County Courthouse straight ahead.
Completed in 1882 at a cost of $36,000, this is the third courthouse in the county's history. The Italianate-style building is based on the plans of the Monroe County Courthouse in Michigan, designed by Edward O. Falls.
In its early years, the two-story building featured a central arcade surrounding the entrance, a clock tower with spire on one corner, and short square towers on other corners. The courthouse's present appearance dates from the 1990s, following a storm that forced the removal of the spire. Most of the interior resembles its original appearance: modernization projects in the 1970s greatly modified the interior, but the damage was repaired two decades later.
The population of Schuyler County at the 2020 census was 6,902, with 3,005 of those residents living in Rushville, the county seat.
Tags: Rushville Seat Schuyler County West Central Illinois IL Schuyler County Courthouse Civic Public Architecture Architectural Style Italianate Historic Downtown Square Small Town Rural Season Autumn Fall Aerial Drone DJI Mini 4 Pro Explored In Explore Explore
A view looking toward the east on Lafayette St. along with south side of Rushville's downtown square. The large shadow in the foreground is coming from the Schuyler County Courthouse. This west central Illinois city is the seat of Schuyler County, and had a population of 3,005 at the 2020 census.
Tags: Rushville Seat Schuyler County West Central Illinois IL Historic South Side Square 100 Block W. Lafayette St. Small Town Rural Canon 5D Mark IV 5DM4
A view of the 100 block of W. Lafayette St., on the south side of the square in downtown Rushville. This west central Illinois city is the seat of Schuyler County, and had a population of 3,005 at the 2020 census.
In the center of the block is the Phoenix Opera House. Built in 1882, the building housed commercial businesses on the first floor and an 500-seat opera house on the second floor. The opera house hosted traveling performers and theater companies as well as local social events. The opera house closed in 1910, as churches began to host the town's social functions and the local movie theater provided entertainment. From 1924 to 1956, the opera house served as a Masonic lodge. The building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, is one of the few surviving examples of a combined opera house and commercial building.
Source: Phoenix Opera House Block, National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form.
Tags: Rushville Seat Schuyler County West Central Illinois IL Historic South Side Square 100 Block W. Lafayette St. Phoenix Opera House Architecture Theater Opera House Repurpose Reuse Masonic Lodge Commercial Business National Register of Historic Places Reference # 85001010 Canon 5D Mark IV 5DM4
Continuing my aerial tour of downtown Rushville, this view from above the town square looks toward the south. In the foreground is the 100 block of W. Lafayette St.
The most notable building in this block is the Phoenix Opera House. Built in 1882, the building housed commercial businesses on the first floor and an 500-seat opera house on the second floor. The opera house hosted traveling performers and theater companies as well as local social events. The opera house closed in 1910, as churches began to host the town's social functions and the local movie theater provided entertainment. From 1924 to 1956, the opera house served as a Masonic lodge. The building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, is one of the few surviving examples of a combined opera house and commercial building.
Located in rural west central Illinois, Rushville is the seat of Schuyler County, and had a population of 3,005 at the 2020 census.
Source: Phoenix Opera House Block, National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form.ault
Tags: Rushville Seat Schuyler County West Central Illinois IL Historic South Side Square 100 Block W. Lafayette St. Phoenix Opera House Architecture Theater Opera House Repurpose Reuse Masonic Lodge Commercial Business National Register of Historic Places Reference # 85001010 Downtown Square Small Town Rural Season Autumn Fall Aerial Drone DJI Mini 4 Pro