Explore #39 on March 14, 2024
A view of the Morgan County Courthouse in Jacksonville, Illinois. Completed in 1869, the three-story limestone courthouse was designed in a combination of Italianate and Second Empire styles by Chicago architect Gurdon P. Randall (1821-1884). The design is considered unusual among county courthouses, as counties generally preferred more traditional designs. Randall's design features an arched loggia surrounding the building's southern entrance, asymmetrical towers at the southern corners with mansard roofs and bracketed cornices, arched dormers within the towers' mansards, and an assortment of round-head and bulls-eye windows.
The Morgan County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1986. The courthouse also contributes the Jacksonville Downtown Historic District listed in the NRHP.
Located in West Central Illinois, thirty-five miles west of the State Capitol in Springfield, Jacksonville is the seat of Morgan County. The population of the city at the 2020 census was 18,267.
The central Illinois City of Jacksonville was founded in 1825 and is the seat of Morgan County. The population of Jacksonville was 17,616 at the 2020 census.
Sources:
National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Morgan County Courthouse
Jacksonville Downtown Historic District Registration Form, United States Department of Interior, National Park Service
"Morgan County Courthouse (Illinois), Wikipedia
Gurdon P. Randall, Wikipedia
Jacksonville, Illinois, Wikipedia
Tags: Jacksonville Morgan County West Central Illinois IL Street View Architecture Public Buildings Courthouse Architect Gurdon P. Randall Architectural Style Second Empire Italianate Italian Villa Morgan County Courthouse 300 W. State St.National Register of Historic Places Reference # 86003167 Jacksonville Downtown Historic District Reference #2 100002915 Aerial Drone DJI Mini 4 Pro Explore Explored In Explore
Jacksonville's historic downtown square, known as Central Park, is divided by Main St. on its north and south sides, and State St. on its east and west sides. This view shows the historic buildings on South Central Park Plaza, east of S. Main St. The six buildings shown here, including the building on the east side of S. Mauvaisterre St. on the left, all contribute to the Jacksonville Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
From right to left, the historic names and dates of the six buildings are Frances Stubbins Watchmaker & Jewelry (c. 1890), Woolworth Building (c. 1890), Brady Bros. Hardware (c. 1890), J. B. Johnson Pianos & Women's Clothing (c. 1890), and Hoffman Bros. (c. 1892). The sixth building, seen across S. Mauvausterre St., is the Farrell State Bank (c.1920). Four of the six buildings are commercial designs. The two exceptions are the first two buildings west of Mauvausterre St. which are Richardsonian Romanesque and Italianate designs.
Founded in 1825, the City of Jacksonville is the seat of Morgan County. The central Illinois city had a population of 17,616 at the 2020 census.
Source:
"Jacksonville Downtown Historic District," National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
Tags: Jacksonville Morgan County Central Illinois IL South Side Square Central Park Architecture Frances Stubbins Watchmaker & Jewelry 37 S. Central Park Plaza Woolworth Building 39 S. Central Park Plaza Brady Bros. Hardware 45-47 S. Central Park Plaza J. B. Johnson Pianos & Women's Clothing 49-51 S. Central Park Plaza Hoffman Bros. 53 S. Central Park Plaza Architectural Style Commercial Italianate Richardsonian Romanesque National Register Of Historic Places NRHP Jacksonville Downtown Historic District Reference # 100002915 Aerial Drone DJI Mini 4 Pro
Jacksonville's historic downtown square, known as Central Park, is divided by Main St. on its north and south sides, and State St. on its east and west sides. This view shows the historic buildings on North Central Park Plaza, east of N. Main St. The six buildings shown in this view, including the Illinois Theatre and Grand Hotel seen east of N. Mauvaisterre St., all contribute to the Jacksonville Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
From left to right, the historic names and dates of the four buildings to the corner are Andre & Andre Building (c. 1910), Schmalz & Son Bakery (c. 1885), E. S. Van Anglan & Co. (c. 1885), and Phelps & Osborne Dry Goods (c. 1885/1965). East of Mauvaisterre St. is the Illinois Theatre (c. 1939/2008) and Grand Hotel storefronts (c. 1940). The Andre & Andre Building is a commercial design, Schmalz & Son Bakery is Romanesque Revival, and the E. S. Van Anglan & Co. and Phelps & Osborne Buildings are Italianate. The Illinois Theater is an Art Deco style building, while the Grand Hotel storefronts are modern.
Founded in 1825, the City of Jacksonville is the seat of Morgan County. The central Illinois city had a population of 17,616 at the 2020 census.
Source:
"Jacksonville Downtown Historic District," National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
Tags: Jacksonville Morgan County Central Illinois IL South Side Square Central Park Architecture Andre & Andre Building 46 N. Central Park Plaza Schmalz & Son Bakery 52 N. Central Park Plaza E. S. Van Anglan & Co. 54 N. Central Park Plaza Phelps & Osborne Dry Goods 56 N. Central Park Plaza Illinois Theatre 200 E. Court St Grand Hotel storefronts 202-208 E. Court St. Architectural Style Commercial Italianate Romanesque Revival Art Deco Modern National Register Of Historic Places NRHP Jacksonville Downtown Historic District Reference # 100002915 Aerial Drone DJI Mini 4 Pro
Jacksonville's historic downtown square, known as Central Park, is divided by Main St. on its north and south sides, and State St. on its east and west sides. This view shows the historic buildings on South Central Park Plaza, west of S. Main St. The five buildings shown in this view all contribute to the Jacksonville Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
From left to right, the historic names and dates of the five buildings to the corner are Brady Bros. Hardware (c. 1870), Farmers State Bank & Trust Co. (c. 1870), Peacock Inn Restaurant & Confectionary (c. 1870), Lucretia Henry Millinary (left) and Harry Hoffman Floral Co. (c. 1867), and Tindale, Brown & County. Music (c. 1870). The Brady Bros. Hardware building is a commercial design, and the other four buildings are Italianate.
Not shown is the former Strawn Opera House building (c. 1860) at the southwest corner of S. Central Park Plaza and S. Main St. A non-contributing structure, only the foundation and first floor remain of the original Strawn Opera House after a roof collapse in 1990. What remained of the building was heavily altered and modernized in 1994.
Founded in 1825, the City of Jacksonville is the seat of Morgan County. The central Illinois city had a population of 17,616 at the 2020 census.
Source:
"Jacksonville Downtown Historic District," National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
Tags: Jacksonville Morgan County Central Illinois IL South Side Square Central Park Architecture Brady Bros. Hardware 29 S. Central Park Plaza Farmers State Bank & Trust Co. 27 S. Central Park Plaza Peacock Inn Restaurant & Confectionary 25 S. Central Park Plaza Lucretia Henry Millinary 23 S. Central Park Plaza Harry Hoffman Floral Co. 21 S. Central Park Plaza Tindale, Brown & County Music 19 S. Central Park Plaza Architectural Style Italianate Commercial National Register Of Historic Places NRHP Jacksonville Downtown Historic District Reference # 100002915 Aerial Drone DJI Mini 4 Pro
Jacksonville's historic downtown square, known as Central Park, is divided by Main St. on its north and south sides, and State St. on its east and west sides. This view shows the buildings on West Central Park Plaza. The five buildings shown in this view all contribute to the Jacksonville Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. Additionally, the Ayers Bank Building, which is the tallest building on the square, was separately listed on the National Register in 1986, and the Morgan County Courthouse, seen in the background, is also separately listed.
From left to right, the historic names and dates of the four buildings to the corner are Shreve's Drug Store (c. 1860), C. J. Deppe Dry Goods (c. 1890), Russell & Lyons Jewelry (c. 1890), and Farrell State Bank (c. 1920). The Shreve's Drug Store building is an Italianate design, while the other three buildings are done in the commercial style.
Across the intersection, north of the intersection of W. State St. and W. Central Park Plaza, is the Renaissance Revival style Ayres Bank Building. Completed in 1911, it is significant because the site is believed to have been continuously associated with banking since 1832, longer than any other site in Illinois.
At 110 feet and eight stories, the Ayers Bank Building is the tallest building in downtown Jacksonville. It was the first steel-frame and reinforced concrete structure in the city. Banking operations at the building site began with David Ayers who operated a merchant bank out of his drug store in the 1830s. The Ayers family continued banking at this site throughout the 19th century.
In 1910, when Millard Fillmore Dunlap and Andrew Russel bought a controlling interest in the business, Ayers Bank was one of the state's leading financial institutions. Dunlap and Russel hired architect Jarvis Hunt of Chicago to build the Ayers Bank Building on the same site where David Ayers had begun his banking business. The bank continued to prosper until the 1930s, when Dunlap and Russel were convicted of illegal banking practices and went to prison. Depositors received 33 cents on the dollar and the federal government closed the bank in November 1932. The Farmers State Bank & Trust Company bought the building for $53,000 at a foreclosure sale in 1939. The upper floors were rented to a series of dentists, physicians, and other professionals until 1985, when Farmers renovated the entire building for its exclusive use. As of 2024, the bank still has its headquarters at this site. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1986.
Founded in 1825, the City of Jacksonville is the seat of Morgan County. The central Illinois city had a population of 17,616 at the 2020 census.
Sources:
"Jacksonville Downtown Historic District," National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
"Ayers Bank Building," Wikipedia
Tags: Jacksonville Morgan County Central Illinois IL West Side Square Central Park Architecture Shreve's Drug Store 7 W. Central Park Plaza C. J. Deppe Dry Goods 5 W. Central Park Plaza Russell & Lyons Jewelry 3 W. Central Park Plaza Farrell State Bank 1 W. Central Park Plaza Architectural Style Italianate Commercial Renaissance Revival Neo-Classical Ayers Bank Building Farmers State Bank & Trust Company 200 W. State Street Architect Jarvis Hunt National Register Of Historic Places NRHP Reference #1 86003178 Jacksonville Downtown Historic District Reference #2 100002915 Aerial Drone DJI Mini 4 Pro