The Interesting Placement of the Old Courthouse Remnants, pt. 2

This post shows the location of McLean Courthouse Remnants with a short history of each. A previous post highlights the placement of those remnants.

Capital Stone: Emerson & White Place 
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 22, 40.49331, -88.98396



Capital Stone: Illinois State University Campus
Normal Twp., Sec. 28, 40.509, -88.99085

The capital stone on the ISU and the Miller Park dome are the only courthouse remnants with a sign providing historical context. 



Capital Stone: Evans & Washington
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 4, 40.47959, -88.98714



Capital Stone: Miller Park
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 8, 40.46773, -89.00618



Capital Stone: Grove & McLean
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 4, 40.47784, -88.98837

Although this capital stone shows up in Google Maps, it was not there as of October 2017, suggesting it was recently moved.

This stone was located at 501 E. Grove St. This was the home of Joseph Holmes, a prominent businessman and politician. Could this have anything to do with the placement of the stone at this specific location?




Capital Stone: Main & Division
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 33, 40.4953624, -88.9933462 

Capital Stone: Grove & Roosevelt
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 4, 40.47791, -88.99626

Photo from Pantagraph, 4/27/1930, p. 25. The capital stone at this location is no longer there. It might have been moved or destroyed during the construction of the downtown coliseum. 




Capital Stones: Summit Street Bridge
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 8, 40.46834, -89.00082





Capital Stones: Old Miller Park Bear Den
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 8, Miller Park, 40.46875, -89.00557

From a postcard dated 10/20/1920, SH Knox Publishers, Cardcow.com



Old Courthouse Dome
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 8, Miller Park, 40.46753, -89.00415

The capital stone on the ISU and the Miller Park dome are the only courthouse remnants with a sign providing historical context. 

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Miller Park Pavilion
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 8, Miller Park, 40.46769, -89.00468



Forest Park Foot Bridge
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 8, 40.46311, -89.00538

The Forest Park Foot Bridge was made with some stones from the old courthouse and People's Bank building. The pieces were kind of lying around Miller Park for about 10 years before this bridge was built around 1910.





Courthouse Fence
Bloomington Twp., Sec. 9, 40.46987, -88.99978

Photos 1 and 2 from Pantagraph, 9/3/1902 & 3/23/1969. The fence was put up for auction shortly after the fire and purchased by local businessman, fruit-salesman, and self-proclaimed "town's biggest liar," Adam Kerr. He brought the fence to 1001 S. Low, near Miller Park. In 1920, the fence may have been the subject of a property dispute with neighbors. The fence was still at the property as of 1969, but is no longer there as of 2017.

According to a 9/7/1952 Pantagraph article, parts of the fence, including the stone posts, were also purchased and placed at the "lodge of the Bloomington Cemetery." 

Map

Click on the map to navigate or to open the map in a new window.

Sources

• At Miller Park. (1900, November 6). Pantagraph, p. 5.
• Auction Sale of Court House Fence. (1902, September 30). Pantagraph, p. 7.
• Community Council Asks Grand Jury Investigate Alton Water Pollution. (1920, March 17). Pantagraph, p. 7.
• Graybill, Elaine. (1980, June 15). Great Fire of 1900. Pantagraph, p. 8-9.
• Graybill, Elaine. (1984, January 4). White Place a Bold New Idea. Pantagraph, p. 17.
• Kemp, Bill. (2007, April 7). Remants All That's Left of 3rd Courthouse. Pantagraph.
• Koos, Greg. (1997). The Old McLean County Courthouse. Bloomington, IL: McLean County Historical Society.
• Line Fence Case. (1920, June 11). Pantagraph, p. 7.
• Mansberger, Floyd. (2015, February 28). In Search of the 1836 McLean County Courthouse. Illinois Archaeology Association.
• McLean County Historical Society. (2013, March). Bloomington Fire of June 1900.
• McLean County Courthouse & Square. Wikipedia.
• McLean County Museum of History. An Architectural Glimpse into Historic Downtown Bloomington: Old McLean County Courthouse.
• Miller & Low Street Blog. 
• Old Courthouse Remains Scatter After 1900 Fire. (1970, February 25). Pantagraph, p. 21.
• Tolley, Wilma. (1949, August 26). Phooey on Good Old Days. Pantagraph, p. 3.
• Picture Identification Winners Are Announced; Contest Brings Out Interesting Facts. (1933, December 15). Pantagraph, p. 1, 11.
• Riding the Courthouse Fence. (1969, March 23). Pantagraph, p. 7.
• Stone Debris Proves Useful. (1930, April 27). Pantagraph, p. 25.
• To Open Up New Northeast Addition: Lakeview Subdivision of White Place. (1909, March 23). Pantagraph, p. 7.
• View of Stein's Grove - Showing Stone Bridge. (1910, June 23). Pantagraph, p. 7.