Kankakee County Courthouse - #1 is a photograph by Stephen Stookey which was uploaded on February 2nd, 2019.
Kankakee County Courthouse - #1
The current Kankakee County Courthouse is the third courthouse structure on courthouse square--the structure opened in 1912. The courthouse square... more
Title
Kankakee County Courthouse - #1
Artist
Stephen Stookey
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The current Kankakee County Courthouse is the third courthouse structure on courthouse square--the structure opened in 1912. The courthouse square grounds once served as council grounds by the Potawatomi. European settlers arrived in the Kankakee region following the 1832 Treaty of Tippecanoe. The railroad arrived in 1851 when the Illinois Central established Kankakee Depot. Population growth necessitated establishment of a county government. The pull of the railroad and the financial influence of the Associates Land Company swayed voters in 1853 to select Kankakee over Momence for the new county seat. The first courthouse opened shortly after the vote. The first structure burned in 1872. The second courthouse used the remaining limestone structure to rebuild. Growth in the region required a larger, modern courthouse, which voters approved in 1908. The three-year construction project, led by Lafayette, IN, contractor W. F. Stilwell, cost $187,000. The Kankakee landmark was listed in 2007 on the National register of Historic Places.
Uploaded
February 2nd, 2019