The oldest section of town, Court House Square, was established in 1843. There have been countless celebrations on the lawn as well as the first execution - a hanging - for a murder in 1890. Three court houses have been built there. The first was built in 1843 by Wm. Armstrong, founder of Grundy County. The first one, though, was so poorly constructed that another had to be built. It was completed in 1858. The second court house, made of stone and topped with a dome (removed in 1904), was built by John Van Osdel - the architect who designed Chicago's Palmer House. However, it was too small, so additions were made to the east and west in 1913. The outer walls of the Van Osdel structure became the inner walls of the third court house. |
