Historical Society Announces Upcoming Courthouse Exhibit
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By Caitlin R. King
Photo by Caitlin R. King/Jersey County Journal
Jersey County Historical Society Board Member Connor Ashlock looks through one of the volumes salvaged from the courthouse’s law library.
In the coming weeks, the Jersey County Historical Society will be unveiling a new exhibit in their museum. The exhibit will showcase the history of the Jersey County Courthouse. A history of which, according to Historical Society Board member Connor Ashlock, has been “underappreciated.”
The exhibit has unintentionally been in the planning stage for several years. However, Ashlock, along with sisters Kari Jo and Alyssa Alexander, has spent the last month finalizing which artifacts to display and how to display them. Kari Jo, who also serves as the county coroner, is the design coordinator for the project. While Alyssa, an attorney, is the project’s courthouse researcher.
Last May, the historical society was allowed access to the older portions of the 128 year old building to take photographs and search for unused artifacts. The society was able to salvage a number of books from the courthouse law library. They even ventured up to the building’s rotunda, which was saved from demolition in the late 80s, early 90s when the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Photo by Caitlin R. King/Jersey County Journal
Connor Ashlock shows one of the photos taken by the Historical Society when they visited the Courthouse’s rotunda. The photo will be displayed along with others that showcase the courthouse’s architectural features designed by architect Henry Elliott in 1893-94.
The new permanent exhibit room will contain furniture that was previously used in the courthouse throughout its history and photographs depicting the current and previous courthouse building in Jersey County. The goal for the exhibit is to showcase the history and importance the building has not only within the county but all of Illinois. The historical society hopes that the exhibit will be ready for public viewing by their annual meeting this month.
The meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 13, at 1:30 p.m. at the museum, and is free and open to the public. More information can be found on their Facebook page, facebook.com/JerseyCountyHistoricalSociety.
