Repairs Approved for McDonough County Courthouse

Restoration work will be done this spring and summer to the clock tower dome on the McDonough County Courthouse.

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Credit Western Illinois Regional Council

This photo shows some of the repair work needed on the courthouse dome.

“The courthouse is kind of a centerpiece for the community,” said Nathan Cobb, assistant planner for the Western Illinois Regional Council, which helped secure a $30,000 grant for the work. The grant comes from the Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust.

“It is a historic property,” Cobb added. “There are some nice features on it and the grant was designed to help courthouses in Illinois with significant features, and the dome really stands out.”

The copper on the dome will be replaced, new paint will be applied to the dome, and some holes will be filled.

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Credit Western Illinois Regional Council

Copper on the dome needs to be replaced

The total cost of the repairs is $105,000. The county board agreed during its March meeting to cover the remainder of the expense.

The book McDonough County Historic Sites reports the courthouse was completed in 1872 at a cost of $155,000. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.