DeKalb County Courthouse Construction, 1905. Image Source: Joiner History Room, Sycamore, Illinois Public Library
The Sycamore History Museum will be presenting a Brown Bag Lunch this Thursday, March 3rd at noon. Sue Breese will share her research on the DeKalb County Courthouse including the challenges Sycamore faced by local communities to maintain being the county seat.
The current DeKalb County Courthouse building was the third such structure to be built in Sycamore. The first courthouse was a log building built in 1839, across the street from its current location. Due to progressive growth in the county, a second building was constructed in 1850 and additions were made to this structure in 1863.
There was some controversy surrounding the location of the current courthouse. Prominent DeKalb leaders wanted the county seat and the courthouse moved from Sycamore to their city, but local contributions and legal efforts allowed Sycamore to retain both and to build a new courthouse, at a price of approximately $100,000.
The Brown Bag Lunch will be held at the Sycamore Federated Church, 612 W. State Street in Sycamore. Coffee and cookies will be provided. For more information about the Sycamore History Museum, please visit their website.
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On the plaque inside lobby where the committe members are listed is my great-grandfather’s name, Nicholas Sawyer. My father Harrison Sawyer (Sawyer Auto Imports) told me the committee had to raise the money to get the courthouse built. I’m sorry not to be able to hear Sue Breese’s talk on Thursday.