Stephenson County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Freeport's county courthouse, completed in 1873, is a two-story stone building with attic and basement, designed by Springfield architect Elijah E. Myers. A committee began the search for plans in 1869, the cornerstone was laid in 1870, and the final cost with furnishings reached $130,413. Its facade has a projecting central pavilion with a triangular pediment and a colonnaded porch, two forward wings, string courses, and a Mansard roof with ornate dormers. A central tower was removed in 1926, and the large courtroom was later divided by partitions. The nomination valued it as an uncommon Illinois example of Second Empire design and the only known work by Myers in that style. Theodore Roosevelt spoke from its steps in 1903. A Civil War veterans' monument of yellow stone with four bronze soldiers stands in the front yard. Later correspondence indicates the county pursued demolition shortly after listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a well-designed and uncommon example of a Second Empire courthouse in Illinois and the only known Second Empire design by Myers. Theodore Roosevelt gave an address from its steps in 1903. A Civil War veterans' monument in the front yard adds to its interest.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74002284, listed January 17, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Courthouse Sq., Freeport |
|---|---|
| County | Stephenson County |
| Listed | January 17, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002284 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870-73 |
| Architect / builder | Elijah E. Myers |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair, altered condition and run down, with its tower removed in 1926; later correspondence in the file says demolition began in 1974 and that it was demolished. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.29807, -89.62207 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74002284.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24887327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.