Washington Park Historic District (Ottawa, Illinois)

Last updated

Washington Park Historic District
Ottawa IL Washington Park Historic District Site of first Lincoln-Douglas debate.jpg
The site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate in Washington Park
USA Illinois location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationBounded by Jackson, LaSalle, Lafayette, and Columbus Sts., Ottawa, Illinois
Coordinates 41°20′58″N88°50′31″W / 41.34944°N 88.84194°W / 41.34944; -88.84194
Area12.8 acres (5.2 ha)
Architectural style Gothic Revival, Classical Revival, Italianate
NRHP reference No. 73000710 [1]
Added to NRHPApril 11, 1973

Washington Park Historic District, also known as Washington Square is a historic district in and around Washington Park in the city of Ottawa, Illinois, United States. Washington Park was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 and is surrounded by several historic structures. The park was platted in 1831 and the historic district was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Contents

Boundaries

The boundaries of the Washington Park Historic District are limited to the area around Washington Park, known as Washington Square. On its north, the district is bounded by the east-west Lafayette Street, on the south by Jackson Street. The east side of the district is bounded by Columbus street, and the west side by LaSalle Street. [2] The historic district includes seven separate properties as contributing members, there were originally eight but one has been demolished since the district was designated. [2]

History

Washington Park was platted in 1831 and created by the Illinois-Michigan Canal Commission when the "states addition" of Ottawa was laid out. [2] This was part of the original plat for the city. [3] The park was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858, and has served other civic functions through the years. [2] In 1973 the park and surrounding area was designated a historic district by the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and several of the properties have local landmark designations as well. [1] [4] In 2002 a project to install Lincoln-Douglas debate statues was undertaken and completed. [3]

Washington Park

Statues of Lincoln and Douglas near the site of their 1858 debate Ottawa IL Washington Park Lincoln-Douglas Statues2.jpg
Statues of Lincoln and Douglas near the site of their 1858 debate

Washington Park occupies a square of one city block on the edge of downtown Ottawa and is surrounded by several significant historic structures. Within the park are objects and structures such as the 1873 Civil War Memorial, cannons from the Civil War, World War I and World War II, and a marker noting the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. [2]

The park's central patio is dominated by a fountain and reflecting pool centered with larger-than-life depictions of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. [5] The fountain and reflecting pools, and thus, the statues, are in a plaza which is surrounded by limestone. The statue project was completed by artist Rebecca Childers Caleel with metal casting completed by Art Casting of Illinois. [3] The bronze statues were completed under the guidance of the city's historic preservation commission and dedicated on September 14, 2002. The Lincoln statue is 11 feet (3.4 m) tall and the Douglas statue is 9 feet (2.7 m) tall. [3] Because of their recent installation, the statues are not part of the historic district. [4]

The park has been popular during the holiday season as well as being a major focus of civic life in Ottawa from the 1850s into the present. In addition to the historical features within and surrounding the park there are features more traditional to parks such as greenspace, benches, lighting and walkways. Plant life includes well-manicured lawns, shade trees, evergreens, and tea roses. [2]

Historic properties

3rd Appellate Court

The 3rd Appellate Court building is an example of Classical Revival architecture Ottawa IL Washington Park Historic District 3rd Appellate Court Building1.jpg
The 3rd Appellate Court building is an example of Classical Revival architecture

The Third District Appellate Court Building is found on the northeast corner of the square. The court building was constructed between 1857–60 and served as one of the Illinois State Supreme Court buildings for a decade. [2] [6] [7] In 1897, the state supreme courts at Ottawa, Mt. Vernon, and Springfield were consolidated into one in Springfield. [7] The court in Ottawa, one of five in the state of Illinois, played a role in drawing the Lincoln-Douglas Debate to the city. [2] The building, at 1004 Columbus Street in Ottawa, still serves as the Third District Appellate Court of Illinois. [8]

The Third District Appellate Court building is an example of Classical Revival architecture. It features dominating Doric columns, as well as a large pediment. The central portion was built during the original construction period at a cost of nearly US$230,000. The building's wings were added on in 1877. [7] The building is constructed of red brick and detailed in Joliet limestone. These features, coupled with the Classical elements give the structure an architectural harmony. [7] Because of this harmony the Ottawa Community Art Council has deemed the Third District Appellate Courthouse, "one of Ottawa's most handsome public buildings". [7]

Civil War Memorial

The Civil War Memorial in Washington Park is a marble memorial column erected in 1873. [2] The monument was designed and built by Edward McInnhill. [6] The monument and statue atop it, known as the Goddess of Liberty, pays tribute to LaSalle County American Civil War veterans. The marble faces contain the name of over 800 Civil War dead but most of the names are unreadable due to deterioration. [9]

Congregational Church

The 1870 First Congregational Church Ottawa IL Washington Park Historic District Congregational Church1.jpg
The 1870 First Congregational Church

The Ottawa First Congregational Church was constructed near the intersection Jackson and Columbus Streets facing Washington Park in 1870. [2] The building is of brick construction and cast in the Gothic Revival style. [10]

Christ Episcopal Church

Christ Episcopal Church, is the architecturally superior of the two churches located on Washington Square. Found at the intersection of Lafayette and Columbus Streets, the church is opposite the Third District Appellate Courthouse. [2] The church was constructed in 1871 by the first Episcopalian congregation to organize itself in Ottawa; the congregation first held services in 1838. [2] [6] The Episcopal Church was designed by architect A.H. Ellwood in the Gothic Revival style of the English Victorian era. [6] [11] The building features a "Wallace Window" depicting the Resurrection. It was designed by German artist Julius Hübner. [12]

Lincoln-Douglas debate site

On August 21, 1858, the first of the Lincoln-Douglas debates was held in Ottawa's Washington Park. The site of the debate is marked by a large boulder affixed with a plaque. [6] The boulder was erected on August 21, 1908, by the Daughters of the American Revolution. [6] [13] The day of the debates 10,000 people flocked to Washington Square. [3] Salesmen sold their wares to the mingling crowd and excited politicians were canvassing and quarreling throughout the park. [2]

Circa 1890s popcorn wagon Ottawa IL Washington Park Historic District Popcorn Wagon1.jpg
Circa 1890s popcorn wagon

Popcorn wagon

On the southwest corner of Washington Park is a largely unaltered c. 1890s working popcorn wagon. [2]

William Reddick Mansion

The Reddick Mansion, alternatively Reddick's Library, was constructed in or around 1856 [14] by then-sheriff William Reddick. The building occupies the lot opposite the Third Appellate Court and cost $40,000 to construct. [15] Reddick served in the Illinois State Senate and returned to live in Ottawa, and the house, when he left office. He was known as one of Ottawa's colorful characters of the day and as a humanitarian. It is reported that Reddick housed runaway slaves in his mansion as a "station" on the Underground Railroad. He lived in the mansion until died in 1885. [15]

C. 1856 William Reddick Mansion Reddick Mansion House - Restored - Front View.jpg
C. 1856 William Reddick Mansion

Reddick's will stipulated that the mansion be turned into a public library upon his death and he left an endowment of $100,000 to help accomplish that goal. [15] The public library was established in the Reddick Mansion in 1888 and served the city of Ottawa in that capacity until 1974. [15] That year the library moved to new facilities and the Reddick Mansion Association was formed with the aims of restoring and maintaining the house. The Reddick Mansion is currently open to the public for tours. [16]

Architecturally the Reddick Mansion conforms to Italianate style, of which it is a fine example. [2] The Reddick Mansion was designed by the architectural firm Olmsted & Nicholson. [17] In the home's details, the brick and stone work, as well as the woodwork below the cornice and under the eaves are of particular architectural interest. [15]

Other properties

Within the historic district boundaries are properties that were once part of the district that have been demolished or removed. The LaSalle County Jail building was standing when the district was designated but it has since been demolished. [2] The jail was converted from a circa 1880 single-family home and was most significant for its architecture as well as its association with local politics. [2] [18] Within Washington Park there were original 1857 gas lamps oriented in a circle as a memorial to W.D. Boyce, Ottawan and founder of the Boy Scouts of America. [2] The lamps were located where the reflecting pool is today.

There are also properties that are not considered a part of the district, or what is known as "non-contributing properties". Before the 1980s most U.S. historic district listings did not keep track of non-contributing properties but today, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency's HAARGIS Database does. [4] [19] The 1910 Masonic Temple building, a non-contributing property, is located on Columbus Street, between the two contributing churches. [20]

Historic significance

Washington Square is of special historic significance because it hosted the first of the famous Lincoln-Douglas Debates. The debates lasted three hours under the hot August sun and focused on the issues of popular sovereignty and slavery which set the tone for the other debates to come in 1858. [2] Because of its historic significance as the location of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate, the integrity of its contributing properties, and significance to local life, the Washington Park Historic District was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1973. [21]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Fetzer, Constance. "Washington Park Historic District", (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form, 1973, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, accessed May 11, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Welcome to Ottawa Parks", Resident Resources, City of Ottawa, official site, Washington Square "Did You Know" section", accessed May 12, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 Washington Park Historic District, National Register District Report, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency , accessed May 12, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Attractions", Ottawa Visitors Bureau, official site, accessed May 12, 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Franz, Bill, Puhala, Bob and Henderson, Lyndee Jobe. Illinois Off the Beaten Path (Google Books), Globe Pequot, 2007 pp. 81–82, ( ISBN   0762744138).
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Kozlowski, P. "Ottawa Appellate Court," (PDF), Illinois Historic Sites Survey Inventory Form, May 17, 1971, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency , accessed May 11, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Illinois Appellate Court Clerks & Contact Information", Illinois Courts, official site, May 11, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Goddess of Liberty - Civil War Monument", City of Ottawa, official site, accessed May 12, 2008.
  10. ↑ "First Congregational Church", Property Information Report, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency , accessed May 12, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Christ Episcopal Church", Property Information Report, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency , accessed May 12, 2008.
  12. ↑ Fetzer, Constance. "Christ Episcopal Church", (PDF), Illinois Historic Sites Survey Inventory Form, 1972, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency , accessed May 12, 2008.
  13. ↑ Farrar, Bill. "Lincoln-Douglas debate site", (PDF), Illinois Historic Sites Survey Inventory Form, 1972, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, accessed May 11, 2008.
  14. ↑ There is some discrepancy as to when, exactly, the Reddick Mansion was built. The field guide, Illinois Off the Beaten Path, declares the date as 1856 but it also erroneously states that the mansion is a National Historic Landmark. The National Register documentation does not put an exact date on construction, stating only that it was newly built at the time of the Lincoln-Douglas debate. A 1969 article in the Ottawa Times only gives the date as circa 1860. See: Franz, Illinois Off the Beaten Path, Catlin, "Reddick's Library", and Fetzer, "Washington Park Historic District".
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Catlin, Betty. "Reddick's Library", (PDF), Illinois Historic Sites Survey Inventory Form, May 17, 1971, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, accessed May 12, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Historic Reddick Mansion", City of Ottawa, official site, accessed May 12, 2008.
  17. ↑ "William Reddick House, Property Information Report, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency , accessed May 11, 2008.
  18. ↑ Fetzer, Constance. "LaSalle County Jail", (PDF), Illinois Historic Sites Survey Inventory Form, 1972, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, accessed May 11, 2008.
  19. ↑ National Register Historic Districts Q&A Archived March 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine , South Carolina Department of Archives and History, accessed May 12, 2008.
  20. ↑ "Masonic Temple", Property Information Report, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency , accessed May 12, 2008.
  21. ↑ National Register Information System Query - State and city=Ottawa, IL", National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service , accessed May 12, 2008. Archived June 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaSalle County, Illinois</span> County in Illinois, United States

LaSalle County is located within the Fox Valley and Illinois River Valley regions of the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 Census, it had a population of 109,658. Its county seat and largest city is Ottawa. LaSalle County is part of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area of Northern Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottawa, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Ottawa is a city in and the county seat of LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. It is located at the confluence of the navigable Fox River and Illinois River, the latter being a conduit for river barges and connects Lake Michigan at Chicago, to the Mississippi River, and North America's 25,000 mile river system. The population estimate was 18,668, as of 2022. It is the principal city of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington state</span>

This is a list of properties and historic districts in Washington that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are at least three listings in each of Washington's 39 counties.

The Illinois Historic Preservation Division, formerly Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Illinois, and is a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It is tasked with the duty of maintaining State-owned historic sites, and maximizing their educational and recreational value to visitors or on-line users. In addition, it manages the process for applications within the state for additions to the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil War Memorial (Sycamore, Illinois)</span> United States historic place

The Civil War Memorial, in the DeKalb County county seat of Sycamore, Illinois, United States, is located in front of the DeKalb County Courthouse on a public square. The memorial was erected in 1896 and dedicated in 1897. The structure is a memorial to the thousands of DeKalb County residents who served in the American Civil War. It incorporates an obelisk which rises to 50 feet in height. The base is adorned with copper sculpture, completed by an unknown sculptor. On the east facade of the memorial the word "Antietam", denoting the Battle of Antietam, is misspelled. This work of public art underwent its first restoration work in 2005-2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Contributing property</span> Key component of a place listed on the National Register of Historic Places

In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district significant. Government agencies, at the state, national, and local level in the United States, have differing definitions of what constitutes a contributing property but there are common characteristics. Local laws often regulate the changes that can be made to contributing structures within designated historic districts. The first local ordinances dealing with the alteration of buildings within historic districts was enacted in Charleston, South Carolina in 1931.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen A. Douglas Tomb</span> United States historic site in Chicago, Illinois

The Stephen A. Douglas Tomb and Memorial or Stephen Douglas Monument Park is a memorial that includes the tomb of United States Senator Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861). It is located at 636 E. 35th Street in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, near the site of the Union Army and prisoner of war Camp Douglas. The land was originally owned by Douglas’ estate but was sold to the state of Illinois, when it became known as “Camp Douglas” serving first as training grounds for Union soldiers during the Civil War, then as a prisoner of war camp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elihu Benjamin Washburne House</span> Historic house in Illinois, United States

The Elihu Benjamin Washburne House, also known as the Washburne-Sheehan House, is a 1+1⁄2-story Greek Revival house located at 908 Third Street in Galena, Illinois. Constructed in 1844–45, the building was built for and owned by Elihu Benjamin Washburne, a prominent Galena lawyer who served in Congress during the American Civil War, and as Secretary of State and Minister to France under President Ulysses S. Grant, another famous Galenian. The Washburne House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galena Historic District</span> Historic district in Illinois, United States

The Galena Historic District is a historic district located in the city of Galena, Illinois, United States. The historic district encompasses 85 percent of the city of Galena and includes more than 800 properties. The downtown area consists of three successive tiers made up of Main, Bench and Prospect Streets. Within the boundaries of the district are such notable homes as the Ulysses S. Grant Home and the Elihu B. Washburne House. The Galena Historic District was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew J. O'Conor III House</span> Historic house in Illinois, United States

The Andrew J. O'Conor III House, also referred to as "Riverbend" and "Buena Vista," is a historic home in the city of Ottawa, Illinois, United States. The structure that exists today was originally constructed in 1848 and underwent major remodeling in 1922. The house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hossack House</span> Historic house in Illinois, United States

The John Hossack House is a historic house in Ottawa, Illinois, United States. It was built in 1854–55 and was a "station" on the Underground Railroad. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William H. Van Epps House</span> Historic house in Illinois, United States

The William H. Van Epps House is a historic house in Dixon, Illinois. It is an example of Italianate architecture. and was constructed around 1855. The Van Epps House was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Oak</span>

The Lincoln Oak was an oak tree in Bloomington, Illinois. Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln both gave speeches at the tree during the 1850s. The original Lincoln Oak died in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Albany, New York</span>

There are 75 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Albany, New York, United States. Six are additionally designated as National Historic Landmarks (NHLs), the most of any city in the state after New York City. Another 14 are historic districts, for which 20 of the listings are also contributing properties. Two properties, both buildings, that had been listed in the past but have since been demolished have been delisted; one building that is also no longer extant remains listed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prairie Avenue</span> Thoroughfare in Chicago, United States

Prairie Avenue is a north–south street on the South Side of Chicago, which historically extended from 16th Street in the Near South Side to the city's southern limits and beyond. The street has a rich history from its origins as a major trail for horseback riders and carriages. During the last three decades of the 19th century, a six-block section of the street served as the residence of many of Chicago's elite families and an additional four-block section was also known for grand homes. The upper six-block section includes part of the historic Prairie Avenue District, which was declared a Chicago Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area is a National Heritage Area in central Illinois telling the story of Abraham Lincoln. A National Heritage Area is a federal-designated area intended to encourage historic preservation and an appreciation of the history and heritage of the site. While National Heritage Areas are not federally owned or managed, the National Park Service provides an advisory role and some technical, planning and financial assistance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of John Aaron Rawlins</span> Statue by Joseph A. Bailly

The statue of John Aaron Rawlins, a United States Army general who served during the Civil War and later as Secretary of War, is a focal point of Rawlins Park, a small public park in Washington, D.C.'s Foggy Bottom neighborhood. It was installed in 1874, but relocated several times between 1880 and 1931. The statue was sculpted by French-American artist Joseph A. Bailly, whose best known work is the statue of George Washington in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalorama Triangle Historic District</span> Historic district in Washington, D.C., United States

The Kalorama Triangle Historic District is a mostly residential neighborhood and a historic district in the northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C. The entire Kalorama Triangle neighborhood was listed on the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites (DCIHS) and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1987. In addition to individually listed landmarks in the neighborhood, the district is home to roughly 350 contributing properties. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by Connecticut Avenue to the west, Columbia Road to the east, and Calvert Street on the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Reddick (politician)</span> American politician

William Reddick was an Irish-American businessman, farmer, lawman, politician, landowner and philanthropist. Immigrating to the United States with his family at the age of four, Reddick became one of the most prominent citizens of early Ottawa, Illinois. Having a lifelong interest in education, Reddick supported the foundation of the University of Illinois and assisted in the establishment of a public school system for the youth of Ottawa.

References

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.