McLean County Museum of History
Built: 1903
Architect: William H. Reeves and John M. Baillie
About William H. Reeves and John M. Baillie
William Hawks Reeves was born in Bloomington to Judge Owen T. and Mary Ellen (Hawks). Reeves on December 1, 1866. William received his early education in Bloomington public schools and later studied architecture at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana for two years. In 1889, he moved to Peoria and began working as a draftsman for Warren H. Milner. By 1890, Reeves left Milner's office and became associated with Joesph Wechselberger, forming the firm of Wechselberger & Reeves until 1892.
William Reeves married Colima (or Lynia) French on December 4, 1895, in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois. They had two children, Owen and Marian.
In 1893, Reeves teamed up with local architect John M. Baillie to establish Reeves & Baillie. Specializing in modern Renaissance and classical styles, their designs became well-known in Bloomington, earning widespread acclaim. Reeves was appointed to the State Board of Examiners of Architects in 1897 and served for six years.
In addition to designing the third McLean County courthouse, Reeves also drew up the plans for a new high school building for Bloomington Public Schools. The building, located on East Monroe Street (which now serves as the District 87 administration office), was dedicated on January 1, 1897. When a new high school building on East Washington Street was completed in 1917 (designed by Arthur Pillsbury), the former building became a ward school known as Jefferson School.
He continued working with his firm with Baillie until his later years when he retired. Reeves battled cerebral palsy until his death on March 9, 1924 in Pasadena, California. He is buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington, IL.
Style: American Renaissance/Renaissance Revival (1820-1900)
About American Renaissance/Renaissance Revival (1820-1900)
Renaissance styles developed during the European Renaissance (c. 1400-1600) were based on revived appreciation of Roman architecture. These ideas spread throughout Europe and versions of Renaissance styles developed in France, Spain, Northern Europe and the British Isles. American architects in the Victorian period based much of their work on these styles, sometimes faithfully copying the style and other times using them far more freely for the demands of American building needs.
Address: 200 N. Main St
Brief History:
1832* - The first county courthouse, made of whipsawn cherry and black walnut, was built near Center Street by Asahel Gridley.
1836* - The second courthouse was constructed on site by Leander Munsell. It was a Federal style two-story brick courthouse. The old wooden structure was hauled offsite and was last used as a hog shed near Hudson, Illinois. This courthouse served the attorneys of the old Eighth Judicial Circuit, the most prominent of them, Abraham Lincoln.
1832* - A two-story county jail was built on the northeast corner of the square. It was constructed of hewn logs with entry to the cells made by a trap door through the second floor. It served as the jail until 1839 when the second jail was built at Market and Center Streets and was used until 1849.
1868* - Alfred Piquenard, a young French-born architect and partner in the firm Cochrane and Piquenard, was hired to design the third courthouse. Piquenard’s design was based on the Italian Renaissance style for a cost of $420,000
1900* - On June 19 that year, fire swept through Downtown Bloomington, destroying five square blocks of buildings, including the third courthouse which was badly damaged. The estimated destruction of the courthouse was placed at $250,000.
1900 (June 20) – A special committee was formed to oversee the construction of a new county courthouse, the fourth courthouse. The Peoria, Illinois architecture firm Reeves and Baillie were retained for the construction project.
1903 – Fourth Courthouse was completed
1992- The McLean County Museum of History, an American Alliance of Museums accredited museum, opens.
* - References earlier courthouses
Architectural Description:
American Renaissance style, primarily based off of Italian Renaissance buildings from Europe, ca. 1450 to ca. 1550.
The copper dome, reminiscent of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, was capped by a lantern and ball.
Overall, the design was based off of classical principles of symmetry and proportion, with the radius (or module) of the column at the base was the unit measurement used in the design.
The building is characterized by hierarchical order of facade elements and graduated system of windows.
It has a composite order with three-story porticos and engaged columns.
Exterior walls use a pattern of pedestal, base, shaft, and capital in limestone.
Roof balustrades are capped with carved Anthemions (a flat, ornamental floral form).
Piers utilize column order with a wide base and shaft followed by a dressed cap of waterleaf and egg and dart moldings
Steel joist and roof structure
Interesting Facts:
The building that stands today was almost demolished in 1965, and again in 1986.
In 1986, organized citizens and Nancy Froelich, Chair of the McLean County Board, were determined to keep the building in use. Two years later it was officially decided to form a partnership with the McLean County Historical Society to turn the building into “a historical and culture traditional center of McLean County.”
The building continues to house the McLean County Museum of History today.