Macoupin County - American Courthouses

Macoupin County is named for the Indian word “macoupiana”, which means “white potato” for the wild artichoke which grew in the area.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Morgan County and Sangamon County

E – Montgomery County

S – Madison County

W – Jersey County and Greene County

Created: January 17, 1829

County Seat:

Carlinville 1829 – present

County Courthouse – Carlinville

Location: 201 East Main Street / East Street

Built: 1867 – 1870

Style: Beaux Arts

Architect: Elijah E Myers of Philadelphia

Contractor: John Yowell

Description: The building faces north and is a three story light colored Magnesian limestone and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Carlinville. Magnesian limestone covers the rectangle building. The north and south sides have large porticos with four large stone columns rising to a parapet at the roof. There are high arched windows on the second and third floors. In the center of the building is a large round dome with silver colored roof and a small silver colored cupola at the top. Every door in the building is made of iron, each weighing about one ton. Window frames are of iron. In the interior the floors are laid with tile. The upper floor is reached by two wide iron stairways. The front stairways are ornamented with flowers done in iron and other designs. The balustrade of the main stairway at the north are ornamented with wolf and dog heads done in iron. The small County Circuit Court courtroom B is located on the first story. On the front of each of the double iron doors opening into the main County Circuit Court courtroom A is a lion’s head with a large ring in its mouth, a symbol of the majesty of the law. The large magnificent courtroom is located beneath the dome in the center of the building on the second story rising to the third story. The hand-carved walnut judge’s chair is seven feet in height. Lions are carved in each of the huge arm rests. The third courtroom C is located on the third story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit. To the south is the Old Cannonball Jail.

Note: The construction of the courthouse was the most scandalous spending in the Illinois taking the county 40 years to pay the debt. Most of the material for the courthouse was hauled to the site on flat cars drawn by oxen. The Chicago & Alton Railroad put in a switch from the main rail, and the spur became known as the “ox railroad.”

See: The architect, Elijah E Myers of Philadelphia, also designed the now demolished courthouse in Ohio in Seneca County, and in Indiana in Grant County, in Illinois in Knox County and McDonough County and in Ohio in Lorain County.

Note: The Judge’s chair is a 7 foot, hand carved walnut chair with plush upholstery said to have cost $1500 in 1869. To move the massive chair, a track system was laid and wheels were attached to the bottom of the legs. The court bailiff would push the chair with the judge sitting in it up to the bench before court and then back into place after court was adjourned. The chair was originally restored in 1926 after being found in one of the alcoves where it was gradually deteriorating and falling to pieces. It was restored to its crimson velvet beauty with the work completed by Heinz & Company of Carlinville. In recent months, the arm of the chair was broken and the chair was roped off to prevent further damage. After completing the repair work, Bob Ernst of the Furniture Doctor advised that no one should be allowed to sit in the chair because the wood was so brittle and irreparable damage may occur.

See: The 7th Judicial District includes Greene County, Jersey County, Morgan County, Sangamon County and Scott County.

History: The county was created in 1829 and Carlinville was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was erected in 1830. The second courthouse was a two story structure built by Weatherford Brothers, Harbird and Jefferson in 1836. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1867 to 1870 at a cost of $1,542,308.