Johnson County Courthouse History

History of the Johnson County Courthouse

The following article, prepared by David Oliver, 2024 President of Johnson County Genealogical Historical Society (JCGHS), expresses the concern of the Historical Society for the future of the Courthouse.  Decisions are ahead of the Johnson County Commissioners that will dictate her future.  If you care, let our Johnson County Commissioners know as soon as possible.  Ed Annable deserves credit for much of the below information which was contained in previous monthly JCGHS Heritage Journals. 

With the temporary closing of our Courthouse, we thought it would be worthwhile to revisit the planning and construction of the iconic structure and trace its history through the years submitted by the Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society.  Much of this material is taken from previous JCGHS Newsletters.

The citizens of Johnson County, and even those beyond our borders, cannot keep from seeing the majestic Courthouse while visiting Vienna.  The imposing brick building with its clock tower has been with us for 152 years, and we want to see her for many more.  The official business of the County, as well as the business of the courts, have utilized the halls of this great structure throughout our lifetimes.

Built within five years after the Civil War was over, the Johnson County Courthouse symbolized a new prosperity for its citizens.  Once a backwoods place in the wilderness, Johnson County was beginning to make its way into the era of wealth and growth that was brought about by the first railroad to connect it with the outside world of commerce and modern living.

Throughout the years since its construction, the Courthouse has undergone a few changes but still maintains its original architecture and appearance.  The total cost for construction of this building far exceeded the cost of courthouses in surrounding counties and thus, inevitably, brought some controversy among Johnson County citizens.

The clock was added in 1927 as a tribute to all veterans of Johnson County.  The original cupola was not tall enough, so it was raised to accommodate the clock.  The original corbels were removed from the roof of the cupola, and they are now stored in the attic of the Courthouse.

Construction began in the year 1868 for the fourth courthouse to sit on the present site.  The first was built in 1818 when Vienna was chosen as the location of the Johnson County seat.  This log structure was replaced in 1827 with another log structure.  In 1839, another order for a new courthouse came about.  This third building was of brick construction, likely the one that existed in 1848, and was the building replaced by the present one.

The April 1848 meeting of the County Commissioners saw a committee appointed to inspect the existing structure for repairs.  The committee reported that it would be “impractical” to expend the funds needed to repair the building.  During that same meeting, it was decided that a suitable building be found for holding court.  The repair committee found the “Hess brick house” and basically rented the house for $50……after spending $25 to install a new stove.

In August 1868, notice was given to all interested parties that sealed bids for the construction of a new courthouse would be received in the office of the Circuit Clerk.  Two bidders were recorded----Frank Chapman/Samuel Hess for $47,000, and Joseph Frick for $40,800.  Being the low bid, Joseph Frick from Cairo was awarded the contract with completion scheduled for the first Monday in September 1870.  The plan drawings for the building have not been located, but many of the detailed specifications are recorded in Commissioners Record Book A. 

In 1868, $40,800 was a huge amount to spend on a public structure, but it seems like a real bargain today. There were other obligations that the County had to consider in expending this amount of money.  The County jail was in need of repair, and at the same time, the County had taken on the burden of a $100,000 bond for the new Cairo and Vincennes Railroad to be built through the area.   There were certainly those in the County that disagreed with the decision to spend this enormous sum on a new courthouse, and there were those who even argued that a new courthouse should be built close to the geographical center of the County.  This location would have been in the Bloomfield area at the time.

The new courthouse was to be seventy feet (north-south) and fifty feet (east-west).  The basement story would be of stone.  The Courthouse would be of good quality burned (fired) brick.  The first floor, or ground floor, would be fourteen feet, 2 inches high with the second floor to be nineteen feet high.  The stone work was of local sandstone.  Fire-proof vaults were to be installed with doors of wrought iron with iron frames, with the doors to be made of one-quarter inch boiler plate and equipped with locks valued at $50.   All wood framing was to be of good “merchantable” poplar or oak.  The joists on the first and second floors would be two by fourteen inches, set on sixteen-inch centers, with the attic joists of two by six-inch material, also on sixteen-inch centers.  Shutters would be applied to the inside of the windows and be one and one-eighth inch thick pine and be of the four-fold type.  The floors would be one and one-quarter inch oak planking.  The stairs would have black walnut balusters with one and three-quarter-inch treads of ash.  The newel posts would be octagonal in shape.  The courtroom would have wainscoting as high as the bottom of the windows.  The bar and judge’s stand were to have eight-inch octagonal newels with three-inch black walnut octagonal balusters.  Painted wood and tin were to have three coats of the best quality lead and boiled linseed oil.

Joseph Frick asked that changes be made to reduce the cost, and one of those changes was to make the cupola similar to the cupola on the Cairo Courthouse.  Another change was that the original specified stonework around the doors and corners of the building be made of brick but with the appearance of stone.  This can be seen in older photos.

However, before construction even began, Joseph Frick sold the contract to the partnership of Charles Ham and Issac Pearce.  Ham was not local to the area, but Pearce was.  Frick’s attorney, A.J. Kuykendall, was also involved in the Ham and Pearce partnership.   None of these gentlemen would complete the Courthouse---that task fell to L.N. Wickwire from Cairo.   Details on Mr. Wickwire have been elusive.  He only appears in the Cairo 1870 census, living with his wife, and it appears that he was associated with Mr. Frick, as they lived in the same hotel.  Interesting enough, in 1884, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the case of Issac Pearce vs. Charles Ham.   Details can be found at  www.justia.us/us/113/585/   This case involved the final affairs between the two builders and the alleged misconduct of the Courthouse contract.

In January 1871, some four months later than planned, the Courthouse was opened for business and has been used continually----up until its temporary closure on September 8, 2023.  Around 1908, a heating plant was installed along with a water supply.  The interior of the building was rearranged.  Cement walks were added in 1921.  While the original grand and beautiful stairway to the second floor was on the north end of the building, at some unidentified point, this stairway was removed and a less grand but functional stairway was added on the south end.   A small, rectangular room behind, and north of, the courtroom now occupies the area where the old stairway ascended up between floors.    Another significant change was the closure of the east and west entrances to the building.  At one time, the east and west entrances were the main entrances, with the north and south entrances less so.   When these entrances were closed, the wide hallways leading to them created two additional offices.

The ornate, white-painted brickwork on the outside can be seen in early photographs, but it has been sandblasted away with later cleanings and tuckpointing.   The original building was heated by fireplaces at three locations on the first floor with three matching fireplaces on the second floor.  The fireplaces are still intact, but they have been covered over with wood paneling.  Modern plumbing, heating, and air conditioning have been added through the years and have kept the building comfortable.

Although the cupola was constructed when the Courthouse was built, a clock was added in 1927 and was sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion.  The clock was dedicated to Johnson County soldiers “whoever had been or would ever be called to the defense of their country.”   In 1943, the chiming clock received a thorough cleaning and was back in service.   Around 2008, the clock faces were replaced with more original-looking units.

On September 9, 2010, the Johnson County Courthouse on the Courthouse Square in Vienna was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.   The building was described as an outstanding example of the imposing Italianate-style, which was used for many public buildings in the mid to late 19th Century.  The Italianate style includes a rectangular (almost square) plan form and the two-story height, low-pitched hip roof, capped with a cupola.  Other characteristics include the wide eaves with elaborate molded cornice and heavily profiled brackets, the tall, thin first floor windows, and the paired and grouped arch-headed door and window openings with wide and lavishly detailed surrounds or “eyebrows.”  The formal balance of the Courthouse is accentuated by pronounced moldings and details, such as the string brick course at the second-story window sills, and the rustic quoins at each corner of the building.

 Its octagonal cupola is visible for miles.  While the opulently detailed building has undergone a few alterations over the years, it retains most of its original features, materials, and appearance.  State Senator Gary Forby commented in 2010, “This is a great recognition for Vienna and for all of southern Illinois.”   Illinois Representative Brandon Phelps added, “This national recognition verifies that we are proud of our heritage in southern Illinois, and we invite people to come and experience this wonderful, historic building in Vienna.”

During the 1990’s, the Johnson County Assessor, Treasurer, Probation and Sheriff’s offices were moved across the street to the Courthouse “Annex” for additional room, and to provide handicapped access to the courtroom.   Up until September 8, 2023, the Courthouse was occupied by the business of the Courts.  The Circuit Clerk and State’s Attorney offices were on the ground floor, and the upstairs was filled with the courtroom and Judge’s chamber.   Once the new County building was complete and functional, the plan was to have the Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society occupy the second floor, and rent the office space on the ground floor to provide income to cover building expenses.  However, one of the original wooden timbers in the attic separated, and a chunk fell into the courtroom area.  After a preliminary inspection, the building was temporarily closed, and all offices moved out and temporarily relocated.

The fate of the 1871 Courthouse is now in the hands of the Johnson County Commissioners.  There is no question that our Courthouse could be repaired, although it might not be inexpensive.  There are contractors that specialize in the repair of these old buildings.   One would think that there would surely be grant money available, given its historical significance.   However, there must be the will to find the solution.   The Old Girl needs our help.   Please contact the Johnson County Commissioners and voice your opinion.  Unless you speak up, they never hear your opinion.   Call the Johnson County Clerk’s office at 618-658-3611 and leave a message.   Please reach out as soon as possible.

Jason Taylor, Matthew Hayden, John McCuan can be reached at: countyclerk@johnsonco.illinois.gov