Dixon, Illinois

Bob Gibler

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 1998
• Print ISBN: 9780738572741
• eBook ISBN: 9781439623688
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

This fascinating addition to the Images of America series offers a glimpse into the unique history of Dixon, Illinois, with more than 200 historic photographs. In the spring of 1830, John Dixon settled with his family near the Rock River in Northern Illinois. Dixon, Illinois, soon grew as men crossed the river here on their way to work in the mines at Galena. In 1832, the Black Hawk War brought a number of now-famous men to this remote outpost of civilization. Winfield Scott, Zachary Taylor, Robert Anderson, Abraham Lincoln, and Jefferson Davis were all here, each of them equally unconscious of future immortal honors. The act of the Illinois General Assembly creating Lee County was approved February 27, 1839, with Dixon officially becoming the county seat on May 31, 1839. Dixon was on its way to fast becoming a central point in Illinois, well known for its industry, beautiful scenery, and the enchantment of the Rock River Valley. The fascinating story of Aurora's industries is recalled through the photographs of the workers themselves - many of which have never been published. Also featured in Aurora, Illinois, is a look at a master photographer and his son, who ran the foremost studio in Aurora. An 1887 description of downtown Aurora, written by a high school student who was a contemporary, is also included in this welcome new addition to the Images of America series.

Three

PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PARKS

The city building was erected in 1871, and was utilized for the fire department, with city offices and a lending library located on the second floor. The Dixon Hose Company Number One had a vast array of books and materials.

The new Dixon City Hall building was completed in 1907. It was a modern brick structure which housed administrative offices for the police, city engineer, clerks, and treasurer. It also provided space for council rooms, as well as housing the fire department, equipment, and horses.

The fire department was housed in the new city hall building. Shown here are the last two pieces of horse-drawn equipment, before the department switched to the modernized motor-driven truck in 1913.

The City of Dixon established a public library district in 1898. The new O.B. Dodge Library building was formally dedicated on February 16, 1901. This building now housed approximately four thousand books. The general contractor was William McAlpine. Years later, the name became the Dixon Public Library.

This interior view of the library shows the upper floor, which at one time housed a vast collection of Native-American arrowheads.

This view shows the rows of shelves containing the many volumes of books which were available to the public.

Here is another interior view of the library.

On February 27, 1839, the act of the Illinois General Assembly creating Lee County was approved, and it became a law, recognizing Lee as one of the counties of the commonwealth. It was shortly thereafter, on May 31, 1839, that Dixon was selected as the capital of the county. The County of Lee was named in honor of Richard “Lighthorse” Henry Lee, an orator and popular statesman of the Revolutionary period. The first Lee County Courthouse was built in 1840.

Pictured here is the second Lee County Courthouse. The original courthouse was constructed at a cost of $7,610. Following the Civil War, the building was found to be too small. With assistance from the townships of Dixon, Palmyra, and Nelson the courthouse was enlarged and remodeled. In 1870, a vault extension was added to the building, along with the wooden, full-length columns.

In 1899, construction began on a new modern courthouse. The cornerstone was laid on July 17, 1900, and it was the social event of the season. As many as 20,000 people came to witness the celebration. The third Lee County Courthouse was dedicated in 1901.

The county clerk’s office in the Lee County Courthouse is pictured here around 1910.

This photo was taken in June 1912, in the Lee County Courthouse. Pictured from left to right are: Ira Lewis, Maud Gitt, William B. McMahan, and Ada Brink.

This is the Lee County Circuit Court, in the old courthouse, before 1900. Pictured here is Presiding Judge James Shaw of Mt. Carroll, and seated directly in front of Judge Shaw, from left to right are: Circuit Clerk William B. M...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Preface
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• One - THE EARLY YEARS
• Two - BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
• Three - PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PARKS
• Four - TRANSPORTATION
• Five - PEOPLE
• Six - SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES
• Seven - ASSEMBLY PARK AND THE CHAUTAUQUA
• Eight - HOTELS AND ORGANIZATIONS
• Nine - AROUND TOWN
• Ten - DIXON’S OWN “MR. PRESIDENT”