Columbia in Monroe County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Old Engine House & Faust Dry Goods

200 Block S. Main St.

— Historic Main Street —

Old Engine House & Faust Dry Goods Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 21, 2021

1. Old Engine House & Faust Dry Goods Marker

Inscription. The old Engine House, City Jail and Meeting Hall were located at the corner of South Rapp and Cherry, the present site of Columbia's City Hall. It was built in 1875 at a cost of $1,075. It housed prisoners in what was commonly called, "The Claboose." The building was removed in the 1940s, but the cells, which still remains, were placed in the basement of the new building to again serve their original purpose of housing prisoners. In the area of the City Hall Fountain Park once stood the Wm. J. Faust Dry Goods Store. The two-story brick building was built in 1855 and used as a dry goods store until 1966. It was removed in the 1970s when the property was purchased by the City.

Erected by Kaskaskia-Columbia Trail; Columbia, Illinois.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 38° 26.517′ N, 90° 11.912′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Illinois, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection of South Main Street and West Cherry Street, on the right

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when traveling east on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 208 S Rapp Ave, Columbia IL 62236, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gedern - Columbia Sister Cities since 1993 (a few steps from this marker); Columbia (within shouting distance of this marker); Roessler Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Miller-Fiege House (within shouting distance of this marker); Columbia Star Printing Co (within shouting distance of this marker); Breidecker House (within shouting distance of this marker); Franklin Inn & Buck Tavern (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Schaefer House

A view of Columbia's City Hall, site of the Old Engine House & Faust Dry Goods image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 22, 2021

2. A view of Columbia's City Hall, site of the Old Engine House & Faust Dry Goods

(about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Miller-Fiege Home (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 395 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 21, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. 2. submitted on September 22, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.