Knoxville in Knox County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Hall of Records

1854 - 1873

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 7, 2023

1. Hall of Records Marker

Inscription. [Main marker] This building, first conceived as a fire proof structure with iron window shutters and an iron floor, originally housed the county clerk, recorder and county records.

[Secondary marker]
Knox County Hall of Records
1854 - 1873
Public Library
1878 - 1978
Listed on the
National Register of Historic sites

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 40° 54.491′ N, 90° 17.073′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Illinois, in Knox County. Marker is on East Main Street (U.S. 150) east of North Market Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is on Knoxville City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Knoxville IL 61448, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Knox Township World War I Memorial (here, next to this marker); Old Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); The “Old Courthouse” (within shouting distance of this marker); Knoxville Honor Roll (within shouting distance of this marker); The Indian Trails (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Old Jail (within shouting distance of this marker); John G. Sanburn (within shouting distance of this marker); 614 East South Street (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Regarding Hall of Records. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:

In 1854, when the county seat was still in Knoxville, more room was needed. A plan by John Mandeville was approved by the county supervisors for a fireproof building to house court and county records to be built. This building was to contain two rooms for the circuit and county clerks. On January 27, 1854, Samuel Fox was contracted to erect a brick building west of the courthouse for $5375. Zelotes Cooley was to supervise the construction. Iron plates for flooring, iron shutters, and brick walls made the building fireproof. After the removal of the county seat in 1873, the building became the Knoxville Public Library in 1878 and served for that purpose one hundred years until the library relocated in 1978. Since 1978 the building has been used as the Knoxville City Hall.

Also see . . . Knox County Courthouse and Hall of Records (PDF)

Hall of Records Secondary Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 7, 2023

2. Hall of Records Secondary Marker

. National Register nomination for the building and the former courthouse next door, which were listed in 1992. (National Archives) (Submitted on August 4, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 7, 2023

3. Hall of Records Marker

Courthouse and Hall of Records image. Click for full size.

Joseph Hill via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), May 5, 1936

4. Courthouse and Hall of Records

A photograph of an 1870 print showing the courthouse (right) and the county Hall of Records (left), which was built in 1854.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 4, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on August 2, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.