Washington in Tazewell County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Candlewood Bridge & William Holland Homestead
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, October 3, 2026
1. Candlewood Bridge & William Holland Homestead Marker
The Candlewood Bridge, also known as the Cemetery Road Bridge, was constructed in 1894 to cross the south branch of Farm Creek. With a 27-foot span, the double arch limestone bridge is 15 feet above the waterline. City engineer and Washington resident Frederick Rickman designed the bridge, and it was constructed by stonemason Jacob Habluetzel. The Candlewood Bridge opened in 1894 and is one of two stone arch bridges from the time frame within Tazewell County still utilized today. Candlewood Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 1998. Near this same location along Farm Creek in 1825, William Holland established his homestead. The first non-native settler of the township and one of the first settlers in Tazewell County, Holland originally hired out as a blacksmith and worked with the indigenous population in the area. In the years to follow he laid out what today is the City of Washington, which was originally called Holland's Grove. He started the first school and a church and was involved in establishing a local government. He also donates the land for Washington Square, which is still the
this page online
Erected 2026 by the City of Washington, Washington Historical Society, and the Illinois State Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the America 250, the Illinois State Historical Society, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.
Location. 40° 41.861′ N, 89° 24.689′ W. Marker is in Washington, Illinois, in Tazewell County. It is on Candlewood Drive north of Oakwood Lane, on the right when traveling west. This marker is located near the southwest corner of Candlewood Park near the eastern entrance of the Cemetery Road Bridge (Candlewood Bridge). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Candlewood Dr, Washington IL 61571, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Illinois River Valley and in Greater Peoria. It
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, October 3, 2026
2. Marker & Eastern Entrance to Candlewood Bridge
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Glendale Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Henry F. Ganzhorn (approx. 0.4 miles away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. half a mile away); Ronald Reagan (approx. half a mile away); George Washington (approx. half a mile away); In Honor of William Holland (approx. half a mile away); Washington's Bell / Bandstand (approx. half a mile away); Civil War Memorial (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washington.
Also see . . .
1. Washington Historical Society PDF - Comments for Historical Marker Program. See the speech given by Washington Historical Society President, Jennifer Essig during the dedication ceremony of this marker.<blockquote>Excerpt: "Candlewood Bridge has been an important part of Washington’s
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, October 3, 2026
3. Candlewood Bridge (North Side)
2. Washington Rewind Article - Candlewood Park. See this short local article written by the Washington Historical Society about Candlewood Park and the Candlewood/Cemetery Road Bridge.
Excerpt: "Carol Eigsti donated the Candlewood Park property to the Washington Park District in 1994. Eigsti had been a farmer in the Deer Creek area for over thirty years and moved to Washington in 1983. She passed away in 2003. The park's original plans called for a nature center in the house on the property as well as a baseball backstop for neighborhood children."(Submitted on October 4, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.)
3. Washington Rewind Article - William Holland's Job as Blacksmith for the Indians.
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, October 3, 2026
4. Candlewood Bridge (South Side)
Excerpt: "You've heard it before: 'William Holland was a blacksmith for the government.' Let's dig a little deeper and find out exactly what that means."(Submitted on October 4, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.)
Additional keywords. Park
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, August 11, 2025
5. Candlewood Park Identification Sign
This is one of the last wooden park signs still in use in Washington, Illinois. Many other park signs have been replaced with more modern metal signs with a white background and new text.
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, August 11, 2025
6. Candlewood Bridge Closure (Before Marker was Erected)
The Candlewood Bridge was closed from June 2023 to August 2026 due to structural issues with the limestone supports. This photo was taken before the marker dedication ceremony, when the bridge was reopened following its needed repairs.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 4, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
