Tours offered this week at Old Courthouse Center Final public tours of remodeling at the Old Courthouse Center will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 13. The Friends of the Old Courthouse and the city of Woodstock will offer guided tours for two hours during the last Dusty Boots Tour, 101 N. Johnson St., before […]
Staff Report news@thewoodstockindependent.com Applications are sought through March 31 for the inaugural group in the city of Woodstock’s retail incubation program, The 101. Under the program, a physical retail experience will be provided at the Old Courthouse Center, 101 N. Johnson St., for startup or online businesses ready to operate a brick-and-mortar site. According to […]
City Council members are pushing back on the escalating costs of remodeling the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House. But despite their questions and concerns at last week’s council meeting, members voted unanimously for the consent agenda that included an additional $262,000 in the contractor’s change orders for the project. That brings the added costs over […]
MobCraft Beer of Milwaukee wants to borrow from Woodstock’s revolving loan fund to set up its new micro-brewery and taproom on the lower level of the Sheriff’s House. Makity Make of Algonquin “will be exploring” some of that 3 percent money to expand its do-it-yourself craft business that is moving into the first floor of […]
How the space designated for an arts center will be developed in the Old Courthouse is scheduled to be decided by the City Council at its Dec. 6 meeting. But that decision was expected to be guided by a council discussion planned for this week’s meeting Tuesday night. Two proposals have been made for the […]
As the calendar flips to October, pumpkins and bonfires replace sunflowers and barbecues. That chill in the air can invoke a chill down the spine, as favorite ghost stories are resurrected. The Woodstock Ghost Walk recounts many favorite tales and legends specific to Woodstock. Offering weekly tour dates through October, the Woodstock Ghost Walk, conducted […]
Many people in Woodstock have circled March 31, 2023, on their calendars – some eagerly, others anxiously. That is the date construction manager Bulley & Andrews is scheduled to deliver a fully restored, completely remodeled, yet historically significant Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House for new commercial and civic uses in downtown Woodstock. That’s not to […]
I moved to Woodstock in 1984 after stumbling across a real estate ad in a national magazine for an original log cabin built in 1838. I met with the owners of the square-cut, hand-hewn cabin the following morning and promptly bought the William C. Rider house on Fleming Road. I love architecture and couldn’t pass […]
Progress is often inconvenient, even messy. That pretty much describes Woodstock these days, where “construction zone” signs might reasonably be posted at the city limits as a warning. But that is just a sign things are being improved around town. By coincidence, several major projects that are overdue are being undertaken at the same time, […]
Declaring Public House restaurant “critical to the success” of the Old Courthouse renovation, Woodstock city officials have approved a $389,000 forgivable loan to help the business survive a five-month shutdown starting in October. After at least three recent closed-door meetings of the council as part of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the council last week voted 6-1 to […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
