When City Councilman Gordie Tebo suggested a new wooden train decoration for the holidays could be placed in front of the Woodstock Public House, it brought up the question of whether the nativity scene that occupied that spot from 1990 through 2019 might ever reappear. “We don’t know if the nativity scene will be out […]
City Council members last week were generally supportive of a plan to use space in a renovated Old Courthouse for a community arts center that would host classes, exhibits, and events. Woodstock Public Library Director Nick Weber presented the council with an updated proposal for Creative Woodstock that he had outlined in September. He sees […]
By Lydia LaGue news@thewoodstockindependent.com When you put a group of artsy-minded people in one room, the anticipation of what they are about to create is nearly palpable. Members of the city of Woodstock Arts Commission met last week for their first-ever in-person meeting since the commission was formed nearly two years ago. New Chairwoman Wendy […]
Six years after its creation, Woodstock’s Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House Advisory Commission had its last meeting – and one final disagreement. The commission was created in October 2015 as officials envisioned future uses of the 19th century historic buildings, which the city had acquired in 2011. Nine members were appointed “to assess community needs, […]
As the project to breathe new life into the city-owned Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House inches toward a final plan, taxpayers might feel a bit anxious about what’s next. Taxpayers have not spoken up at public meetings about the project, so maybe no one objects to the pricey restoration. Who knows? But more than a […]
Old Courthouse again open for visits, tours Docent-led tours of the 1857 Old McHenry County Courthouse have resumed after a year’s hiatus due to pandemic mitigations. The free tours with masking, distancing, and small group sizes will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month throughout the summer, […]
As progress on restoration of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House moves toward new civic and commercial uses, public support might falter if contractors start digging up the northwest corner of the Park in the Square for a geothermal system for the historic buildings. Even some members of the Woodstock City Council had concerns last […]
Two months after pumping the brakes on Woodstock’s aggressive program to upgrade streets, the City Council has put remodeling of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House on the fast track. Council members had voted 7-0 in October to “pause” the street program that saw more than 19 lane miles resurfaced this year with a $9.4 […]
If a lot of uncertainty hovers over the ongoing remodeling of the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House, at least the design of a new back entrance seems to be settled. Both the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Old Courthouse and Sheriff’s House Advisory Commission have endorsed a brick-and-glass design that the National Park Service […]
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.
