The Kankakee County Courthouse recently celebrated its 100th anniversary at 450 E. Court in Kankakee.
The Kankakee County Courthouse recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and the Hon. Adrienne W. Albrecht shared her thoughts on the historic building in the October Bench & Bar newsletter. Here are some excerpts from her story:
The weekend of October 3 saw the official celebration of the Kankakee County Courthouse marking a century of service. Its classical architecture and dominant position in the middle of a downtown Kankakee block have stood up well as an indelible landmark. However, its relationship to the people it serves and the stories it has generated will undoubtedly be its most enduring legacy.
It was in this building that Eva Minor, who earned her law license in 1927 after studying in a lawyer's office, used to represent the railroads...
The courthouse lawn has always been a gathering spot. Protests, press conferences, craft fairs, memorial and celebrations have all happened there. ... It has long been a tradition for candidates for judge or states' attorney to use photographs of themselves, with the courthouse dome in the background, in their campaign literature ...
There's something about the elegance and maturity of the surroundings that reminds one of the great traditions in which they follow. it is therefore, not surprising to hear lawyers from big-city law firms comment as they lean on the marble railing discussing their case, "I love coming here. This place makes me feel like a real lawyer."
Click here to view photos of the marble railing and more from the Kankakee County Courthouse.
