CATALOG HOMES
From 1908 until 1940, the Chicago-based catalog giant, Sears, Roebuck and Co. as well as Montgomery Ward offered and sold roughly 100,000 build-it-yourself home kits. In all, there were 450 different models ranging in price from $150 to a little more that $5,000. There have been at least four such homes identified by the pre-fabrication lumber stampings located in Tuscola. One home, located at 309 N. Main, was ordered from the 1931 catalog on page 58. It was called "The Cambridge" and was built by Stokeley G. Blackwell, a station agent for the C & EI railroad.
Another home is located at 106 E. Buckner and has recently under gone extensive remodeling. This home was originally built 5 1/2 miles west and 1/2 mile south of Tuscola and was moved to its present site in 1946. Harlen Radcliff built it in approximately 1915 for his sister Lena and mother Juliette.
Yet another catalog home is located a few miles north of Tuscola on Route 45. It is presently the home of Marcian and Clarice Hausman. Tom Bundy built it around 1920-22. Sam Lake lived there until 1929.
The fourth home is located on Scott street and was built by I.T. Branham soon after 1915.
DOUGLAS COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The courthouse sits on a full block on the south side of Tuscola between the east-west streets of Houghton and Van Allen and the north-south streets of Center and Court.
The courthouse is the home of murals painted by E. Martin Hennings circa 1912. It was built in 1912-13 in Classical style architecture. The woodwork is all white oak, floors in public places are of tile and terrazzo, and corridor walls are wainscoted with finely polished marble. All columns and pilasters are of scagliola exquisite workmanship. In the center of the building and extending throughout the three stories is a view able beautiful glass dome. Wide marble stairs on each side of the corridor lead from the first floor to each of the other floors. The courthouse houses a rarity of its time: an elevator. The cost to build the courthouse ran approximately $160,000.
County Clerk's office: 217-253-2411
DOUGLAS COUNTY MUSEUM
The Douglas County Museum is owned by the Museum Association of Douglas County. The Museum Association was founded in 1984. The museum is located at 700 S. Main Street, Tuscola, Illinois, in the former Ferchow IGA Foodliner building. It features changing exhibits and a genealogical library. Special events and fund-raisers are held throughout the year.
The museum, which was established in 1987, is privately funded by the general public, and through the membership-driven Museum Association. Its historical collection includes artifacts dating from 1859 to present from Douglas County and the counties which surround it.
The museum staff is composed of volunteers Jeri Smith, Pauline Underwood, Donna Thode, and John Foote; paid personnel Jean Copas and Irene Ball; and Green Thumb senior worker Roscoe Bishop. Its volunteer director is Lynnita Sommer. She can be reached by e-mail at lynnita@tuscola-il.com.
Museum hours all year long are: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. By appointment only, the museum staff will open exhibits for after-hours tours. The museum is closed on major holidays. There is no admission fee, but donations are always welcome.
The Douglas County Museum is wheel-chair accessible and air conditioned. There is plenty of off-street parking for automobiles and buses.
Call the museum, phone 217-253-2535. The fax line is 217-253-3228.
ERVIN PARK
Ervin Park can be found at the junction of Northline Road and Main street.
N. G. Ervin, who died in 1916 of typhoid, donated about 12 acres of land specifically for a city park. One feature of the new park was a large bell that came from the old city hall building. Additions to the park included a bandstand built in 1917, a swimming pool built in 1956 for $135,000, a pavilion built in 1960, tennis and basketball courts built in 1962, and a horseshoe court was added in 1964. A new elaborate playground, designed by Tuscola's children and built completely by volunteers, was a recent addition in 1996. In 1998, a walking path was completed at the north end of the park.
KELSEY'S WAREHOUSE
Located on south Main street, this warehouse building was formerly the National Guard Armory during World War II and the Korean War.
TUSCOLA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Head Librarian: Bryan Penne
112 E. Sale
Tuscola, IL 61953
Phone: 217-253-3812
Fax: 217-253-4599
The Tuscola library was built in 1903 with a Carnegie grant, which was based on the census of the community at $2 per person, and funds donated by the Women's Club. The design of the Illinois Carnegie libraries was dominated by two architectural firms, Paul Morantz of Bloomington and Patton and Miller of Chicago, and were Classical Revival in style. Morantz was the architect for the Tuscola library. In 1997 the library added a handicapped accessible entrance along with larger restrooms and an elevator with service from ground level to the basement and main level of the library. In June of 1998 the library went through a renovation which included new carpeting, fresh paint, and evaluation and relocation of the collection.
The Tuscola Library has services for all age groups and houses over 16,000 books, as well as video, audio, and magazine resources. It is also a member of the Lincoln Trail Libraries System, which provides timely access to countless additional books and resources. The library has several public access computer terminals with internet connections, and it sponsors numerous community activities and outreach programs.
Click here for additional information on the Tuscola Public Library.