Public Square/Central Park - Monmouth Courthouse Commercial Historic District - Monmouth, IL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 40° 54.723 W 090° 38.894
15T E 698057 N 4531656
This is building number 73 on the NRHP listing map.
Waymark Code: WMXFPA
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 01/07/2018
Views: 0
County of building: Warren County
Location of building: Central Park in center of Public Square, Monmouth
Year built: 1836
Architect/Builder: Many for Public Square
"Site 73 -- Public Square/Central Park -- Contributing
Public Square
Date: 1836
"The square dates from 1836 when the town was platted. The original town was laid out to extend ½ mile in each direction all intersecting at the Public Square. In 1862, the square was graded and sidewalks were put in. By 1881, the square had grown congested with horses and carriages. So the town installed a circular park in the center of the square creating a roundabout. The Central park was originally surrounded by hitching posts where shoppers could tie up their horses, while they shopped. The roundabout was paved with bricks in 1892." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
Marker in park erected by Maple City Reality and Rotory Club.
Text:
PUBLIC SQUARE
Laid out in 1836, the Public Square was the original center on Monmouth, with the city limits extending one-half mile in each direction. Before the square was graded and sidewalks laid in 1862, prairie grass often grew that one could not see from one side to the other.
These sidewalks in the middle of Central park depict the gear of Rotary International's Logo. The Monmouth Rotary Club (Chartered 1918) this city's oldest service club, held their first meetings in the "Commercial Club Room" of the Colonial Hotel (Currently the site of the Midwest Bank of Western IL.). Rotary has since met in, Hawcock's Cafe, Hendrick's Cafe, The Elks Club, Melings Restaurant and currently at the Generations restaurant Located at Monmouth Country Club (circa 2002).