County of courthouse: Johnson County
Location of courthouse: Poplar St., between S. 4th St & S.5th St., Vienna
Built: 1868
Architect: Niles Llewelly Wickwire
Architectural Style: Italianate
"The Johnson County Courthouse, Courthouse Square, Vienna, Johnson County,
Illinois, is a two-story (plus basement), Italianate building constructed from 1869 to 1871,
measuring approximately 70 feet x 50 feet. The massive brick Italianate courthouse
walls laid are in a common bond pattern with brick quoins at each corner. It has a cross
footprint and sits on a sandstone foundation. The building features a low-pitched hipped
metal roof with centered projecting pediments on the east and west elevations. There is
an octagonal cupola with arched windows with a clock on each elevation and a square
vent cap is centered on the hipped roof. The Italianate Style is further characterized by
the wide, projecting, emphatic eaves supported by heavy decorative scroll brackets and
dentils, long narrow camber (arched) windows with cast iron ornamental window hoods
and arched entrances on each elevation.
"Located in the center of the public square, the Johnson County Courthouse facade
fronts Court Street to the north. The exterior of the building features its original
windows, cast iron window hoods, decorative scroll brackets, brick work, sandstone
foundation, and cupola. In the 1960s the building was sandblasted and brick re-pointed.
At this time, the east and west entrances were removed and replaced with windows for
security purposes, to gain addition interior working space, while retaining the original
exterior cross footprint. Although not original to the building, the alterations to the north
and south entrances; substitution of the metal and glass entrance doors installed for
safety precautions and enclosing of the east and west entrances do not diminish the
historic character of the building. The interior exhibits extensive original craftsmanship
and detailing. The original doors with transoms, hardware, plaster walls, plaster ceilings
and early period vaults are intact. The alterations do not diminished the historic
character of the building and it retains a substantial degree of integrity, location, design,
materials, and workmanship.
"The building retains the essential architectural characteristics that characterize the
Italianate Style, and it effectively conveys its significance for architecture and its role as
a courthouse. The courthouse is the only contributing resource and there are no noncontributing
resources within the boundaries which includes the grassy lawn that
surrounds the courthouse." ~ NRHP Nomination Form