| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Visitors Guide to the
Pike County
Historic Museum
400 E. Jefferson Street
Pittsfield, Illinois
217-370-0904
 |
The East Ward School, the school was built between the years 1861 and
1866 and was designed by architect John M. Van Osdel. Van Osdel also
designed the Palmer House in Chicago and the Governor’s Mansion in
Springfield. John Houston of Griggsville built the school for the
contract price of $35,000, which was financed by a bond sale. The
building is made of stone that was boated from Joliet on the Illinois
River and brick that was manufactured in Pittsfield. Both the grade
school and high school were located in this building that contains 8
identical rooms and a gymnasium located on the third floor. The large
clock and bell that are mounted in the tower were donated by Colonel
William Ross, a veteran of the War of 1812 and Black Hawk’s War and one
of the early settlers in Pike County. The school closed in 1955 and was
unoccupied until 1978 when it was renovated and became the home of the
Pike County Historical Society and the Pike County Historic Museum. The
museum has memorabilia such as a dray wagon, printing press, wedding
dresses, furniture and dishes. There are some local histories,
photographs, and documents available for historical research. The
Pittsfield theater guild uses the second floor of the school for staging
its productions several times during a year. The East Ward School was
listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Visiting the
Pike County Historic Museum
Visiting Hours
The
Pike County Historic Museum
has limited hours May through October.
There is no charge to visit the Pike County
Historic Museum.
Location:
The Pike County Historic Museum is located near downtown Pittsfield, 2 blocks
north of E. Washington Street (US-54) and just east of N. Jackson Street
(also US-54.)
 Learn more about the
Pittsfield
area.
|
|
|
