Pittsfield

We checked into our hotel in Pittsfield, Illinois.  This hotel was built in 1838 and called the Mansion House at that time.  William Watson was one of the first settlers of Pittsfield.

Abe Lincoln and Stephen Douglas would gather in this lobby when they were in town.  This hotel was an active place in the 1800s, with rooms above and retail space below including a barber shop and tack shops.

(morning view)

The keys to our room were just laid on the counter top.  As I had come before, I knew this was going to be the way it was.  We might have been confused about there being no one at the front desk otherwise. 

We walked up to our 2nd floor room.  There is no elevator in this building.  Glad we weren't on the 3rd floor.

Al had asked for a room looking out to the courthouse.  It happened to be the same room I had been in when I came by myself.

The view of the courthouse from our room.

We decided to walk to Nucci's Restaurant.  It was just a couple of blocks away, just beyond the courthouse.  There are several eating places closeby or if you want the regular chains, you can drive to the edges of town.  The population of Pittsfield is just above 4,000.  You can't get lost.

This is a great pasta place with excellent service!

The next morning, Allen had to log in to work and we had our morning devotions before packing up and heading out.

Before leaving town, we took a little tour of the inside of the courthouse.  This courthouse was built in 1894.

Stain glass above the doorways!

Magnificent!  Why oh why did so many courthouses in the 1960's get torn down.  Oh, I know why.  Money.  But isn't it sad?  This is fabulous!

If only our town had kept their courthouse....

Old is so much better!!

Abe Lincoln practiced law in Pittsfield.  He worked on 34 cases between 1839 and 1852.  He had many friends here and spent a good deal of time in town.

The former courthouse.

We took a "Talking Houses" drive through the town.

Milton Hay house.  Presidential Secretary John Hay, nephew of Milton Hay, an attorney who studied under Lincoln, lived here while attending Thompson Academy.

Shastid House.  This family entertained Lincoln on his numerous trips to Pittsfield.  One time, he ate all the pigeons the family had caught that day causing the young son to exclaim "You're a hog, Mr. Lincoln!"

Grimshaw House.  Lincoln and Grimshaw participated in several court cases together.  Lincoln spent night here.

The Garbutt House.  Presidential Secretary John Nicolay was taken here at age 16 by foster parents Rev. and Mrs. Zachariah Garbutt.  Nicolay later wrote an article advocating for Lincoln for President.

A couple more cool homes.

What a great time!  This town is worth visiting!!    We stopped for lunch at a Wendy's.  We ordered one baked potato and split it, then topped it with chili.  It was soooo good!

We drove through Rockford and up toward Madison.  We HAD to pull off the road to see the world's largest Culvers in Edgerton, WI.

Hmmm.  Expected more.  But worth a stop for a frozen custard!

We made a stop to pick up a cheese wheel for a friend.

Sun was getting ready to set by the time we got to the kids' home!