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Illinois State Police Office (Pontiac)
Encyclopedia
The former Illinois State Police Office in Pontiac, Illinois
, United States
served as the Illinois State Police
District 6 headquarters from its construction in 1941 until 2003. The building, located along old U.S. Route 66
, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 2007.
along U.S. Route 66
was constructed in 1941 as the headquarters for the Illinois State Police
District 6. The building was one of the first headquarters buildings to be built during the era.
The new headquarters building was constructed and traffic along Route 66 continued to increase throughout the 1940s. In 1944 the route was widened to four lanes through this region of Illinois and two additional highway lanes were constructed directly in front of the building. When Interstate 55
was built about a half mile (800 m) to the west of the route during the 1970s traffic on 66 began to descrease. The Illinois State Police remained headquartered in the Pontiac U.S. Route 66 building until 2003. The building was vacated when a new facility was constructed in Pontiac, the old structure had become expensive to maintain and subject to repeated flooding issues. The building is vacant as of 2003.
After being listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in March 2007, preservationists
received word that a bill had passed the Illinois House of Representatives authorizing the state to pass ownership of the building to Livingston County
. The bill was sponsored by a state representative from nearby Chenoa
, Dan Rutherford
, who called the building "part of the heritage of Route 66." A similar bill passed the Illinois Senate
on August 23, 2007 and was enacted as law the same day.
, as was the headquarters for the entire State Police agency. The district covered Cook
, Will
, Iroquois
, and Vermilion
Counties upon its inception. In 1935 the district renamed as District 6, and its coverage area was altered to just include the counties of Kankakee
, Ford, Iroquois, McLean
and Livingston. It was at this time that the headquarters was moved into a rented building along U.S Route 66 near Pontiac.
The official groundbreaking for the new headquarters took place in August 2001 and was attended by then-Illinois Governor George Ryan
. The new headquarters building, a 23000 square feet (2,136.8 m²) facility, was the result of successive requests from the Illinois State Police every year since 1979.
s. The building's interior contains a large squad room, used for meetings, office space, a public lobby and a garage bay for cars and motorcycles.
The one-story building has two main wings. The north wing was originally the administrative area and the south wing a garage. The building's layout has been referred to as "pistol-shaped." The same design was used by the Illinois State Police in the construction of the headquarters building at Rock Island
.
Pontiac, Illinois
Pontiac is a city in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,931 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Livingston County...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
served as the Illinois State Police
Illinois State Police
The Illinois State Police is the state police force of Illinois. Officially established in 1922, the Illinois State Police have over 3,000 personnel and 21 districts. The main facilities of the Illinois State Police Academy, which were constructed in 1968, are located in Springfield. Prior to...
District 6 headquarters from its construction in 1941 until 2003. The building, located along old U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2007.
Building
The Illinois State Police Office south of Pontiac, IllinoisPontiac, Illinois
Pontiac is a city in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,931 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Livingston County...
along U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
was constructed in 1941 as the headquarters for the Illinois State Police
Illinois State Police
The Illinois State Police is the state police force of Illinois. Officially established in 1922, the Illinois State Police have over 3,000 personnel and 21 districts. The main facilities of the Illinois State Police Academy, which were constructed in 1968, are located in Springfield. Prior to...
District 6. The building was one of the first headquarters buildings to be built during the era.
The new headquarters building was constructed and traffic along Route 66 continued to increase throughout the 1940s. In 1944 the route was widened to four lanes through this region of Illinois and two additional highway lanes were constructed directly in front of the building. When Interstate 55
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
was built about a half mile (800 m) to the west of the route during the 1970s traffic on 66 began to descrease. The Illinois State Police remained headquartered in the Pontiac U.S. Route 66 building until 2003. The building was vacated when a new facility was constructed in Pontiac, the old structure had become expensive to maintain and subject to repeated flooding issues. The building is vacant as of 2003.
After being listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in March 2007, preservationists
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
received word that a bill had passed the Illinois House of Representatives authorizing the state to pass ownership of the building to Livingston County
Livingston County, Illinois
Livingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 38,950, which is a decrease of 1.8% from 39,678 in 2000. Its county seat is Pontiac....
. The bill was sponsored by a state representative from nearby Chenoa
Chenoa, Illinois
Chenoa is a city in McLean County, Illinois, USA. The population was 1,785 at the 2010 census. Located at the intersections of Interstate 55, Historic Route 66, and U.S. Route 24.Founded in 1854 by Mathew T. Scott, Chenoa was created to provide a retail and trade center for his farm tenants as well...
, Dan Rutherford
Dan Rutherford
Dan Rutherford is the Illinois Treasurer. He served as a Republican member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 53rd district, from 2003 to 2011, and in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 through 2002.-Early life and education:...
, who called the building "part of the heritage of Route 66." A similar bill passed the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
on August 23, 2007 and was enacted as law the same day.
District six
The 6th District of the Illinois State Police was originally established as District 9 and it was one of initial five police districts established when the State Police were officially founded in April 1922. Its original base of operations was in KankakeeKankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
, as was the headquarters for the entire State Police agency. The district covered Cook
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
, Will
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
, Iroquois
Iroquois County, Illinois
Iroquois County is a county located in the northeast part of the U.S. state of Illinois along the border with Indiana. It is the third largest county in the state in terms of area, covering over . According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 29,718, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 31,334...
, and Vermilion
Vermilion County, Illinois
Vermilion County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Illinois, between the Indiana border and Champaign County. It was established in 1826 and was the 45th of Illinois' 102 counties...
Counties upon its inception. In 1935 the district renamed as District 6, and its coverage area was altered to just include the counties of Kankakee
Kankakee County, Illinois
Kankakee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 113,449, which is an increase of 9.3% from 103,833 in 2000. Its county seat is Kankakee....
, Ford, Iroquois, McLean
McLean County, Illinois
McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
and Livingston. It was at this time that the headquarters was moved into a rented building along U.S Route 66 near Pontiac.
The official groundbreaking for the new headquarters took place in August 2001 and was attended by then-Illinois Governor George Ryan
George Ryan
George Homer Ryan, Sr. was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Ryan became nationally known when in 2000 he imposed a moratorium on executions and "raised the national debate on capital punishment"...
. The new headquarters building, a 23000 square feet (2,136.8 m²) facility, was the result of successive requests from the Illinois State Police every year since 1979.
Architecture
The Pontiac State Police Office is cast in the Art Moderne style, reflecting the sleek, streamlined look of new automobiles during the era. The streamline effect is reflected through the structure's use of curved corners, smooth surfaces and structural glass brickGlass brick
Glass brick, also known as glass block, is an architectural element made from glass. Glass bricks provide visual obscuration while admitting light...
s. The building's interior contains a large squad room, used for meetings, office space, a public lobby and a garage bay for cars and motorcycles.
The one-story building has two main wings. The north wing was originally the administrative area and the south wing a garage. The building's layout has been referred to as "pistol-shaped." The same design was used by the Illinois State Police in the construction of the headquarters building at Rock Island
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
.
External links
- Illinois State Police District 6, official website