| 1. When was Sycamore founded? The village of Sycamore was platted on May 1839 by Eli Barnes and incorporated as a village in 1858. |
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| 2. What was Sycamore’s first name? Why was the name Sycamore chosen for our community’s name? Orange was Sycamore’s first name. The name was changed after it was discovered that another town in Illinois already had that name. The name Sycamore was selected because of all of the Sycamore trees along the Kishwaukee River. |
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| 3. What does the name Kishwaukee mean? Kishwaukee is the Pottawatomie name for river. Kish – the sound of a swift arrow and Waukee means water. |
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Courthouse 1850-1903 |
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| 4. Where was Sycamore’ first log cabin? The first log cabin in Sycamore was located north of what is now 307 W. State Street (the current location of Downtown Shoes). It was the home of Carlos Lattin. A plaque is by the store’s entrance. |
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| 5. Who were some of Sycamore’s founding families? Ellwood, Waterman, Mayo, Barnes, Lattin, Walrod, Sixbury, and Holcomb |
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| 6. Why is Sycamore the county seat? Sycamore is the county seat because it had a larger population compared to DeKalb when the seat was established in 1839. There have been many battles to move the county seat to DeKalb, but Sycamore has prevailed. |
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Carlos Lattin |
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| 7. What is the oldest structure in Sycamore? A portion of the Kellogg house at 232 South Main Street is the oldest residential structure in Sycamore in 1842. It was a stop on the Underground Railroad. |
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Kellog House |
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| 8. Why is State Street wider than other main streets? State Street was platted with 100 feet wide streets by Eli Barnes – looking forward to a future city, not an insignificant village. Surveyor Eli Barnes and deputy surveyor James Waterman staked out the first plat with plenty of land, giving the town a wide street. |
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| 9. Is Sycamore famous for anything? Sycamore is famous for many things including: the Johnson Reclining Rocker, Marsh Harvester, Turner Brass torches, Seymour spray paint, Ideal Industries, and Pumpkin Festival. |
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| 10. Has anyone famous lived in Sycamore? Sycamore has had many famous residents: Pat Brady “Rose is a Rose” a famous cartoonist, Marilyn Thorne – a singer songwriter, Amanda Meadow – Miss Illinois, and “Cyclone Johnny” Thompson a boxing champion. |
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For additional information about Sycamore pick up a “Sycamore Sesquicentennial 1858-2008 Fun Facts” brochure at the Sycamore Historical Society & Museum or at various locations throughout town. A thank you to the Joiner History Room for assisting in the documentation to these questions. |
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Current Courthouse |
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308 West State Street (Lower Level) Sycamore, IL 60178
Phone: 815-895-5762
E-mail:sychist@tbc.net