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County courthouse has unique history

 We in Fayette County are very proud of that fact that of the state’s 102 counties, Fayette County is the only Illinois county whose courthouse was once a private residence.

Built in 1859 by Frederick Remann II, the home served as the Remann family home for 50 years. Illinois Congressman Frederick Remann III, son of the builder, was born here.
According to a guide of Fayette County’s courthouse, compiled by the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) in 1939, several people owned property on what was referred to as the "Remann lot," which the county purchased on Oct. 10, 1922.
Several homes were situated on the lot, including the F.T. Houston home, the old Remann home, the old Joseph Gordon home, along with those of J.G. Wills, Waverly Houston and Charles Henninger.
The booklet went on to explain, "Until actual use of the properties should be made, they were ordered let out for rental." Eleven years elapsed between the purchase of the block and the time the Remann home saw use as the Fayette County Courthouse.
It was during these 11 years that the Frank Denny family lived there in one of the apartments. Camilla Diveley remarked that her late aunt and uncle also took up residence in the two-story brick structure.
Following a fire at the County Poor Farm northwest of town on Ill. Route 185, the county’s indigent were housed in the mansion. The irony of this appeals to me.
Julia McCord Pitkin, daughter of Isabella Gordon and John N. McCord, and grand-daughter of Rev. Joseph Gordon wrote in her memoir titled, “Memories of the Master of the Hill,” that her grandfather, Gordon, purchased the land in 1849 that later encompassed three blocks.
On the highest point of the hill, Rev. Gordon built his two-story home overlooking the country in three directions. She remembered that on each side of the path leading from the house to the street, stood two tall stately cedars, like sentinels.
Her grandfather later sold the front corner, which was part of the orchard, to a friend, and a brick home was built – the 20-room Remann mansion.
Julia mentioned that the brick house occupied the part of the orchard where the favorite cherry trees had grown. The apple orchard was south of the Gordon home, along Seventh Street.
Her reminiscence continues: “(The home) had a youngest daughter and the brick house had an only son. One day, a bride left her home but went only a few steps down to the brick. She spent many happy years here.”
Julia Gordon and Frederick Remann III were married in Vandalia on Nov. 13, 1873. Frederick’s father had died six months earlier, so Julia, as the new Mrs. Remann, became mistress of the mansion. The groom was a veteran of the Civil War, having served with the 143rd Illinois Infantry. Upon returning from the war, he went into business with his father.
Frederick III was the third generation of Remanns to live in Vandalia. His grandfather, Frederick I, came to Vandalia with the Ernst Colony from Hanover, Germany, in 1819.
Three years after Julia and Frederick were married, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, being its youngest member at the time.
Politically, Fred was a Republican, and in 1894, was elected to the U.S. Congress by a large majority in a district overwhelmingly Democrat. However, he was not destined to take his seat.
Overworked in a difficult campaign, Frederick Remann III collapsed and died on July 14, 1895.
His widow, Julia, lived in the house for a number of years, later moving to Tacoma, Wash., with their son, also named Frederick.  This Frederick also left his mark on Vandalia; he was the city attorney in 1904.
After their move to Washington State in the early 1900s, the Remann family returned for visits but never again occupied the mansion. Julia Gordon Remann died in Tacoma in 1929. Her body was brought back to Vandalia for burial beside her husband in South Hill Cemetery. Fred Jr. died in Tacoma around 1943.
Although we no longer see the Remann family name in Vandalia, except on a street sign or on grave markers at the local cemetery, their home, built more than 150 years ago, remains as a monument to this early Vandalia family.

The Fayette County Courthouse holds the distinction of being the only Illinois courthouse that previously served as a private residence. It was built in 1859 by Frederick Remann II.

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