Woodstock Square Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Woodstock Square Historic District is located in the county seat of McHenry County, Illinois
, which is Woodstock
. The district is located in downtown Woodstock and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
since 1982. Within the district two of Woodstock's other Registered Places can be found, Woodstock Opera House
and the Old McHenry County Courthouse
.
es, including restaurants and shops. The streets of the square are one way and paved with brick, they square off a large public park which features two gazeebos and war memorials. During the winter the square and its buildings and trees are adorned with lights.
The Woodstock Square is host to a number of festivals and events throughout the year. Some the events include Harvestdays, Old Time Fiddlers Competition and Groundhog Days, celebrating the city of Woodstock's role in the 1993 film Groundhog Day
. Groundhog Day was filmed on location in Woodstock, Illinois, the city portrayed Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
in the film.
which features a lightning rod
.
is one of the key elements of the Woodstock Square Historic District. Originally constructed to be a library
, council room, court
, fire department, and provide a second floor auditorium, the Opera House quickly became the center for McHenry County
's entertainment. Today the Opera House hosts a variety of events. They include: concert
s, theatre
, dance
, visual art, educational programs, lectures and meetings. The Woodstock Opera House is one of the oldest continually operating theatres in the United States.
Many key scenes, featuring Bill Murray
, in Groundhog Day were filmed in and around the Woodstock Square Historic District. Murray's character is seen plummeting from the Woodstock Opera House after he figures out he will indefinitely be reliving the same day over and over again, causing him to become humorously suicidal. The restaurant where Murray's character is shown exhibiting God-like ability to predict the future is located on the Square as well and is still home to a small diner today.
McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in...
, which is Woodstock
Woodstock, Illinois
Woodstock is a far northwest suburb of Chicago in McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 20,151 at the 2000 census. The 2010 Census shows 24,770 residents. It is the county seat of McHenry County...
. The district is located in downtown Woodstock and has been listed on the 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...
since 1982. Within the district two of Woodstock's other Registered Places can be found, Woodstock Opera House
Woodstock Opera House
The Woodstock Opera House is a historical venue for performing arts and receptions located in Woodstock, Illinois. It was designed as a multi-use facility including City Hall, and the police and fire departments by architect Smith Hoag and built by contractor Simon Brink in 1889 for a cost of...
and the Old McHenry County Courthouse
Old McHenry County Courthouse
The Old McHenry County Courthouse, in McHenry County, Illinois, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 1, 1974. Once the courthouse in the county seat of McHenry County, Woodstock, today the courthouse is occupied by various private tenants including a restaurant and an...
.
Square
The square consists of historic buildings and is anchored by two key structures, the Old McHenry County Courthouse and the Woodstock Opera House. Most of the other buildings on the square are privately owned and kept up, housing numerous small businessSmall business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
es, including restaurants and shops. The streets of the square are one way and paved with brick, they square off a large public park which features two gazeebos and war memorials. During the winter the square and its buildings and trees are adorned with lights.
The Woodstock Square is host to a number of festivals and events throughout the year. Some the events include Harvestdays, Old Time Fiddlers Competition and Groundhog Days, celebrating the city of Woodstock's role in the 1993 film Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day (film)
Groundhog Day is a 1993 American comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. It was written by Ramis and Danny Rubin, based on a story by Rubin....
. Groundhog Day was filmed on location in Woodstock, Illinois, the city portrayed Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Punxsutawney is a borough in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States, northeast of Pittsburgh. In 1907, Punxsutawney and Claysville boroughs were consolidated and incorporated as Greater Punxsutawney. A high-grade soft coal was mined in the surrounding region...
in the film.
Old McHenry County Courthouse
The Old McHenry County Courthouse is separately listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was long the home for McHenry County government offices, though it no longer serves in that capacity. Today, the courthouse is home to several businesses and is one of the key elements in the Woodstock Square Historic District. Built in 1857 the Old Courthouse is designed in a simple Italianate style. The building is topped with a distinctive white domeDome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
which features a lightning rod
Lightning rod
A lightning rod or lightning conductor is a metal rod or conductor mounted on top of a building and electrically connected to the ground through a wire, to protect the building in the event of lightning...
.
Woodstock Opera House
The Woodstock Opera House has been in continuous operation since its construction was completed in 1889. Along with the Old Courthouse, the Opera HouseOpera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
is one of the key elements of the Woodstock Square Historic District. Originally constructed to be a library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, council room, court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
, fire department, and provide a second floor auditorium, the Opera House quickly became the center for McHenry County
McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in...
's entertainment. Today the Opera House hosts a variety of events. They include: concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s, theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, visual art, educational programs, lectures and meetings. The Woodstock Opera House is one of the oldest continually operating theatres in the United States.
Woodstock Square in popular culture
Bill Murray
William James "Bill" Murray is an American actor and comedian. He first gained national exposure on Saturday Night Live in which he earned an Emmy Award and later went on to star in a number of critically and commercially successful comedic films, including Caddyshack , Ghostbusters , and...
, in Groundhog Day were filmed in and around the Woodstock Square Historic District. Murray's character is seen plummeting from the Woodstock Opera House after he figures out he will indefinitely be reliving the same day over and over again, causing him to become humorously suicidal. The restaurant where Murray's character is shown exhibiting God-like ability to predict the future is located on the Square as well and is still home to a small diner today.