The Courthouse Hill Historic District rises above the
     city of Janesville and the east side of the Rock River
on a steep bluff. A wooded ravine separates it from
neighborhoods to the east and nineteenth and twentieth-
century commercial development borders it at the west. This
residential neighborhood contains outstanding examples of
the architectural styles associated with Janesville's growth
and development from settlement to 1940. Many of Court-
house Hill's early residents were influential in commerce,
industry and legal affairs, and the district's architectural
development well demonstrates their architectural tastes.
The historic district, which contains 30 blocks and 219
properties, was listed in the National Register of Historic
Places in 1986 after architectural surveys made in 1975 and
1981. Listing in the National Register gives national recogni-
tion to the special character of the area, and provides
properties with limited protection from any federally-
funded, licensed, or permitted actions. It also makes reha-
bilitated income-producing properties eligible for federal
and state investment tax credits. (See page 43 for more
information.)

The blocks surrounding Courthouse Hill appear on Henry
Janes' plat of Janesville first recorded in 1840. In 1836, the
territorial legislature established the Rock County seat here
on Janes' claim. Janes' plat provided for a courthouse site,
with four squares sloping down the bluff. The squares were
near the river landing, and also provided excellent views of
the river and the bluffs to the west. Janes left the area in
1839 and was in California by 1855. In that year he corre-
sponded to the Janesville Gazette:

        I have never been able to learn where you built
        your courthouse . .. I had selected a block to put it
        on, top of the hill, back of where Harvey
        Storey's blacksmith shop stood when I left
        Janesville ...

In addition to occupying a portion of Janes' original plat, the
district occupies portions of later additions made by land
developers Sinclair, Bates, and Connell, Jackman and Smith.



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