An old fashioned holiday

METAMORA - The Metamora Courthouse State Historic Site will be decked out for the holidays during the month of December.

The Metamora Woman's Club 18th Annual "Christmas in the Courthouse" opens Wednesday, December 3 in the historic 1845 courthouse on the Metamora town square with decorations both inside and outside of this local landmark. Numerous trees will be sponsored and decorated by local organizations and may be viewed Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. through January 3, 2009.

On Friday, December 5 the Metamora Woman's Club will sponsor the annual Christmas Concert and Sing-A-Long from 6 to 8 p.m. in the second floor courtroom. Free refreshments will be provided. Also on December 5, a demonstration of period spinning and weaving on an authentic 1790s barn loom will be offered on the first floor of the courthouse from 5 to 6 p.m.

The Metamora Township High School will sponsor the Christmas Tour of Homes on Saturday, December 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. The tour begins and ends at Metamora Courthouse, where free refreshments and live entertainment will be provided.

Metamora Courthouse State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is one of only two surviving original Eighth Judicial Circuit courthouses where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. It is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Call (309) 367-4470 for more information.