History in Thebes

The Thebes Courthouse is a historic gem in our midst. Abraham Lincoln practiced law in the court's circuit. Dred Scott, the slave whose suit for freedom helped precipitate the Civil War, spent time in the jail there.

Built more than a decade before the Civil War, the courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a commanding view of the Mississippi River. For lack of funding, many of the valuable documents and artifacts the courthouse once housed deteriorated and were lost over the decades. The courthouse became a monument to neglect. Tours once conducted by the Thebes Historical Society dwindled to none.

The building, owned by the village of Thebes, became a source of controversy in recent years. The village board wanted to terminate the lease held by the Thebes Historical Society and reopen the courthouse to the public. Eventually the village board settled the argument with a bolt cutter.

Now the courthouse is set to reopen at noon today, an event to be celebrated with a parade and other activities. The courthouse will be open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. all three days of the Memorial Day weekend. It will remain open for limited hours during the summer.

The courthouse is a landmark in regional and national history. It should be made available to the public as much as possible.