Historic Edwardsville Landmarks To Be Honored With Goshen Commons Plaques

EDWARDSVILLE – A monument in the future Goshen Commons park and plaza will highlight eight historic locations around Edwardsville following City Council approval.

Aldermen approved the inclusion of eight Edwardsville landmarks to be recognized with a monument at the future Goshen Commons site at their July 21, 2026 City Council meeting. Alderwoman Andrea Miracle abstained.

The monument is set to feature one “recognition plaque” to recognize the Kriege Family for their funding support and the Historic Preservation Commission for their coordination efforts. This plaque would also highlight the monument’s purpose, which is to educate visitors about prominent historic sites around the city.

Eight individual plaques will be made and displayed for each of the approved landmark locations, as recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission. These include:

1. Leclaire Academy

2. Benjamin Stephenson House

3. Nickel Plate Station

4. Edwardsville Public Library

5. West End Service Station

6. Hadley House

7. Wildey Theater

8. Madison County Courthouse (c. 1850’s)

Alderwoman Elizabeth Grant noted council members were simply voting to approve the list of landmark locations to be included, as the actual plaque designs have not yet been finalized. Multiple City Council members expressed a desire to see the final designs reflect etchings of each building with their addresses listed to encourage visitors to explore the sites themselves.

At the council’s previous meeting, a resolution to purchase a storage shed for Goshen Commons was approved 5-1 after the purchase failed to receive the two-thirds majority vote needed to pass the meeting prior. Alderman William Krause cast the sole vote against the purchase at both meetings.

City officials broke ground on Goshen Commons this past spring and expect the new pedestrian-friendly downtown park to open to the public sometime this fall.

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