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The three settlers, who included Henry
Weed, Lucius W. Young, and Seth M. Young, laid out a townsite and
agreed to contribute $3,000 for the erection of public buildings, as
we;; as donating land for a public square, a jail and a pen for stray
domestic animals. They also promised to build a bridge across the
Vermilion River. The town was named for the
Ottawa
Indian Chief, Pontiac. Though
Pontiac had waged war on white setters invading
Ottawa
for some 60 years, he was much admired by both whites and Native
Americans alike.
 Once
Livingston County was organized, a two-story frame courthouse was
completed in Pontiac in 1842 and located on the public square. It
continued to serve the county until a new building was built in 1856.
Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the second courthouse, but a third was
completed in 1875, which still stands today and is listed on the
National Historic Register..
Having some of the richest farmland in the
nation, Pontiac thrived with an agricultural economy, growing wheat,
corn, and other staple crops. Later, it developed a a number of
manufacturing facilities, bringing further prosperity to the town.
These included shoe and boot manufacturers and the Allen Candy Company
and its famous "Lotta Bar." The advertising slogan for this confection
was, "A Lotta Bar for 5 cents."
Early on, Pontiac developed a rich
cultural heritage, beginning with the Folks Opera House and featured a
number of artists who traveled the circuit from
Chicago,
Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri.
The community grew steadily, but prospered even more
when when
Route 66
barreled through in 1926. Happily, the community quickly
provided services and amenities to the many travelers of the historic
road. Today, this city of some 12,000 people
provides several historic points of interest including the Livingston
County Courthouse built in 1875, the Jones House built in the 1850's, and
the Old City Hall Shoppes, all of which are listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
While in
Pontiac, make sure you stop by the
Route 66
Museum and Hall of Fame, which provides
Route 66
artifacts, pictures, and literature capturing years of adventure on the
old route. The museum was built inside a
refurbished firehouse, which is also listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Also here, is the Old City Hall Shoppes and the
Livingston County War Museum.
It is located at
110 W. Howard Street.
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Old
West Wanted Posters and Wild West Prints
