Ladies & Gentlemen: Is there anything the State of Illinois can do to prevent local businesses and politicians from destroying historical buildings? Several weeks ago, an old and historically marked building was destroyed in an extremely sneaky and underhanded way in Waterloo. The building was built in the 1840's by Joseph W. Hilton for his hotel and livery business. The City of Waterloo purchased the building and lot late one evening/night and between midnight and 5:00 A.M. totally destroyed the building to make a parking lot. A $110,000 parking lot. Absolutely no one in the community received any alert about their intentions. The entire transaction from purchase to destruction occurred in approximately 12 hours. I have done much research and believe this was the first Hilton Hotel in the entire country. The 3rd floor had Masonic and another lodge symbol (IOOF?) engraved in the ceiling and a little room where the candidate apparently waited to see if he were accepted or "black balled". Now another old building is in danger. It is the old Waterloo newspaper building on Market Street a half block from the courthouse in the "historic district". Sources tell me that First Bank has purchased the building and wants to tear it down for a new building. It was built circa late 1800's and is a beautiful old building. The Harrisonville Telephone Co. was allowed to destroy almost an entire block of historic buildings, including the Dutch College, for a new office building and parking lot. All this is done right on Market Street in the so-called "Waterloo Historic District". The Monroe County Historical Society's protests are ignored, therefore I ask if there is anything you can do to help us. I am going out of town tomorrow, but can be reached by my cell phone - 417-230-5373. Thank you for your attention to this matter, Janet M. Flynn, Secretary Monroe County Historical Society Secretary & co-founder Monroe County Genealogical Society