Sycamore

The attractions of Sycamore include its majestic 1904 county courthouse, domed Carnegie library, well-appointed Victorian homes and tree-lined streets, and flourishing central business district located on a broad main street first laid out in the mid-19th century. The 1 parking meters are a nice touch too. This DeKalb County seat retains the charming appearance of a fictional midwestern small-town USA. Now known far and wide for its annual pumpkin
festival in October, Sycamore has a rich historical past. In Sycamore, readers will discover people, businesses, organizations, and events that contributed to this community becoming a place where the slogan Life Offers More in Sycamore was a natural.

Phyllis Kelley, official DeKalb County historian since 1989, directs a dedicated volunteer staff at the Joiner History Room, a county archives and historical-genealogical research center now located at Sycamore Public Library. In 2006, Kelley's work in historical preservation and education was recognized with the Illinois Humanities Council's Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award.