On Friday, October 21, 2011, our dedicated Curator, Grace Moline, was honored by her professional peers and named Illinois Museum Professional of the Year, receiving her award from David Becker, IAM President. Grace was honored during an awards banquet held in Bloomington.
The IAM competitive awards program recognizes the achievements and general excellence of recipients in the museum field. Grace was selected on the basis of her accomplishments this past year and her chairmanship of the multi-county Northern Illinois Quilt Fest. Grace serves as the Chair of our Historic Sites Committee and as the representative from this organization to the Lake-McHenry Alliance of local Historical Societies and Museums.
In 2011, Grace developed and installed a new two-year exhibit titled “Arrival–Harvard in the 1880’s;” mounted a four month museum quilt show with exhibition booklet; and co-authored a McHenry County Quilted Barns and Gardens map. Grace was a 20 year employee with our society. About ten family and friends were in Bloomington to see Grace receive her award. She retired from her full-time staff MCHS position at the end 2011.
June 21
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Father’s Day Fishing. Celebrate Father’s Day fishing with dad at the historical Hatchery Park, 2314 Hatchery Road in Spring Grove. Learn why Spring Grove was chosen as the location for the state’s first fish hatchery in 1913 while you tour the visitor’s center and view photos and artifacts from those early days along with the history of how millions of fish were raised each year and transferred to lakes and ponds all over Illinois. Hike the walking paths with historical markers. Remember your fishing poles, lures and worms. (No other live bait allowed). Fishing licenses are required for those 16 and older. Catch and release only. Parking fee of $5 for non-Spring Grove residents. (Hatchery Park is open from 7 a.m. to dusk)
June 28
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Day at Petersen Farm. McHenry’s Landmark Commission and the McHenry County Farm Bureau collaborate on this year’s “country fair” theme. The eighth annual festival, at 4112 McCullom Lake Road in McHenry, features music, a magician, cow milking, a coloring contest, petting zoo, hayride, farm gardens with master gardeners, children’s activities, food vendors and the opening of the 1860 Colby-Petersen farmhouse and barn.
