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News and Events
Old Fashioned base ball season wraps up
Thanks to our fans who made the trip to Grayslake Saturday. Unfortunately, McHenry County "Independants" lost a close match, 3-1, during a spirited affair at Central Park. The game became a hurlers' dual. Southpaw Greg Hatrumian kept our Club Nine in the mix until the very end of the six-inning tilt. (Balloon launching took precedent). Hats off to the Athletics of Grayslake for the usual fun event, which featured several players pulled from the audience's ranks. Thanks to Sue Skowronski, pictures from the game can be found at:
Pokémon Go a hit with visitors
More than 50 people showed up for the Society's first – and perhaps, not last – Pokémon event at the county history museum in Union. Pokémon Go, the free mobile app uses a phone's GPS data and camera to place Pokemon characters amid the real world has become a worldwide phenomenon. Encouraging players to walk and explore the many historical buildings – including those on the museum campus – was a no-brainer.
MCHS participates at fair
Historical Society at the county fair
Thanks to all fo the volunteers who worked to make this year's McHenry County Fair a success. Despite the heat, the pictorial panels Exhibits Curator Kira Halvey put together was a big hit - as was this year's Heritage Quilters offering: Pieceful Garden. Volunteers fronm the University of Illinois Extension earned four firsts (radish, green beans, cuccumber, turnip) and a second (potato) for produce entered from the Gannon Cabin garden. Congratuations one and all!
School program part of historical romp through McHenry County's past
The word “pageant” serves up “cheesecake” images of bathing beauties or perhaps boats bedecked in Venetian splendor.
But different types of pageants were prevalent throughout the United States in the early 20th century. Part performance, part educational experience, these pageants reinforced classroom history lessons for the benefit of students and their parents alike. Sometimes they did so on a grand scale.
Haeger Potteries closes after 145 years in business
After 145 years, Haeger Potteries closed its East Dundee factory June 30 in what company President Lexy Haeger Estes characterized as the company’s “most difficult” decision.
“The ongoing recession has reduced our customer base, and foreign competition has decimated our artware and decorative accessory business,” Estes said. “The economy, for the last 10 years at least, was very hard. We changed to more of a bakeware kind of line, home and hearth cooking, because the sculptural pieces were not selling.”
Lake County Historical Alliance
Preservation ordinances can be a hard sell
How do you pass a county historic preservation ordinance? Not very easily, according to those who spearheaded efforts to pass an ordinance in McHenry County.
A Brief History of Beer
Beer has a history all its own
A crowd thirsty for beer knowledge gathered at the museum July 24 to hear home brewer Dave Oberg pontificate about something he knows a lot about: Beer.
MESCHER BLOG: Archeologist Abroad
Romans in Romania
McHenry County Historical Society intern Elizabeth Mescher took a month hiatus in order to excavate the Roman fortress of Halmyris in eastern Romania. During her monthlong stay overseas she will blog occasionally about her experiences. You can find her latest take at
Heritage Fair Pie-Baking Contest
Sweet treat
Eighteen entries, in two categories, competed for this year's grand champion pie. The overall winner was Eileen Lane of McHenry. The winning pie was auctioned off for $42.50, all of which benefited the Society.
Other: 1. Jean Turner, Huntley (nutty fig); 2. Flora Breslich, Hampshire (pecan); 3. Jean Turner (rhubarb/pear).
Berry: 1. Eileen Lane, McHenry (cherry); 2. Jean Turner, Huntley (strawberry); Jean Turner (blueberry).
A tale of two schoolhouses
A tale of two schoolhouses
Judy Lovaas has cared for a unique piece of county history since 1966 but the time has come for another committed caretaker to step forward.
The Holcombville one-room school, located near the juncture of Crystal Springs and Walkup roads near Crystal Lake, looks much the way it has since it was built in 1858. Back in the day the interior boasted large, double-seated desks and whitewashed walls to maximize lighting. There were no curtains and just one stove – located in the front – which burned coal and wood.
Elementary Follies
“More valuable than single representations are a series of connected tableaux or scenes, arranged by the teacher, but presented by the pupils. Such a series may be presented in the form of a historical entertainment for the parents and friends of pupils. The value of an entertainment of this kind is, that in this way one may picture for the eye the growth of certain ideas or tendencies from which great and important changes have come.
Eugene V. Debs Freed from Jail!
History re-created
An energetic crowd turned out Thursday, June 16, to witness history: The release of Eugene V. Debs from the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock on Nov. 22, 1895.
A rousing speech by American Railway Union Vice President George Howard (Craig Pfannkuche), set the table for series of emotionally charged debates over labor reforms, women's rights, the division of wealth, peaceful protests and investigative journalism should play in society. Many of these debates continue today.
Human Race boosts scholarshp fund
McHenry County Historical Society Office Manager Nancy Roozée (center) was singled out as the Top Fundraising Individual during 2016 Human Race, April 24 at McHenry County College. Because of her efforts, and those of six other racers, the Society received a check for just under $2,000 – including a $400 bonus because of the donations Nancy was able to muster. All of the funds will go toward the Nancy Fike Scholarship – a $1,000 award given to a graduating senior who plans on studying education, history or the social sciences.
Eugene V. Debs' vision lives on in Bernie Sanders and McHenry County
On Nov. 22, 1895, Eugene V. Debs stepped out of the front door of the jail on the Woodstock Square a free man.
The McHenry County Historical Society’s Perkins Players will present an original drama marking that event at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 16, on the Square – starting outside the jail and moving over to the bandstand. Period clothing is encouraged, as are lawn chairs to sit on for this free event that will feature appearances by such notables as defense attorney Clarence Darrow, trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly and, of course, Debs.
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