News and Events
Brink survey book getting second life
A $450 donation from the Crystal Lake Chapter of the Polly Crandall Questers is helping restore a valuable piece of history. Pictured (from left) are Gloria Cody, who chaired the matching-grant fundraiser; MCHS former Administrator Kurt Begalka, chapter President Sylvia Yount and Emily Gibson, a member of the Crystal Lake Questers' Preserve & Restore Committee. The money is restoring an index to John Brink's surveys of McHenry County.
Context key when envisioning statues with 20/20 hindsight
You’d think the author of the Emancipation Proclamation would be above reproach when it concerns civil rights protests. Not so.
Boston agreed to remove “The Emancipation Group,” a controversial statue depicting Abraham Lincoln standing over a half-dressed, freed slave – broken shackles around his wrists. It is a replica of the “Emancipation Memorial” in Washington, D.C., created by 19th century sculptor Thomas Ball. Lincoln holds a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation in in one hand while an African American stares upward toward the horizon.
Karcz wins Fike Scholarship
Anna Karcz is the winner of this year's Nancy Fike Scholarship. She plans to study Elementary Education at Augustana College in Rock Island.
Named in honor of the Society's former administrator, the Society awards the $1,000 Fike scholarship to a graduating senior from a McHenry County high school who plans to study education, history, or the social sciences.
This merit-based scholarship is given in the winning student’s name to his or her college /university.
Continuing to Educate: Union School at 150
When Union School was built in 1870, it must have been quite the imposing structure.
CLICK HERE for video.
Amid angst over masks and monuments, classic TV stars
Under the old adage that “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar,” perhaps chambers of commerce should consider highlighting local businesses that make a point of requiring staff and customers to wear masks – and enforce that edict. That way, those wishing for an added level of security know that they can shop at specific locations in safety and choose to reward such civic-mindedness with sales.
Sometimes convenience has to take a back seat to common sense: doing what is best for the public good. If you want to live on an island, move to the Aleutians.
White Elephant Clearance Sale & Garden Glitz
UNION – Our popular White Elephant and Garden Glitz sales have been expanded this year to three days.
Shoppers will be rewarded with closeout prices this year starting at 9 a.m. Friday, July 10. The sale continues until 3 p.m. that day and again from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Those arriving between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12, will receive markdowns of up to 75 percent! At that price you can afford to fill up a box and sort through it later.
Fit to be Tied
Paula Goepfert, originally from Hyde Park in Chicago, was flabbergasted at the news that she won the Heritage Quilters' 2020 quilt: "You've got to be kidding!"
After the shock wore off, excitement quickly replaced it. It's just the thing to keep herself and her husband, ages 92 and 98, respectively, warm this winter ... and do it in style.
“It’s just so beautiful. I’m going to admire it and show it to everybody,” Paula said. The pattern dates to the 1880s and was first published by the Ladies Arts Company in 1895.
Yerkes Observatory example of positive public involvement
Hearings are underway in nearby Williams Bay, Wis. concerning the fate of a star-studded piece of historic architecture:the Yerkes Observatory.
Closed for two and a half years, the University of Chicago transferred ownership of the historic building and picturesque grounds to a nonprofit foundation in May. The university has owned the observatory since 1897.
Landmarks Illinois provides emergency funding
UNION – The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum in Union was among 13 nonprofits receiving a combined $26,000 from Landmarks Illinois, a statewide historic preservation advocacy organization based in Chicago.
Gas station attendant bill stuck in park
As of May 22, Arkansas took top honors for having the lowest average price for a gallon of regular gas, according to AAA. Its $1.601 paled next to Illinois’ $2.212 per gallon – second priciest in the nation. Only California drivers ($2.841 per gallon) paid more.
It is worth mentioning fuel costs are on top of $1.9 billion in vehicle-related tax and fee hikes which were passed in Illinois last year. They include a doubling of the state’s gas tax – which, incidentally, will automatically increase each year with inflation.
Milk does the body good ... if you can get it
Tension gripped the county back in the winter of 1929 – especially if you were a dairy farmer.
The Jan. 18 edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune reported that an additional 3,100 pounds of milk, the equivalent of about 360 gallons, was among 7,100 pounds of milk destroyed by angry dairy farmers over two days.
Senior Network shares handsewn bounty
Special thanks to the Senior Care Volunteer Network in Crystal Lake and organization Outreach Director Laura Turasky for its donation of three dozen protective masks. Laura said that these homemade masks come from many individuals and groups from across the county. As she put it: "Great people working to make a difference during a challenging time."
The network, which receives between 10 and 100 at a time, was gracious enough to share the county with MCHS. We will given to our volunteers to use, many of whom are older and at risk.
THANK YOU!!!
Museums Making History: Rapid Response Collecting
So many of us, myself included at times, think of history as something in the past, not something happening in the midst of our daily lives. The COVID-19 pandemic is changing that perception.
Activity Kits available
Step away from your screens and step into history for a hands-on pioneer adventure!
The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum is offering free activity kits for third- through fifth-graders.
1. Pioneer Activity Kit – Children learn how to plan their pioneer adventure, pack a pioneer wagon, imagine and draw a new area to settle, grow a garden and even create pioneer toy! It includes an activity script and all materials needed for fun away from a laptop or video game.
At war with a virus... and our response to it
Retooling manufacturing during a time of war – and let’s be honest, that’s what the battle against COVID-19 is, it’s nothing new. And thanks to companies nowadays, it’s nothing old.
In hindsight, this latest flu outbreak required more foresight
During these unprecedented times, it is worth remembering that the world went through something just as deadly in 1918 – perhaps even more so considering the double whammy of World War I-related injuries and prevalence of tuberculosis.
The Sept. 26, 1918, edition of the Woodstock Sentinel noted:
“The Spanish influenza is said to be beginning a visit to this country. Most things Spanish are not to be sneezed at, but the influenza is an exception.”
- ‹ previous
- 6 of 26
- next ›
© 2025 MCHS- All Rights Reserved.