Cary Me Back (PDF)

was strong and before long more cottages were built. In 1922, five acres of land was subdivided by Nielsen and Koht, and was given the name of Viking Heights. The 5 acres of land was 6 river lots. MOUNT MORIAH: In 1919, a group of men came to Abbotts' farm .to fish and hunt. There was a dance pavilion on the property which was a second attraction. In 1920-21, the men coaxed Abbott to sell some land. They subdivided the land and summer cottages were built. The dance pavilion was purchased and remodeled into a home. A stone arch was constructed at the entrance using native stone. The original subdivision consisted of 16 acres and was conceived as a Masonic community. Most of the people came from the Austin neighborhood in Chicago. VAL HALLA: This acreage had been sold to Paul Wium. It is built on a hill and runs down to the Fox River. Paul Wium ran the pavilion for a short time serving food, before it was made into a private home. NORMANDY: Abbott owned this land back in 1850. Two clubs, one from Chicago and one from Oak Park, purchased the land and built summer homes. Eventually about 20 homes were built. For some reason, this subdivision was also known as 'Snuff Town'. The Woodlawn Resort was located here and was well known to the local people for the delicious Bohemian dinners that were served. ALLEN GRANDVIEW: This part of the farm was sold to Paul Wium. I guess it did have a grand view of the river. In 1926 it changed ownership, to Charles and Vera Allen. The land was then divided into 33 lots and sold. Back when Abbott owned the land, Mrs. Abbott ran a hotel for hunters and fishermen. ROOT SPRI GS - 1919 One mile south of Cary on the Fox River, Jack Root, middle weight division prize fighter, selected this site ( which was owned by the Chicago Northwestern Railroad) for his training camp. There was wonderful spring water located here also, and the location picked up the name Root Springs. The Turner group, a German organization, camped at this location every summer, since 1914. They had built a ramshackle building on the property. They were in need of more room. George Lowe offered to sell them some of his farm, ( now part of Trout Valley) but they felt the price was too high. In 1919, they purchased the 36 acre farm ofJohn Stinek across the river from Root Springs. They purchased more land later to comprise a 102 acre camp site with 273 cottages. They uprooted the original building and floated it across the river on empty beer barrels. It still stands as part of the dining hall. In 1919, Allen and Powers purchased the land from the railroad, subdivided it into lots and got local business people to invest in a golf course, which became the Cary Country Club. LAKE KILLAR EY - 1924 On January 17, ] 924 the Crystal Lake Herald ran the following article in their newspaper. "One of Chicago's most exclusive summer home subdivision is contemplated for Silver Lake, property between Cary and Crystal Lake, Illinois. The 124 acres of land will be divided into 10 parts, each sharing a part of the 80 acre lake shore line. Mr. Miller, developer, will dam the creek which winds through the property from ilver Lake to the Fox River. The 10 parts will be available to any person who can afford 50,000." Evidently this deal did not sell too well. continued next page 143

144 In the l 920's, Arthur Anderson and Company ( accountants in Chicago) purchased much of the land, including what is now Lake Killarney and Oakwood Hills. The son, Arthur Jr., ran the farm. In 1927, he had a trench dug from Silver Lake and drained water into another lake, called Anderson Lake. There was a lawsuit filed against him for doing this by residents surrounding the area, but he must have won, as the lake is there as proof. In 1950, Max Greene, a developer, purchased the land including Anderson Lake and Silver Lake. The original Silver Lake was then called Lake Killarney and the original Anderson Lake was called Silver Lake. The subdivision Oakwood Hills then came into being. Lake Killarney (Silver Lake) is a spring fed lake and supplies the water to Silver Lake (Anderson Lake). Anderson hired Joe Homola and Joe's fatherin-law Frank Mitacek to dig the trench from what is now Lake Killarney to drain water into what is now Silver Lake. They also built the dam at Silver Lake to retain the lake water. The overflow runs into a creek, going east, and into the Fox River. BRIGADOON & TROUT VALLEY -1953 After Otto Schnering, of Curtiss Candy Company died in 1953, the land was sold to Don and Norman Maxon, two brothers from Barrington, Illinois. In 1956, they developed the 500 acres called Trout Valley and the 400 acres called Brigadoon. At present, there are 226 houses in Trout Valley. When the Maxon Brothers finished with their building program, Val Budd Jr. took over the remaining unsold lots in Brigadoon and continued to sell the homesites. GREENFIELDS - 1972 Located on West Main Street and Cary-Algonquin Road. Standard Pacific's Greenfield Subdivision was approved by the Village of Cary in 1972, with additional development in 1982. L. A. Guggemos, President of tandard Pacific is a local resident of Cary. There are 180 acres which were platted for 550 homesites. East and west street names start with the letter M; the first north & south street starts with the letter A and continues on through the alphabet. BRIGHT OAKS - 1973 The subdivision was opened in 1973, with 422 units on 80 acres. This location was known as the Krenz Woods and the pasture for the Krenz farm cows. Built by Kennedy Brothers of Arlington Heights, Illinois, the subdivision was completed in 1984. It is bordered by Lions Park and the Hollows. The streets are named after trees, such as Pine Ct., Linden Ct., Red Oak Tr., and Hickory Ln. There is a pool, tennis courts, club house and hiking trails. There is a monthly assessment, also an association of 7 directors. Bright Oaks won an award from the Sun-Times ewspaper on-site inspection for quality and economy. CA DLEWOOD - SPRI G GREE -1976-1982 In the 1920's, this farm was operated by the Miller family. Through the years the 77 acre farm changed hands several times. In October 1976, Pha e One ( the west side of the farm) a new subdivision called Candlewood was annexed to the Village of Cary, 79 houses would be built here.

In 1982, Phase Two ( the east side of the farm) was subdivided with 154 houses being built. Developer of the subdivision was the St. Paul Financial Development Corporation. The streets of the two subdivisions are named after trees such as Pin Oak, Burr Oak and Brentwood to name a few. The original farm house and the few acres surrounding it were never annexed to the Village. It is a private home and still listed as County property, not Village of Cary. HILLHURST - 1987 Developed in 1987 by Thomas Decker, these 98 acres have 286 lots. Homes average $180,000. The original owner of this property was the Ed Wallace family. It changed hands through the years and when sold to Decker was owned by Carl Sands. FOX TRAILS - 1988 United Development of Oak Brook purchased for 6.5 million, the 375 acres on Cary-Algonquin Road, south of St. Barnabas Church, in 1988. This sale ended the almost 10 year standstill between HUD ( a government agency that took over the land in 1979) and the new developers. There are three developers building 463 homes at this location, English Oaks 176; Centex 187; and Calia 100 homes. FALKIRK - 1988 Located on Cary-Algonquin Road, south of Fox Trails, was started in 1988. They have 187 single family homes, priced from $132,900 to $191,000, having 1,500 to 2,300 square feet, on homesites of¼ to ½ acre. MAYFAIR - 1988 Located on First Street and Three Oaks Road, across from the Holy Cross Lutheran Church was started in 1988. Jona Inc. of Flossmoor purchased 26 acres and will build 83 homes. Homes will run from $197,000 to $236,000 with lots being 70 x 130. THE PINES - 1988 Located on Three Oaks Road at Rawson Bridge Road, known as the old Paul Rieger farm. Wynwood Builders purchased 40 acres in 1988 and subdivided it into 94 lots. It has winding streets and rolling terrain, and the south boundary overlooks the Carl Sands Prairie. CARY OAKS - 1989 Located on Cary-Algonquin Road, south of Greenfields. The 59 acre site was approved in 1989. This $30 million project expects to have 302 apartments and townhome units and 50 single family homes. BRITTANY WOODS-1989 Silver Lake Road north of Three Oaks Roads. There was approval to build 186 homes; Hemphill will build 140 homes, starting at $140,000 to 170,000; Kimball Hill will build 30 homes and Calia will build 16 homes. continued next page DR. ROMAN BRYKOWSKI, O.D. - 1971 145 I ' ·' I I I Ii II, 1: II I I, Ii ,, I I'! ,, Ii l'i I II I ii 11 ,, ·' II II ,I ;l 11 11 I 'I i I ' .........

146 PATRIOTS WOODS - 1989 Located on Silver Lake Road, north of Three Oaks Road. Developed in 1989, these 13 wooded acres will contain 30 homes. D. C. Verseman will build 20 custom homes priced at $180,000 to $250,000 or more. Pietrini's 10 homes will be similar to Verseman's. CIMARRON - 1989 Cimarron Subdivision was opened in 1989, located on Cary-Algonquin Road. The Zale Group of Buffalo Grove, Illinois will build 420 homes in this area. They have donated 18.90 acres of land to the Cary Park District. Two parks will be constructed, containing soccer fields, playgrounds and a Tots Park, opening in the summer of 1992. They have also donated 6.60 acres of land to the Village of Cary, which has been discussed as a possible new site for the Cary Library. Cimarron is the name of a flower grown in the southwestern states, Arizona and New Mexico. The street names are a connotation of the southwest, such as Daybreak Ridge Trail and Big Sky Trail. FOXCROIT - 1989 Located on Cary-Algonquin Road south of Falkirk. Approval was given to this subdivision in 1989; there will be 69 homes built, purchasing price $160,000 to $200,000 on ¼ acre lots. This is the second highest elevation in McHenry County; an elevation in Bull Valley is higher. KINGSBRIDGE -1990 Bounded by Rawson Bridge Road and West Rawson Bridge Road, at 1106 Hillary Lane, Cary. Declaration was made March 1990 with Kingsbridge Development Company. Phase One will contain 31 homesites and Phase Two will have 21 homesites. Of the 76 acres developed, 22 acres will be park land with a lake. An 18-hole golf course is nearby, Chalet Golf Course. NORTHWOOD ACRES - 1991 Part of this farm land on the outskirts of Cary was purchased from the U. S. government in 1843 by Charles Edgar Paddock and David A. Miller. In 1898, at auction, Ernest F. Lamke purchased 103 acres of the parcel for $55,000. More acreage was purchased. Elmer and Louise Dorn and Valerian Pichen were the owners in January 1989 when it was sold to Thomas Decker. Located on Three Oaks Road at Rawson Bridge Road, across from the Pines, Spring Green and Candlewood. It is not annexed to the Village of Cary but located in McHenry County. ovember 4, 1991, Thomas Decker started his 192 acres, subdividing it into 223 lots. The east and west streets will be named after animals and end in trails; such as Otter Trail, Stag Trail and Mink Trail, to name a few. The reason is animals migrate east and west on trails. The north and south streets will be named after birds, and will end in Ways, because when birds migrate, they go north and south and use Flyways, such as; Raven Way, Cardinal Way and Swan Way. LYONS RIDGE - 1992 Annexed to the Village of Cary on March 3, 1992. Located on Three Oaks Road at the corner of South Rawson Bridge Road and adjacent to the east of the Pines Subdivision. D. C. VERSEMAN - 1981

The property through the years has been known as the McManaman Farm. The 25 acre development will have 40 single family homes each on½ acre of land. The developer of the subdivision is Daniel C. Verseman of Cary. ❖ Elizabeth H. Freeman 1918 Mr. Bond built thi.s road to hi.s cottage in Trout Valley. Turkey Hill Road. 1922 Jandus Subdivision Dorn House with outhouse front of picture. 147

1922 Joseph & Anna Hudek Farm - End of East Three Oaks Road on Fox River. Some farm land sold off and developed into housing. 1922 Hudek Barn - Many barn dances held in this barn. 148

u, TRANSPORTATION 1920 Bobsled and Horses 149

~, ~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! _______________________ _ 150 BRIDGES "You Can't Get There From Here" The first "wagon" bridge over the Fox River east from Cary was built from local lumber in 1882. Years later, M. B. Weaver recalled how he helped haul logs from Crabtree Woods (now Northwood Mink Farm) to the bridge site. Questioned about farm details in the Fox River Grove area, Mr. Weaver stated that before the building of the wagon bridge in 1882 Cary residents knew very little about the farmers east of the river for they had no way to get over there. Actually, if one wanted to be persnickety about the query and answer, a strong swimmer, or man with a boat frequently crossed the river and, in winter walked across. And, for the determined, walking traffic across the river was available as early as 1854 when the first bridge across the Fox was a single track railroad bridge built to accommodate the first rail line between Chicago and Cary. That single track wood railroad bridge was replaced with a double track steel and cement bridge in 1893. One hundred years later that bridge still carries today's commuters and freight over the Fox. Mr. Weaver's recollected first wagon bridge built next to the railroad bridge was a splendid example of community cooperation and spirit. Luna Mentch, of an early Cary family, was delegated to canvass for funds for materials, Asa Weaver ( father of M. B. Weaver) donated land to facilitate a road to the bridge, Henry Crane, bridge superintendent for the railroad loaned use of the railroad's pile driver and the services of their foreman, David Craney a resident of Cary. And, most important, labor was donated by the good, hard working citizens of Cary. Alas and alack, the fruits of man were destroyed by the elements when the bridge was washed away by the waters of the Fox in 1887. A second bridge, also of wood construction, was hastily erected and served until it was moved north to Rawson Road to add another avenue across the river. A steel construction bridge replaced the transplanted span and was in use until 1927 when a concrete two lane bridge became the wheel and pedestrian link between Cary and Fox River Grove. continued next page EXCLUSIVE REACTY CTD. - 1989

1887 Rawson Bridge This wooden bridge was moved from the Cary-Fox River Grove crossing of the Fox River. 1908 Rawson Bridge· Steel Built 1908. Demolished 1982 when cement bridge was built. 1854 Wooden single track bridge between Cary and Fox River Grove. 151

I 152 L. The critical widening of Route 14 to four lanes of vehicular traffic proposed for over ten years was finally under construction in the summer of 1989 with a new bridge obviously in the middle of it all. Problems with retaining wall construction to shore up the railroad embankment along side the new highway requiring hundreds of soil anchors, as well as the necessity for deeper anchor piles caused delay of the bridge opening from target date of October 1989 to July of 1990. The fine new bridge and four lane highway has improved traffic flow, but population growth throughout McHenry County as well as Cary has not stilled the ever on-going cry for more bridges across the Fox. Folks are not simply interested in "getting from here", they want to do it faster. M. B. Weaver might find that need rather curious. ❖ 1927 Car bridge over Fox River between Cary and Fox River Grove. 1893 Double track bridge, still in use today. Jack Arnold About 1920 Railroad Crossing Gateman, Mike Fick. Background: Suburban Electric, Village Hall, Frary farm. ◄

"MAKING TRACKS" Conventional Wisdom says that the ever on-going populatior growth of Chicago's collar counties can be laid at the doorstep of the nation's number one commuter system. That Cary shares the benefits of commutation to the Midwest marketing, industrial and financial center is self evident. The evolution from idea to Metra is history. By 1854 the small gathering of industrious citizens occupying the village plat laid out by one, William Cary some forty miles northwest of Chicago, were the pioneers of a thriving farming center where the emphasis was on dairy farming. The rich deposits of gravel from the glacial ice age movement had also been unearthed in the Cary environs giving promise of a valuable revenue source. The missing ingredient to the fruitation of all this industrious goods bonanza was, of course, transportation. Transportation, the lynch-pin of civilizations' economic and cultural growth. Responding to need, a group of farsighted entrepreneurs organized the Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad Company and under its state charter of 1851 completed a wide-gauge track line from Chicago across the Fox River to Cary in 1854. Cary Station, the end of the line. Gravel, mined in Cary was hauled across the entire line to provide the railroad road bed. The bridge spanning the Fox river was a single track bridge which was also used for pedesterian traffic as it was the only bridge across the river. Initial scheduling on the new railroad called for one passenger train a day. The afternoon train from Chicago to Cary took two and a half hours. Connecting stages met the daily train to transport passengers proceeding North, West and South from Cary. Lacking sufficient funds to extend the line north, the Illinois and Wisconsin merged with a fledging Wisconsin line which had laid tracks from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin south to Sharon, Wisconsin near the Illinois border. Tracks were laid from Sharon to Cary and the original wide-gauge tracks were changed to the standard 4' 8½" gauge. Trains now operated from Chicago to Janesville, Wisconsin, but the would-be railroad barons had their problems and in 1857 the promising merger was bankrupt. On July 1, 1859, another group of railroad pioneers gathered up the pieces of the Illinois and Wisconsin and reorganized under the mantle of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company. ECONOMY Existing statistics do not reveal the total economic role the railroad played in Cary's growth and well being, but effect was monumental for area business, farms and local employment. Boarding houses thrived on railroad crews' patronage as did local taverns, eating establishments, laundry facilities and general stores. The domino effect created need for more employees for expanded local enterprise including the spreading gravel mines. The completed line brought people from Chicago to the resorts and picnic groves along the Fox River. The famous orge Ski Jump was built south of the river and national competitive meets were held long before Fox River Grove was incorporated leading to Cary's identification with the ski 153

154 jump even though it is actually located in today's Fox River Grove. Cary locals, using horse and mule drawn-sleds transported thousands of spectators from Cary Station to the ski jump site. A tidy, fun source of income. MYSTERIES AND MECHANICS Early timetables identify "Cary" as "Carey". No knowledge of "why" has been uncovered. Perhaps a printer's error that went undetected for a period of time. A far greater mystery, as well as legendary story is why the Northwestern is the only "left-handed" track operation in the nation. A popular story explanation is that British capital and customs, and/ or British engineers are responsible. However, according to the railroad, the "lefthanded" idiosyncrasy came about as a matter of economics. When the line started it was a single track, stations were erected on the right hand side to accommodate passengers and freight handling. When the second track was laid, it was necessarily placed on the side opposite the existing station and track. It was thus a matter of economy to leave the construction as it was, rather than shift all the signals, signal systems and passenger staions to conform to the operation considered "normal" (right-handed) by other U. S. lines. In the early days of railroading trains had to be turned around for the return trip from whence they came. For many years a manually operated turntable was located north of the tracks near downtown Cary. Eight men were required to push the turntable around so the engine could be in correct direction for recoupling to the passenger or freight cars for the return trip. At the same time of the peak operation of the Cary gravel pits, there were 16 sidings for gravel cars, not to mention the storing of as many as 15 engines at any given time. In 1854 as now, the key to transportation east to the metropolitan center required a way over the Fox River. The first single track train and pedestrian bridge gave way to a double track bridge built across the river in 1898. The bridge is 247 feet long and reaches 49 feet above the water. It may be said that the span that bridged the gap in 1854 was the hybrid seed that enabled the people of Cary, past and present, to nurture an exuberant life style. ❖ J k A id ac mo MISSED THE TRACKS Village Hall in background. RONALD METELKA, D.D.S. - 1981

1915-1920 Looking north. Village Hall on right. North side of depot. Kerns & milh tore in back. Turntable on side track. 1923 Route 14. 1854 First Engine and Car. Chicago to Cary - 2 hours. looking toward bridge & Fox River Grove. 155

1912 N. W. Train Wreck 156 j - ----------------

TRAIN STATIONS OF CARY "Tell Me About The Old Days", that's what young children say to their 30 year old parents. Can you imagine what they say when you tell them about 100 years ago? They just can't believe it. Tell that young boy on the hopped-up motorcycle it took two days with a wagon and team of oxen to drive to Chicago, and two days back. You get a little snicker. When I think back to the 1920's when the Harpers first came to Cary, I have a hard time believing it too. But when you reach the years of 70 plus, you begin to think, gosh, 100 years isn't that long after all. As a rule, people in the small farm towns like Cary did not travel very far; they stayed pretty close to home. Traveling was not very convenient. "v' 1912 West Main & Spring Sts. R.R. water tank far left. Town pump, right. When the railroad came to Cary in 1854 it changed things and people were able to get around a little more, they could at least travel into Chicago and back in a lot less than four days. It was not easy traveling by train, no nice warm depot to sit in and wait for the train to come, and sometimes the train never did come. With no train shed of any kind, you had to stand outside and face the elements, rain, sun or snow. You stood there and waited. It wasn't until the Civil War ( 1863) that Cary got its first depot. Its architecture was of the Civil War Era. It was built off the ground on stilts at the same location as our present depot. This drafty depot with its pot belly stove served the people of Cary well. When a new depot was to be built, this original wooden depot was sold to Mr. Sedlacek, moved to his place of business at 239 East Main Street, rebuilt and used as a tool shed. It is still in use today. The railroad hired a station agent for each railroad station on the rail route. If a person had a message to be sent out of town or to any distant place they would go to the depot and the station agent would send a telegram by Morse Code. There was no UP - you took your packages to the train depot yourself and the station agent sent them out on the next freight train. continued next page 157

158 8/7/ 1900: Village Board Meeting. Clerk was instructed to correspond with Mr. Lawson, railroad superintendant in regard to building a water closet. There were many station agents in our Cary Depots but three agents who seem to be remembered were Bill Lange, later, his son C. W. Lange and Otto Glasscoe. They served Cary for many years and were very well liked. 1914 W Main and Route 14. C. Russell Allen, girl unkrwwn. Old Depot, Franke Lumber Coal Chutes, dirt road, wooden sidewalks. The Cary Garden Club got the ball rolling on the second depot. Dagmar Wascher, President of the Club, with the help of Mr. Otto Schnering of Curtiss Farms got the second depot built in 1952. The second depot was of red brick, trimmed in white and was built by Gus Kraus. Cost of the depot was $27,000, all paid for by the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. Rumors of another new depot, the third, started in 1981. It caused quite a furor around town because some people wanted the depot to stay in town at its present location, others wanted it moved to Three Oaks Road where there would be more room and more parking. As we all know the decision was to keep the depot downtown. Before 1925 CARY STATION Far left: Town Pump. Front: Mail wagon.

Mayor Gus Alexakos announced that plans had been finalized with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) paying the complete cost of $700,000. This cost included the parking lots, buildings, rubberized crossing and two shelters. A certificate of proof showing that the RTA would do all this work was presented to Mayor Gus Alexakos at the Cary's 90th Anniversary in 1983. By 1984, architect Frank J. Scherchel of Cary and a member of Cary's Revitalization Committee drew up the plans for the new depot saying 'Cary Station Is About To Be Revitalized'. It was to be larger, with a longer platform, more parking area, more esthetic detailing, larger windows and new lighting. The Station was completed in 1984, but it took two years to complete the crossing and shelters. So from standing in the elements in 1854 waiting for a train to come, if it ever did, to 139 years later. What an improvement! Elizabeth H Freeman -----------❖ Before 1925 West Main Street-looking West. Route 14 Newbold Livery, Jiroy's, Abbott's Pool Hall, Tony Jensen Hole~ Abbott's Barber Shop. 159

r 160 REMEMBERING CARY'S EARLY AIRPORTS A light plane drones aloft. An elderly man stands on West Main Street and Route 14 on the south side of the C&NW railroad tracks and peers upward towards its sound. He remembers Cary's early airports-grass airstrips really. That pilot up there, it could be Vern Stewart if this were 1927. Only it isn't 1927. And the last traces of the grass airstrips have been vanished under buildings and concrete streets. One of Cary's first airstrips had been located just down the street on the Fritz Krenz farm. Planes would land and take off on one of Fritz's pastures where the Maplewood School now stands. The man peers up again toward the fading buzz of the aicraft engine. If that were Vern, he would land, taxi and tie up right down the street near the by gone wooden hangar built by Gus Kraus in 1928. The hangar gradually decayed and fell of its own accord; its site at 534 Krenz Avenue is about a block west of the Maplewood School. Aviation was in its infancy in the 1920's. Planes mostly barnstormed and raced. But they flew the mail too. Imaginations were so stirred by the flying machines that between 1927 and 1933, three grass landing strips sprung up to service this fascinating hobby for local pilots. One airstrip was located on the Fritz Krenz farm before the land gave way to the burgeoning town. Another airstrip was located near the Holy Cross Lutheran Church on First Street-now buried under the Oak Knoll Apartments. The pilots of Cary were progressive enough to install aircraft signal lights for their early flying machines. The man's eyes sweep in the directions to where the red lights had once blinked: the water tower on High Road, the Old Village Hall on Route 14, and Art Franke's coal chutes. Back in 1922, the man attended the Cary grade school on W. Main St. One morning about 8:30, a U. S. mail plane glided my tically out of the fog. It made a forced landing on an open field on Fritz Krenz's farm across from the school between the C&NW tracks and Main treet. The kids never having seen an actual plane, exploded out the school door and raced toward it. It was like witnessing the first landing on the moon, especially when the aviator climbed out. The kids crowded around him, their eyes bugging out. At 9:00 sharp the bell rang. Groaning with disappointment, all the children had to return to schoof. All except tanley Freeman and the man. Like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn fighting the pressures of conformity, they dared to follow their own adventuresome spirits. Go back to class? Aw, gee whiz, no! After all, a man from the sky had landed! Of course, there were rules to follow and a principal to enforce them. Mrs. Hubert would, of course, keep them after school for a week-which she did-and send home the customary note. tanley's father shot a note right back to counter her conventional logic. o the boy were a little late getting back! Didn't she realize they were witne ing a rare sight, and that she was interfering with their education? The man's thoughts revert to the present. The traffic light changes on the corner of West Main and Route 14, and an endless line of cars bump over the railroad tracks. He watches for a few seconds and shakes his head, conscious of the bustle that change makes. He drifts back to 1926 and thinks of the tewart brothers, Vernon and Ronald, both aviators. Vern owned a garage and after World War I, bought a Curtis "Jenny." continued next page

P11mtpr Flig/111 - Slut#l 1h"1tiJtr,J$1') ., .000 1-ttt CARY. ILL. Cary Aviatwn Company letterhead 1926-1933 On tail of plane: Cary Motor Co. Passenger Flights • Aerial Advertising, Cary, ILL. Cary Motor Co. was owned by Vernon Stewart & Stanley Pichen. 1930 Sikorsky "Amphibian" Model S-38-BH, Two Motors Owner: John D. Hertz ORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE - McCABE & ASSOCIATES - 1990 161

162 The "Jenny" was a good little plane. It had only two accidents-nothing major. Once, it didn't stop in time after idling and ran into a barbed wire fence. "The propeller was busted," the man would tell people. "You never saw so many splinters." Several years later the "Jenny" failed to lift over the K videra corn field. Vern, disgusted that the "cussed thing" dumped him in the corn, sold it. The man chuckles as he vividly recollects his first plane ride in that "Jenny." He was sicker than a dog by the time he got back on the ground. But the ride was free because Vern wanted to try out the plane. Vern wore a leather helmet with goggles. It was March 4, cold, about 30°. The radiator froze. But Vern, a daring pilot, revved the engine, and pushed that little plane through the sky. "It was one heck of a noise," the man would say. "We soared at first, then Vern began doing loops all over Cary. He'd turn to check me. I didn't want him to know my stomach was doing loops too. o I just kept a smile pasted on my face the whole time. After that, he charged people $3 a ride on weekends. He musta' thought it was that enjoyable." In those days, a Sikorsky amphibian plane was tied down at the Krenz farm on Krenz Avenue between West Main treet and the railroad tracks. It belonged to John D. Hertz, millionaire motor transportation magnate and Cary's most famous resident and air commuter. When Mr. Hertz was in residence at his 35-room house, his pilot would fly him to Chicago, land on Lake Michigan, and fly him home again. Several years later the attraction of the flying machines began to dim in Cary. Other interests and pursuits took priority over flying, so by the end of 1933, operations of the landing strips ceased and the strips gradually disappeared. Thirty years passed. During this time, a new generation of pilots climbed high over the local cornfields, dreaming of a nearby landing place. In 1954 a new airport was conceived in the minds of ky Roamer Tom Decker, Ernie Larson, Orville elson, Fred Schroeder and Heinz trodeke. The Sky Roamers Inc. leased 3½ acres on the Joe Hudek farm out of town at the east end of Three Oaks Road. So once again, an airport was born out of grass roots with a 1500' long by 100' wide runway. Through the determined efforts of Ernie Larson and Tom Decker, the airport in 1957 was approved by the F. A. A. and the Department of Illinois Aviation. Membership of the ky Roamers grew. f\n incident almost paralleling that of Vern tewart's experience over the cornfield, happened at Hudek Airport. Two friend of the ky Roamers heatedly discussed who would take off, not noticing that the plane began to roll. Before they realized it, they were a third of the way down the sloped runway, almost too late to take off. They managed to lift, but heared off the tops of cornstalks. During the next eleven years, this tiny, bustling airport trained many students, some destined for commercial aviation. Orville el on, one of the instructors, among others, taught flying to George Lazan ky, Rick Kling, Dave elson, Fred annestad, Sr. and Fred anne tad, Jr., Jim Reynolds, Jr., and Tony Hudek. Rick Kling and Dave elson are captains flying for American Airlines, Fred annestad, Jr. is flying for United Airlines as a flight engineer on a 747 to Toyko and Jim Reynold , Jr. is flying for a fire fighting company in Montana. The Hudek Airport was used for emergency stopovers for small engine aircraft. However, the field picked up more and more air traffic from pilots

wanting to tie down their Cub planes on the field. Over the years, housing construction pushed closer to the tiny airport, and homeowners' complaints about the swooping of incoming and outgoing planes ultimately closed the field in 1974. The small airport now lies empty and silent. The man has been walking down West Main Street. The plane above has since flown past. He peers upward. "Yep, that coulda' been Vern if this were 1927." He has walked 3½ blocks and finds himself at 441 West Main, his old grade school-the same school he and Stanley Freeman attended back in 1922 when it didn't even have a street number. His gaze cuts through time to where the open field on the Krenz farm had been. That's where the mail plane made a forced landing; his eyes are riveted to the spot. He and Stanley, stunned with wonder, reverently touched the fuselage of the downed plane, and gazed at the pilot through worshipful eyes. Was it really over seventy years ago that Mrs. Hubert greeted their late entrance with her hand on her hip, tapping her foot? His thoughts turn to the present. He walks toward the door of the old grade school-now the Senior Center-and opens it. He sighs. "Maybe tanley is here today." Our special thanks to Bill Ridings for his memoirs from which the dramatized cenarios have been taken. He lived in Cary from 1916 to 1934. He now resides in California. Lillian D'Angelo and Jackie Penze ❖-----------❖ Before 1925 • Dirt Road Frank milh ( Kerns & Smith) and friend. Background.: Tony Jensen Saloon, Suburban Electric, Jail, Frary farm (Route 14).

164 STREETS - STREETS - STREETS ADA STREET - was named after Ada Smith Kerns, one of the early settlers. ALIDA DRIVE - was named after Mrs. Art (Alida) Franke of the Franke Lumber family. ALMA TERRACE - was named after Mrs. James (Alma) Harding, wife of a subdivision developer and builder. A STREET - was named after Esther Ann Krenz Hanson, wife of developer and builder Lloyd Ernst Hanson. BELL STREET - was named after lsa'belle' Montana, mother of the builder of Weaver's and Montana's Subdivisions. BORDEN STREET - Location of the former Borden Dairy Plant. BURTON STREET - was named after the Burton's, the butter and cheese, and hardware store operations family. CARY STREET - was named after William D. Cary, the founder of Cary. CHARLOTTE PLACE - a section of the old South treet, recently renamed to honor Charlotte Hubert, a resident of the treet for many years, and president of the Cary grade school. DAVIS LA E - Emily Davis, only resident on block. ELDE DRIVE - was named after Elden, son of Miner Weaver, an early settler and farmer. FRANKE AVE UE - was named after the C. Arthur Franke family of the Franke Lumber Company. HIGH ROAD - West Street renamed because of its high location overlooking the Country Club and Fox River Valley. JAMESWAY - was named after James Harding, a builder in the un Valley Subdivision. JANDUS ROAD - and Jandus Subdivision, was named after Cyril Jandus, State enator from Chicago who had a summer home in the area, which is now the home of Karl chnarel. KRE Z AVE UE - was named after Fred Krenz, former Cary Chief of Police. The property owned by the Krenz family was purchased by Art Franke. LLOYD TREET - was named after Lloyd Ernst Hanson, a Cary builder and developer. MARGARET TERRACE - was named after Mrs. James Harding, wife of a subdivision builder. MARQUETIE AVE UE-was named after Mrs. John Marquette who operated a Boarding House in the Jandus ubdivision. MILDRED AVENUE - was named after the daughter of enator Jandus. MO TA A TREET- was named after Tony Montana, a builder and developer. ISH ROAD - was named after James Nish, a Civil War Veteran and pioneer settler who became Cary's first Postmaster. ORIOLE TRAIL - was named after the favorite bird of developer Ernst Hanson. PARK AVE UE - located adjacent to Cary Village Park, formerly referred to as Barefoot Alley because of the path worn down the street by barefoot boys!

PEARL STREET · was named after Pearl Weaver Morris, Miner Weaver's sister. PRAIRIE STREET · located in the former prairie of Hertz and Curtiss Estate. ROSS AVENUE· was named after Miner Weaver's sister, Winnie Weaver Ross. SANDRA LANE· was named after Ernst Hanson's daughter. SCHOOL STREET· the street leading to Maplewood School. SEEBERT STREET· was named after early settler Levi Seebert, thought to have arrived in the area about 1837. SILVER LAKE ROAD. the Road leading to Silver Lake Subdivision. SPRING STREET · formerly Depot Street, leads to Root Springs Subdivision and in the area of old Minerva Springs. STONEGATE ROAD• where the stone gate entrance to Trout Valley is located. THOMAS STREET· was named after Fayette Thomas, an early settler. THREE OAKS ROAD • was named after the three types of oak trees in the area; White Oak, Burr Oak, and Red Oak. WAGNER DRIVE• was named after Charley Wagner, family farm developed for housing. WEBER COURT• was named after the Roy Weber family. WEAVER DRIVE• was named after the Miner Weaver family. WILLIAM DRIVE• named after police chief Wm. Moore WULFF STREET • was named after the first President of the Cary State Bank, Theodore Wulff. ❖ Before 1925 Cary Street Looking Ea.st from High Road. Dirt path road. 1920 West Main Street

About 1915 Margaret, Arthur & Bill Surjleet with their new Model T Ford. 166

CHURCHES - CEMETERY Holy Cross Lutheran Church 167

168 HOUSES OF WORSHIP Cary's early churches, no matter what their denomination, all had one thing in common-they started out small and homeless. Congregations, which usually meant a mere handful of people, met where they could until their finances allowed them to build churches of their own. Services were held in members' homes, schools, and other churches. Despite their humble beginnings, most grew and prospered and are still a part of Cary's fabric. CARY-GROVE EV ANGELICAL FREE CHURCH Howard and Ruth Taylor had no "church home" of their own among the denominations already in Cary. So, on Jan. 26, 1959, they invited a group to their home to discuss starting a new church. The group began a Bible Study class taught by the Rev. Irving Peterson of Trinity Theological Seminary and Bible College. Meetings were held at the Old Village Hall ( 4 Crystal St.) on Monday evenings. When the Village Hall was not available, the group moved to the old school building at the corner of West Main and School Streets ( now the home of the Cary Senior Citizens Center at 441 W. Main). The fact that there was no furniture in the building didn't deter the tiny congregation; they brought their own. Permission was granted to them to use the building every Monday evening. The Bible class was not affiliated with any church denomination. However, many in the group had been associated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. The group asked the Rev. Irving Hedstrom, then the superintendent of the Great Lakes District, to speak at one of their meetings. A week later, on Mar. 30, 1959, the congregation voted unanimously to establish a church, to be known as the Cary-Grove Evangelical Free Church. On May 3, 1959, a full church program was initiated, including unday school, morning and evening worship services and Wednesday evening prayer meetings. Youth activities were organized soon afterward. On Sept. 17, 1959, Rev. Victor Scalise was installed as pastor. The church constitution was adopted on Oct. 7, 1959, and 56 Charter Members were welcomed. The old school building served the congregation well. (Except when the heating plant failed!) It became evident, though, that the Village would be moving some activities to the building. An extensive search led to the purchase of a plot of land on the south side of Ada Street, one block south of the old school. The new church ( 525 W. Ada) was erected in the latter part of 1962, and services in the new building commenced March 3, 1963. Pastor Clyde Whilhite assumed his duties as pastor in ov. 1963. The pastor and his family were living in a rented house which proved too small. So, a lot was purchased on Ada treet across from the church and a parsonage was built ( 506 W. Ada); it was dedicated on ov. 12, 1967. The years 1976 and 1977 saw more construction in the form of additions to the church. Besides the sanctuary, a large multi-purpose room, kitchen, office and classrooms complete the building and offer the congregation a "home" for a variety of church activities under the leadership of the current pastor, Rev. Donald Erickson. The 21st century is sure to see Cary-Grove Evangelical Free Church as a well-established part of Cary's religious "family tree". KATRINA GREENING FINANCIAL SERVICE - 1989

CARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH It would be difficult to imagine a young student preacher, bicycling his way from Elgin to Cary to hold Sunday services-even more difficult to imagine this feat accomplished in 1888, long before the route was paved. But this is the actual account of the beginnings of the Cary United Methodist Church. The student preacher was Edward J. Aileen. His destination-the former school building located at 104 High Road, which the church had secured when a larger school was built on W. Main St. Church records show the earliest member to be Mrs. George Seebert, who was received on Nov. 14, 1888. At the time, the church was a member of the Nunda Circuit, and only one preaching service was held per week. After Rev. Aiken, a number of temporary pastors led church services until the first Pastor, Rev. Goodell was appointed in 1895. The "Ladies Aid Society" appears to have been responsible for a large share of financial contributions. Through fund-raising efforts such as sewing bees and socials and through public solicitation, they helped pay a large share of church expenses. In addition, these tireless women took on the task of cleaning, decorating, furnishing, as well as repairing the edifice. Some of their contributions included the organ, carpet, bookcase, chairs, windows, folding doors, chimney, belfry, etc. In 1900, a new addition was built to accommodate the Sunday school. A lot was also donated with the stipulation that a parsonage be built in two years. With donated labor and $600, this feat was accomplished. However, the earliest existing records indicate the completion date as being 1907. The Second World War brought difficult times, and in 1946, the church unofficially requested permission from the Rock River Conference to close. But by sharing services with the Methodist Church in Fox River Grove, a pastor was appointed. His name was Draper H. Bishop, who served until 1964. In 1949, a new church was built by the Fox River Grove congregation and in 1952 a brick church at 204 Spring St. was built here in Cary. The consecration of the "Spring St. Church" as it was fondly called, took place Dec. 7, 1952. By 1957, both the Cary and Fox River Grove churches had grown enough to support a full-time pastor for each, and Rev. Bishop took on the Cary church exclusively. The community and congregation continued to grow. By 1960, 9½ acres on First St. were purchased from the Weaver Estate. Two years later, Wesley Hall, the educational building, was constructed on the new site. Adjacent to the church on Crest Dr., two lots were purchased in 1965 and a two-story home was constructed as a parsonage. It was dedicated on Oct. 1, 1967. Construction of the new church at 500 N. First St. began in 1971. The new church was dedicated in 1973. On the night of Jan. 16, 1975, as the choir was preparing for practice, someone smelled wood burning. Within moments, flames burst from the organ speaker chamber. 50,000 worth of damage was done to the chancel area of the 2-year-old sanctuary. A cross, which was a gift of the confirmation class of 1972, was partially destroyed by fire. However, the cross remains as a permanent memorial, a fitting tribute to present and former continued nexi page 169

170 congregations who withstood many adversities in order to preserve their church. The year 1988 marked Cary United Methodist Church's 100th anniversary. With a glance at the past, the congregation began its SECOND hundred years. CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY CHURCH Like Cary's early church congregations, the Cornerstone Community Church has no home of its own as yet. Headed by the Rev. Harold Brewer, services commenced April 19, 1987. The congregation meets in the auditorium of Cary-Grove High School on Three Oaks Road. The church is affiliated with the southern Baptists and has a Youth Activity Center located at 200 S. Main St. in Algonquin. Future plans are to build a church somewhere along Rt. 31 between Cary and Algonquin. FREE METHODIST CHURCH Records indicate Cary's first recorded church as being the Free Methodist Church, organized in the 1870's by the Rev. D. P. Baker. The church, erected in 1876, cost between $1,200 and $1,300 to build. It stood on First Street, next to the cemetery at 111 N. First Street, the current sile of White Hen Pantry. The building later housed many congregations of various faiths until it was razed in 1970 to make way for commercial development. HOLYCROSS LUTHERAN CHURCH German immigrants to Cary were responsible for organizing Holy Cross Lutheran Church, the imposing edifice which now stands on the / W corner of Three Oaks Road and First treet. Several early Lutheran families met wilh Rev. F. G. Kuehnert, who was a pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake, with hopes of forming their own congregation. The year was 1910. The church was officially organized in 1911 and held its first service on March 26, 1911 at the home of John Hubert, 104 High Rd. ( ow American Family Funeral ervices.) Rev. Kuehnert officiated. Early accounts state that there were 15-25 people in attendance. Members continued to hold services in homes and for a short time were able to use the Methodist church on unday afternoons. In 1930, the congregation purchased the Free Methodist Church ( 111 N. First St., site of the White Hen Pantry) for the sum of $1,500, with $1,000 of the amount being a loan from the Mother Church. The fir t ervice was held that year on the first Sunday in April. The church was dedicated ov. 9 the same year. In the late '30's, a basement and chancel area were added; the arthex and church windows were installed in 1948, and the steeple was rebuilt in 1949-50. Reverend Bornemann was named Pastor in 1942; he also served as Pastor at the Algonquin church. With more and more demands put on his time, he convinced the congregation of the need for their own full-time pastor. The membership agreed and decided to finance a parsonage with the "Grace" bank system starting on Dec. 10, 1953. The building would erve a living quarters for the Pastor and as a unday chool in the basement. The parsonage was dedicated on April 8, 1956, and Rev. Robert M. Hess ( former Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Maplewood, Louisiana) was installed as pastor. He continues to serve in that role, assisted by his associate, Pastor E. Timothy Frick who was installed on Jan. 24, 1988.

As the congregation grew, it became necessary to acquire more land for a new church. Property at the corner of Three Oaks Road and First St. {27 Three Oaks Road) was purchased with money donated by the membership. The money was collected in special "piggy banks" which finance committee members collected every Monday evening. By 1961, sufficient reserves were on hand to begin construction. The building was completed in 1962, with dedication services held Oct.14 that year. It is interesting to note that from 1911 to 1929, all church records were written in German. The first records in English date from March 23, 1930. A resolution was passed in May, 1934 to conduct all morning services in English and one German Service a month in the evening. Apparently, German services were abandoned for a time. In the early 1980's, Rev. Hess revived the custom and today, Easter and Christmas services are said in German. He says the reason for this revival is twofold: to help the congregation keep in touch with its German roots, and as an "excuse" to use his German. His idea has been well-received! As Holy Cross nears its own centennial, plans are being made for the addition of an educational wing. There can be no doubt that the roots planted in Cary by German immigrants have taken hold and are still growing strong at Holy Cross. Holy Cross Lutheran Church First t. next to Cemetery, now White Hen. 1876-1930 : Free Methodist Church 1930-1962 : Holy Cross Lutheran Church 1963-1967: t. Barnabas Lutheran Church Demolished 1970. ST. BARNABAS LUTHERAN CHURCH Mi sion Developer, the Rev. John McCarthy, made a survey of the Cary· Fox River Grove. Algonquin area in early 1962 to determine which would be the home town of a new Lutheran church. As a result, St. Barnabas Lutheran Church { 8901 Cary-Algonquin Rd., Cary) was founded the same year. Earlie t ervice were held in members' homes; the first formal service was held June 9, 1962 at Maplewood chool { 422 W. Krenz St., Cary). The Methodi t Church allowed the St. Barnabas congregation to use its facilities for mid-week Lenten services in 1963. Regular services continued at Maplewood until April 14, 1963, when the congregation rented the c~urch building at 111 . Fir t t. { now the site of the White Hen Pantry), which, in its history, had been home to Methodists and another Lutheran congregation. continued next page 171

172 With the adoption of a constitution and the appointment of a Pastor, Rev. Kenneth Marckx, St. Barnabas became a formal congregation of the Lutheran Church of America on April 12, 1964. In 1965, the church purchased 5.3 acres of land across from Fox Trails on Cary-Algonquin Road, at a cost of $17,750. Ground was broken for the new church on Aug. 20, 1967, and construction began ten days later. The building was designed by Waterman, Fuge & Ajango, and constructed by Tonyon & Sons of McHenry. The cost was listed at $122,477. The datestone service was held on Nov. 1, 1967, led by Pastor Benjamin Eljer, with Cary Mayor Raymond Moehle in attendance. The first service in the new church was held on Maundy Thursday, April 11, 1968. A growing congregation led to a meeting on April 26, 1983, of the Building Planning Committee and the Church Council, regarding expansion. On March 19, 1984, Mr. Jack Foster of the Lutheran Layman's Movement led the congregation in a successful building campaign. Architect Tom Jaeger drew plans, and on July 14, 1985, groundbreaking was held. Bad weather held up construction much of the winter, but by July 13, 1986, a cornerstone ceremony was held. The first service in the new sanctuary was Sept. 21, 1986. A dedication service was held Jan. 18, 1987 with Rev. Anton Weber delivering the sermon and Pastor Richard Holmer ( pastor since 1982, and current Pastor) conducting the service. St. Barnabas does not have as lengthy a history as some of Cary's other churches which were founded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But its continuing growth is an indication that its history will extend well into the next century as a vital part of Cary's religious heritage. ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE CATHOLIC CHURCH Although it is actually located in Fox River Grove, St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church played an important role in Cary's past. It was the area's first Catholic church, and later gave birth to Catholic parishes in Cary and Algonquin. Lured by the prospects of cheap and abundant farmland, early immigrants of Czech ancestry settled in this area in about 1860. After building their own homes, the next priority these 18 families had was to organize a parish, build a church, and set aside land for a cemetery. In 1867, at a meeting held in the home of member John Stanek, it was decided that land should be purchased for those purposes. An acre of land, located on the highest hill overlooking the area ( at the corner of Algonquin Rd. and Church Rd. in Fox River Grove) was purchased from John Bohacek for the sum of 20. By 1871, construction of the church began. Lumber was hauled from Barrington by means of horse or oxen-driven wagon. Common lumber cost 10 per thousand feet, and clear lumber went for 22 per thousand feet. It was decided to name the parish after the patron saint of Bohemia, St. John of Nepomuk, who had been canonized in 1721. The church was completed in 1873. The following year, a bell for the tower was purchased and hung. It was cause for celebration. Indeed, much of the social life in the community revolved around the church and various church-related activities. The church bell had even greater significance, for practical purposes. In a time of very limited communication, ringing the bell brought people

together for various reasons. For example, the bell could call the congregation together to inform them of the death of one of their members. The rest of the membership could then help the bereaved with cooking, housework and even the digging of the grave. Parishioners were so few, that at first, Mass was said only once per year. As the parish grew, visits increased to once per month by the 1890's. Many parishioners traveled quite a distance to attend services, and in 1893, a shed was built to protect their horses. Cemetery lots sold for 10 plus a $.SO charge for ringing the bell for l hour at the death of one of the members and at the funeral. By 1914, a parish was formed in Cary and a mission church formed in Algonquin. Regular Sunday services were abandoned at St. John's. However, the Association maintained the cemetery, which still serves the needs of the surrounding communities. St. John's still stands, surrounded by the church cemetery which now holds the remains of many of the church's founders and their progeny. Dates on headstones range from 1871 to the present day. Appropriately, the cemetery still overlooks a section of farmland. It's not too difficult to imagine what the early parishioners saw on their way to Sunday services, held in the church built by their own hands-their labor of love. While it is no longer an active parish, the 120-year-old St. John epomucene Church stands as a link with the area's religious past, regardle s of denomination. For all of the area's churches knew humble beginnings like t. John's. STS. PETER AND PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH Early Catholics in Cary made do with what they had in terms of church facilitie . They may have attended t. John epomucene Church in Fox River Grove or made an occasional trip to nearby towns to attend Mass. Jame eeley, an early tru tee, offered his home as a meeting place where Ma s wa celebrated. Eventually, the congregation held services in the old ice hou e in the vicinity of the former Post Office on Jandus Road. ts. Peter and Paul was one of the churches ( along with Crystal Lake, Algonquin and Dundee) which grew out of Hartland - Woodstock - Gilbert ource . It was organized in 1911 by Fr. Joseph Lonegran, a Barrington re idenl. Fr. Lonegran saw to it that Mass was said every Sunday in Cary and once a month at t. John Nepomucene in Fox River Grove. His assistant, during the building of the Cary church, was Father Gies. The corner tone for the fir t church ( located on the NIE corner of First t. and Main t.) wa laid in 1912. The church was dedicated the following year. A bell wa donated by Mr. and Mr . John Pekny in honor of their late on, Hubert, who had been the first server at ts. Peter and Paul. Father Gie became the fir t pastor, but his service to the Cary congregation wa hort. He died in 1914 and was succeeded by Fr. McCormick, until, at the reque t of Bishop Muldoon, he assumed the pastorate of St. Thoma · Church in Crystal Lake. Father Lonegran returned to the church he had founded, now as its pa tor. However, World War I intervened, and he entered the ervice as a chaplain. Fr. Theodore McCormick returned and erved until 1918 at which time Father Frank Kilderry was named pastor. He served until his death in 1958. continued next page 173

174 1913 ts. Pei<'r & Paul Catholic Church 8 E . . \fain tree/ Under Fr. Kilderry' direction, ground-breaking for the original parish school (immediately East of the Church on E. '\1ain t.) took place in 1928. It was originally intended to crve as a ~chool and a convent for the isters of t. Dominic who taught there. Bus transportation was available for children from Algonquin. As the pari h grew, it wa. necessary to build additions to the chool in 1952 and 1954. In 1958, the Holy am ociety purchased 15 acre of land on the West side of First tr l. After an additional 612 acr •s wer • purchased, contruction of a new chool, rectory and temporary church was begun under the direction of the pa tor, R •v. C. lfred Dietsch. The dedication ceremony wa · held in 1960 with Bishop Loras T. Lane officiating. The rectory was completed in 1962 and the convent in 1967. Father Franct>.• I\. ildt>rry Pa.stnr ~t. Peter & Paul Church. cm·d 1918-1958 . • LI. Petrr & Paul Catholic Church & chool. Dcmnfo hed 196 i.

In 1969, plans were drawn for the present church which is located at 410 N. First Street. Designed by James R. Cronin of Palos Hts., the strikingly round structure was built of red brick and precast concrete columns. Nine thousand faceted colored glass slabs are enclosed by the brick. Sunlight streaming through the multi-colored glass transforms the entire wall into a continuous stained-glass window. The generosity of the congregation of Sts. Peter and Paul does not end in its own sanctuary. The church donated $60,000 toward the building of Marian Central High School in Woodstock. It is also one of two Cary area Churches to participate in the PADS ( Public Action to Deliver Shelter) program which provides shelter at a different church each night ( from October through April) for McHenry County's homeless. Currently under the pastorship of Fr. Donald Ahles (since 1988), Sts. Peter and Paul ("that round church on First Street") maintains its place as the heart of Cary's Catholic heritage. TRINITY COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH Lacking its' own church building, Trinity Community Baptist Church held its' first services at Briargate Elementary school on January 12, 1991. During the summer that same year, the congregation moved to Oak Knoll Elementary school. Dr. Michael Love, Pastor of the church, says the membership, now 90 strong, intends to move into permanent quarters in about two years. Plans are to either buy a vacated church in the area, or to buy land to build a church of its' own. THE NEW BEGINNINGS COMMUNITY CHURCH Effective January 1, 1992, fifteen Cary families organized the New Beginnings Community Church affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Temporarily meeting in homes of parishioners under the guidance of the Rev. Frank zewegyk, Jr. The church is making plans for a permanent home. ❖ Alice M. Majka 3 econd Street Wm. Crabtree House & Farm - Later Grantham Hotel. 175

176 1839 CA.RY CEMETERY First & Pearl Streets 1987 Henry 8. Harper and Thomas Decker stand behind the Cary Cemetery wrought iron fence donated by them to the Cemetery. Decker purchased the fence uhich was originally from Peterstown Cemetery in Mendota, ILL. His own men repaired and installed the fence. Harper had his men sand and paint the fence. Value of Jenee donation $8,000. 11111

IDSTORY OF CARY CEMETERY William Dennison Cary would be awed if he returned today to see the original 80 acres he purchased from the United States Government on October 3, 1841 as the Cary Cemetery located on First Street. In 1841 a very small piece of this land was used for a cemetery. As present tombstones indicate, first burial occured in the late 1830's. James McGinley Johnston died July 1, 1839, his age was eighteen months and twenty days. A second burial was Mary, wife of Abial Thomas, she died September 28, 1840 at the age of sixty-three. There was prairie land surrounding the cemetery until later when farmers planted corn and other crops. The upkeep of the cemetery was a hit-ormiss situation as each family was responsible for taking care of their gravesites. In 1964 a program was instituted for the care of the cemetery as a whole. After the death of William D. Cary in 1861 various parcels of his land were auctioned off by the executor of his estate, Stanton M. Thomas of Cary. In September of 1866 a Warranty Deed from Lodemia Cary ( widow of William), and her heirs was given to Asa Lorenzo Weaver for $1,500 for 78 acres, the cemetery being contained therein. In eptember of 1871 a Warranty Deed was issued to Henry Crane by Asa Weaver for one acre of land to be used for a cemetery or for burial and no other purpose in the sum of one hundred dollars. On June 1, 1891, Miner B. Weaver purchased this one acre of land for fifty dollars. If the land ceased to be used as a cemetery the land was to revert to Asa L. Weaver and his heirs. In 1914 running water was installed in the cemetery. In 1917 the Cary Cemetery was enlarged to the east and south doubling the ize to more or le s than two acres. On May 24, 1964, Miner B. Weaver died. His wife Bertha and her three children: Eldon, Edwinie and Marion, signed a Quit Claim Deed to the Village of Cary in the amount of ten dollars. The village was now the owner. The cemetery at that time was managed by a Board of Managers: G. Watson Lowe, President; George Bloner, Treasurer; and Marion Johnson Dickman Drafall, Secretary. A flower urn was installed in the cemetery in memory of Watson Lowe on June 5, 1990 by the Cemetery Board of Managers. ince 1985 the Cary Cemetery has been in the process of a thorough going over. There have been trees cut down, headstones repaired, a fence has been installed, an archway has been installed, gravel has been put on the driveway and cement markers have been installed to designate each gravesite. Marge Boucek, Mary Riter, John Boucek Jr. and Elizabeth H. Freeman have donated a great deal of their time to help restore the cemetery. All of the mentioned improvements were donated to the cemetery. The Pearl Harbor Memorial Post #245 and the Cary American Legion, Raymond Wascher, Post #276 purchased and installed a flag pole in memory of all service men and women of all wars. Dedication took place on May 11, 1991. continued next page 177

178 In June of 1987 the dream of a wrought iron fence around the cemetery came true. Thomas Decker and Henry B. Harper, two residents of Cary, made the 600 foot long and 3½ foot high antique fence a reality. Mr. Decker heard of our efforts in getting a fence for our cemetery and offered to help. He purchased the wrought iron fence which at one time enclosed the Peterstown Cemetery in Mendota, Illinois. He delivered the fence, repaired it where needed and had his men install it. After the fence was installed, Henry B. Harper had his men do the scraping, sanding and painting. The value of the fence was estimated at $8,000. Henry B. Harper also paid to have 130 headstones repaired. Some Cary residents made contributions to our "fence fund" and this money was used to install an archway over the front entrance to the cemetery. On September 27, 1986 our cemetery received a Historical Plaque from the McHenry County Historical Society. There are seventy War Veterans buried in our cemetery. From the panish American War, one; the Civil War, twenty-four; World War I, eighteen; World War II, twenty-two; Korean War, three; and the Vietnam War, one. The Cary Cemetery is a place for the people of Cary to be proud of. The present Board Members are: Elizabeth Harper Freeman, President; Joann DeClark Lachman, Treasurer; Coreen ordby Pichen, Secretary; Robert A. Reidel, Assistant Sexton; and Margaret (Peg) Versgrove, Computer Records. I am grateful to the young people of Cary that show their respect for our cemetery. On Community Day fifteen to twenty high school students rake the leaves that fall in abundance. This job could not be done without them. At most times our cemetery is neat and clean and not strewn with rubbish. We encourage everyone to walk through our cemetery. If you are looking for the History of Cary, you 're sure to find it here. ❖ Elizabeth H. Freeman Spring treet 1956 Freeman Apts., Petriak's Antiques, Wascher's Tavern

THE FUNERAL Historically all known societies have given attention of some kind to death, and archaeological evidence shows that a funeral is an ancient custom. In modern times funerals are conducted in churches, funeral homes, or private homes. Most commonly the burial place is in a permanently maintained cemetery. Until modern times funerals in all known societies have been religious rites. Cremation was the genera] practice of the ancient world, with the exception of Egypt, which embalmed. We know the American Indian tribes exposed their dead on specially built scaffolds. The first white men in America buried their dead in the ground as soon as possible. By the mid 1800's the functions performed by the undertakers had become a service occupation in the United States. By the 1900's 'Funeral Directors' were required by law to have certain training and to meet other qualifications. As far back as 1930 the undertaker would come to the home of the deceased, perform the embalming, and place the deceased into the coffin set up in the front parlor. Funeral Parlors were slow in coming. The first one in Cary was in 1939 and located at 244 W. Main treet, in a private home, operated by Frank Jelinek. It was only in operation for a year or two as most people still had the wake of the decea ed in their own home with most funerals taking place in the church. In 1952 Leor Warner of Crystal Lake purchased the school/church building at 104 High Road and operated a funeral home at this location until 1982. It was then sold to Flagg and on Funeral Home of Crystal Lake who operated it until 1986. The present owner is the American Family Funeral ervice Inc., ( which includes the Windridge Cemetery.) Kahle Funeral Home was built in 1962 by James and Millie Kahle at 403 ilver Lake Road. In 1978 teve and Jane Moore purchased the funeral home. The Moore's operate the funeral home at the present time under the name of Kahle-Moore Funeral Home. ❖ Elizabeth H Freeman KAHLE-MOORE FUNERAL HOME - 1962 179

180 WINDRIDGECEMETERY Back in the year 1855 the farm land at 7014 South Rawson Bridge Road was owned by Charles E. and Ida Paddock. It was later owned by Ernest and Anna Newbold Lamke. Through the years the property was sold and developed into wooded homesites. One parcel of the property was developed in the late 1930's as a private sanctuary and retreat by Henry Bur hop, President of Burhop Paper Company in Chicago as a summer home. Burhop purchased the land from Harold Lawin. In 1963 William A. Trankle purchased the 46 acres from Henry Burhop, ( who was then 86 years of age but wanted the property to be preserved.) It was licensed by the State of Illinois in 1965 for use as a cemetery. A mausoleum was constructed of natural granite boulders and cedar beams. A 4½ ton boulder estimated to be 10,000 years old serves as the catafalque. The cemetery is designed with nature trails, flower gardens and woods. American Family Windridge Park and Cemetery is happy to have the public come and enjoy the beauty of the cemetery. ❖ 1895 6/ 27/1895: Elizabeth H Freeman CARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS Police authorized to obtain information in regard to the dog question from ordinances from other towns and then draw up a legal ordinance and present it at next meeting. ORDINANCE: Showing time of musseling dogs to be from 6/1 to 10/ 1. Accepted. 8/ 6/ 1895: Notify George Hansen and Mr. Bowman that their Hog Pens have been declared a nuisance and that they must be removed at once. Purchase ½ dozen burners for Street Lamps. Plat of Levi P. Smiths 1st and 2nd addition be accepted. 1895 - E. Shepard and H. B. Shepard on Village Board. 10/ 1/1895: Instructed A. L. Weaver in regard to obtaining extension to Cemetery - also price to be paid for lots in same. 11/ 6/ 1895: Reported that A. L. Weaver would not enlarge the Cemetery at once because he could not do so. ❖

SCHOOLS - LIBRARY High Road School •--------- -- 181

182 THE LEARNING PATH History tells us there was a ilver Lake Schoolhouse along Crystal Lake Avenue and Silver Lake Road which was built in 1859 by Benjamin Bosberg. The first teacher was Julia Howard Harback. She had 29 students and was paid $3.00 per week. Maime Raska Schuldt taught there when the building was destroyed by fire in May 1919. McManaman School was also a rural school located on the northeast corner of Three Oaks and Rawson Bridge Roads. The land was owned by a Mr. T. Paddock who donated 1/3 acre to be used for school purposes only. The land was deeded for school use in 1855. The restriction was when the land would no longer be used as a school, the land would revert back to the owners or their heirs. The school was in operation until 1947 when all rural schools in the Cary area were consolidated into one district and all the children in the rural areas had to complete their education in the town schools. The land reverted back to the Paddock heirs and was renled out a a house for a few years and laler sold. One of Lhe teachers at the McManaman School was ettie Tomi key and Bertha Weaver al o taught there. Prior to 1861, Lhere was a log school located on Lhe southeast side of West Main near the corner of Cary-Algonquin Road. In Lhis complex, there was also a well, woodshed and of cour e, outhou e . This was built by Frary, eebert and Goodwin. The teacher was Mis Tiffany, and one could attend by subscription only. 1888 441 W. Main treet School. In Dec. of 1861, a one Lory brick chool hou e was completed at what i now 104 High Road. This erved a the main school until 1889 when the chool wa moved to the new brick building al 441 We t Main treet. The High Road school wa sold to the Methodi t Church at thi time. According to George uchy, the frame addition which wa added to the outh side of the building at a later time, wa moved from the Algonquin Methodi t Church and brought aero the frozen river to avoid the hill coming from Algonquin by road. When the church outgrew this structure and moved to 23-25 pring Street, Warner Cary Grove Chapel became the new occupants/ owner . Continued later as the Flagg & on Funeral Home for everal year 11111

and in 1986 was sold to American Family Services. The building has since been restored to its original state with the exception of the bell. The school moved from 104 High Road to 441 West Main Street in 1889 where it remained until 1949 when the building was sold to the Curtiss Candy Company. This one story structure of brick was built in 1888 and in 1896 a second story was added. The school now had 4 rooms, 2 downstairs and 2 upstairs. There were 2 classes in each room with only one teacher. Children brought brown bag ( or newspaper wrapped) lunches which were eaten in the basement of the school. White or chocolate milk could be purchased for 5 cents for a½ pint bottle. In 1926 school supplies were sold by Mary Gitzke in her home across the street from the school at 444 W. Main Street. The playground had slides, swings, trapeze bars and rings, and "giant strides" - a most fun apparatus which in later years was removed as it was considered too dangerous. The original bell was placed on the second story until the building was sold to Curtiss Candy Company in 1949. It was then removed and given to the Fire Department to use as an emergency measure should the power be off. It remained here until the Fire Department moved to 400 Cary-Algonquin Road, their new quarters, after which time it was simply stored by the Fire Department until 1989 when it was loaned to the Cary Station Museum owned by Henry Harper and his son Robert. It is currently on display at the museum. Curtiss Candy Company had a school at the 441 West Main Street building for their employees. Later the building was occupied by the Evangelical Free Church. In 1955 the old chool house became the property of the Village of Cary. The building wa to become the future Village Hall and Police Department which moved from 4 Crystal treet to these expanded quarters in 1955. 1896 441 W Main Street Sclwol. Used until 1948. Now Senior Citizens Center. In 1928-29 Peter & Paul had a 2-room school next to the original Catholic Church on the corner of Route 14 and First Street. There were 50 pupil and 2 nuns to teach them. By 1954 they added 3 more rooms, had an enrollment of 261 and a faculty of 5 nuns. The new school, church, priest's home, and convent was built at 418 First Street in 1960. The enrollment grew to 370 with a faculty now of 8 teachers. As of 1991, ~here are 254 students, 12 full-time teachers, 2 part-time (gym and music) and a principal. continued next page 183

184 1948 Maplewood chool 422 W Krenz Atoe. 1855 McManaman School Three Oaks & S. Rawson Bridge Roads. Deeded: April 14, 1885. 1928 ts. Peter & Paul Catholic School. Demolished 1967 (8 E. Main t.)

HIGH ROAD SCHOOL · Built 1861 According to George Suchy: Cary School purchased the Algonquin Methodist Church building, TTW~-ed it by sled on the frozen Fox River to the Cary Country Club wcation. then by sled to the school house and annexed it to the south side of the school This fuJ.er became the Cary Methodist Church, now American Family Services Funeral Home. 1861 High Road School • 104 High Road. Built Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, President. Far right in back is Luna F. Mentch. continued next page 185

186 The gymnasium was built at 422 Krenz Street in 1929. The school children walked from West Main Street School to the Gym for gym classes. Programs, operettas, and graduation exercises were also held in the gym. Students made most of their own costumes for the plays and operettas, usually out of crepe paper and with the expertise of teacher Miss Hutson. The Cary Merchants at one time had a basketball team and held games in the gym, which would be filled with spectators. Maplewood School was added onto the Gym building in 1948. There were eight classrooms. In 1954 eight more rooms were added and in 1990 there was another large addition to the building. The first of two K-4 schools, Oak Knoll, was built in 1959 at 409 First Street. This also had eight classrooms. In 1962, a multi-purpose room was added and in 1990, a ten classroom addition was built. In 1965, Briargate School, the second K-4 school located on Wulff Street, was built. This school had fourteen classrooms, a learning center and a multi-purpose room, used for lunches and also gym activities. Briargate offered a learning disability resource program and also had a speech therapist. The Junior High on Crest Street was built in 1969 wih 20 classrooms and a complete gymnasium; some remodeling being done in 1990. On October 28, 1991, an agreement was reached with the Village Board of Cary, school officials and Thomas Decker for a future school site. Located at Three Oaks Road and Montana Drive, twelve acres of land was sold to School District #26 for $315,000. On March 17, 1992, a referendum was passed approving the building of this future school - occupancy possibly in 1993. Presently, Maplewood, Briargate and Oak Knoll schools house K-5 grades while sixth, seventh and eighth grades attend Junior High. Upon completion of this newest school, the consensus is the four grade schools will be geared to K through sixth grades and the Junior High chool will revert back to just seventh and eighth grades as it was in the beginning. Cary children were bussed or took the train to Crystal Lake High chool up to 1960 when Cary became the site of a new high school. This wa located at Three Oaks Road and First treet and called Cary-Grove Community High School. In 1964 the auditorium was added and in 1966, another addition was built which consisted of 19 rooms and included enlarging the cafeteria, library and locker rooms. An extended time program began in the fall of 1990 which enables District #26 school parents to bring children to school early and pick them up later in the day, 5 days a week. This provides an inexpensive day care program and is run under the auspices of the Cary Park District. As the town continues to grow, there will be a need for still more schools in the future. Schools are a vital part of Cary, offering quality education including the arts, music and sports. The reputation Cary has for its great school system is one of the big factors bringing the influx of people to our town - CARY. ❖ Coreen ordby Pichen

THE HOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE Within the framework of every town and village many separate organizations have humble beginnings. Always in search of better ways to do things, many small towns and villages early realized the importance of having an informed public. The library, sponsored by individuals and groups, came into being as one means to satisfy America's ever-growing thirst for knowledge. If you remember a Camp Fire Girls Group in Cary, then you are an "Old Timer". This group of girls, and their Guardian, worked hard to begin the Cary Library. The idea of a public library was started by Miss Florence Smith, guardian of the group. Miss Smith lived on the farm which became known later as the J. D. Hertz and the Curtiss farm. The girls made a house-tohouse canvass collecting books, and wearing their ceremonial costumes the girls held a tag day. Mrs. Miner Weaver recalls that a dinner was also given, the food coming as donations, followed by a Chatauqua program. This realized about $100 for the library. The library was established in a small room at the rear of the old village hall/ fire department, 4 Crystal Street. It was open two or three evenings a week, taffed by volunteer . The village president appointed four persons to serve as library advi ors or trustees. In April 1951, following a movement led by Mrs. Elden Weaver, the library became tax upported by referendum. A six-member board was elected. The board members were Mrs. William Wascher, Mrs. Frank Snell, Mrs. Daniel Mackay, Mrs. Anton Opatrny, Mrs. Herman Adams, and Mr . Elden Weaver. Built about 1925 Entrance w Cary Library. 255 Swnegate Road. The library continued to use the small room in the village hall/ fire house until 1954 when the fire department completed the construction of its new building at 22 pring treet. When the fire fighting equipment was removed, the Village Board offered the larger room to the libr_ary, and the offer_ was gratefully accepted. Following considerable remodelmg and redecoratmg, the library was moved with the help of Cub couts and Boy Scouts under the continued next page 187

188 direction of Mrs. Stella Baker who had been employed as librarian. The village clerk and police chief shared the small room once occupied by the library, and the library shared the village telephone. Coinciding with the population growth of the village, it soon became necessary to hire additional staff. More space was also needed. When the village moved to the building at 441 W. Main Street in 1955, now the Senior Citizen Center, the village offered the library the entire first floor of the building at 4 Crystal Street. In 1976, the library rented a store on Crystal Street two doors from the main building to help alleviate the crowded conditions. This was used for office space, board meetings, and juvenile story hours and programs. It also housed some of our picture books. Several organizations helped the library by making donations during the early years. These include the Lions Club, the Garden Club, the Legion and Legion Auxiliary, and the Cary Women's Club. Through the years many public-spirited individuals have donated money, services, and books to the library. A referendum was held in August, 1976 asking for a new building which would be part of the planned Community Center. It passed, and in March, 1978 the library, wilh the help of over 100 volunteer , moved into its new facilities. The building was dedicated on July 30, 1978. In October, 1978, Mrs. Lenelle Mas man, librarian for 21 year announced her retirement. Mr . Eile n Greiner, a i tant librarian, wa appointed director. March, 1985 saw further expan ion, with the children' collection being moved to the remodeled lower level. At this time Barbara Dixon b came the first children's librarian in the history of the Cary Library. helve were added to the adult ection on the main floor, and a criou study room wa et aside. In 1986 an Apple Ile computer and Apple Imagewriter II print r were acquired for patron u e. The Cary Public Library is probably the only library in Illinoi ( or even the United tate ) with the entrance through a ilo. The ilo wa part of the original farm. Reigh Count, Kentucky Derby Winner, wa one of the famous race hor e residents. The oldest part of the library is the reading room, which was formerly an office for Mr. John D. Hertz, of Hertz Rent-A-Car Co., who owned the entire area during the 1920's. It was named Leona Farms. Many well known celebrities visited this estate, including his daughter-in-law, Myrna Loy, a famous movie actress. Thee tate wa purchased by Otto chnering of Curti Candy Company, and later by G. D. earle, the pharmaceutical company, earle donated the land to the village. Curti s u ed the reading room a a trophy room for their prize-winning bull . It is paneled in the original driftwood, has casement windows, a cathedral ceiling with rafters and a tone fireplace. This is a plea ant place to brow e through ome of the 119 magazine and new - paper available at the library.

In 1991, the library is again crowded and in need of additional space. Library growth has more than matched the growth of the village: 1952 1991 Registered borrowers 265 6,225 Annual circulation 3,000 92,000 Village population 950 10,043 Hours open ( per wk.) 8 59 Collection: Books 3,200 39,600 Computer software 0 89 Filmstrips 0 37 Periodicals 0 119 Realia 0 54 Records 0 1,092 Cassettes 0 603 Videos 0 243 Staff 1 11 plus 3 pages Present board members are: Elizabeth Drewes, Cynthia Egler, Stacie Faber, Virginia Kennedy, Mary Lundvick, Janice McShea, and Mary Patterson. Present staff members are: Department heads: taff: Pages: Virginia Reitano, adult services Janice pringborn, children's services Charlotte Kott, circulation Mary Ellen Thro, reference Barbara Kling, technical processing Vivian Dus Florence Jantz Alice Majka Lynn Past Christine Wagner Elaine Petkewicz Laura McKelvey Anthony Romano Kori Toomey ❖ 1917 Eileen Greiner Town Hall. Cary, Ill. CARY PUBLIC LIBRARY -1918 189

190

SURFACE MINING 191

192 TROUBLE HOLLOW "The Hollows" Once upon a time two families who lived across a hollow from each other concocted a genuine feud and spent much time throwing rocks back and forth across the hollow at each other. Over a period of time, the continuing confrontations between these two families established the name and legend of "Trouble Hollow". Harry Pichen, son of early area settler John Pichen, locates the named area as that where the creek coming from Lake Killarney meets Crystal Lake Road. With reclamation of the locale by the McHenry County Conservation District in 1978, Everett Thomas, a MCCD trustee, discovered in the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois where a place a John Crabtree settled in 1836 in Algonquin Township was referred to as "Trouble Hollow .. , now known as Lake Killarney. Thomas proposed to the MCCD that the name be applied to the beautiful, new conservation and recreational property reclaimed from the ravages of gravel mining and neglect. The board of trustees decided against any possible preordained implication and dropped "Trouble" out of "The Hollows". There was no Washington Irving to perpetuate the legend of this particular Hollow, but, beyond legend, the progression of "The Hollows" from glaciers to conservation/ recreation has been duly recorded by Pat Dieckhofl's thesis in pursuit of a master's degree in Geographical and Environmental Studies. This recording of history of "The Hollows" is largely cribbed from Pat's research and pen. Original land surveys for the newly formed Algonquin Township were started in 1837 and completed in 1839. With definite line-boundaries established, eleven people were issued original land grants on the Hollows property and the immediate surrounding area. Each claimant paid the United States Government $1.25 per acre and received title to the property. A digression of possible interest is the progressive price of average acreage over the years. Transportation, largely railroad access, keyed initial increase in value of farm land and still plays a major role in development of farm land to residential and industrial growth. Average price per acre moved from $1.25 in land grant purchase to $4-5 in 1842, 60 in 1870, $90 in 1900, $174 in 1925, ( 87 in 1935 ), $399 in 1959, $500 in 1967 and over $1000 in 1976. Call for estimate in 1993. The land survey of 1839 shows all of the Hollow's site covered with woods. Later plat maps show areas where wooded areas had been cleared for building material, fuel, fencing, etc. The areas cleared were farmed; for the most part for animal grazing. By 1880 much of the land surrounding the Hollows site was used for dairy farming, the Hollows area again providing pasture acreage. The Hollows' property owners were active in local community, county, township and national service. A number served in the Civil War and many names of the area folk appear in the records as school directors, road commissioners, council members and village officials. John Pichen owned 120 acres just east of the Hollows site. John's brother, Joseph, was the 12th elected mayor of Cary and both the city hall and city park were built during his tenure.