Cary Me Back (PDF)

A. L. Weaver purchased 184 acres of Hollow property for $9,200. M. B. Weaver, his son, was a very active community leader in Cary. Some of the Weaver family are buried in the fenced area of the Cary Cemetery. The people who settled or owned property in the Hollows area represented many different nationalities. Their rich cultural backgrounds and variety of viewpoints blended together to form the basis for Algonquin Township's heritage. McHenry County, and specifically the Hollows site had concentrated deposits of sand and gravel usable for roads and building materials. The growing need for these materials brought about drastic use of the land from farming and domicile to mining sand and gravel. The earliest recording of gravel mining in the Hollows general area was April 11, 1891. Records indicate a Clybourn Sand and Gravel Company entered into an agreement with a Garden City Sand Company to mine gravel on Sections 11 and 12, northwest of Munshawville Road ( now Three Oaks Road). Available records also show that in 1895 a John Baldwin leased property to the Garden City Sand Company on the W½, NE¼ of Section 11 south of Munshawville Road. No other records are available regarding these early mining operations. From 1909-22 sand and gravel were mined by Wisconsin Lime and Cement Company on property to the west of the Hollows site. Actual gravel mining on the Hollows site was conducted from 1923 to 1955 and again from 1969 lo 1974. continued next page Asa L. Weaver bought 184 acres of land in what is now known as the 'Hollnws'. The farm howe was located about 1,00().1,200 feet north of Route 14 and about BOO feet east of the present Algonquin Township ojf1Ces. Around 1866 the Weaver family moved into town. In April 1942 the/arm howe ~ moved to 156 E. Main Street, Cary. It is presently owned by Agnes Krenz, wife of the late Carl (Red) Krenz. 193

ll 194 Wisconsin Lime and Cement Company owned the Hollows site mines from 1923 to 1938 when the property was sold to the Consumers Company. Consumers Company was involved in a merger and changeri its name to Union Chemicals and Material Corporation in December 1954. Three years later Union Chemical merged with Vulcan Materials Corporation; Vulcan owned the property until 1977. In December, 1955 Vulcan ended production at the Hollows. Sand and gravel users were becoming more demanding with exacting specifications for construction and industrial material and the plant and equipment at the Hollows had become out-moded. Resources were also showing signs of depletion. Demand for road building materials increased in the late 1960's and Vulcan reopened the Hollows pit. The gravel mined at this time was primarily used for roads and, for the most part, in local suburbs. When Hollows site mining again ceased in 1974 the operation was reported to have a 3000 ton per day potential for production. With the second closing of mining operations at the Hollows site, the property lay fallow and neglected. Other than a few small hills the land was left very flat as a result of the effectiveness of modern mining equipment in removing gravel. The mining operation also left the area barren of vegetation. The population growth of McHenry County, particularly in the southeast corner of the county, and the shortage of affordable land prompted the McHenry County Conservation District interest in acquiring land for obvious future open space conservation. The MCCD pursued the purchase of a gravel pit on Pyott Road, but sale of the property had been consumated. Vulcan, owner of the idle Hollows' site contacted the MCCD to ascertain if the MCCD might be interested in that piece of property. Survey by the MCCD trustees created interest for numerous reasons: the location, sizeable open space, ·the three lakes created by the mining, and the large undisturbed area. The property also afforded the MCCD an opportunity to demonstrate that an old gravel pit doesn't have to remain as a permanent scar on the county's landscape. The MCCD purchased the Hollows site in December 1977 and in December 1978 held a series of meetings to collect data from the general public and special interest groups. Early in 1980 the MCCD presented a Master Plan for the Hollows. The plan presented options for development of access, nature areas, picnic areas, group camping, trail systems, lake improvements, lake uses, park office, general landscaping, etc. The MCCD staff minimized disruption of the environment with development work utilizing existing roads as nature trails; the entrance the same the gravel company had used. The picnic areas were chosen in relatively level, open space among large tree tracts to limit grading. In the spring of 1983 a contract was let for contour shaping of the three groundwater lakes in the northeast corner of the property. The three lakes were combined creating Lake Atwood. Some of the steeper slopes were graded, greatly reducing the angle of incline and providing a potential beach. With the volunteer help of the Boy Scouts, McHenry County Defenders, McHenry County Sanitary Landfill and Recycling Center, Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association, Youth Conservation Corps, and the Algonquin Township office, the MCCD landscape changes, building program and continuing conservation development and supervision, the Hollows has

become a beautiful recreation area which can be used for boating, fishing, picnicing, camping, hiking and cross-country skiing. Presently, insurance costs have prohibited swimming in Lake Atwood which undoubtedly has the cleanest water in the state. . I_n 1982 the Cary Gravel Company, a division of Plote, Inc. of Elgin, Illmo1s purchased approximately 25 acres of land adjacent to the Hollows for the purpose of mining gravel. Around 250,000 tons of gravel is mined from the site on an annual basis; April to November. Reportedly, mining of the pit will be completed in the next few years at which time the area will be restored to comply with current Illinois mining specifications. ❖ JackArno/,d CARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS 1896 2/ 4/1896: Complaint has been made to the Trustees in regard to Hog Pens on Depot St. Discussed - laid aside indefinitely. 6/2/1896: Plat of A. L. Weaver addition to Cary presented to Board. Accepted. M. B. Weaver presented the Plat of Cary Cemetery to Board and asked the Board to accept. Committee of 3 were appointed to confer with Weaver in regard to the Village purchasing the Cemetery. The Village to hire a man at a reasonable price to do Police Duty, 7 PM. He'd be instructed to keep streets, corners and sidewalks clear of a crowd of men. A crowd to consist of a party of 3 or more. Also to keep the walk and streets clear of chairs, beer kegs, cases or any other obstructions. Accepted. Party owning the alley between Wascher's Saloon and the Weaver's meat market be ordered to enclose the alley on Depot St. with a door, at once, and to keep same locked except when open to admit entrance to hall. Street Commissioner was to examine the bridge across the Fox River and if necessary consult with the highway commissioner and put up a notice condemning same. 7/ 8/ 1896: Board ordered the Marshall to go at once and stop the noise then heard in the corner saloon. Clerk be instructed to post notices at once prohibiting the running of bicycles and tricycles on the sidewalks in the Village. Also prohibiting running same after dark without lights attached 10/ 6/ 1896: Mr. Pike representing the Racine Fire Engine Co. explained their Chemical Engine and a proposition to Board. Discussed - Not accepted. Tabled. ❖ ;- I I; I I: I i I 195

196 LAKE JULIAN Part of the property where Lake Julian is located was owned by Asa L. Weaver when it was leased for the gravel pit. At different times the gravel was mined by the Lake Shore Sand Company, the Virginia Limestone Corporation, and the Grove Gravel and Excavating Company which was owned by Julian Dvorak. The land was never sold to the gravel excavating companies, it was leased to them. Ownership of the land was always in the Weaver or Julian Dvorak name. After Asa Weaver died Miner B. Weaver, his son, was heir to the Weaver portion of the land. When Miner B. Weaver died, Eldon Weaver, his son, became the owner. Lake Julian - Pit #25 Lake Shore Sand & Gravel The pit property is divided by a line of blue clay making the lower level water source completely separated from the upper source. They are of different springs. John Dvorak, father of Julian, worked for the Lake Shore Sand and Gravel Company ( as did Julian). In 1890 when John was digging in the pit he opened the spring that created the present Trout Pond which is at the upper level. The geological oddity created by the glaciers made this pit produce the highest grade of mason sand in this part of the state. This area is an important mineral source as there are places in Illinois where there is no gravel available at all. In the 1920's when the digging steam shovel struck an underground spring the pit flooded with water, the shovel had to be towed to dry land by the work mules. In 1932 Julian and Cora Dvorak purchased 18 acres on the back ( east side) of the pit from Virginia Limestone Corporation. This piece of land ran from Spring Beach Road to East Main Street; he later leased the rest of the pit from Weaver. Julian's daughter, Dorothy Dvorak Miller remembers her Dad telling her the gravel pit location was one of the highest points in McHenry County. Before digging of gravel began Spring Beach was at the same level or even higher than East Main Street. continued next page ◄

Lake Julian - Trout Pond Lake Julian - Big Lake WESLEY BERRY FLOWERS - 1990 197 •

In 1950 Dvorak leased a piece ofland on the west side of Route 14 from Weaver and installed a plant to wash and grade the gravel. The gravel was washed and put through screens to separate the different sizes of gravel. Dvorak started a dredging operation for gravel in the lake, dredging to a depth of 30 feet below the water. In 1950-60 when scuba diving became popular the DACO R ( manufacturers of diving equipment) would use the Big Lake at Lake Julian in the winter time to test their diving equipment to see what temperature the suits were able to withstand. The Cary Fire Department divers have also used the lake for practice dives. A professor from the University of Illinois doing research for NASA came to Lake Julian with students to do a research project. There is a small worm which seems to know the time of day and its own location at all times, it cannot be confused. They would set up jars with bait to catch the worms to collect data. This was one of the few areas where this worm could be found. This information was to be used in the future for space travel. In 195 7 Dvorak purchased the other 22 acres of the pit ( now owning up to Route 14) from Eldon Weaver. At this time he gave up his lease to Weaver for the land on the west side of Route 14, relocated all his offices, hoppers, washer and grader to the east side of Route 14 onto the property of Lake Julian. The west side of Route 14 was sold, the largest portion to Craft Concrete Products Inc., 134 Northwest Highway, owned by Dick Sulky ( this business was started in 1954 ). One small piece of the land was sold to Chuck Sedivec and is now the location for storage of his equipment used in the heating and ventilating business. In 1958 when Julian was about to retire he leased the pit to the Cary Sand and Gravel Company. They ran the pit for about 2 years, after which activity of the gravel pit ceased. When Julian retired he started renovation of the pit into the park as it is today. The Lake Julian Trout Farm is open to the public. Come in and fish for Trout, paying by the pound, or fish in the Big Lake for a daily fee. In 1974 Lake Julian was deeded to the daughter of Julian and Cora Dvorak, Dorothy Dvorak Miller and her husband Delbert. ❖ Elizabeth H Freeman THU-TEST MANUFACTURING CO. -1976 ◄

CARY POINT Jandus Road By 1930 the Jandus gravel pits were exhausted. The land lay dormant for many years. It was not good for much of anything. In 1945 Maybelle Bacon Fivik was interested in a piece of the Old Jandus Pits running along the Fox River. But to get this small piece she had to buy the whole Jandus Pit area of 52 acres from Mamie Dunn, the owner. The gravel pit train tracks were still shown running through the area at that time. In 1949 the river frontage, just west of Jandus Subdivision, was subdivided into seven lots and sold for homesteads. The triangle piece of property in the northeast corner facing Cary Street, and located next to the Minerva Springs business, was sold to Walter Exner and became the location of Exner Plumbing and Heating Co. (Now gone.) 1909 WATSON GRAVEL PIT J andus Cut.off One half the roadbed, now Jandus Road, was condemned by the Village and the Village paid Fivik $250 for a strip 20 ft. x 385 ft. long, so the Jandus road could be completed. Another small piece of land was given to Faye Lazansky as pasture for her horse. By 1955 Fivik was no longer interest'ed in the property and sold the rest of the land to William Pfeiffer of Crystal Lake Trucking Company. Pfeiffer mined the few hills of gravel that were still available until 1964 when he reached an agreement with the Village of Cary to stop the mining of gravel from the land. Around 1970 Marvin Frisch purchased the remainder of the Jandus gravel pits. That became the start of a new industrial area in Cary called 'Cary Point'. The first industrial plant Frisch brought into Cary Point was the Cotter Co. at 201 Jandus Road. In 1975 the Cotter Co. Lawn Chief Mower factory (278,000 sq. ft.) was in business. This section of Cotter closed in 1981 moving to Harvard, Illinois. continued next page 199

200 1911 GRAVEL PIT ENGINE -JANDUS P/1S Harry Gilbertson, Ralph Powers, Dr. F J. Theobald In 1976 Tru Test Paint factory of Cotter Co., (260,000 sq. ft.) moved in and in 1989 Cotter Co. Baltimore Brush & Roller factory was added to the building. The Village Board of Cary after recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals, voted in favor of the annexation of Cary Point on May 8, 1978. Marvin Frisch merged into Cary Point Associates, and after that it became Pat-ex Properties. Cary Point was built in three phases. The last two phases were approved by the village October 21, 1990. At this time 23 acres were to be subdivided into 48 lots for industrial use. The park has fully improved streets, curbs, utilities, sewer and storm detention. Twelve acres of land, east of the current Cary Sewer treatment plant, were sold by Pat-ex Properties to the Village of Cary for $621,000 with an agreement for a donation of another 15 acres to the Village of Cary. The Village is to pay the $621,000 over a 4-year period. 1914 Jandus Gravel Pits There are currently 21 factory buildings located in Cary Point, plus the Cotter Co. building, which is the largest and oldest factory in the park. A most interesting feature of Cary Point is that streets are named after cities of the United States such as: Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, to name a few. Residents of Cary should be proud of the well kept factory buildings in this industrial area. The area is a big asset to our town. ❖ Elizabeth H Freeman ◄

• GRAVEL GERTIE AND OIHER PRODUCTS OF THE PITS There is no questioning the economic role the Cary gravel mines played in the early history of the village. Open to speculation is the role Cary has played in the growth and development of Chicago and the Midwest. Blessed with the deposits of sand and gravel from the great glacial movements, Cary has made maj_or contributions to the development of transportation, housing and commerce of Chicago and environs. Materially and geographically speaking it would be fair to say Cary has no boundaries. When you ride Metra, Cary is with you all the way, for the initial single track railroad from Chicago to Cary Station constructed in 1854 and the subsequent dual track improvement totally utilized a roadbed comprised of Cary gravel. The largess of Cary and other county mines will also be found in O'Hare runways. Woodfield Mall, Sears Tower, Kennedy Expressway and Dan Ryan Expressway to drop a few names in support of the premise, "Cary has no boundaries". This earthy contribution of material development and economic benefit created considerable visable residue. That the citizens of Cary, past and present, have turned potential scars into environmental beauty, resident enjoyment, economic asset and local pride is worthy of note. The Jandus gravel pit area history of operations is well documented in a separate recounting in this chronicle. Today's industrial utilization of Cary Point and the Jandus Road area is evidence of positive land reclamation. In like fashion, today's Lake Julian provides the public with a scenic, pleasurable fishing experience in the big lake or trout ponds which are the progeny of a long history of events and activity in one of Cary's early gravel mines. In 1984 Pat Dieckhoff of Crystal Lake presented a thesis in fulfillment for the Degree "Master of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies" under the title, "Historical Geography of The Hollows Conservation Area". Her thesis covers "The Hollows" from glacial history and geological setting to human settlement, to farming, to gravel mining to today's outstanding conservation area under the guiding hand of the McHenry County Conservation District. Through sound planning and development programs at the Hollows, the MCCD has shown how it is possible to transform an abandoned gravel pit into a beautiful landscape for preserving the wonders of nature and for participating in a variety of educational and recreational uses. In the 1940's Chester Gould, originator of the famous Dick Tracy comic strip, would drive from his home in Woodstock to his Tribune Tower office in Chicago. His observation of the activity of gravel mining as he drove through the county created an interest in an old deserted shed on the corner of a mine property. In his imagination Gould visualized this old shed as a likely abode for an old, witch-like, hag-like lady. Thus, the comic strip character Gravel Gertie was born. Happenstance, one Gertrude Brautlacht and her husband George opened a tavern and short order bar next to the Lake Julian Pit on a piece of ground where the 1st Security Bank of Cary Grove is now located. Avid readers of Dick Tracy, they recognized the beauty and coincidence of name and location continued next page 201

202 of their enterprise with the Gravel Gertie character and family. Like a preordained schedule, Chester Gould stopped into the new establishment and, presented with the obvious, granted permission for the use of the Gravel Gertie name. Cary's Gravel Gerties prospered although husband George had to occasionally accept identification as B. 0. Plenty, Gravel Gertie's husband, and daughter Drucilla's school mates tested her sense of humor by calling her Sparkle Plenty, the comic strip's family off-spring. ❖ Lake Julian gravel pit 1900 Gravel Pit Jack Arnold

HOW DID THEY DO THAT? Relatively dormant today, gravel mining in the immediate Cary environs has a long history, and the industry has had a predominant influence on the economic and material growth of the village, not to mention topographical change. The earliest recording of gravel mining in the Cary area was in April 1891. Recorded recollections report a horse-drawn stripping method to remove overburden ( soil, grass and clay) off the surface. Horses pulled scrapers which removed a thin layer of overburden each time the equipment moved down a row. The overburden was dumped in row-like hills. Steam shovels were used to dig the gravel and load railroad cars which were pulled out of the pit by small locomotives. Material was classified and sorted by gravity feed when the gravel was hauled up a ramp and then fed through screens and sorted by size. The horse-drawn stripping method was replaced by the dragline stripping method. The dragline was powered by a coal-fired furnace and operated by three men. The dragline removed the overburden until the operator hit a good gravel horizon. As the exposed gravel was mined by the steam shovel, the dragline continued to remove and redeposit overburden in the trenches where the steam shovel had just removed the gravel. The dragline was positioned on five-foot-long sections of railroad track called pads. When it was necessary to move the dragline, the track was picked up from the rear and moved in front of the dragline. The dragline consisted of a 100-foot wooden boom with a steel bucket as large as a car. The body of the dragline was as large as a semi-trailer truck. The dragline was eventually replaced by the turnapull stripping method. Instead of being confined to the limits of the railroad track for removing overburden, the turnapull offered more freedom of movement and was able to scrape all the overburden off the surface. The turnapull was a large bucket mounted on two rubber wheels on the front. When the bucket was dropped it would remove six inches of top soil at a time. With only the two wheels on the front, the turnapull did not have much traction and much of the time needed a bulldozer to push it to keep it moving. Diesel shovels replaced the steam shovel for extracting the gravel in the 1940's. These new shovels moved on their own crawlers without the need for railroad tracks and were much faster and more efficient. Ingenuity and inventiveness were demonstrated throughout the Cary "mining town" history. A part of that history records the fact the entire roadbed ballast for the railroad from Cary Station to Chicago came out of the Cary pits. Gus Kraus, Cary's 16th President relates how the job was accomplished: "Flat bed railroad cars were fitted with one-foot planks around the perimeter of the cars. The cars were then filled with gravel by hand shoveling. At the end of the last car was a plow mounted on the top of the car. The plow was attached to the railroad engine. At their destination, the cars were disconnected but the engine would continue forward, pulling the plow through the cars, thus dumping the gravel on both sides of the roadbed. The gandy dancers would finish the spreading of the gravel by hand shovels." ❖ JackArrwld - 203

Su;face Mining Operations Early 1 900's 204

------ - - ----------===-----======;;-on11- RECREATION Cary Cycle Club 205

206 NORGE SKI CLUB The Fox River Grove Ski Club was founded November 12, 1905. For many years it was called the Cary Ski Jump, the reason being Fox River Grove did not have a post office and their mail came to the Cary Post Office. The Charter Members were: Lor Laurits Larsen; Terje Jensen; Haakon Lehn; Meineck Skau; Gisle Andersen; Adolph Swenson. The hill was rented from Ed Welleck for $15.00 per year for 3 years. They held the first tournament February 3, 1907 with 15 members and 5 friends present. In 1908 a club house was built. The scaffold was erected in 1911 but during a severe storm in August it blew down. A steel scaffold was built and ready for the first National Championship Tournament held January 17, 1912. Ski Jump - Fox River Grove Illinois weather is not always obliging to our winter sports and for the first time in 1922 snow was imported from Wisconsin and a new scaffold had been erected. Fox River Grove News - January 17, 1924 The lnternatwnal Ski Tournament at Cary next Sunday, January 20 has more than one hundred entries. The Fox River Grove ski meet will attract both national and foreign stars. Ten stars from Norway and one from Canada are listed among the foreign entries. One hundred national guardsmen will patrol the Cary course the day of the meet. A twenty piece band from the Norwegian-American A. A. will be on hand to entertain the hundreds of Jans who will attend the meet. Many special trains will be run out from Chicago to Fox River Grove. From Crystal Lake only one train will be available each way. In 1925 the Ski Club purchased 38 acres of land which included the ski hill for $38,000. For 88 years the ski jump has been providing a wonderful winter sports event to people from all over the country. In recent years, a new summer event has been added by the use of special plastic covering on the ski slide and the ski hill. ❖ Elizabeth H Freeman

~ --------------------------- RESORTS AND GETAWAYS As the calendar rolled to the year 1900, the city of Chicago continued to grow at a steady and rapid pace. It became more difficult to touch mother nature. As the trees and natural surroundings turned to structures of wood and brick, space to relax and enjoy seemed to disappear. There was however, an escape from the noise and hustle-bustle of Chicago. The iron horse which made its debut some fifty years prior, offered a convenient and pleasurable way to pack up the family and get on board to nature's escape. We know it as "Cary". The Fox River winding its way south from Wisconsin, cutting its banks through Cary, offered great opportunities for outdoor activities with abounding space for its visitors to enjoy. The crystal clear water flowing through bulrushes and lily pads was abundant with wildlife along its shores. Fine stock of black bass, pickerel, bullhead, red horse and bluegills were waiting to be caught. The fishermen's eyes were not the only to light. It stood true for the hunter as well. Wild game, from pheasant, to muskrat and beaver was plentiful. Trapping on the river promised great reward for those who enjoyed such adventure, and those who provided a living for their family. In the fall, bushels of clams would collect along the shorelines of the Fox and the "pearl fishers" would reap their harvest. Clams were collected for the pearls inside and the shell linings were used to make buttons. It was not an unusual sight to see the banks of the river cluttered with campsites and visitors. This provided an excellent opportunity for Cary proprietors to develop and construct resorts along the river, offering a vast choice of options for the visitor. As word spread about Cary, the town began to thrive and many resorts were at full occupancy for the duration. Arriving as a booked resort guest, you off-boarded the train at Cary Station depot on Main Street. There you would be met by perhaps John Narowetz with his horse and buggy, and swiftly escorted over gravel road to the Narowetz Resort on the river. Or perhaps one of the Frisch boys with the same mode of transportation. Several trips were often necessary to transport the arriving guests. Many of the boys' names that might have picked you up, still have a strong family influence in Cary today. If you came by train and were able to get off in Fox River Grove, you might choose to board a "launch" on the river and enjoy a scenic boat ride to your destination. Wherever you stayed, you were guaranteed pleasant surroundings and recreational enjoyment. The launch that took you to Frisch's Resort was called the "Lotchen", named after Mrs. Frisch. If you were going to the Narowetz's Resort, you boarded the "By Hek". Both cruised north up river to their prospective clockings. Cruising on the "Fox" proved to be a pleasant and very popular form of entertainment for its visitors. One of Cary's earliest resorts was built by Albert H. Abbott on the southwest corner of East Main Street and Wium Road. In 1912, Mr. Abbott and his wife made the decision to devote their time to traveling, and abandoned the business. Mr. Asa Crabtree took over as proprietor of the resort. The property was later sold to Paul Wium and became known as Wium's Grand View Resort. The Wiums, along with their children Camille, Pauline and David, ran this spacious resort along the Fox River in the early 1920's. A typical company outing at the Grand View Resort would feature such activities as horseshoe pitching tournaments, baseball, target practice and trapshooting. In later years the resort gave way to progress and was continued next page 207

208 converted to apartments. As time went on the building caught fire and was destroyed. Located at the east end of Three Oaks Road was the Frisch Resort. It was acquired in a most unusual way by Charles and Charlotte (Presser) Frisch in 1895. As the story unfurls, Mr. Frisch awoke one morning to find a deed for a 15 acre parcel of land in his pocket. Being a slate roofer in Chicago, Mr. Frisch had ventured out to collect some bills due to him by his debtors. Upon meeting with some of those debtors, he engaged in a friendly card game with his customers. His poker hand was obviously high card. He had become the owner of a parcel of land on the Fox River in Cary Station. His wife "Lottie", interested in Mr. Frisch abandoning his current profession, suggested that they go view this property. Packing up their belongings and the children, Charles, Mayme and William, they did just that. Hence, they constructed a hunting and fishing lodge and operated a dairy farm as well. Later the hotel/resort would lavish brass beds and water pitchers with accommodations for up to sixty guests. Ceiling fans throughout assured the comfort of their patrons. In 1909 Mr. Frisch purchased a new gasoline powered launch for transportation to the resort. The boat easily carried sixty passengers and was outfitted with the most state of the art equipment available. It was launched at the Cary bridge and usually operated by his son Charles Junior. Three years later Mr. Frisch purchased a ninety horse-power, sixteen passenger motorcar to provide another mode of transport for resort guests. Joe Homola Senior added a touch of class to the resort by constructing a dance hall built right over the river. Upon completion of this forty by forty feet, two story building in 1914, a grand opening ball was held to inaugurate it. There was a nickelodeon for entertainment and a lavish mahogany or cherry back bar trimmed with glass and mirrors. The Oakinite Rod and Gun Club was on the second floor. Another highlight was a bowling alley in the basement of the hotel. It was no wonder why noted politicians such as Mayor Cermak of Chicago, judges and other prominent people of that city would visit the resort. The Frisch family continued to make land purchases and eventually obtained around 200 acres, to include Basswood Island. In the mid 1950's, the old hotel was demolished to make way for new homes. Heading out of town on East Main Street and continuing until you reached the banks of the Fox River, you would find Beem's Resort, built by Art Beem Sr. in 1907. Later in that same year, Mr. Beem sold the resort to Anton and Anna (Vance) Capek. Shortly after the purchase Mr. Capek died leaving Anna to run the resort. Mrs. Capek, referred to as the "merry widow" continued to operate the ten acre resort known as the Fox River Hotel. Mrs. Capek found it difficult to run such a resort by herself. Seeking assistance in the operation of the resort, she met Mr. John E. Narowetz. He owned and operated a saloon in Chicago. Upon meeting Mrs. Capek, he sold his saloon, moved to Cary, and married her in the fall of 1908. The resort then became known as the Narowetz Resort. Along with the help of his sons, Louis, John, Frank and Eddie ... and her daughters, Lill, Helen and Olga, they ran the twelve rental rooms, a restaurant, bar and their 40 acre farm on East Main Street. The farm provided a self sufficient food supply such as chickens and pigs, and provided corn and grain for the kitchen. Their Czech heritage was evident in the preparation of meals. The wonderful roast pork, dumplings, and sauerkraut dinners that graced the table were continued next page ◄

+ 1900 Daly's Resort Graf Mink Ranch 1917 • A. Klapka's Summer Resort 1912 Wallner's Resort The Hideaway

210 Frisch 's Resort Woodlawn Resort - 1914 John Narowetz - Petriak's Woodlawn Resort John Narowetz Boat - "BYHEK" ◄

~----------------------- ....... --===-- -------~ - second to none. Accounts of Mrs. Narowetz cooking dozens of chickens in a hot kitchen, passing out, being revived, and continuing her work are infamous. The cost for a room, fishing boat, and meals was about $10.00 per week. Beer was extra. As the summer resort season was winding down, the proprietors prepared for the fall and winter hunting season. Winter rates were about 75 cents per day. Having its own ice house to fill, the resort harvested ice from the river. When the ice reached a suitable thickness of ten to fourteen inches it was scraped off, scored, cut from the river, and stored in the ice house for use during the summer season. In 1921, John and Anna Narowetz remained in Cary but, sold the resort to Edward Foss and George Paulus. They renamed it the Woodlawn Resort. Late in 1922, the resort was sold again. This time to Sam and Susan ( Kokavetz) Petriak of Chicago for $12,000. The resort property not only consisted of the hotel, but also, thirty-five choice lots on one of the most beautiful locations on the Fox River. Petriak's Woodlawn Resort operated for thirty-eight years. Although room rentals were discontinued in 1930, the resort continued to function as a restaurant and bar, with son John Petriak often providing the entertainment on his concertina when dances were held there. When Sam Petriak Sr. died in 1943, Susan continued to run the resort with the help of her sons John, Sam Jr., and George. In 1960, the business was sold to Charles Curran. Curran's on the Fox put boat docks in to accommodate the large number of boaters on the river. In 1964, the property changed hands once more. This time to Kenny Nelson. It was now called Driftwood. In the years to come, the resort property would change names several times. Clarence and Adeleine Nielson would buy and operate the tavern/ restaurant as Nielson's on the Fox for a few years. It would then become Club Commodore, Idle Hour, and the Stumble Inn. The building was laid to rest when it became the victim of arson. It burnt to the ground in the 1970's, never to be rebuilt. The property remains vacant to this very day. Another resort operating in the early 1900's was the Daly's River Bend Resort at 6512 South Rawson Bridge Road, about two and a half miles east of Cary. Thomas and Josephine Daly ran this resort along with their dairy farm. Josephine Daly, known as "Do Do" was locally famous for her annual duck dinners served at the resort. Dorothea Mohrbacher worked at the resort as a young girl in 1920. She remembers there being nineteen rooms within the three story building. In the spring of 1921, Ben and Ed Lando rented the hotel and farm from Mrs. Daly for three years, with the option to buy. The Lando sisters, Mrs. Emma Griffin and Mrs. Daisy Slack, ran the hotel and kitchen while their brothers worked the farm. They took advantage of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday to celebrate their grand opening. Japanese lanterns illuminated the lawn for dancing that evening. Dances were held in the pavilion on Saturday nights, attended by a number of people from town. Others would arrive via the launches on the river. Goodwin's orchestra from Crystal Lake would provide the entertainment for the evening. Waltzes, Fox Trots and Two Steps would be the music of choice. Later on during the 1920's, no longer operating as a resort, the property now belonged to Nellie Thompson, where she made her home. Around 1940, Walter and Violet Graf would establish this property as the Graf Mink continued next page 211

212 Farm. It was Mr. Grafs love for animals that made him move from Chicago to start his own mink ranch. The ranch would prosper for about fifty years. Purchased by the Robert Church family in 1989 for investment. The eighty acres were subdivided into thirty parcels varying in size from one to eight acres. Today the old hotel stands surrounded by the River Pointe subdivision, developed in 1991. A twenty acre preserve along the low lands of the river, belongs to the subdivision's association. George and Lena Wallner were the proprietors of Wallner's Pleasant View Resort. The land grant for the original forty acres was issued by President Polk, to Nelson A. Thomas in 1843. You would arrive at this resort by taking East Main Street to County Line Road and go north to Riverside Drive towards the river. The resort was built in 1912. Good fishing, hunting, and bathing were advertised. In the early forties it was also known as Tivoli Resort. The establishment sold in 1944. During the fifties, Jerry and Emma Carra had the Hideaway tavern here. It had a reputation of being a rough place at the time. There are some around who recall a monkey that ran up and down the bar, putting his fingers in peoples drinks! Charles and Betty Massman bought the old resort from the Bergs in 1970 and have been the landlords of six apartments to the present time. Many of the resorts' vacationers purchased property along the river and constructed cottages. A large percentage of cottages and piers were built by Joe Homola Senior. The Homola family also built about two-hundred fifty row boats during the 1920's. Two sizes were available. A fourteen footer for $28.00 and a sixteen footer for $32.00. Both included oars. For the serious trapper, there was a twelve footer, light and narrow for trapping purposes, allowing better maneuverability. The boats were constructed of four inch tongue and groove fir. The fir was used for flooring, white pine for the sides, and solid white oak for the bow. Advanced methods of transportation and perhaps the depression, contributed to the demise of Cary's resort era. Although Cary is no longer a resort paradise, its appeal is still evident in the number of one time "guests" who chose to make Cary their home and raise their families here. ❖ Karen Gitzke Parri.sh 1938-1956 Kvidera Groceries Ervin Kvidera, Franci.s (Curly) Kvidera 117 W Main Street ◄

GIFT HORSE It is said, deservedly so, that the horse played an inestimable role in the development of our country. Transportation, work, pleasure, the horse filled many roles required by man through the early twentieth century. Significantly, the horse was instrumental in the evolution of Cary's beautiful Trout Valley residential area. Early recording identifies the major portion of Trout Valley as the Levi Smith Farm where undoubtedly the horse played a major role. In 1920 the property, along with several adjacent parcels of land, was purchased by John D. Hertz, a Chicago magnate. Eventually encompassing some 900 acres, Hertz named the farm after his daughter, Leona. The enterprise engaged in every phase of farming from meat animals to fish with spring fed trout ponds and streams from whence comes today's area name. However, the main thrust of Hertz' interest was horses. Initially, gaited horses attracted his attention although his purchase of the Parmalee Transfer Company Lrought the big Belgian dray horses to the farm for breeding in the early days of the farm operation. The interest in show horses led to hunters and jumpers, then an unbridled enthusiasm for polo led to polo pony breeding and the construction of several polo fields. All this involvement with horses prompted a natural segue to an interest in racing horses, and when Hertz purchased an interest in Arlington Park Race Track, the breeding of race horses at Leona Farm was underway. The farm produced many fine thoroughbreds including the 1928 Kentucky Derby winner, Reigh Count, and his son Count Fleet, winner of the 1943 Kentucky Derby. By 1943 Hertz' many business interests kept him in the East and much of the thoroughbred activity was moved to Kentucky. Hertz maintained Cary as his permanent residence, but the farm was sold to Otto Schnering, founder of the Curtiss Candy Company and its famous Baby Ruth candy bar. Schnering devoted much energy and money into farm operations with heavy emphasis on cattle breeding. His efforts produced world champion bulls and the successful development of artificial insemination. With Schnering's death in 1953 the board of directors of the Curtiss Company sold the property to Don Maxon, a residential developer. Maxon first developed the area of the farm now known as Trout Valley with trout streams and ponds as the center piece of the rolling, wooded hills and valleys of residential homesites. The designated Trout Valley area of the original farm included some 22 acres of flat land on the south end, adjacent to and extending along the Fox River; the site of the Leona farm's famous polo fields. For reasons known only to himself, Maxon offered and made agreement with the newly formed Trout Valley (homeowners) Association to deed this area to the Association for recreational park purposes if the Association would produce a public event on the property for a period of ten years. A devoted horseman, Maxon suggested an annual horse show. Never one, or many, to look a gift horse in the mouth, the Association quickly decided to have an annual horse show to fulfill the proviso. continued next page - 213

214 In short order The Trout Valley Horse Show became one of the premier annual events on the Midwest horse show circuit. Offering over 90 classes or events for hunters, jumpers, western pleasure, gaited, fine harness, walkers and Hackneys, the show regularly attracted over 300 horses from throughout the Midwest. The horse show created a week of attendant festivities including parades, dances, dinners, cookouts and parties of every stripe. Cary Horse Show Week was a festive social event involving hundreds of volunteers and participants. Aerial view of Trout Valley Horse Show - Show Ring left center, temporary stable tents right center. Cary Country Club in background. Alack and alas, the show of 1967 fulfilled the covenant and the Trout Valley Association earned a beautiful park-like recreational area on the banks of the Fox. Trout Valley still maintains a horse barn and horsemen and women can be seen enjoying Equus caballus, but the old gray mare ain't what she used to be. ❖ Jack Arnold

• 1925-30 GOING UP - Remarkable action photo of Ed Borchard, motorcycle dare-devil attempting to climb the famow Cary Hill. His machine is starting a backward somersault. Around 1925-30, people came from near andfar to watch the motorcycle hill climbs that were held in the Cary Gravel Pit. The Pit wed was west of Rte. 14 between the town of Cary and Jandw Subdivision. The hills were high, 50 to 75 feet, and very steep. The riders would climb the hills, one at a time. They were clock timed and the cycle that got to the top in the least time was the winner. Very Jew made it to the top, there were many accidents. Admission was free, a prize and collection by the passing of the hat was divided among the winners. Ed and Mary Gitzke had the sole rights to the concession stand at the Hill Climbs. 215

216 FORE It is unusual for a town the size of Cary to have a golf course of the quality of the Cary Country Club. The location of a town is the single most influential factor in its development. The railroad made Cary a commuter community, drawing people who work in Chicago into residence, separating them from their work and turning their attention to leisure activities. On November 22, 1923, the charter was issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois for the organization of the Cary Country Club to Charles T. Allen, Joseph A. Stenger, Henry J. Lynch, F. A. Kilderry, and Ralph B. Powers. The chosen site was a 78 acre parcel of land that was the Thomas farm, located between the Fox River, and the bluffs of the river valley. Mr. Allen and Mr. Powers had previously, in 1919, purchased from the orthwestern Railroad and subdivided the adjacent Root Springs. The original 9 hole course was designed by H. H. King, who had previously designed the course in McHenry. Construction was started that fall under the supervision of Albert Purvey. The course opened in the spring of 1924 with five holes completed. The membership fee for that first year was set at $ll0, which included tax and the first year's dues. Serving as officers were Henry Lynch as president, Rev. F. A. Kilderry as vice president, Joseph Stenger as secretary, and Charles Allen as treasurer. Founded 1923 Cary Country Club In 1926, the course was expanded to a full 18 holes on additional land purchased from the Northwestern Railroad. In August of 1939, the Cary Country Club invited local residents to be their guests, offering them the use of the club facilities for the day. A full schedule of events including a caddy tournament, a "one club tournament", softball games, a city vs. country tug-of-war, a rolling pin throw for the ladies, a band concert, and dancing was planned. Elections were held among the children to fill the various city offices, and the village government was turned over the to the kids for the day. The club officers declared it Cary Day. It was the forerunner of Cary Country Days. Cary Day became an annual event. By the fifth Cary Day, the program had expanded to include a parade on the preceding evening, with prizes for floats and children's costumes. Many more events typical of small town ◄

i1:, festiv~ls of the era were added. There was a pie eating contest, an egg throwmg contest, and a greased pig catching contest. Almost the entire town shut down for the festival. The golf course is still considered one of the finest in the area, with the rolling hills making for challenging play. The Club's own advertising describes the terrain as "Up, Down and Sideways" with an "unequaled view" and "no limit" on bogies. Many of the greens are small and elevated. Some greens are so steeply pitched that a rriissed downhill putt will roll all the way off the green. The club is still privately held, but it maintains an unpretentious, small town atmosphere. Everyone is welcome to enjoy all that this unique facility has to offer. Cary Country Club - 1928 Builders of the 2nd nine. Harry Suchy, Herman Kamholtz, greens keeper, Fred Krenz, David Wium, Gordon Kamholz, Carl Krenz. THE CHALET The Chalet golf course was established on land that formerly was the McNett farm along Crystal Lake Road just east of Oakwood Hills. During the 1920's through the 1940's the land went through a series of owners including John Hertz. In July of 1949, the farm was sold by E. R. and Aileen Reineke to George Bates, a Chicago stock broker. Mr. Bates raised cattle on the farm and had some riding horses for his own use. Mr. Bates established a hunting and fishing club on a portion of the land. The lake was stocked with trout, and the chief game consisted of pheasant and duck. In addition to a membership fee, members paid by the pound for any fish caught, and a fee for each bird shot on the property. On a portion of the property, Mr. Bates built a 3 hole golf course for his own private use. In 1969 he enlarged the course to 9 holes and opened it to the public. The course was later enlarged to 13 holes, and still later to the current 18 holes. After Mr. Bates died in 1986, a group of four men, Bill Pavin, Mike Mago, Harry Smith, and Leonard Pantaleo who formed Chalet Ltd. purchased the golf course. Many of the original farm buildings still stand on the site and have been adapted to new uses. Of special architectural and historical significance is continued next page 21 7 -

218 the round barn. It is one of only two such structures in McHenry County. It is built of narrow concrete blocks and is said to be about 100 years old. It is currently used to store golf carts. The Chalet is well known among golfers in the area, and draws its clientele from throughout the northwest suburbs. THE PARTNERS GOLF CLUB The 161 acre site on Cary Algonquin Road known as Fox Trails East was proposed as the site of an exclusive 18 hole private golf course by International Golf Partners Inc. The plans called for a large club house that would feature overnight lodging facilities for members. The Company hoped to attract 400 members who would pay $150,000 for preferred stock, and $5,000 in annual dues. The company had announced plans for twelve such facilities across the country, with Cary to be the first. Early in 1992, it was announced that the project was being abandoned for lack of investors to support it. INDOOR GOLF In February, 1992, a year-round indoor golf course was opened in Cary. The golfer shoots at a projection of Pebble Beach or another famous golf course that is displayed on an 88 square foot screen. Each shot taken is projected on the screen, and a computer determines the location for the next shot. ow anyone can play golf in Cary any time in spite of the long, cold, snowy winters. ❖ Round Barn - Chalet Golf Course 945 Rawson Bridge Road CARY COUNTRY CLUB - 1923 Jim Zalipski ◄

- --------------------------,,- PARKS Downrown Park 219 •

220 DOWNIOWN CARY PARK Crystal Lake Herald of May 3, 1917: The Cary Commercial Club wanted to purchase a large piece of land fronting on the north side of Main Street and lying between the Village Hall (Route 14) and the Catholic Church for Park purposes. One front lot was owned by John Pekny, the rest of the property was owned by Lettie Burton, daughter of Guy Frary. The Village attorney, Charles Allen was instructed to start litigation proceedings to condemn the seven acres to be purchased and used for Park purposes. Bonds in the amount of $5,000 were issued and payment of $2,200 paid to Lettie Burton for 6.7 acres. John Stanek, a tenant, was paid $100 for his interest and John Pekny was paid $1,000 for a .36 acre piece of land fronting on Main Street. Plans were to dam up the creek and have a 4-5 acre lake, a bathing beach and pleasure boats. Although the bathing and boating did not quite work out, for a total of $3,300, the Village really got a bargain. As Gus Kraus, President said in his report to the Village in 1945: "Another W. P.A. project was the beautifying of our present Village Park from a mud hole, swamp and willow grove to a beautiful artificial lake and dam. And leveling off the former pond to a grassy plot of ground with very little expense to the Village of Cary." The idea of the pond was conceived by Fred Krenz, who was at that time, Chief of Police and Park Commissioner. Mr. Krenz supervised the construction of the pond and also helped in the manual labor of hand excavation. Around the year 1935 the work was begun by the W.P.A., Works Progress Administration of the New Deal Agency during the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, our 32nd President of the United States. The Cary pond is a part of Cary's storm sewer and drainage system. When the existing pond was still just a creek, Milt Shepard remembers when he was a young boy, the army would travel through Cary coming from Fort Sheridan on their way up north to Wisconsin. They came by truck but also had some horse-pulling vehicles. It was all farm land around at that time with the exception of the Cary Cemetery. They would camp just west and across the street from the cemetery on First Street. One local citizen, Julian Lazansky, was in the Army Reserves and would come through Cary with his regiment and camp in what is now our Cary Park. Milt and other kids from Cary would go over to the camp and help the soldiers do odd chores, like water the horses and so on. The soldiers were always very good to them and this stayed in his memory a long time. The Cary Downtown Pond provided a wonderful skating rink through the years for all the children and adults of Cary. When I was a kid we were allowed to use the jail in the Old Village Hall for changing our shoes and skates. It was well lit and warm, never did see a prisoner, and that was before the days of "lawsuits". Today there is no skating on the Cary ponds. However, the Park District has announced plans for an ice skating rink in Lion's Park. continued next page ◄

:1:, 1940's Cary Downwwn Park Fountain made /J,y George Suchy. 1926 World War One Cannons in Downwwn Cary Park MARCAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION - 1978 - 221

Around 1926-1927, the American Legion, Raymond Wascher Post #276, received from the Department of Defense the two World War I cannons standing on the hill in the Park. The original flag was donated by Charles T. Allen of Cary. The government has a military program whereby any military organization or office may request military artifacts for only the expense of transportation. The article must be on display and kept in good condition, ownership stays with the Department of Defense. If the organization folds or no longer uses the article it must be returned to the Department of Defense. In 1943, a bronze plaque listing the names of veterans of WWII was installed on the hill, in back of the cannons in memory of service men and women of that war. Around 1947, the fountain standing along Route 14 was sculpted and donated to the park by George Suchy, one of our local residents. In July of 1979 the Garden Club presented plaques to the Park District to be installed near trees in the Downtown Cary Park, in memory of their deceased members. If you walk around the top of the hill you will find these plaques still there. In the summer of 1984 it became necessary to repair the Downtown Pond and the Dam going under Route 14. The pond was dredged, which proved to be a huge job when the dredging equipment sank into the pond up to the top of its treads and had to be towed out. The original dam had deteriorated badly and was unsafe. This job took all of the summer. Before the original pond was built, the highway, then Route 19, was the same level as the pond. In 1925, the Village of Cary paved W. Main Street about as far west as 526 W. Main and Spring Street ( Depot Street) was paved as far south as Cary Street ( at a cost of $36,145). On July 29, 1922, the Village Board asked that Route 19 be paved. September 4, 1923, Public Works and Building of Illinois was given the right of way through the Village. In 1926, Route 19 ( 14) was paved, at this time the highway was raised to its present elevation. A street dance was held to celebrate the occasion. The Memorial Day Program is always held in the Cary Park along side the WWI cannons. There are picnic tables and tennis courts in the park. Our pond and surrounding park is a beautiful place and wonderful asset to our town. ❖ Elizabeth H. Freeman MICHAEL T. BARRETI, Attorney-At-Law

IDSTORY OF LIONS PARK The original Lions Park of 38 acres was obtained by the Village of Cary on October 12, 1966. This parcel started at Three Oaks Road and went north to what is now the entrance road to Lions Park, West to Bright Oaks, and East to rear of the Coilcraft Co. property on Silver Lake Road. This parcel was obtained from Jim Harding for $20,315.60. The Village of Cary received a Federal Government, H. U.D. Grant of $10,157.80 on July 25, 1966 for 50% of the land cost. The matching local contribution of $10,157.80 was made by the Cary Lions Club. The 38 acres was initially a part of a much larger parcel, possibly the Schroeder Farm, that was farmed by Gerald Cummings in the 1930's. It was then farmed by Ray Fasse, and finally by Ernie Hansen. In about 1952 Jim Harding and Ernie Hansen were in a partnership for developing land and building houses. They apparently purchased the farm which Ernie Hansen had farmed. This partnership dissolved and they split up the land. Jim Harding ended up with the acreage North of Three Oaks Road; to Silver Road on the East; Bright Oaks on the West; and the current Lions Park entrance road on the North. After Jim Harding sold his property along Silver Lake Road for factories including Coilcraft, Harvey Hamper, and Brunke & Silver the remainder of the property was rather swampy and was not considered desirable for building. Ben Frisch was with the Cary Lions and wanted the Lions Club to buy the property and donate it to the Village of Cary. His brother, Jim Frisch, was on the Village Planning Commission and he was pushing the same goal. The Lions Club had a large cash balance from all of their fund raising projects and was looking for a good, local Community Project. There were two factions in the Cary Lions Club, one thought it was a good project, the other didn't like the idea of donating the property to a taxing district as it could raise it's own funds. Finally, after 5-6 years of consideration, the Village got a Federal H. U. D. Grant for half the money and the Cary Lions Club paid the remainder. I am sure everyone is now pleased with the way things turned out. Certainly the Community is appreciative. Ray Moehle was the Mayor in 1966 at the time the property was obtained, the trustees were Bob Fuchs, Howard Osborne, Gussie Kraus, Vernon Suchy, Bill Klitzke, and Mueller. Ray Moelhle was Mayor from 1961 to 1969. He was followed by Bob Fuchs. On October 31, 1971 the Cary Park District was formed by a Citizens Committee headed up by Patricia Phalin. The first Commissioners of the new Park District were Michael D. Collins, Robert M. Skallerup, James F. Hollahan, Paul W. Dianis, and T. Larry Phalin. One of the first goals of the new Park District was to obtain the Village of Cary Parks. Because of all the legal requirements this took a little over two years. Finally in January of 1974, Mayor Robert Fuchs announced the passage of Village of Cary Ordinances 74-1-2 and 74-1-3 whereas the Village Parks, totaling about 50 acres, were transferred to the Park District. This included the 38 acre Lions Park, but excluded Cary Park which the Park District leased for $1 a year until November 4, 1980 when the Village transferred it to the Park District in exchange for Brigadoon Park where the Village needed a well site. In November of 1979 the Park District constructed a maintenance garage on the north end of Lions Park. The total cost was $15,000, which was obtained from the developer of The Coves, a development on east Three Oaks Road. This was the first contribution to the Cary Park District from the Developer Donation Ordinance passed by the Village of Cary in 1978. continued 223

Lioru Park 1991 Lioru Park Band Shell

At the time the maintenance garage was going to be built, the Village sold the old Village Hall on Route 14, this left the Boy Scouts with no meeting place. At the request of Jerry Swank, the Boy Scout leader, the Park District enlarged the maintenence garage to allow for a meeting room in the rear of the building that could also be used by the Boy Scouts. Jerry Swank and Bill Hern took the responsibility for finishing the new meeting room, while Rich Roberts of the Jaycees was chairman for the fund raising group to get $4,000 to pay for materials. Early in 1980, the Cary Park District Board of Commissioners met with Ken Fiske, Director of the McHenry County Conservation District, for his advice on how funds could be obtained to expand Lions Park by purchasfng the 66 acre Carl Reiber farm. He recommended filing for a. Federal Grant through the Illinois Department of Conservation on both the Reiber property and also on a 17 acre site to be donated to the Park District by another developer on the Cary Square Development ( now Jaycee Park). If both grants were approved, the value of the donated site could be used to off-set the 50% local contribution required on the purchase of the Carl Reiber property. The McHenry County Conservation District through Ken Fiske, even prepared the grant application for the Cary Park District. This could have cost up to $5,000 if done by consultants. On Thursday, January 29, 1981, State Representative Robery McClory, ( R) Lake County, announced that the U. S. Department of Heritage and Conservation Service had approved the distributioh of a Grant to the Cary Park District for $229,030.90 to acquire up to 92 acres of land. The grant was later raised to $250,000. This was for the 66 acre Carl Reiber farm and the 17 acres of land in Cary Square Development. In negotiations with Carl Reiber and his sister Elsie Reiber, a price of $290,000 was agreed on and Carl kept 6 acres of land and his home. After deducting the $250,000 grant, the Park District was only required to come up with $40,000 of local money to acquire the 66 acre Reiber farm. The Park District acquired all this land in late 1981. The 66 acres of the Lions Park Addition was annexed to the Village of Cary on April 3, 1983. In June of 1983, the Cary-Grove Jaycees and Cary-Grove Jayceettes jointly contributed $3,350 towards playground equipment costing $6,700 next to the maintenance building. The Park District paid the other $3,350. In 1984 the Cary Park District obtained another Federal Grant for $165,000 to build three softball fields, 2 soccer fields, a concession stand, additional playground equipment, parking lot and roads. The total cost for this project was $350,000, so $185,000 was from local Park District funds. In May of 1989 one baseball field was lighted at a cost of $40,000. In 1990, a 6,000 square foot maintenance building was built at a cost of $200,000. An additional parking lot was added at $40,000 and the old maintenance building was remodeled for pre-school use at a cost of $35,000. In 1990 the Cary-Grove Rotary Club started building a $200,000 Band Shell at Lions Park. The Cary Park District subscribed $30,000 to the project, the rest was to be from fund raising to be done by the Cary-Grove Rotary Club. The Band Shell was to be built in three phases. The platform was completed in July of 1990. The shell was to be constructed in the spring of 1991, and the wash rooms and dressing rooms will probably be completed in 1992. ❖ T Larry Phalin 225

226 IIlSTORY OF THE CARY PARK DISTRICT The establishment of a park district for Cary goes back to 1963 wlien an interest survey by the Jaycees indicated a strong community desire for a swimming pool. They concluded that the only way this could happen was with the formation of a park district. In addition, the trustees' Swimming Pool Feasibility Study in 1968, and the citizens' Committee for Recreational Expansion in 1969 also ran surveys, indicating a similar interest in a pool, with the same conclusion. In January 1971, Mayor Robert Fuchs distributed his annual report to the Cary residents. The Parks and Lights Committee expressed interest in what role the village would play organizing a park district referendum. The article pertaining to the referendum, was cut out and filed by Patricia Phalin. She was concerned with the lack of recreational opportunities for her children and the community. Sands Main Street Prairie - 1118 E. Main St. 80 Acres· House i.s a combination of two lwuses moved together in 1886. Donated lo the Cary Park Di.strict in 1989 by Carl and Claire Marie Sands. On February 4, 1971 at a village meeting, Patricia Phalin inquired as to the status of forming a park district. Mayor Fuchs agreed to set up a meeting in two weeks scheduling a referendum. Patricia Phalin agreed to co-chair the organization, with her husband Larry Phalin and the assistance of Mayor Fuchs. The majority of the village board was supportive of a park district. True to his word, Mayor Fuchs chaired a meeting in early March 1971, attended by Arthur L. Schultz of the Illinois Association of Park Districts. At this time Mr. Schultz outlined park districts, their functions, their powers, and how to form one. To form a district it was necessary to determine -

~---------------.....i11111111111111"""""""'~~===---~"1- the boundaries. A petition had to be signed by 100 voters living within tho e boundaries, and submitted to the courts requesting a vote be held. The next meeting was held April 15 to discuss boundaries. It was agreed to include all of School District 26 in the Cary area and Fox River Grove. Many people at the meeting were from Lake Killarney and Spring Beach. Members of the Homeowner's Association in those areas had taken a poll, and the majority did not want to be in a park district. Eventually, District 26 was reduced in size eliminating those two areas, along with the land east of Hickory Nut Grove Road in Lake County, and land south of East Main where organized opposition could have been a problem. Meetings were held with the citizens of Fox River Grove, and after a June poll it was decided that they wanted their own park district. When the preliminaries were over, a petition was filed by Thomas A. Henley, Atty., to establish a park district in the Cary area. Mr. Henley volunteered to do the legal work for the Park District Organizing Committee, and would only charge fees pending the formation of a park district. A public hearing was held in Woodstock, September 14, 1971. An election date was set for October 30, 1971 at Maplewood School in Cary. Finally - Election Day came. The final vote was 457 for, 363 against. A slim 94 votes decided the majority. The original five park district commissioners were elected when the park district was formed. They were Robert M. Skallerup, T. Larry Phalin, Paul W. Dianis, James F. Hallahan, and Michael D. Collins. The officers of the board were determined by a vote of the commissioners. The first officers were T. Larry Phalin, president; Michael D. Collins, vice-president; James F. Hallahan, secretary; and Paul W. Dianis, treasurer. Subsequent commissioners have been Jim Daniel, Dennis Krenz, Paul Gusende, Thomas Prather, Dave Turskey, Cliff Steurer, Rick Baker, Tim Egan, Phillip Stanko, and Sandy Krenz. The first park district office was in a room on the second floor of the Cary Village Hall on West Main Street (previously a school, and now the Cary Senior Citizen Center). The park district rented the office space from the village. At this time, there was a park district, a rented office, five commissioners, and a lack of funds. Cary had a population of 4,500 while the park district's had expanded to 8,000. The first annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance was approved May 9, 1972 for $67,210. It was prepared by Richard Miller, Director of the Barrington Park District, at no cost. We appreciate his generous help. With the filing of the Budget and Appropriation Ordinance, the park district was able to approve a Tax Anticipation Warrant on August 8, 1972 borrowing $10,000. These funds carried the park district from their formation in October 1971, until June 1973 when the first taxes were received. (It was anticipated that the first year's tax receipts would be about $52,000.) As a part-time director and the first employee of the park district, Jay Adler served from the spring of 1972 until September 1973. The board then hired Thomas E. Connolly, as the first full-time employee and director of the park district. He was followed by Bill Meyers in September 1975, Walter Johnson in March 1981, and finally Eric Burns in April 1983. Sharon Boxness also started with the park district in it's first year, employed part time as the board recording secretary. She later became the continued next page 227

228 board secretary, treasurer, and ran the business office. Sharon, along with Thomas A. Henley Jr. ( the first board attorney), remained with the park district for about ten years. In 1972 the Village of Cary transferred several parks, totaling 54 acres to the Cary Park District. Lions Park ( 39 acres - later expanded to 105 ), Jamesway Park ( 3 acres), Devron Circle ( ¼ acre), Val Budd Nature Park ( ½ acre), Greenfields Park ( 6 acres), and Prairie Bluff Park ( 5 acres). In 1980 Cary Park ( 6 acres) was transferred to the park district. The park district currently owns about 300 acres of land. Beginning in 1973, the park district rented the Thunderbird Farm swimming pool (Three Oaks Road and Route 14), from Bud Koch for $6,000 a summer. Bill Meyer, a teacher at Cary Junior High, was hired to run the swimming program for $1,500 that summer. The Thunderbird pool continued as a park district program until 1978 when the current community center pool opened. On August 14, 1976 the Cary Park District held a referendum to sell $760,000 of bonds to build a community pool and center. The referendum was successful with 845 'yes' votes and 529 'no' votes. With this referendum, the park district was able to fulfill the goal of it's creation, meeting the need for a swimming pool in Cary. In January 1991, the park district purchased the Sands Main Street Prairie (80 acres), which included a house, garage, barn, and chicken coop. The house was actually two houses, built in the 1860's. ( With the construction of East Main Street in 1886, the houses were moved together making way for the road.) A 25,000 square foot recreation center was on the drawing board, pending a referendum vote in November 1991, but was removed from referendum in August, 1991. ❖ T Larry Phalin 1974 The Cary Lion The Cary Lion is a drinking fouruain, wcated in downwwn Cary Park on Route 14, next to the Old Village Hall ( now Grove Products). The Cary Lions Club donated the fountain to the Village of Cary in merrwry of one of their members, Tony F arrest. Tony was an active member of the Lions Club for 16 years, and a businessman in Cary for twenty-five years. He was married to the late Violet Marek of Cary.

• CARY JAYCEE PARK In 1843 this was part of the original Seebert Farm, but is now owned by the Park District. The Jaycee Park is located at the corner of Three Oaks Road and Silver Lake Road. A developer was the owner of this property. It was swamp land for many, many years. The creek that runs through the park runs south behind the houses on Route 14, into the downtown Cary Pond, and under the railroad tracks, behind Cotter Company on Jandus Road and down into the Fox River. In 1980, the developer began excavating the swamp land to drain the land and convert it into a pond. Some places in the pond are ten to fifteen feet deep. The Canadian geese seem to think our Jaycee Pond is a great place as well. It is pleasant to drive by and see all the geese, ducks, and many people that fish there. In September of 1981, a developer deeded the property and the pond to the Cary Park District as part of the annexation agreement with the Village of Cary. The Pavilion at the south end of the park was completed on September 10, 1990. It was installed by the Jaycee's, sharing expenses with the Park District. Each year there is a fishing contest to see who can catch the largest fish. There are ice fishermen in the winter, enjoying a sport that only a fisherman could enjoy. Bushes and trees have been planted, making it into a lovely park for people to enjoy, and if for nothing else, just sit and relax. ❖ Elizabeth H. Freeman 1952 One of the special moments of the Cary Youth Baseball Opening Day ceremonies was the dedication of the girls Major League Field to Denise Gulgren and Myrna Hoeft. President Angelo DeFranco made the announcement, and told how these two women have dedicaJed many years of service to CYB. The sign states it will henceforth be called Gulgren-Hoefi field. 229

1990 Jaycee Park Pavilion 1990 Cary Jaycee Park. Three Oaks & Silver Lake Roads. 230

ORGANIZATIONS The Forty-Four Star Flag of 1893 The year Cary was voted a Village. 231

232 ORGANIZATIONS AMERICAN LEGION RAYMOND WASCHER POST #276 Founded nationally in 1919. Members are honorably discharged wartime veterans, both male and female. They sponsor baseball competitions, national high school oratorical contests, and children's services. The Legion has commission on all Veteran affairs and rehabilitations. Cary's Legion was organized in 1925 in memory of Raymond Wascher, a local WWI veteran who died in 1923 in a veteran's hospital in Texas. There were 45 charter members. Five members of the Cary Legion became County Commanders of McHenry County Council and in 1991, one member, Albert Young, became the 11th District Commander. AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY RAYMOND WASCHER UNIT #276 The Raymond Wascher Unit #276 of Cary received its State Charter in May 1928 with 30 members signing the charter. One of those members, Ann Smith, is currently active in the auxiliary in Cary. Today, as then, the Auxiliary has many active programs important to the members. Foremost of importance is the assistance given to the American Legion Post in aiding in the rehabilitation of the Veterans. Other programs are: Children and Youth; Auxiliary Emergency Relief Fund; Gold Star; Community Service; Illini Girls State; National Security and Education. Each year the Auxiliary assists the Post in the Poppy program; the flags placed on the graves of deceased veterans; Memorial Day Parade and service. Audree Wagner, President CARY AMVETS The Pearl Harbor Memorial AMVETS Post #245 was chartered in 1961 with 25 members. The Post brings books, magazines and clothing to the North Chicago V. A. Hospital each month and distributes Canteen books each month to the hospitalized veterans. A Bingo game is sponsored once a month at the Hospital for the enjoyment of the veterans. A Little League baseball team and Boy Scout Troop #161 is also sponsored. Food is donated to the Cary-Grove Food Pantry for needy families. The Post is committed to provide assistance to our veterans and their families and to the community in which we live in any way that they can. Frank A. Tuman, Commander Bill Sengstock Jr. Adjµtant CARY ARTS COMMISSION Organized in 1986. The Cary Arts Commission promotes, supports and coordinates all aspects of the arts. Special art exhibits show the works of students at our Cary-Grove High School and other local artists. Cary Arts Commission sponsors McHenry Countywide High School Showcase involving all county high schools. The commission sponsors trips to concerts, musicals, theatre and dance performances. Virginia Arnold CARY-GROVE MASONIC LODGE #1157 The Masons of Algonquin and Cary became an order together, meetings being held in Algonquin until the building was sold. At that time the lodge was divided into two groups, one became the Cary-Grove Lodge #1157 A. F. & A. M. and the other joined the chapter in Crystal Lake. -

On October 11, 1927 the Cary Grove Lodge with 48 charter members was granted a charte~ by the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Meetings were held in a hall above the Kerns & Smith General tore at 101 W. Main treet, Cary. Mr. & Mrs. Miner B. Weaver donated a tract of land at 28 S. orthwest Highway on which to build a Masonic Hall but it wasn't until 1963 the lodge had enough money to build; by 1968 the hall was fully occupied. EASTERN STAR #752 The Eastern Star is a fraternal order ( organized nationally in 1876) that i affiliated with the Masonic Order. Through its charity work, the Illinois order supports a home for the elderly in Macon; the Illinoi Medical Center, Heart Fund, Cancer Fund, LaGrange Children's Home, Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, a scholarship aid program and many other worthwhile programs. The Algonquin Chapter #752 was organized with 28 charter members and received their charter on April 6, 1914. Members of the Eastern Star from Cary are members of the Algonquin Chapter; they did not divide into two separate groups. BOY SCOUTS OF Al\IERICA Founded in 1910. They provide educational programs for the character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness for boys and young adults. Conducts studies on problems and needs of youth. Sponsor competitions, bestows awards, including post high school scholarships. The Cub Scouts are a division of the Boy Scouts for boys between the ages of 8 to 11. The Cary Cubs were started in 1938 with the help of Dr. Fred annestad. In 1948, Doreatha Mohrbacher and Martha Brayton made and sold fruitcakes, with the money earned they purchased the first uniforms for the Cub Scouts. GIRL SCOUTS OF U. S. A. Founded in 1912 by Juliette Low in Savannah, Georgia. The purpose of Girl Scouts is to help girls develop as happy, resourceful individuals, as good citizens of their country and the world. Encourages self-awareness, interaction with others, development of values and services to society. The Sybaquay ational was chartered in 1957. One of Cary's first Girl Scout troops was started in 1927 by Adelaide Bacon and her daughter Maybelle Bacon Fivek. CARY AREA CRIMESTOPPERS Organized in November 1982. It is a not-for-profit, 24-hour-a-day unique program. It involves the public, the media, and the police department in the fight against crime. It provides a new way for information to flow from citizens to the police without having to give your name, address, or telephone number. Additionally, CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and filing of criminal charges against offenders. The organization relies solely on donations; no tax dollars are used. Chief of Police Robert Levitt continued next page RAYMOND WASCHER UNIT #276 AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY - 1928 RAYMOND WASCHER POST #276-AMERICAN LEGION -1928 233

234 CARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE An organization of business people from Cary whose purpose is to promote business and provide a vehicle for promoting business in the community. Organized in Cary as the Cary Area Business Men in the late 1950's. Received their charter in the early 1970's as the Cary Chamber of Commerce. Steve Moore CARY-GROVE JAYCEES Founded nationally in 1920. It is a civic service organization of young people between the ages of 18 and 35 dedicated to providing leadership training for its members through active participation in local community betterment programs. It annually selects 10 outstanding young Americans; four outstanding young farmers, and ten healthy fitness leaders; grants scholarships through Jaycees War Memorial Trust. The Cary Jaycees were chartered in 1962 with 28 members. CARY LIONS CLUB Chartered in 1945, Cary Lions Club is a part of Lions International and has a history of community service specializing in eye care in every form (glasses, surgery, leader dog, etc.) for the needy. Also provides scholarship loans, wheelchair ( and other handicap equipment) loans, glaucoma testing, hearing tests, drug education at the Jr. High School and various other local service projects as needed by the community. The members take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral welfare of our community. While the individual benevolent activities are generally not advertised, the club has remained very active throughout its history. Lions International was founded in 1917. orman Ball, President CARY LIONESS Chartered in 1975, they are affiliated with the Cary Lions Club. They raise funds for sight, sound and diabetes. They provide eye exams for children, help provide leader dogs for the blind, hearing tests and send handicapped children to Camp Lions ( in Illinois) for a 2-week stay. Sandy Davis Krenz CARY-GROVE SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER Organized March 26, 1971. In 1980 the Cary-Grove Senior Center at 441 W. Main Street was opened to welcome all seniors to come and enjoy companionship and enjoyment. It is a place that many call a 'home away from home.' Whatever your pleasure might be, you will find it here. Meeting and making good friends is so important in our everyday lives. Perhaps a nice warm lunch, a good game of cards or bingo, a small library of books and magazines to read. Interesting programs and organized excursions are offered. A senior bus is at your disposal for a small fee for those who can no longer drive. Come join us Monday through Friday; we welcome you. Shirley Kubiek Mentch CARY PRAIRIE MANAGEMENT The Cary Prairie was recognized in 1978, dedicated in 1981 and in 1982 became an official State Nature Preserve. It is a tract of land which has ◄

been formally dedicated by the owner to be protected and managed to perpetuate natural conditions of native plants and animals. Robert Lipinski CARY-GROVE KIW AMS Nationally founded in 1915. It is a federation of business and professional men's civic service club. It provides assistance to the young and elderly, development of community facilities, creation of international understanding and goodwill. Supports agriculture and conservation, and programs aimed at safeguarding against crime and the elimination of alcohol and drug abuse. Cary Kiwanis Club started in May 1989 and was chartered in October 1989. CARY YOUTH BASEBALL May 12, 1953, a proclamation was signed by Mayor Alfred H. Schuldt to commemorate the inauguration of Little League baseball in Cary. During the 1992 season over 1,000 players on 85 teams participated in Cary Youth Baseball. Alvan H. Collins helped form the Cary Little League Association. McHENRY COUNTY PADS INC. Public Action To Deliver Shelter: They provide food, shelter, and compassion to those without homes from October 1 to April 30. Two of the seven sites are in Cary. On Mondays the site is at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 410 N. First Street and on Saturdays, at Cary United Methodist Church, 500 N. First Street. Each site is open from 7 PM to 7 AM. PADS was established in October 1988. It is funded by donations and staffed by volunteers. Cathy Hall ROTARY CLUB OF CARY-GROVE An organization of business and professional leaders, united world wide, dedicated to humanitarian service, to ethical standards in business and professions, to promote world peace through various programs. Cary-Grove Rotary is one of 23,000 clubs around the world. It was organized January 9, 1970. Robert Reidel CARY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - 1964 235

236 LIFE LINE The Cary Community Blood Assurance Group was a non-profit organization, formed by the Cary Jaycee-ettes to supply blood and blood product replacements at no cost to persons residing within the boundaries of U. S. Postal Zone 60013. It was affiliated with the American National Red Cross, registered with the Secretary of State and governed by a Board of Directors. It's Constitution was adopted May 25, 1972. The first officers were Bob Hastings· President, Jean Cervantes, Tom Segar, Lin Storm, and Norm Craig. Other members were Bill Maloney, Sharen Adler, Pat Segar and Marion Yarber. The first year cost of approximately $500 was funded by the Red Cross, after which, donations were sought from local organizations. The blood drives were held in various locations such as schools and churches. Girl Scouts contributed by baby-sitting for donors. Two annual drives were scheduled each year in May and November; a special one usually was needed at some time during the summer months. Dot Eaton, Ken Oliver, Don Toomey, Bill Maloney, Virginia Tegel and Kay Smith ( former president) joined during 1973. Ensuing years brought many new volunteers included among them; Betty Womack, Lorene Foster (former president), Sheila Pichen, Donna Miller, Betty Dickman, Nancy Welch, Coreen Pichen, Bernie Vrtis and Eileen Vrtis, followed by Jaycee-ettes Joanne Jazek (former president), Christine Pancratz, Cindy Dost, Yvonne Stadleman and Linda Warmbier. Incentives were always in place in an effort to attract donors. Records were kept each time blood was given. A gift such as a key chain was awarded to an individual whenever a gallon mark was reached. In 1977, the group joined the Aurora Blood Bank, which supplied many of the items required for a blood drive, as well as personel, unlike the Red Cross which was not equipped to provide many of these services. The Aurora Blood Bank also was the only one doing pheresis ... a very special procedure of great importance. In 1978, it became possible to have all blood drives at the Cary United Methodist Church. The Church also provided use of its kitchen facilities for providing meals for the nurses and other workers who came from Aurora to work the drive. Meetings were generally held in the homes of members. Callings were done from Real Estate offices where the use of several phones was available. The Aurora Blood Bank changed it's name to the Heartland Blood Center in October 1988. The name change was occasioned by the growth of the Blood Center. Over a period of 45 years they grew from supplying three hospitals in Aurora to the present 26 hospitals in nine contiguous counties. Few of the original members remain; however, new ones take up where they left off. Betty Womack, Donna Miller and Coreen Pichen stayed on as part of the new board, which was reorganized to work through the various area churches. James Cummings, Sue Heizer and Harry Akermann represent the new contingents of this board. The Cary Grove Blood Group is truly a LIFE LINE within the Village of Cary, supplying blood and components at no cost to any resident when the need arises. ❖ Coreen Nordby Pichen ◄

CARY'S CONTRIBUTION AMERICAN CONFLICTS The above Horwr Roll Board was created, constructed and painted by Oscar H. Nordby to horwr all Cary men and women in the Service of Our Country during World War II. This tribute was located in the park at the corner of Main and Spring Streets. Mr. Nordby, Justice of the Peace for the Village for many years, as well as a former trustee, is standing alongside the Honor Roll. The park itself was designed and maintained by Mr. Fred Krenz, Police Chief of the Village and an avid gardener. Cary benefited greatly from his love of flowers and his expertise in landscaping. Cary was most supportive of the many men and women who gave so much that we couid remain a free democracy. 237

238 THE WAR TO END WAR Every War was to be the War To End War. Somehow it never seemed to work that way. The citizens of Cary have participated in every war the United States has become involved in beginning with the Mexican War of 1846. REVOLUTIONARY WAR-AMERICAN REVOLUTION - 1775-1783 American Colonies won their independence from England. WAR OF 1812-1815 This war could have been called 'Freedom of the Seas.' The war was between the United States and Great Britain. No one seemed to really want to go to war, but in those days communications were very poor. The chief complaint against the British was interference with shipping. The British Government agreed to repeal the laws which were the chief reason for the war. The communications were so faulty that the greatest battle of the war was fought at New Orleans 15 days after the treaty of peace was signed. Both sides claimed victory but the whole struggle was a confused mass of contradictions. The war was mostly fought in the Northern United States and Canada. MEXICAN WAR - 1846-1848 A war between Mexico and the United States, settled by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. There is only one record of a Mexican War Veteran, Simeon Eells. He was a 1st Lieutenant in Company F, 15th Illinois Army Infantry. He also served in the Civil War. In a letter written by Simeon Eells he tells about the Mexican War. He came to Cary and hired out to a man named William D. Cary, got $10 for a month which he thought was big wages at that time. He started out driving an oxen team to Chicago hauling grunt for William Cary. It took him two days to get there. When he arrived in Chicago some recruits were marching through the street and he decided to join them. He wanted to get to Mexico and finish this war. The first day the troops began their march to Peoria ( about 100 miles) on foot. On Sunday, they laid over and went to church to get their sins forgiven, so if they got killed in the fracas they would not land in some hot place. He had a $3 bill, which of course everyone refused to accept, so most everything was given free. The $3 bill lasted until he got to New Orleans. From Peoria they took a steamer to Alton, Illinois. The boat got stuck on sandbars and the men had to get out and push it back into the main stream. They sailed across the Gulf of Mexico to a port called Lavaca, Texas. Then they marched through Texas. Water was so scarce the men drank from the water that collected in the tracks of the horses feet. They walked through many miles of Mexico without seeing battle. The houses were of adobe, one story high with iron bars for windows. Everything used in farming was crude. They traveled through mountains and valleys until reaching Buenavista, where about 25,000 Mexican soldiers arrived on the scene. They were outnumbered 5 to 1, so the United States Army fell back 15 miles.

Around the 15th of June the company was ordered home. On the way home many of the soldiers became ill with Yellow Fever. Many died but Simeon made it back to Cary and soon married the daughter of William D. Cary, Caltha Cary. Simeon lived to the age of 93. He and Caltha are buried in the Cary Cemetery, as is his second wife Maria. CIVIL WAR - 1861-1865 The Civil War was a bloody conflict between the Confederacy of seceding southern states and the remaining states of the Union in the north. The conflict centered around the economic and sociological issues relating to slavery, which was a common and legal practice in the southern states. May 14, 1861, a call went out for volunteers. The Board of Supervisors of McHenry County at Woodstock, Illinois asked for volunteers in Veteran Battalion of the 14 and 15th Infantry. The 95th Infantry marched 1,800 miles, rode by rail and boat 8,160 miles. Eighty-four men were killed in battle and 176 died from disease. The total number of men belonging to regiment first to last was 1,355. There are 25 Civil War Veterans buried in the Cary Cemetery, First Street. Two of our Civil War Veterans died during service of our country. Erasmus Fitts, buried in Cary Cemetery and Elijah Weaver, killed in battle at Gunstown, Mississippi and buried in the National Cemetery in Mississippi. During the Civil War if you were inducted into service, you could hire someone else to take your place. If the man accepted you would contract to pay him a given amount of money each month, and he would also receive the wages paid by the government. Captain James Nish was in charge of the 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Their duty was mostly to guard along the Mississippi River. After the war, Nish returned to Cary and became Cary's first postmaster. One of our well known Civil War veterans was Abijah C. Abbott, born 1826, died 1908. He came to Cary in 1856, lived on East Main Street where he owned many acres of land, including the subdivisions of Viking Heights, Mt. Moriah, Val Halla, Normandy and Allen Grandview. He married Frances Melissa Wheeler in 184 7, of this union eight children were born. One son, Fred, ran a Pool Hall in Cary and was the 11th President of Cary. Abijah Abbott served in the 147th Regiment Infantry. After the war he returned to Cary, became a wagon maker, blacksmith, a carpenter and a farmer. He also was Justice of the Peace for a while. He received a war pension of $20 until his death. Simeon Eells, again enlisted, this time in the Civil War, in 1861 until 1863. Edwin Kerns was another well known veteran. He built and founded the store on the corner of Spring and W. Main Street, 101 W. Main. He ran a grocery store for many years with Frank Smith; later his son, Nat Kerns ran the business. Edwin loved to talk about the war. He made Corporal on April 24, 1865, serving in the B. Co. 31st Regiment Vol. Infantry. Kerns was not wounded during the war, but after the war he was injured somehow by a train accident. There are great grandchildren of Edwin's living in Cary at the present time. Kerns is buried in the Cary Cemetery. A World War One veteran, Gus Kraus, remembers when he was about four years old, his first Memorial Day ( Decoration Day). His father took the family to Barrington, Illinois in a two-seater surrey buggy with fringe on top. It had a leather dashboard and whip socket. They stood at the Barrington continued next page 239

240 Daniel W. Cary Civil War- Co. F. lllirwis Infantry-Army. Buried Cary Cemetery. Son of Wm. Cary founder of our village. Edward Sersen Sr. WWI - Aviation Marine Private 7/ 1918 - 4/1919-Age 18. Ed was born in Cary. Ronald R. Stewart WWI - Marine Cpl. 1 - Sharp Shooters Brigade Served France -12/ 2011917 - 7/24/ 1919-Age 17 Rear: Lowe farm house on Cary-Algonquin Road.

Cemetery to watch the parade. The family was invited to stay the afternoon at a Civil War veteran's home until evening to see the play put on by the Veterans. He remembers two acts, one where they caught all the chickens and the last act where the soldiers drew their swords and had a sword fight, moving about all over the stage. On Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered his command to General Ulysses S. Grant. More Americans died in the Civil War than in all of America's wars combined, 618,000 men perished in four years. MEMORIAL DAY After the Civil War ended and the soldiers came marching home, there were great celebrations of welcome throughout the United States. But what about the soldiers who did not come home, did not survive? A small community, Waterloo, New York decided to set aside a time to decorate the graves of those who had been killed in combat. This became known as Decoration Day, now called Memorial Day. Their commemoration service being held May 5, 1866. There are other places who claim to be first but the United States Congress and the White House issued a resolution listing Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day. The Grand Army of the Republic was the foremost veterans group of the time, made up of Civil War survivors, and they declared May 30 a National Decoration Day. Standing in the park at Woodstock, Illinois square is a monument dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic. The monument was donated by the Women's Relief Corp. #223 of Woodstock and erected by Anthony Zoia, of Zoia Monument of Woodstock, who was the father of Mary Zoia Allen, of Cary. A flag and flag pole were donated to the Cary Cemetery by the Pearl Harbor Memorial Post #245 AMVETS and the Raymond Wascher American Legion Post #276, dedicated to the Service Men and Women of ALL wars, Memorial Day 1991. The American Legion was founded in 1919 for honorable dischaged male and female wartime veterans and is headquartered in Indianapolis. The organization has over three million members. Al Young, Village Finance Director, has been elected commander of the American Legion for District 11, which encompasses Will, DuPage, Kane and McHenry counties. He has also been appointed to serve on the organizations 1992 ational Convention Committee. SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR - 1898-April to August This war was between the United States and Spain. Gus Kraus remembers when his parents took him to the Salem Lutheran Church in Barrington, Illinois on a Sunday in 1898. The minister announced that the United States declared War on Cuba, against the Spanish. Gus was about four years old. There is only one Spanish-American War veteran on record in Cary, Paul Reiger Sr. He served with Co. E 37th Infantry. Paul owned a farm about two miles out, on Three Oaks Road, now a subdivision called 'The Pines'. He and his wife Mary had eight children, all but two, Robert and Paul, continued next page 241

242 died in infancy. This was a very well known family, Paul Jr. served as a Cary police officer for 14 years. Paul Sr. did not come into town very much, only when he got his pension check from the Spanish-American War. He would come into town and would imbibe a bit, then return to his farm. Paul Sr. died at age 82; he and his wife Mary are buried in the Cary Cemetery. Hostilities ended August 12, 1898 by the terms of a protocol. These provided that Spain relinquish Cuba, cede to the United States Puerto Rico and one of the Mariana Islands (Guam) and agree to United States occupation of the Philippines until their disposition should be settled by a peace treaty. On December 10, 1898 the peace treaty was signed in Paris. Five thousand United States soldiers and sailors lost their lives but only 400 of them were killed in battle. More than 90% of American casualties were caused by disease. WORLD WAR I - 1914-1918 World War I was a War between our allies Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Japan and the United States. Against Germany, Austria-Hungary. Our records show that sixty-one men from the Cary area served. Conrad Gustav Kraus of Cary, born 1894, is Cary's only World War I veteran living. He enlisted in the Navy in 1917, serving his time in England, Ireland and Wales, repairing ships docked for repairs. He served in the Navy until 1919. While he was in Ireland during the last month of the war, he received his draft papers from the U. S. Government. He had to notify the government that he had been in service for two years. Gus was a carpenters mate but was assigned as a side line to be a barber, cutting the servicemen's hair. After his return to the U.S. and Cary, he helped form the Raymond Wascher American Legion Post #276 with 45 charter members. The American Legion Auxiliary was chartered with 30 members. Gus has been a member since 1925. There have been five McHenry County Commanders from Cary; Ben Magnuson, John Kvidera, Miss Myrtle Knapp, Herman Hillesheim and Albert L. Young. The Cary AMVETS received their Charter in February 1961, with twentyfive members; they now have 105 members. Two charter members, Leo Mroczenski and Albert Retzlaff, are still members of good standing. Frank A. Tuman is Commander. At the Village Board meeting of January 24, 1919, the Board voted to present all soldiers of WWI a Certificate of Appreciation and set up a committee labor board to help secure employment for returning soldiers. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, ended the war with Germany. The Allies signed separate treaties with the other Central Powers. WORLD WAR II - 1941-1945 World War II allies being Great Britain, France, Soviet Union, Canada, China and the United States, against Germany, Italy and Japan. In 1933 Adolf Hitler became dictator of Germany. By 1938-39, he seized Austria, and Czechoslovakia, by September he invaded Poland and World War II began. -