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I I - the garage into a two-story building made of tile. The upstairs was used to store cars for people who did not drive them in winter. An elevator was installed in the building, the first one in Cary. January 1946, Nels Werner Seaquist and Alex Werner Carlson rented the upstairs of the garage where the Werner Die and Stamping Co. was started. After a few years, Werner Die & Stamping built their own factory at 255 N. First Street, now the home of Accutronics Inc. In 1950, when Maurice died, the two daughters, Mildred and Bernice, who lived out of town, and Stanley Freeman who still resides in Cary sold the property to Rudy Petzelt. FREEMAN, John John, a brother to Maurice Freeman, was also born in a log cabin in Gilberts, Illinois in 1876. After his schooling, he moved to Cary, got a job on the railroad and became an engineer on the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. He married Catherine Burke, they had one son Howard, born in 1905. John and Cad purchased the boarding house property at the corner of Spring and Cary Street in 1910. The property was purchased from a Mrs. Weyer who managed the David Weaver Hotel behind the drug store on Jandus Road. Many men who worked in the gravel pits boarded with the Freemans. John Freeman, Joe Pichen Sr., and Ed Wallace were in partnership of a threshing machine, hired out to the farmers to do their threshing. John was a Trustee of the Village of Cary in 1915 when the original Village Hall on Route 14 was built. His name appears on the cornerstone of the building. Howard Freeman was an electrician for Suburban Electric Company of Cary. He was a McHenry County Deputy Sheriff and a Pari-Mutual clerk at the race tracks in this area and in California. Around 1937, the boarding house at 104-106 Spring was remodeled into four apartments and two efficiency apartments. The building is still renting as of this date, but the Freemans do not own it. In 1950 the Freemans sold all their property in Cary and moved to California. HANSON, Gus Gus and Ida Hanson lived at 129 Spring Street. They had one son Ervin (Scotty). Gus and his brother operated a threshing machine and went from farm to farm at threshing time. For over 26 years he worked as a flagman at the W. Main St. railroad crossing. Gus had only one arm, but that did not stop him from doing the hard work required in threshing and as a track worker on the railroad. He lost his arm in a threshing machine accident before 1914. HARBACK,Orilla The Harbacks, with their six children, lived on a farm at 6611 Silver Lake Road, ( now owned by Harry Pichen ). His wife Julie Harback was the first teacher, 1858, at the Silver Lake School, corner of Silver Lake and Crystal Lake Roads ( now a store). Orilla also taught school in the Cary area in 1877. HARPER, George George and Elizabeth Harper purchased property along the Fox River just south of Rawson Bridge in 1923. All summers and week-ends were spent in Cary, moving permanently to Cary in 1931. George was a plastering contractor. His son George Jr. eventually took over the business. Another son Henry, a partner in the Wauconda Tool & Die business purchased the fire station on 22 Spring Street and now operates the Cary Station Antiques, continued next page 43 11 II I ' I 1· i 1, ' ' Ii ll II Ii I I II II ' '

44 1845 125 Cary St. Said to be the first house built in Cary. If so, it had to be built before 1845. Demolished . .. _ ........ # .. ~....:,., .,,,....._ •• - .. , ,,,,, ~ Before 1861 Lorenzo Frary Farm House 8715 N. Cary-Algonquin Road. Now office of Dr. Allen Gore, D.D. 1875 Guy Frary Farm 10 W Main St. now Essex & Costello buil.ding.

I - along with his son Robert. George Jr. was chief of police in Cary, 1959-1963. Elizabeth Harper, married Stanley Freeman of Freeman Garage. Catherine Harper married Kenneth Ormsby of Crystal Lake, June Harper married Norb Orzech of Chicago. Henry, Elizabeth and June live in Cary. HRDLICKA, Frank Frank and Mary Hubka Hrdlicka had one daughter, Mayme. Frank came to this country at age of seven years. Frank made shoes in Chicago and was so engaged at the time of his death. In Cary, Frank and Ed Hubka ran a saloon at the corner of West Main and Spring Streets, now known as 'The Tracks'. Mary Hubka was postmistress in Cary from 1916 to 1932. Their daughter married Dr. George Allen, brother of Charles Allen. They moved to Indiana where George was in practice. HUBERT, John John and Minnie Hubert lived at 104 High Road, now owned by the American Family Funeral Association. They had one son, Frank. Frank worked for the railroad and was grounds keeper for the Cary Country Club for many years. Frank married Charlotte Wilrett, who came to Cary in 1913 and taught in the Cary schools until she retired; continuing as a substitute teacher. South Street in Cary, the street Frank and Charlotte lived on, was renamed Charlotte Street in her honor. HUDEK, Anton Anton and Louise Clumsky Hudek purchased their farm in 1922. Located at the very end of Three Oaks Road, on the Fox River. They had one daughter and two sons, who helped run the farm. Sons Joe and Ludvick (Fleet) worked the farm for many years, Fleet then moved to California. Joe and his wife Louise Mitacek Hudek ran the farm alone. Their son Tony later operated the farm, but gave up the dairy part of farming and runs another business on the side. HUNTER, Andrew Andrew L. and Anna Hunter had a farm where Lake Killarney is now located. Their farm house was next to Charlie and Ann Smith (Willard) house on Crystal Lake Road. JELINEK, Louis Louis and Marie Kotal Jelinek had seven children. He ran a saloon and buffet in the Nordby building on Jandus Road, behind the Meyer Drug Store, about 9 Jandus Road. JIROY, Joseph Joseph and Theresia Jiroy had three children. He operated a meat and grocery store at 50 Crystal Street, (later known as Marek Groceries and now H & R Block offices.) The family resided at 232 W. Main Street. The family sold out and moved to California. KERNS, Edwin 101 W. Main Street Edwin was born in . Y. State in 1837 and died one day before his 94th birthday in 1931. He married Margaret Pooley; they had 3 children, Nathaniel, Etta and Florence. Edwin was a Corporal in the Civil War; his continued next page 45 11 11111 1, I I I . Ii ll 1 , II II 1: II, I • 'I La~

46 company fought at Gettysburg. After the Civil War he came back to Cary. His wife died in 1882. Edwin Kerns and Theodore Wulff started a grocery and general store business together in the Meyer Drug Store building, at 77 W. Main St. ( An invoice of Wulff and Kerns is on record as of 1891.) Edwin lived in a small cottage on the Fox River which is now part of Trout Valley. January 26, 1894 the Crystal Lake Herald informs us Edwin was enjoying his home with a furnace in it and that he was deserving of it. October 1895, the Crystal Lake Herald says Theodore Wulff purchased the Abbott building next to the Livery Barn (Newbold Livery 52 Crystal Street) and will open a general store dissolving his partnership with Edwin Kerns. Edwin took his son Nathaniel into the business with him. In 1903, Edwin Kerns was caught between two trains in Crystal Lake, Illinois. For compensation the railroad gave him a lifetime pass to San Francisco. He only went there one time because he thought San Francisco was too cold. The railroad then made a cash settlement. The accident left him crippled in one hand and one leg. Thereafter he had to use a cane when walking. In 1904 he purchased the building at 101 W. Main Street from Joseph Krupicka. When he purchased the building he made living quarters for himself upstairs, a room or two, into which he moved. In winter he went to Florida. There was also a large hall on the second floor which was used as a Masonic Lodge Hall. Edwin was getting older, Nathaniel wanted to move to Nebraska, so in 1906 they sold the business to E. Meilbek and Son who lived at 219 Spring Street. (A calendar on record shows Meilbek owned the store in 1911.) In 1908, Nathaniel moved his family back to Cary. Some years later Kerns and Frank Smith purchased the business from E. Meilbek and Son; the name again changed to Kerns and Smith. According to the Crystal Lake Herald of June 5, 1913, Kerns and Smith purchased the meat market of Paul Damlos and will run it in connection with their general store. William Damlos will be in charge. The butcher shop located at 103 W. Main was also built by Joseph Krupicka. Later Smith sold his part of the business and Emil Dianis ( son-in-law of Nathaniel) came into the business, which then became known as Kerns and Dianis. Nathaniel Kerns still owned the buildings when he died in 1945. The store has changed hands many times since then and the appearance of the inside and the outside has changed, but it is just one more of our 100-year old buildings still being used. The present occupant is 'Team Colors' owned by James Murphy of Libertyville. The building is owned by George and Katie Krause of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. KERNS, Byron (Speed) Son of Nat Kerns. Owned the two-story building at 103-105 W. Main Street. He operated a garage repair shop with Stanley Pichen at 52 Crystal Street. He married Helen Megrdle of Cary. They lived in Wisconsin. Byron died November 18, 1991. They have a son and a daughter. KOTLABA, James James and Jennie Pokorny Kotlaba lived at 354 Park Avenue. James was a fireman on a steam shovel digging gravel for the gravel pits, now Lake Julian

on Route 14. He also built bridges for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and worked for Art Franke Lumber for 25 years. James and Jennie had five children. After he retired, he worked as a flag tender at the West Main Street railroad crossing. Two sons; Jerry continued to live in Cary until his death, May 1990. Frank (Hank) and his wife Millie are still residents of Cary. KRAUS, August Conrad August C. Kraus (Gus) was born in 1894 in Cuba, Illinois. The corner of Route 14 and Kelsey Road, halfway between Fox River Grove and Barrington, Illinois. He was the son of Conrad and Anna Stroback Kraus who owned and operated a grocery store at that location. It was a two-story building with the store on the first floor and family living quarters upstairs. When Gus was about to be born his father ran down the railroad tracks all the way to Barrington to fetch a doctor. The family included another son and a daughter. In later years, his father, Conrad, became a carpenter. His mother continued to run the store. When Gus became older, he joined his father in the business. They worked together for many years. After the death of his father, Gus continued on as a carpenter contractor. In 1925, Gus moved to Cary. He married Amelia Bloner. Four children were born of this union. Amelia died September 1, 1960. Gus became a trustee of the Village of Cary and in 1933 was elected Mayor - a position he held until 1945. George Kraus, a son of Gus and Amelia was elected Mayor of Cary in April 1989. Gus was the 16th Mayor of Cary and his son George is now our 25th. Gus married Irene Caldwell and both reside in Cary. The four children of Gus also live in Cary. KRENZ, Carl Carl and Agnes Krenz had five children. Carl owned and operated the Krenz Trucking Company. Krenz Trucking business built a garbage truck storage building along the railroad tracks east of the Cary Fire Station on CaryAlgonquin Road. After Carl's death in 1982, the business was run by his two sons, David and Donald. In April 1986, the sons sold the business to another disposal company. KVIDERA, Frank Frank J. Kvidera, a farmer, married Bessie J. Radous, and lived on a farm in Barrington until 1922. They had three children, Marie Tepper, Francis (Curly) and Florence Jantz. The family moved to Cary in 1922 and lived at 544 W. Main Street for 35 years. Frank died in 1934. He worked for the Hertz farm for many years, losing his right eye while chopping ice. Bessie was known for her beautiful voice and sang at many functions throughout her years. Son Francis operated a grocery store in downtown Cary. The above family are deceased except Florence, who lives in Cary, works part time at the Cary Library. continued next page CENfURY 21 SKETCH BOOK REAL ESTATE-1967 47

48 KVIDERA, Joseph Joseph and Gertrude Bloner K videra lived behind the post office at 122 W. Main Street. They had four sons. Joseph was a cattle dealer and also Cary's post master 1932-1950. After his death his son John became post master 1950-1980. Ervin Kvidera operated a grocery store in Cary with his cousin Francis (Curly) K videra. Ervin later operated a butcher shop in Algonquin. Richard took over the butcher shop after the death of Ervin. Robert retired as President of Nazareth College in New York. Richard and wife Dollie live in Cary. LEMKE, Ernest Ernest owned most of Hickory Nut Grove Subdivision, and was the original owner of the Pichen and Dorn farms on Three Oaks Road. The Three Oaks Road farms were sold to Thomas Decker. Ernest married Anna Newbold; they had two children who died very young, ages 5 and 2 years old. They lived at 311 W. Main St. until their death. A niece, Mildred Lemke Osborn (Howard) inherited this home and she and her husband lived there until their death. LENZ, John John and Clara Lenz had three children. John worked as a gateman for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. They came to Cary about 1920, lived at 238 W. Crystal Street. One son Richard was born in this house in 1930, with the help of the next door neighbor and midwife, Josephine Zimmerman. Their daughter Dorothy, married Dale Doty, a local man. Donald died in 1950. John died September 1991 at the age of 97. His son Richard and family live in Cary at the same address in the house where he was born. LOWE, G. Watson The Lowe family arrived in McHenry County in 1863. George Watson Lowe was born on September 24, 1899 in a small house on Borden Ave., now the location of Franke Lumber. He was the third of ten children. He attended the Cary elementary grade school on West Main Street which is now the Senior Citizens Center. Watson worked on his fathers farm located on the Algonquin and Cold Springs Road, now part of Fox Trails, Cold Springs Subdivision and Trout Valley until 1929. In 1931 he started in the business of handling Sinclair Petroleum products. He retired in 1963 and the Lowe Company continued to be operated by his son George and Ralph McMillan until 1982. On June 5, 1932 Watson married Elsie Wehrmann of Chicago. They had one son, George Watson Lowe Jr. Elsie passed away in 1944. On February 15, 1947 Watson married Marion Shales of Crystal Lake, Illinois. Watson served his community and country in various capacities. He was elected Trustee of the Village Board of Cary in 1934 and served a total of 15 years being Mayor from 1954 to 1961. His father George Lowe Sr. served in that same capacity in 1898. Watson was on the McHenry County Board of Supervisors from 1961-1974. In 1964 the Cary Cemetery Board of Managers was established. Watson was appointed President by the village Mayor. He continued to serve as Chairman of the Board until his death.

He was a member of the Cary Grove Lodge #ll57 A. F. & A. M. for 50 plus years, being a Master in 1932. He was treasurer from 1951 until 1986. Watson was on the Cary Diamond Jubilee Steering Committee and was Chairman of the Historical Committee. In 1978 he received 'THE MAN OF THE YEAR' Award from the Cary Jaycees and a plaque from the McHenry County Algonquin Township Officials Association in 1974 for outstanding service. He also received a plaque from the Cary Grove Lodge #ll57 and one from the Village of Cary for appreciation of his services. For many years Watson received the NUMBER ONE vehicle tag from the Village of Cary, he being the number one man in Cary. A JOB WELL DONE, WATSO . George Watson Lowe died September 14, 1989, ten days before his 90th birthday. LOWE, Marshall E. Marshall was born in 1941 in the house at 221 W. Main Street and has lived in the same house all his life except for a hitch in the Air Force in 1960 until 1964. He attended local schools. He became a Village Trustee in 1983- 1987 and again in 1988-1989. He married Diane Fredendall and they are the parents of 3 daughters. Since 1970 Marshall has been the owner of Lowe Excavating Co. MAREK, Anton Anton and Mary Marek ran a grocery store at 50 Crystal Street, now the office of H & R Block Co. They lived in a flat upstairs of the store, had five daughters, all of whom worked in the store. Anton, Mary, Vias ta, Georgianna and Violet are all buried in the Cary Cemetery. MATTHEW , Claud Claud and Emma Matthews worked several different farms. One farm was across from Coilcraft, corner of Three Oaks and Silver Lake Roads, another farm, is now the location of Brittany Woods, and another farm was on Crystal Lake Road where Chris' Coachhouse is located. One daughter, Vera Wallis, was Cary's Village Clerk for many years. Myrtle married Milt Neeley; after his death, Myrtle married Bill Remalia. Chuck lives out of state. Myrtle still lives in Cary. McMA AMA , George George and Mary McManaman moved from Algonquin to Cary, where they purchased a 135 acre farm. The farm was located between Three Oaks Road, E. Main Street, Newbold Road and County Line Road, just about in the center of the section. This had to be before 1912, as that is the year George passed away. He al o purchased a 40 acre farm on Three Oaks Road, adjacent to the Pines ubdivision, and across from the McManaman School house. There was no connection between the McManamans and the school, it was probably known as the McManaman corner, thereby calling the school McManaman. After the death of George the farms were operated by his two sons, George Jr. and Jame (Chip). In 1925, Chip married Christine Keifer, and George sold his share of the farm to Chip. Chip and Christine ran the farm and raised continued next page 49

50 their three children there, Jean, Jim and Carol. The children attended the St. Peter & Paul School in the Village of Cary. Chip died in 1945 and in 1956, Christine purchased a home in the Village where she moved and still resides. Christine's family had a summer home at Hickory Nut Grove and came to Cary on week-ends. That is how she met Chip. Christine was born in 1898. McNAMARA, Joseph 1845-1941 Some people called him 'Dingbat' but his name was Joseph Mc amara. He was born in Honka, Illinois and died at Hartland Home, Hartland, Illinois at age 96 years. He came to Cary in the early 1900's to work in the gravel pits. He became caretaker of the pits alongside Jandus Road. His job was to keep the children and others from trespassing on the property. He lived in a small shack at the pits and kept it very clean. Every day he covered the floor with clean newspapers. He had to be about 75 years old. He would walk into town and sit and talk to Maurice Freeman of Freeman's Garage. Joe did not have much of a formal education, but was well-read and kept up with what was going on in the world. Some of the kids gave him a bad time and would taunt him, called him Dingbat, which caught on even with the adults. When the pits closed, Joe went to Hartland to live. When he died he was buried in the Cary Cemetery, in Potters Field, location unknown. John Boucek says if we ever find the location of Joe's grave, he will put a headstone up for him to help repay the way the kids treated Joe years ago. McNETT, Jim Jim McNett was a hermit - tall, dark and thin - who lived on the ewbold farm in a very neat, clean, one-room shack; relatives unknown. He fished a lot and maintained a large garden in the summer selling some of his garden produce to the people who lived along the Fox River. He may have worked with the horses in the ewbold Livery business, as the horses were kept on the farm during the winter months. Newbold farm was near Newbold and Three Oaks Road. THE MENTCH FAMILY Sarah James came from Holland with the Silas Jaynes family when she was sixteen years old. She met and married Jacob Mentch, a native of Germany. Jacob and Sarah were married in Algonquin, December 10, 1848. Jacob was a Civil War veteran, discharged in 1862, was wounded, and died three months later. Sarah James Mentch died at age 52 years. Luna F. Mentch, was born from this union, one of ten brothers. He was born June 1860 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. At the age of eleven he went to live with the Guy S. Frary family of Cary, until he finished high school. Luna then took a teachers course at the Illinois tate ormal chool in DeKalb, Illinois. After graduation he taught for twelve years in country schools, then in Cary and Crystal Lake. In 1882 he married Lila E. Kindrew. Two children were born to them, Foy L. and Vera Mentch Allen (Charles). He grew tired of teaching, then

opened a meat market in Cary around 1880, and after two years, sold that. He went into the pickle business, running a pickle factory for about 20 years. In 1900, Luna opened the first Cary Exchange Bank, in the two-story Mentch building at 121 W. Main Street. This was a branch of the McHenry County State Bank of Woodstock, Illinois, with Luna E. Mentch in charge. When the banking institutions came under State Law in 1914, making private banking illegal, Luna sold the Bank to the Cary State Bank. He then went into real estate and insurance. Al Wickenburg built a one-room office for Luna. In those days there were no ordinances or fire codes; Elburn says he built it overnight. Luna was a member of the School Board for 30 years, Supervisor of the Township for 17 years, one of the founders of the Cary Methodist E. Church, a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen. He was Justice of the Peace for more than 40 years. He was the first ( 1893- 1894) and the ninth (1909-1910) President of the Village of Cary. At the time of his death in 1937, he was the Township School Treasurer. Foy L. Mentch, son of Luna and Lila, joined his father in the banking business when he was 18 years old in 1903, at the same time carrying on the business of Mentch's Garage and Taxi Service. In 1920, this business was sold to Maurice E. Freeman and became Freeman Garage, 19-25 Spring treet. Foy married Pearl Lindsey in 1905 at the Crystal Lake Methodist Church. Foy's primary occupation became insurance. In 1941, Elburn Mentch, son of Foy and Pearl, joined the family business. In 1946, after WWII he became a full partner. A new insurance building was constructed in 1957 at 113 W. Main Street. The old building was removed to the Sedlacek property on East Main Street. After the death of Foy L. Mentch in 1959, Elburn continued in the insurance business until 1973, when he partially retired, selling the business to Ed Hoffman. In 1985 Mentch Insurance was sold to JBS Insurance Co., James Frisch, owner. From 1880 until 1973, a total of 93 years, the Mentch name was on some type of business in Cary. The Mentch name was used another twelve years until 1985. Elburn Mentch still resides in Cary. MIKES, Joseph Joseph and Barbara Mikes lived at 405 Park Avenue for many years and had five children. Joseph Sr. worked as a flagman for the railroad at the West Main Street crossing. The family is buried in the Cary Cemetery. MITACEK, Frank Frank and Mary Mitacek had six children. He worked the John Pichen farm near Silver Lake and the farm on Rawson Bridge Road near River Bend. Their children were Rudolph, Mary, Louise, Frank, John and Ann. Mary Mitacek, married to Joe Homola, is the only one living and resides in Cary on West Main St. continued next page GAGE GRINDING CO., INC. - 1961 51

52 Good Night Moon • Hen's Nest 125 W Main St. Built about 1890. Joe Dunn House 116 Spring St. Built 1895. Owner: Bradley & Dawn Adcock Synek House • Schardl House 123 Spring t. Built 1869.

MOHRBACHER, Carl Carl and Dorethea Roesslein Mohrbacher had 5 children, 4 sons and 1 daughter, two of them born in Cary. Carl was a printers' mechanic in Chicago; he died in 1946. The Roesslein family came to the Cary area in 1915. They owned the first farm on the east side of the Fox River after crossing Rawson Bridge. As a young girl Dorethea worked at the Daly Resort. In 1923 she opened a beauty shop in a small room at the side entrance (Jandus Road) of the Meyer Drug Store Building. At that time she lived with Louise Jackson on Cary Street. Dorethea lives in Cary at the present time. NEILSON, Tyra Tyra Neilson never married and owned land on the east side of the Fox River, and south of Rawson Bridge. Most of the land was across from the Hickory Nut Grove Subdivision. Like Nellie Thompson, she was a strong-willed woman and always carried a gun. Tyra decided to subdivide her land and dug channels from the Fox River, selling lots on each channel. She built a small stone house at the entrance of the subdivision and met everyone who tried to drive in, her gun always at her side. Some years later, Tyra was found dead inside her stone house. NORDBY, Oscar H. Oscar and Emma Daehli ordby lived at 11 Spring Street. They had four daughters. Oscar was a sign painter for Bowman Dairy. He also built the honor roll sign naming all the service men and women who served in WWII. It was erected in what was then a park on Jandus Road. The eagle on top was hand-carved by Oscar. On 9 Jandus Road he had a small shop which he rented out to many different businesses through the years. Mildred Gregerson, Coreen Pichen and Evelyn Collins Coffman all lived in Cary at one time, but Coreen Nordby Pichen, is the only one living in Cary at the present. Coreen works for the Village of Cary. Her family came to Cary about 1922. OCENASEK, Joseph Joseph Ocenasek and family lived on the farm at the corner of Route 14 and Three Oaks Road known as the Thunderbird Farm (burned down). After the death in 1900 of Joseph, his grandson Frank and wife Josephine Hertzel Ocenasek and their three children ran the farm. The family sold the farm to James Stewart, grandfather of Allan Stewart, and moved to 254 Crystal Street. A son Edwin was born at this location December 5, 1909; a daughter Elsie lived in Cary until her death in 1990. Edwin was married to !less edivec and they had two daughters. Elsie married Raymond Hoeft and they had 3 sons. Ed and Bess Ocenasek's daughter June lives in Cary as does Elsie and Raymond Hoeft's son, Ray. OPATR Y, George George and Edwinie Weaver Opatrny lived in Fox River Grove. They had two children. George used to run the movie theatre in the Tomiskey building. After the death of George Opatrny, Edwinie married Al Becker and moved to Florida. PARSLEY, Jim The Parsley family lived at 121 Cary Street and 125 West Main Street. Jim was the Chief of Police in Cary from 1922 until 1933. They had three children. One daughter, Irene, married Joe Lyons of Cary. continued next page 53

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56 PICHEN, William William and Mary Pichen had. three children and resided on a farm located on Silver Lake Road. Their son Valerian owned the farm on Three Oaks Road, north side of road, west of McManaman School. This farm was sold to Tom Decker. PLEVA, Rudolph Rudolph and Lillian Homola Pleva lived at 551 W. Main Street with their two sons. Rudolph was a pattern maker/ die caster for Fairbanks Morse Company. He fell while trimming a tree in his back yard and died four months later of complications, age 28 years. His sons Rudy and Bob still live in Cary. PRUNK, Charles Charles was a veteran of WWI. He lived alone in a very small house ( one and a half rooms) in Root Springs. Some people called him a hermit, he had no family. He was always neat and clean, both in his dress and his housekeeping. Charles worked at different times in the area and in the ice house. While going duck hunting with a friend, Charles put his gun into the boat and then stepped into the boat himself. Somehow the gun went off and he was shot and killed. He is buried in the Cary Cemetery. He left no money, and could not afford a headstone, but Carl Rund (Veteran of WWI also) insisted that the American Legion pay for and install a headstone for Charles, which th~y did. REIBER, Carl Carl and Marie Reiber came to Cary from Woodstock in 1919. They purchased land from Miner B. Weaver. They owned two farms on Silver Lake Road, part of which is now Lions Park. They had five children. A granddaughter, Betty Knaack, still resides on the farm. RITI, Albert Albert and Lena Youtsey Ritt came to Cary in 1919. They had 5 children, Donald, Hazel, Ona, Ruth and James. Albert rented the Benson farm, which was located to the west and adjacent to the Cary Oaks Subdivision. He worked this farm for 12 or more years. He then worked for Slim Zimmerman, going from farm to farm to grind grain for the other farmers. After some years, he took a job with H. R. Stewart Inc. as a plumber. Son James and daughter Ruth still live in Cary. RAwson or ROwson Thomas Rowson was an English seaman who jumped ship as it neared the U. S. along the eastern coast about 1820. He came west by wagon train with his wife and young son Thomas Jr. around 1822. Somewhere in Indiana, they discovered that Thomas Jr. was missing - he had fallen off the wagon and they had to retrace their route to find him. They settled in Chicago. During the Chicago Fire ( Oct.1871) the Rowson family lost almost all their possessions. A great granddaughter, Audrey Rowson Gaines, says Thomas left Chicago to look for a new home. He hiked along the railroad tracks and when he got to Cary he followed the Fox River and found the land near what is now known as Rawson Bridge. It looked like good farm land and so he bought it and moved his family to Cary. HENEHAN & McINTYRE LTD. - 1980

Thomas Jr. and Maria had two sons, Wilfred and Ray. When Wilfred was about 10 years old he was fishing in a rowboat on the Fox River just south of where Rawson's bridge now stands, when he remembered it was time to help his father with chores. As Wilfred hurried to get out of the rowboat he tripped, dropped the shot gun he had with him, the gun went off and hit his arm, almost severing it completely. The closest doctor was Algonquin; it was a miracle that Wilfred did not bleed to death until the doctor arrived. He lost one arm just above the elbow. The loss of his arm did not hinder him in any way. He could keep up with the farm work as well as anyone and maybe even better. The mother Maria died in childbirth 1881; Thomas Jr. died 1914. Wilfred and his sons ran the farm until 1929 when one son DeFores, contracted Farmer's Lung Disease and had to leave the farm; he moved to Algonquin. Wilfred and Amy (Kelsey) left the farm and moved into the Village of Cary to 18 Second Street. They lived in the Village until their death. Both are buried in Cary Cemetery. Wilfred helped instigate the moving of the wooden bridge from the Fox River Grove crossing to the Rowson Bridge crossing, he also helped build the bridge at that location. After the bridge was dedicated with a plaque engraved with the name Rowson, it was discovered the name was spelled wrong, instead of ROwson it was RAwson. The county wanted to redo the plaque, but that would have cost $50.00. Wilfred said that was too much money and they really did not have to put up any plaque - the bridge would help everyone. So the misspelled plaque was put up and Rawson's Bridge became Rawson's Bridge and Rawson's Road became Rawson's Road. Audrey Rowson Gaines has fond memories of her grandparents; she says they always had gentle words and gentle manners. SCHWEMM, Emil Emil and Mae Duda Schwemm lived at 234 Park Ave. Emil was a WWI veteran. Mae worked for Serres Hardware Store. They had no children. SCHLOTTMAN, Arthur Art and Matie Schlottman had three children and lived near the Charlie and Ann Smith farm on Crystal Lake Road and Lake Killarney. They moved into town to 27 E. Main Street. Gordon was killed in WWII during transit in the states. Glen lived in Cary with his family until his death in 1985. Some of Glen's family still live in Cary. SEEBERT, Levi Levi Seebert came to Cary from Virginia in 1837. Many people migrated from the east to the west to get away from slavery. He married Electa Gillian of Algonquin, whose family was one of the first settlers in the area. They had two children, one died in infancy. In 1843 the land he purchased from the government at $1.25 per acre included; Greenfields, Cimarron, Decker Industrial Center, Bright Oaks, Jewel Complex and Franke's Addition. In 1871 he purchased another 63 acres of land on the south side of W. Main Street ( Prairie to Seebert) from Stanton M./ Almira Thomas. This land was subdivided into lots and sold. Levi died in 1886 and his son Samuel G. Seebert inherited the property. Samuel held the first Township Office of Commissioner of Highways. continued next page 57

58 Levi Seebert helped settle the Village of Cary, Illinois; he is buried in Algonquin Cemetery. SERRES, William William & Hannah Serres purchased the Weaver hardware business ( 100 Crystal Street) in 1924 and continued to operate it through 1962. They had one daughter, Pagie. In 1933, the Serres family and a niece Margaret Serres, moved from Algonquin to Cary were they lived at 219 Spring Street. Their niece Margaret Serres married John Lowe in 1940, they had 2 children. Thomas Lowe, Margaret's son, and Pagie's son, Sam Petriak Jr. still live in the Cary area. SHEPARD, Frank Frank and Mayme Hertzel Shepard lived at 254 Crystal Street, their two sons, Milton and Eugene were born in this house. The house used to belong to the Hertzel grandparents. Frank was a conductor on the Northwestern Railroad. Milton retired from his post as an Illinois State Trooper and lives in Cary. Eugene married and moved to Shrewburg, Missouri. SIEBURG, George George and Sophia Zimmerman Sieburg lived at 560 W. Main Street. They had one daughter Irene; a Wave during WWII. George was a veteran of WWI. He owned and operated a barber shop at 114 W. Main Street, where the present barber shop is now located. They moved to Florida about 1980 where they both died, George in 1982 and Sophia 1989, age 95. George sold the business to the present barbers in 1953. SMITH, Levi A. C. Levi A. C. and his wife Rachel Miller Smith came to Cary in 1841 from New York State and purchased 120 acres of land at Cary Station. Around 1867 they moved to Kansas. Levi was born in 1818 and died in Kansas at age 65 years. A son, Samuel J. and his wife Phoebe Smith came to Cary in 1842 from New York State. They also purchased farm land (now part of Trout Valley) from the U.S. Government. Samuel and Phoebe were divorced in 1869. Samuel then lived with his son Prentice Levi Smith. Samuel died in 1883. He being the eldest son, Prentice Levi Smith and his wife Mary E. Buck Smith inherited the farm for use of his lifetime, then it was to go to his two sons. The area of the farm ran from Cary-Algonquin Road to Prairie Street. A strip of land on the south side of West Main Street was divided into individual lots and sold for homesites. In 1889, the first addition was developed and in 1892 the second addition of the plat was added. One acre of land was sold to the Trustees of Township 13, School District 9, to be used as a school ( 441 W. Main Street). The area which contains the Village Complex ( Village Hall, Police, Library and Recreation Center) was all part of the original Smith farm. Florence Smith, a daughter of Prentice and Mary Smith started the Cary Library in 1918. Most of the Samuel J. Smith family are buried in the Cary Cemetery.

SMITH, Frank Frank was not married. He ran a grocery store with Nat Kerns at 101 W. Main Street. The upper floor of this building housed the Masonic Hall. Frank also ran a small butcher shop next door with Paul Damlos, 103 W. Main. Paul Damlos and family moved out of town, and William Damlos took over the butcher shop. Bill lived with the Till family at ll0 Cary Street. STEIN, Anton In 1879 Stein owned lots #5 and #8 on 133 W. Main Street. He operated a shoe repair shop in his house. After he died Emil Hubka bought the lots, and after his death they were sold to Gus Kraus. There is now a grocery store, meat market, apartment building and store parking lot on the property. STEW ART, Ronald Ronald Stewart lied about his age during WWI and at age 17 joined the Marines. After the war in 1923 he started the Suburban Electric Company in one small back room of the present barber shop at ll4 W. Main Street. As the business grew Ronald and his wife Ruth rented a building at 40 Crystal Street in 1933-34. In 1946, they purchased the building, continuing the business until a year before the death of Ronald in 1970. In December 1969, Ronald had sold the business to Michael Wilson of Cary. In January 1989, Wilson moved the business into new headquarters at 209 Cleveland Street, Cary. The business is still operated under the name of Suburban Electric Co. STEWART, Vernon Vernon, son of James and Cora Belle Stewart, was born in 1896. He married Marie Dianis and two daughters were born to them. Vernon joined the Army during WWI. After the war, Vernon was in the garage repair business for many years at 60 Crystal Street ( Cary Grove Imports). Later renting out his business he became a carpenter contractor and built many homes in Cary. His two daughters Betty Toomey and Jean Suchy still reside in Cary. STINEK, John John and Mathilda Bloner Stinek had five children; George, Viola, Glenn, Isabel and Gertrude (Frey). They built a single story residence at 17 Second Street, a second story was added later. This house is one of the over 100 year old houses in Cary. The family also rented the Sherman L. Burton farm at 406 First Street, the original farm house now being the home of Bob and Audree Wagner. John retired from farming and worked for the Village until his death in 1955. He also worked for Bill Wascher in the coal and ice business and in the 1930-40's he worked for John Hertz farm where he tended many of the famous horses. The children all attended the 441 W. Main Street school and it was a familiar sight to see John with his horse-pulled bobsled giving children a ride to school and around town. John owned a couple of mules. One day as Peter Rasmussen was shoeing one of them, the mule kicked Rasmussen in the face. For some time after Rasmussen had a bruised and swollen face. During the late 1920-30's Tillie owned and operated a restaurant at 56 Crystal Street ( Cary Imports Auto Parts). She was famous for her home-cooked meals, her homemade breads and pies. continued next page 59

60 Funny, but the young generation of that era seems to remember John best, after a big snow storm with his horse and plow, plowing the sidewalks in town. S1DRM, John John and Anna Storm worked a farm across from Lions Park on Silver Lake Road. Moved to a farm on Crystal Lake Road near the Gross Mink Farm, and then to another on Three Oaks Road. This property on Three Oaks was sold to Tom Decker. Their son Clarence was one of the first of three inducted into the Army during WWII, from Cary. SUCHY, Steve Steve and Mary Suchy lived in a house located on the north east corner of Route 14 and Borden Ave., across from Franke Lumber. They had four children. Steve was originally a farmer, retired and worked as a flagman at the railroad crossing at W. Main Street. He was killed when the suction of a train drew him underneath. One son Donald, works for the Cary Post Office. SW ARTZ, William William and Bertha Swartz had a barber shop at 19 Spring Street. When that property was sold, the building was moved to the Herb Elle farm on Three Oaks Road. Swartz moved to 117 W. Main Street, to a very narrow two-story building. Up front he ran his barber shop, in the rear of the store, Bertha operated the telephone exchange, helped by young ladies from the neighborhood. This building is now Peter's Bakery. THOMAS, LaFayette Owned l_and south of Charlotte Street in Cary, south to the river. In 1839 his house stood at the south end of Thomas Street. This house was demolished. He sold 326.81 acres of his land to the Railroad Company. Fayette and his wife Arvilla had 4 children. THOMAS, Stanton M. Stanton and Almira Thomas came to Cary around 1835. He ran a small hotel in Algonquin for a short time, then went into farming. He farmed until 1872 when he retired. He owned land between W. Main, Seebert and Prairie Streets, now part of Brigadoon and Trout Valley. Stanton was appointed one of the first township officials: Collector. He was granted a ferry license on the Fox River in 1839 at the cost of $7 .00. Stanton and Almira had three children, Albert, Mamie and Lemuel. His mother, Mary Thomas, was buried in the Cary Cemetery in 1840. THOMPSON, Nellie Nellie Thompson had purchased the Rawson Farm near Rawson Bridge. Later she owned the old Daly farm ( Graf Mink Ranch) and the land east to Hickory Nut Grove Subdivision. She was not married, and she always carried a gun. Airedale dogs were her constant companions. Although she was a very strong-willed person and seemed to be afraid of nothing, she was good to the kids living in the area and let them ride her horses and ponies. She later moved to Algonquin on Algonquin Road near the Fox River.

I I I I I I I I TILL, Anton Sr. Tony and Anna Till Sr. came to Cary in 1914. They built a home at 110 Cary Street. Anna was a midwife and worked with Dr. Frank Theobald. Many of our Cary children were brought into this world by Doc and Anna. Tony and Anna are buried in the Cary Cemetery. Tony Jr. and his wife Ruth live in Cary. TOMISKEY, Frank Frank and Elizabeth Tomiskey lived on a farm on Three Oaks Road. The land is located east and adjacent to the Cary High School, at the end of First Street. They gave up the farm and purchased an acre of land from Seebert on the corner of High Road and W. Main Street, for $200. He built a large white two-story building. They ran a grocery store there for awhile, then started an apron factory. Many of the women worked at the factory sewing aprons, but that petered out, too. There were also social entertainments in this building. Some dances, and movies shown by George Opatrny. The building was finally made into apartments. When Curtiss Candy Company came into Cary they purchased the building for their workers to live in. The building is still standing and rented as individual apartments. VENTRISS, Thomas Thomas and Harriet Trebing Ventriss came to Cary in 1932, with their three children. They lived in Hickory Nut Grove on the Fox River. In 1933 they moved into Cary to a home on Spring Street, and in 1940 moved into the Tomiskey Apartments on W. Main. Tom was a salesman for Cilight Company. He became a partner with Ben Bick and together they ran the Bick Garage at 60 Crystal Street and the Ventriss Tavern at 56 Crystal Street. Th eir daught er Barbara Ventriss married Jack Kling, Joyce Ventriss married Milt Shepard. Barbara works for the Cary Library. Joyce still lives in Cary. WALLACE, Ed The Wallace family owned a farm located about 1112 East Main Street, now part of the Hillhurst Subdivision. It was mostly a dairy farm, the land not being too good for growing crops, hilly and rocky. Ed Wallace was McHenry County Road Commissioner and a McHenry County Deputy Sheriff. Most of the roads at that time were gravel, a few still dirt. It was during his term as road commissioner that the Cary-Algonquin Road was blacktopped. The family was well off financially, owning many houses and property around town, buying and selling same. At one time, they owned the buildings of the telephone company, Dora Jecks operated the exchange at First Street and Route 14, Peters Bakery and John Petriak's Antiques and many others. After Ed died, his two sons Bill and Stanley, who were always called the Wallace Brothers, ran the farm and financial operations. Bill was in WWI and the first one to die. Stanley lived to a ripe old age. He married late in life and built a house on the corner of Bell and First Streets, 105 Bell. The house is now owned by Michael and Kathrine Downs. Rumor has it that when Stanley died, he willed the Catholic Church in Cary $100,000. After the death of the Wallace Brothers, the farm was sold to a Mr. Merkle, who lived in Spring Beach. continued next page 61 Iii I . : ' I I ' 11 : 1, I II I 1, I: I II 1 ' II I I !I ,! ' I I I ·I ,iii I I I I! ,I I I II II ~•

62 WASCHER, William Jr. Bill Wascher, as he was always called, was born and raised in Cary. August 8, 1882. His father, William Sr., built the Wascher tavern building at 12 Spring Street, in 1893. Both Bill and his wife Dagmar (Daisy) worked in the tavern and boarding house. In 1907 a young woman from Chicago, Dagmar, came to Cary to visit with a girl friend. Dagmar says there wasn't much in the way of entertainment in Cary. Some young men got together and formed a club which used to put on dances. It was at one of these dances she met Bill Wascher. Four years later, 1911, they were married. She became a life-long Cary resident. They had one daughter, Lois, who married Harry owicki. Dagmar was one of the first women in Cary to drive an automobile. Bill drove Daisy, as she was called by everyone, out to Three Oaks Road in a Model T Ford. He left her there telling her to drive it, or walk home. She drove home. Crystal Lake Herald 10/ 31/ 1912: "Wm. Wascher Jr. purchased the Wm. Swartz Building ( 117 W. Main Street) and rented the barber shop to a city barber. Mrs. Arthur Duncan and Estella Johnson took charge of the telephone exchange & confectionary store." Waschers were one of the first families in the area to have an indoor washroom; that was around 1915. The idea caught on ~ st and the old outdoor facilities became the septic tanks. Bill was also in the ice business. The men would cut blocks of ice on the Fox River during the winter. It would be stored in the ice house and sold in summer for the old-fashioned ice coolers. He was also in the coal busine s. Crystal Lake Herald 12/ 13/1917: "Wascher Mill & Machinery burned down. The coal was saved." Bill was the Township Road Commissioner for many years; he died in 1938. Daisy helped organize the Cary Womens Club in 1927; she was the club's first president. She helped organize the local Cary Garden Club, and was very active in the Cary Methodist Church Ladies Aid. She was a member of the Cary Chapter of the Eastern Star. They were two very civic-minded people and were always there to do whatever they could to help the Village of Cary. WEAVER, David David and Sarah Heath Weaver came from ew York to Plum Grove, Illinois in 1843. Some time later they moved to Cary. They had four children; Asa, Electa, Mary and Betsy Ann Weaver. They operated the first hotel in Cary, about 9 Jandus Road, in back of the drug store. As David says, they cared for the traveling public. After Sarah's death, David married Jennette Mc ett Morrison, widow of amuel Morrison. PLACES II TRAVEL J

WEAVER, Miner B. Miner B. Weaver was born in Cary in 1867, in the old William D. Cary's house 9 W. Main Street, now located at 2 E. Ross Street. He married Bertha Dodd in 1893. They had three children Marion Peter, Edwinie Opatrny Becker and Eldon Weaver. Miner ran a butcher shop on a small lot located 14-16 Spring Street in 1888. In 1903, he purchased the Hardware business at 100 Crystal Street, ( now Cardella's ). He worked in the hardware business until 1925. He engaged in the Insurance and Real Estate business until his death in 1956. Miner had large land holdings, inherited from his father Asa Weaver. He subdivided much of this land, donated land to the Masons for them to build the Masonic Hall building 28 S. Northwest Highway. Mi11er and Bertha Weaver are buried in the Cary Cemetery, the cemetery he owned. His heirs gave a Quit Claim Deed for the Cemetery to the Village in 1964. WICKA, George E. George's family came to Cary around 1928-30. He ran a gas station for awhile then worked on the road for the State of Illinois. He married Betty, and they had one son Walter. George, or Stubby, died in 1959. Walter Wicka, or Wally, works for the Village of Cary. George's wife Betty lives in Cary. WILLARD, George George and Edna Hoeft Willard came to Cary about 1929, and lived with Grandfather Charles Hoeft at 374 Crystal Street where their daughter Eileen was born. Two other children died in infancy. George was a conductor on the Northwestern Railroad. In 1935 the family moved to Dundee, then into Chicago. In 1952 they moved back to Cary and lived above the Serres Hardware Store, 100 Crystal Street, then moved to Park Ave. Eileen Willard Greiner (Jack) is the librarian at the Cary Library. WILLIAMS, Edwin Edwin Loy Williams family lived in West Chicago and came to Cary to visit the Polly family. Edwin was with the Polly family in a horse-drawn bobsled, coming home from the Free Methodist Church (located on First Street next to the Cemetery). At the West Main Street railroad crossing, a train hit the sled, killing Edwin ( 6 years old) and Naomi Polly, and one of the horses. Edwin is buried in the Cary Cemetery. Whereabouts of the family is unknown. WING, Herb Herb Wing was another hermit who lived on the old Joe Lyons farm on County Line Road near the Hudek farm. He also lived in a small house in Hickory Nut Grove. He worked for the Newbold brothers on the farm or in the livery stable. Harry and Charlie Newbold always took care of him. Herb died at Hartland Hospital at the age of 84 years and is buried in Cary Cemetery. ZIMMERMA , John John and Josephine Pum Zimmerman came to Cary in 1920. They lived at 232 Crystal Street. John was a bartender in Chicago at the Bismark Hotel. They had five children. Josephine was a midwife and also worked for John Hertz for many years. Nick, Julia Schoening and Betty Schauble still reside in Cary. Evelyn Kelder lived in Cary until her death in 1987. Bob lives in Crystal Lake. ❖ 63

64 DOCTOR OH DOCTOR! DIAL 911 • The Cary Rescue Squad will arrive in minutes, and if necessary, in another few minutes they will have you at the hospital. Information about the doctors of Cary in the late 1800's is rather scarce. In October, 1895 the Nunda Herald wrote; Crabtree Brothers are building Dr. Jackson's house on the hill. (Weaver Drive was known as Piety Hill). December 1895 the Nunda Herald wrote; Dr. Jackson is now living in his house on Piety Hill. At the February 20, 1900 Village Board Meeting the Board voted that compulsory vaccinaton be put in force for the Village of Cary. That Dr. Jackson be invested with power to act as Health Office to quarantine when he sees fit. Also on February 19, 1900 the Board made a motion that the public schools be closed for such time as was thought necessary for the prevention of the spread of the disease of smallpox now prevailing, to take effect at once. On March 6, 1900 the minutes read Dr. Jackson disinfected the Huber house in a proper manner and he be allowed $25.00 for his services. On April 27, 1901 Dr. Averson made a motion (Village Board Meeting) that usual precautions be exercised in cases of diptheria and that parties having public places to attend be allowed to. If any new cases are reported from families having children attending school, that such families keep their children home. Motion carried. In 1922 a Clarence L. McNett M.D. was buried in the Cary Cemetery, perhaps he too served the Cary people. It must be remembered Cary was a farm community, rural country, the houses far apart and the mode of transportation, horse and buggy. 1906 Dr. Frank J. Theobald About 1900 Dr. Beck came to Cary, he being a medical doctor and his brother running the Drug Store at 75 W. Main Street. In 1909 Dr. Beck sold his practice to Dr. Frank Theobald. Dr. Theobald and his wife Irene rented the Grebe house at 219 Spring Street. After a few months they purchased the house at 317 W. Main and opened his office in an upstairs room of their home. Their two children were raised there, John and Frances. March 16, 1916 he rented an office for a few years above the Cary Exchange Bank which was vacated by Dr. Maha of Algonquin. In 1940 the Theobalds built a one-story home and office, across the street at 332 W. Main Street. He practiced medicine at this location until his death in 1950. One thing about Doctor Theobald, if you happened to meet him on the street and had only some minor cut etc., you could have an office visit right there, he would tell you what to do for it. If you were near the drug store, he would take you into the back room, and put a bandage on it. No charge at all.

In 1933, Dr. William Copeland started his practice of medicine in Cary and Fox River Grove, his office being in Fox River Grove. Dr. and Jennie Copeland moved to Cary in 1934 to 105 W. Main Street. Dr. Copeland had an office in his home. In 1935 the Copelands purchased the home at 22 E. Main Street and made part of the home into his office. Copeland was called into service during WWII, in 1942, with the U. S. Navy in the Medical Corp. until 1946. During his tour of duty he was promoted to a Commander in the United States Navy. He returned to his practice after the war with the expert help of his nurse Rosemary Pokorny McGraw. He provided the best medical service possible to the people of Cary until his death in 1975. Dr. Joseph McKenna opened his medical practice in Fox River Grove in 1951. He had many Cary patients. He was a veteran of WWII. In 1971 because of illness he gave up his private practice and became director of Emergency at Sherman Hospital, Elgin and the Crystal Lake Ambutal. He donated his time to the Cary Grove High School as athletic physician for many years. He died June 11, 1989. Dr. Vincenzo Petralia, who resides in Cary, opened his office in 1959, at 445 Park Ave. In 1973 Dr. Sol Daya became an associate of Dr. Petralia's. In 1977 Dr. Kenneth Park 0. D. opened an office at 155 W. Park Ave. From the 1950s Dr. Willard W. Leonard 0. D. had a practice in Cary at 155 W. Park Avenue until his death in 1977. Dr. Joseph Fojtik opened an office at 728 Northwest Highway, Cary in 1991. Dr. James Kline started his practice May 1985 at 15 W. Main Street. Dr. Alan R. Barthen, D. C. started his practice October 17, 1983 at 114 W. Cary Street. The closest hospital to Cary is Good Shepherd in Barrington, Illinois, which opened in October 1979. The residents of Cary are fortunate to have good medical care so close at hand. ❖ Elizabeth H Freeman DRUGGISTS: On a plat of Cary in 1892 it shows a barber and drugs building located about 40 Crystal Street. Some of the druggists that served the public probably were located at this location. Zerah L. Blaisdell ( son of Lowell A. Blaisdell second President of Cary) married Carlotta A. Shepard of Crystal Lake. Zerah was a trustee on the Village Board of Cary. He applied for a druggist-liquor permit on May 2, 1893. Village Board minutes also show that in 1894, A. J. Severns made application for a druggist-liquor license and A. J. Swems applied for a druggist permit. After a few years these druggists left Cary. ❖ Elizabeth H Freeman CARY-GROVE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES-1973 I •,•:

66 DIDN'T HURT DOCTOR DDS The first dentist that came to Cary, around 1920, was Dr. Wagner. His office was upstairs of the Cary Exchange Bank, 121 W. Main Street. Two of his first patients were Frank Hubert and Ileene Graham Harper. When the second story of the Exchange Bank was removed, Dr. Wagner moved his office above the Meyer Drug Store. Sometime later he moved his practice to Crystal Lake. Dr. Flood DDS came next to Cary. He and his wife Mildred lived in Cary. He moved his office to Crystal Lake, and later moved to Florida. Dr. Fred Nannestad started his dental practice in Cary after WWII, in 1947 and practiced until the 1970's. He retired and moved to Wisconsin. Dr. Ryll came in the 1970's moving to Florida in the 1980's. Dr. Strunc came in 1960 and left in 1990. Dr. Maris Freiman came to Cary in 1968, his office is at 155 Park Ave. He continues to practice in our village. Dr. Glenn Olson came to Cary in 1974 and still practices at 212 W. Main Street. Between 1980-1990, many new dentists came to Cary. Dr. Ronald T. Metelka; Dr. John R. Thodas; Dr. Allen Gore; Dr. Kenneth P. Cox; Dr. Thomas J. Skleba and Dr. Paul A. Palliser. No need to have a "TOOTHACHE" with all this help available. ❖ Elizabeth H. Freeman Before 1925 Dr. Wagner D.D.S, Dr. Frank]. Theobald. Background: Barber hop, Hubka & Hrdlicka. Wood sidewalks, dirt streets, hitching post. CARY-GROVE ORTHODONTICS - 1989

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 1900 Hauling ice from the Fox River 67

68 PICKLE MAKING IN CARY Relatively few traces remain today from one of Cary's first economic enterprises, its pickle business. Although pickles are still produced in McHenry County, the business and the buildings have long disappeared from Cary. Nonetheless, the importance of this trade in Cary's early development cannot be forgotten. Years ago family life in this country was centered on agriculture and, in this regard, Cary was no different. Nearly every family had a garden which produced fresh vegetables for the family's immediate use in the summer, as well as such things as cabbage for making kraut and potatoes which were stored for year-round consumption. A combination of railroad service to Cary and the presence of food processing plants in nearby Chicago provided both a means and a 1882 OLD PICKLE FACTORY Located in back of the Ward-Greiner lwuse at 212 West Main Street. market for economic development of the farmer's goods beyond the immediate family's needs. Recognizing this opportunity, on October 6, 1882 Mssrs. Goodwin and Frary paid $75 each for one half acre of land then belonging to S. S. Seebert. William McNett bought an adjacent piece of land for the same price. Together, the three men set out to make pickles earning the colloquial title of "salters". Noting it's central location and proximity to the rail lines, the men chose a site along the south side of the railroad tracks, directly across from the intersection of Highway 14 and Borden Street. Here they constructed a wooden shed, approximately 40 feet wide and 120 feet long. Inside, a row of vats was erected down each side of the building. Each vat was 6 to 7 feet tall and about 12 feet in diameter. Once construction was complete, area families began growing pickle cucumbers which were harvested from July through eptember. The pickles were brought by horse and wagon to the brine shed where they were sorted by size, a higher price being paid for the smaller pickles. The sorted pickles were carted in wheelbarrows down a six foot wide platform, that stood at vat height, down the center of the building. The cucumbers were dumped into the brine vats and the pickling process was begun. The vats would remain undisturbed for up to two years, allowing the owners time to wait for the best market price before selling to such buyers as Heinz and Arlington Pickle Factory. Once a sale was made, the vat would be opened, news of which often sprearl to neighboring homes. It is easy to picture nearby residents running to the building with pails for samples which were generously given out. The finished pickles were dipped from the vat using nets on long poles and dumped into wheelbarrows. The load was carted down the platform, across wooden plank ramps and onto flatbed rail cars fitted with vats similar

to those in the building. When the rail car vats were filled, the load was transported to the buyer for finishing and distribution. Although Chicago provided the closest market, St. Louis buyers were willing to pay a higher price and fierce competition between the two markets was renowned. The buyers from St. Louis went so far as to offer incentives to the salters, to entice them to trade exclusively with them. One account of the time told of each seller receiving a pair of suspenders from the St. Louis buyer at the time of the first sale, with the additional enticement of a second pair if the crop was good at the end of the season. Seemingly trivial by today's standards, this was apparently a successful gimmick as the St. Louis buyers attracted most of the sellers that year. The business apparently continued to operate successfully for many years. In 1905 the operation was sold to the Luna Mentch family who ran it in much the same manner as the originators. George Suchy, in his memoirs of early life in Cary, wrote of working for Luna Mentch on Newbold Road, east of Cary, picking pickles for ten cents an hour in 1910. The Mentch family kept the business until the early 30's when the building was sold to the Franke Mrs. Ward and daughter Josephine Ward. family and the Mentch's went into the insurance business. Franke's used the building as a storage shed for their lumber business across Highway 14 until May 5, 1934 when the building and it's contents were totally destroyed by fire. Current residents and past written accounts of Cary history refer to the pickle business as a factory but that title is really misleading. The building was nothing more than a simple shed housing wooden vats and no machinery. The business did provide one of the first avenues by which Cary's early farming families were able to diversify and other residents were able to earn some form of income. In this manner, some of the first steps were taken in moving the village from an agriculturally based community in the 1800's to the suburban city it is today. ❖ Dan Brakke CARY PUB

THE MILK AND DAIRY INDUSTRY IN CARY Early white settlers in Cary and surrounding McHenry County were drawn by cheap land and an opportunity to start a farm on which their families could subsist. The government sold most of this land for $1.25 an acre making it :~ relatively easy for a family to purchase enough ground on which to earn their --.~tii:;~~i111 livelihood. The rich prairie land that originally covered this area lent itself well to tilled farming but was also ideal for grazing dairy cattle, using the existing wild grasses. It wasn't long before several good sized dairy farms were firmly established in the Cary area. Reliance on the sale of milk to nearby families was an important fact of life at first since there was no way of processing the milk locally. Obviously this would have been a hit or miss operation as the demand probably fluctuated from day to day. 70 1906 Richman mith Dairy, Oatman if ilk Co., ure On Tire Co. 27 Jandus Road ( Demolished around 1940.) Influenced by the development of rail service through Cary, the local farmers soon looked to Chicago as a new market for their milk sales. Fresh milk was poured into 8 and 10 gallon milk cans and these cans were shipped in rail cars to Chicago daily. With this development the dairy farmers were assured of selling their milk each day; but shipping fresh milk in unsealed containers must have been a very ineffective way of operating. What was needed was a means to process and bottle milk in Cary. Keen on taking advantage of this situation, ome local entrepreneurs drew up plans to build a dairy in town. April 15, 1903, the property on the east side of Borden Street at Highway 14, the site presently occupied by the Franke Lumber Company, was sold and a milk processing plant was constructed on the corner. This was the Borden dairy, the namesake of the street. Inside, a full scale milk bottling plant was constructed and milk, bought from local dairy farms, was pasteurized and bottled. Adjacent to the dairy was the Bowman Ice plant which, in the days before refrigeration, played an important part in operating a dairy by providing the means of keeping the milk cool.

About three years later, in 1906, a second milk bottling plant was started in Cary. This plant, the Richmond Smith Dairy, was located at or near 27 Jandus Road, the site of the recently closed U.S. Post Office. Apparently the operations conducted at Richmond Smith were much the same as at Borden's. With the opening of the two milk plants in Cary farmers were now able to sell their milk directly to the processor who was then able to bottle the milk and ship it to Chicago by train each day. In return, trains from Chicago brought empty milk bottles back to Cary each day for washing and rebottling. The Borden dairy, the more successful of the two, operated for many years, making additions to the ••L:la••...,.~;.._-...i.:..--...... ------....:~rt:t building as evidenced by 1903 close examination of Borden's Dairy existing photographs. George Suchy, a past Cary resident, wrote of working in the Borden plant around 1911 or 1912, washing milk bottles for sixteen cents an hour. The milk bottled at that time sold for five cents a quart. The Borden bottling plant soon changed ownership and acquired the name of Bowman Milk Co. apparently merging the bottling plant and the ice plant. It continued to operate, bottling milk daily, until 1924 when the property was sold Lo the Franke family. The Richmond Smith Milk plant was not as successful as the Borden/ Bowman plant and soon stood empty. Then, around 1915 or 1916, the operation was re-opened and operated under the name of Oatman Milk Company. Oatman ran the facility as a milk condensing plant but, after only four years, clo ed it's doors around 1920. There is evidence in several accounts of Cary life that the empty Richmond Oatman building was used for various social and public functions during it's idle periods. However, it was eventually sold to the ure-On Tire Co. who used it as a storage building until the early 40's when the building was razed. The interplay of the dairy industry and early Cary life i readily apparent in reading the city's archives. For instance, in 1914 Hubert Pekny, son of Mr. & Mrs. continued next page 1903 Borden's Dairy Boilers 71

72 John Pekny, was killed while making his daily trip to the Cary dairy to sell his milk. His wagon got stuck on the Algonquin Road crossing of of the railroad tracks in Fox River Grove and an approaching train struck and killed him. Another sad tale in Cary's history involves Steven Suchy, brother of George Suchy mentioned earlier, who was a crossing attendant and tower operator for the railroad. While clearing ice and snow from the crossing in downtown Cary, he was struck and killed by a milk train passing through town. Suchy apparently thought the approaching train was on a different track from the one he was standing on. Although the dairy farming and milk processing industries have essentially disappeared from modern Cary, they played a significant part in developing the community and providing a focus for the economic development of the town. Even the buildings themselves were highly visible in photographs of the town from that period. What was once a key part of our town's daily life is now only a memory. Dan Brakke 1900 Ed Wallace and. Theodore H. Wulff 1900 Greiner House· 212 W. Main t. Moued to back of lot and. remodeled into apartment building in 1964.

THE BURTON CHEESE AND BUTTER FACTORY Dairy farming and milk production were common elements of early life in McHenry County, including Cary. However, Cary did boast of one operation that was somewhat unique to the area - it's cheese and butter factory. It is widely believed that Burton's Cheese factory was also the first true industrial business in town. Around 1882 Sherman L. Burton began searching the town for a site on which to build a cheese and butter factory. He was mainly interested in finding a spring to be used as a source of cold water for cooling the milk tanks and butter storage. The spot he chose was on the south side of the present day intersection of Jandus 1883 Road and Cary Street, known today as 53-55 Cary Street. On first inspection the ground appeared to be simply a bog, but Burton discovered that there was a fine spring in the bog. Burum Cheese & Butter Facwry; Minerva Mineral Springs; "O Boy" Soda Pop Facwry; George & Louise Dasch House; now Derer Apartments - 53-55 Cary Street. Relying on the fact that his needs for the spring were still a secret, Burton approached the owner, a Mr. LaHod, with the hopes of buying the ground for $250. LaHod, thinking the ground was only good for pasture, sold it to Burton for less than $150 and construction of the building soon started. Local news articles of the time described the building as 36 feet by 56 feet in dimension, two stories tall with a basement. One end of the building housed living quarters for S. L. Burton, the owner. His son, Wallace, was the cheesemaker and John Dunn was the helper. Initially, the milk was delivered to the plant by wagon where it was dumped into a can which was weighed and the farmer's account credited for the amount delivered. The milk was then directed to two "twin vats" each of which held 4,500 pounds. Apparently, there were plans to install a third pair of vats but the records do not show whether this actually happened. Separation of the milk occurred in the holding vats, which were cooled by the spring water flowing through a four inch tin tube in the middle of each vat. The cream rose to the top of the vat and the remaining "blue milk" was drawn off the bottom, through a faucet, into the lower level of the building and into the cheese vats. The cream was held until there was enough to fill a 300 gallon butter churn. Then the churn was loaded and a batch of butter was made using a steam engine to drive the churn. Each batch of butter was placed into " refrigerators" which were simply boxes cooled by the spring water. The two cheese vats in the building each held 5,000 pounds. Here the curd was made which was later put into one of thirteen presses for forming the cheeses. Apparently Wallace Burton was a skillful cheesemaker, as newspaper articles of the time often boasted of the variety and quality of cheese that came from Burton's. continued next page 73

Cary's cheese factory was a bustling business for such a small community. Local accounts from the period indicate the plant took in from 7,000 to 9,000 pounds of milk each day. Those same accounts indicate that the plant thrived, putting out up to 200 pounds of butter each day. Cheese and butter making, even though it appeared to be very successful at the time, did not last long in Cary. The plant was sold to Henry Garben in 1893, the same year Cary incorporated. Garben also recognized the value of the spring on the property and went on to operate the Minerva Mineral Spring Water business from the same building. Today, the building still stands but has been converted to an apartment. ❖ BEFORE - 1928 FREEMAN GARAGE 19-25 Spring Street Dan Brakke AFTER- 1950 Oscar Nordby Home • Freeman's Garage & House 1950 ( Nordby's demolished - now parking lot for apartments and off ices. ) Freeman garage & house in back of front facing. 74 WHAT'S BEHIND THE FRONT The before is still behind the after. The Freeman Garage and Freeman house is behind the front installed in 1950. In 1843 this property was part of the William Cary original plat. After the death of William Cary in 1861, Guy S. Frary purchased the land from Cary's estate. A daughter and heir, Lettie Frary Burton owned the land in 1892. Record of an invoice in 1883, shows Letties's husband, Frank Burton, operated a blacksmith shop at this location. On record is a bill of 1911, which shows William Gruenwald owned the livery barn and operated it until July 1916, when he sold it to Foy L. Mentch. In 1920, Mentch sold the livery barn and house to Maurice E. Freeman. It became a taxi business and auto repair business. Stanley Freeman went into the business with his father Maurice, and in 1928 rebuilt the building, making it into a two-story brick with an elevator, the only one in town. After WWII and the death of Maurice E. Freeman, the garage building and home was made into apartments and offices and the new front was added. ❖ Elizabeth H Freeman

MINERVA MINERAL SPRINGS In 1893, after the Burton Cheese and Butter factory at 53-55 Cary Street closed, Henry Garben of Chicago purchased the property. Recognizing the good spring water he started a bottled water business naming it Minerva Mineral Springs. Somewhere along the line the word 'Mineral' was dropped. The spring water was bottled into 5 gallon glass bottles and hauled on a two-horse drawn wagon, to a freight car sidetracked near the depot. The water was taken by train to Chicago once a week. An interesting fact the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency Land Pollution Control Division) might be interested in, was back in 1895, Henry Garben appeared before the Village Board asking the Board to see that his next door neighbor Mr. Dunn did not locate his outhouse so as to injure his water supply. Henry Garben continued to operate Minerva Springs until his death in 1917. After his death the family sold the business to a Chicago company who hired managers to take over the management of the business. In 1921, the company folded. Mr. Anton Till Sr. took over the business. Mr. Kintline was his helper. In 1929, Till sold the business to a soft drink company that made "O Boy" soda pop. One freight car of bottled soda was shipped to Chicago weekly. On June 25, 1929, the State of Illinois established a State Sanitary Water Board to control, prevent and abate pollution of the streams, lakes, ponds and other surface and underground waters. A short time after, the business was closed down. Even then and until about 1950, some of the Cary people continued to go to the spring and fill their jugs with spring water. Before the business closed down Anton Till Sr. delivered daily, by horse and wagon, each day a different town, the bottled spring water and the "O Boy" soda. Tony Till Jr. remembers when he was about 8 years old, riding with his Dad to the different towns. After Till sold the business, he took a job working for the Arlington Heights, Illinois, Blatz Beer distributor. After a year or two Till opened his own distributorship in Cary. He retired in 1944. Henry Garben had a daughter Louise. Louise married George Dasch, and in 1935 Louise and George moved back to Cary into the same house that used to be Minerva Springs, started in 1893 by her father. They had two daughters. In 1898, George Dasch became a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He founded a group called "Little Symphony of Chicago". George taught violin and chamber music at the same time working with the Northwestern University orchestra. Dasch also conducted the Chicago Businessmen's Orchestra starting in 1934. He died in 1955. Water still flows from the spring at 53-55 Cary Street but cannot be used commercially. The building is now known as the Derer Apartments. ❖ Elizaheth H Freeman FRANKE'S LUMBER 75

76 L.. - SOMETHING FISHY IN CARY? Imagine teeing up your golf ball on the first hole of the Chalet Golf Course, and suddenly the clock turns itself back about eighty years. You would find yourself standing on the property of Mr. Charles S. McNett, one of Cary's early residents and the developer of a very unusual business. Mr. McNett's farm was located north of town on Rawson Bridge Road, encompassing some 950 acres of land west of the Fox River. The geological makings of this property, along with the abundance of water supply, would prove to be ideal for the business venture about to take place. In 1911 Charles Mc ett sought a way to provide electrical power to his farm for the purpose of lighting his buildings. Using timbers and rocks, he constructed a dam to contain the water, and provide sufficient flow to operate a dynamo (generator). This was a successful undertaking, however, for reasons unknown, the dam was closed one year later. The closing of the dam resulted in the creation of a large pond in which black bass were stocked. In 1921 business on the McNett farm was about to expand. Mr. Joseph Mertz, manager of the Oriental Goldfish Hatchery, entered into a partnership with Charles McNett. The company had many hatcheries located in the east, and envisioned making this property one of the largest hatcheries in the country. There were over 100 acres of suitable land ingredients, and spring water, to provide the perfect hatchery environment. As the business evolved, there was also a need for more help. Alfred Schuldt and Ed Anderson accepted positions with the hatchery. With their assistance, and that of Harold Mc ett ( Charles' son), the construction of the fish pools progressed on schedule. Upon completion, the hatchery not only provided a vast amount of fish, but il attracted many visitors and curiosity seekers. Visitors came to tour the facility, and although the fish were only sold on a wholesale basis, people were allowed to select fish from the stock - if they desired to do so. The hatchery consisted of five large ponds with the capacity to produce 2,500,000 fish annually. The finest specimens of fancy goldfish were shipped here from Maryland, and placed in the breeding pond. During the day, willow branches covered with a special moss, were set in place around the banks of the pond. It was on these special branches that the goldfish would deposit their eggs. After the eggs were deposited, the branches were then removed from the breeding pond, and transferred to the hatching pond. Within four days, the eggs were hatched. It would take another three to four months before the fish were ready for market. When that time came, the ponds were drained to provide easy harvest of the fish, in preparation for market. A single fish pond could yield as many as 80,000 fish in one harve t. The unique factor of the hatchery operation, was the role played by mother nature in the brilliant color process of the fish. When hatched, the fish were a brownish / black color, similar to that of a tadpole. To complete the co lor transformation into magnificently colored, showy goldfish, it was necessary for the hatchery to be located in an area containing a specific type of clay. During the hatching stage, the fish were coated with the clay found at the bottom of the pond. The action of sunlight reflecting on the claycovered fish, transformed them into a brilliant reddish/ gold color. With the existence of thi special clay, anci the abundance of spring water, the Mc ett farm was the ideal location for such an operation. J

Perhaps there is a goldfish in one of the ponds along Rawson Bridge Road with a very long family tree! If he could talk, he would surely tell some stories. As far as the color process goes, we do not have any information to dispute the way the goldfish were colored, nor do we have scientific proof to deny it. Just another fish story? We don't know. ❖-------------❖ Chicken Coop 323 Park Ave. 323 Park Ave. used to be the home of Jule and Ann lazansky. In the back yard stands this old chicken coop built by Mr. Vokac (father of Blanche Vokac Wenzel) over 100 years ago. 17ze house must be that old also. It is in excellent condition, made of large stones, cement, windows and plastered inside. Now used as a tool shed, the only repairs being a new roof There is a creek running in the back of this house, and from the creek· west to Route 14, was the Pichen house. Years ago, the Indians camped all around this area, they would sleep upstairs in the Pie/ten barn and keep their lwrses downstairs. Built 1893 by Jos. Krupicka Karen Gitzke Parri,sh Edwin & Nathaniel Kems General tore, L. i\,!eilbek General Store, Kerns & mith r ~neral tore 77

1' 78 L THREE OAKS INDUSTRIAL PARK January 1990, a group of five local area business men purchased 24 acres of land on West Three Oaks Road in the Village of Cary, Illinois. The land was purchased from Adolph Raymond of Des Plaines, Illinois ( an investor in land) who owned the parcel of land since 1950. On a county plat it shows a C. C. Cox, a Civil War veteran owning 800 acres of land in 1872. The five business men planned, zoned, annexed and financed the Three Oaks Industrial Park. When the Village of Cary approved all the above, the business men brought in the Cornerstone Development Group of Crystal Lake, Illinois to help market the property. On the 24 acres, the plans are to have 16 industrial sites, the first being a Toyko-based electronics corporation, Miyakawa America Corporation, who built on two of the 16 sites. Miyakawa moved their business to Cary from McHenry, Illinois. Miyakawa manufactures fluorescent lamps, lamp materials and fixtures, semi-conductors and related components and other lighting related products, with five full time employees and several part time employees. The plant was scheduled for production in 1991. This industrial site is one more asset to be added to the Village of Cary. ❖ Elizabeth H .Freeman CARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS 1894 3/7/ 1894: F. M. Abbott applied for pool and billiard table. Carried. $20.00 per table per year. 4/ 5/ 1894: Tomiskey asked to put in sidewalk on Church St. 4/ 30/ 1894: License granted to Mr. Neeley for wrestling match. Cost $5.00. 5/ 1/ 1894: A. W. Peacock paid $12.33 for lighting lamps for 1 month. 5/ 2/ 1894: Mr. A. Mink appointed Village Marshall, Street Commissioner and Lamp Lighter. $35.00 per month. 5/ 16/1894: D. M. Brown reimbursed $4.80 for supplies. 5/ 19/ 1894: Sidewalk Committee was asked to find out what the Railroad Co. will do in regard to crosswalk from Depot platform across to Abbott hop. Moved that the Street Commissioner-Lamp Lighter and Marshall, be removed from office and that if he positively refuses to remove Tomiskey's fence that he be asked to resign. Carried. ❖

BUSINESS 1911 Crystal St. - Rte. 14 Rasmussen - Blacksmith Kiltz - Wagon Maker upstairs Newbold - Livery Stable Jiroy - Groceries Abbott - Pool Hall Jensen - Hotel Abbott - Barber 79

BLACKSMITHS-WAGON MAKERS Years ago it seemed that the blacksmiths and wagon makers worked close together. Abijah Conger Abbott came to Cary in 1856. He carried on a blacksmith and wagon making business for 4 years at what is now 22 Spring Street. In 1880, Hod Burton at this same location operated a wagon and carriage shop, selling M. B. Weaver a new carriage. In 1876, A. Hamilton operated the blacksmith & carriage shop at 22 Spring Street. The Crystal Lake Herald shows that in ovember 1912 A. J. Kamholz had a blacksmith shop in back of Tony Jensen's Hotel at 44 Crystal Street. In Jan.1913, Fred Vogel bought Kamholz out. Nels B. Nelson took possession of the same blacksmith shop. He was a first class blacksmith, horseshoer and woodworker. Dan Warner operated a blacksmith shop at 56 Crystal Street, this shop later taken over by Peter F. Rasmussen. In ovember 1916, Nels B. elson closed his blacksmith shop and accepted a position with Rasmussen. Rasmussen had the blacksmith shop on the first floor and Charles Kiltz had a wagon shop upstairs on the second floor. On the south side of the building was a ramp for the wagons to go up and down to the second floor, about 15-20 feet of space. (This is the property the ewbold Livery purchased when they enlarged their building.) Charles Kiltz came lo Cary in 1882 and was a wagon maker with a shop above Rasmussen until his death in 1915. ( Charles Kiltz was the grandfather of Beverly Kiltz Dianis who still resides in Cary.) After the blacksmiths and wagon makers went out of business, Rasmussen remodeled his building at 56 Crystal treet, and Matilda Bloner tinek (John) started one of the first restaurants in town. Rasmussens also owned the lot at 60 Crystal Street and had a small gas station there, now the location of CaryGrove Imports Repair. Vernon Stewart purchased the gas station and re taurant building, making it into a larger station and auto repair shop. Later the restaurant became a tavern, both pieces of property being rented to Ben Bick and Tom Ventriss. Fred Kling purchased the garage business in 1939 from tewart and operated it until 1949 when he went to work for the late of Illinois. Oh Yes; the changes in Cary have been many. From dirt road , horse and carriage, to a 5 lane highway. The old timers do shake their heads at such progress. (Violet Rasmussen Kling; June Rasmussen Harmon and France Ra mussen Leesley are daughters of Peter and Lena Rasmussen. Violet Kling re ide in Cary.) ❖ Elizabeth H. Freeman 80 CENTRAL STATES MICROFILMING - 1980

1900 D. WARNER- BLACKSMITH 56 Crystal St. ome of the boys boxed in the upstairs ''gym". Later Peter Rasmussen ran the blacksmith shop. Kilt:: had a wagon making business upstairs. 1930 VERNON STEWART'S GARAGE 60 Crystal Street. Jerry Jelinek, Jerry Kotlaba. Now Cary-Grove Automotive. 1922 High chool Bus - Cary to Crystal Lake High School. Fred Kling, driver. 81

82 SALOONS AND GIN MILLS Cary's history would be incomplete without mentioning saloons. These establishments were here from the time this community first formed, until the present date. Each and every day when a farmer brought his milk into town, a stop at one of the local saloons for a bucket of beer and some chew, was probably part of his daily schedule. The many workers employed by our busy gravel pits certainly needed a place to quench their thirst. And what form of entertainment was better for the jockeys from Hertz/ Leona Farms than playing a bit of pool? Local news was exchanged within. It was the best means available for being well informed. Proprietors were happy to exchange their wares for milk, chickens, eggs or anything else they would need to support their families. Trading goods was a way of life. A typical saloon had large plate glass windows across the front of the building, with cafe curtains pulled tight so no one could peek in. Spittoons were strategically placed inside for the clientele. A clause in Cary's saloon ordinance in 1893 forbade chairs or tables in any saloon, limiting one to standing or carry out goods. Full wooden barrels of beer were taken down into the cellar through a trap door usually found in the back room. There were copper tubes from the barrels going upstairs forming coils in a "coil box" filled with ice. The chilled beer was then drawn out of the taps using CO2• the same principle we employ today. Needless to say, the first few buckets of beer drawn were the coldest. The ice man dropped off ice daily. Buckets of beer were a nickel. Old Under Roof or Old Fitzgerald, the best whiskey, was ten or fifteen cents. Dram shops were closed on the Sabbath Day and open nightly until 10:30 with an extension until 11:30 on Saturday night. Route 14 Weavers Hardware Store • Later Serres Hardware, now Cardella's Wet versus dry issues in the area began to heat up in 1914. A vote scheduled on this Local Option Question promised to be a lively scrap in each town. There was a great deal of concern as to the outcome because of the new women's sufferage act of 1913, allowing women to play an active part in an election. The people of Cary voted to remain wet, although other towns nearby went dry. Our five saloons wasted no time making applications to the village board to keep their dram shop licenses. There was Hubka's,

b 1910 Hrdlicka & Hubka Tavern, now The Tracks 108 W Main. Built by Jos. Krupicka Gravel Gerties Location of First Security Bank 45 Northwest Highway About 1915 Louis Jelinek Buffet on side of drug store, 9 Jandus Road. Purchased in 1923 by Oscar Nordby family. For about 1 year, an A & P tore rented ii, but due to farmers getting paid once a month, cash buying did not do too well in Cary Station. Mr. Glass later rented it for his 'Pixie' Shop, ice cream and sandwiches. At times, other organizations used it. Nordby used it mostly for his work shop. continued next page 83

84 Jankovsky's, Jensen's, Jelinek's and Wascher's. Their victory was short lived due to the fact that the XVIII Amendment to the constitution was ratified January 16, 1919 and prohibition began one year later. New problems arose in Cary as illegal production and consumption of liquor increased. There were three large stills operating. One near the Zogas farm reported to have a tunnel, one near Nellie Thompsons at Rawsons Bridge that exploded, and one at Joe Lyons in Hickory Grove that was raided. Many people were making home brew from the finest bohemian hops and others were producing kegs of wine. Dry agents raided Riverside Palace and Sam's Place, both at Burtons Bridge, to find beer and booze. Charges were brought against others for operating slot machines. Several were indicted in the McHenry County liquor scandal after State's Attorney Alford H. Pouse left the county. He was charged wth the protection of widespread liquor and gambling traffic. State's Attorney V. S. Lumley was appointed to complete Pouse's term. Collusion between enforcement officers and law violators was said to be rampant in the county. An injunction was brought against Wascher's for alleged liquor and slot machine laws. The crack down began. The only things legal were soft drink parlors and pool halls. To the relief of many, the prohibition amendment was repealed by the XXI Amendment, December 5, 1933. Beer was legalized as a means of providing revenue and employment after the low point of the recession in 1932. Slots were still a problem. In 1934 Cary Village President Kraus received notice from the State's Attorneys office that all taverns had been notified to remove slot machines as they were against the state liquor law. The village marshall was instructed to follow up on this, and to confiscate any slot machines he found. Our little town started to prosper once again. The ski jump brought crowds in the winter, while the motorcycle hill climbs brought them in May. One of the first "bottled" beers to become available were Goebel shorties. The beer distributors ran their businesses out of their homes. Tony Till at llO Cary Street had the Blatz distributorship. It was said he could bounce a "full" barrel of beer off of his stomach like it was nothing. Later Joseph Pokorney on East Main Street, brought Old Style into the village and eventually sold his business to Art Sartin. Soda was purchased from the Cary Pop Factory and the Arlington Club Beverage Company. Rootbeer, orange and strawberry were favorites. The first citizen to make application to the newly formed village of Cary in 1893, and granted a saloon license, was William Wascher. Mr. Wascher came from Germany to the United States in 1871 as a young man. He had Joseph Krupicka build his saloon/ boarding house in 1893. This building still stands at 12 Spring Street ( formerly Depot Street). There was a tavern in the front and a restaurant in the rear of the building. The two upper floors were rented out to gravel pit workers and railroad employees. Around 1908 Waschers also went into the ice business. They had an ice house on Cary Street. William Wascher decided to spend more time tending his farm in the Dakotas and retired. His son Bill Wascher Jr. and wife Dagmar, known as "Daisy" took over the business. The Waschers also had a mill and coal business. In 1917 the mill and machinery burned but the coal was saved. In 1922, a new 36 x 60 foot ice house was built on the west banks of the Fox River. It was expected to supply Cary and Fox River Grove. These business ventures kept the family occupied through prohibition. As soon as prohibition ended, Wascher's Tavern sold liquor again.

In September 1934 a black powder bomb exploded in the tavern. All the windows were shattered and some exterior damage was done. Several other windows were broken in nearby buildings. Cary residents at the time suspected it had to do with being a "bookie joint". Bill Wascher Jr.died in 1938 and his daughter Lois took over the business, along with her husband Harry Nowicki. They operated Nowicki's Tavern until 1952 when it was purchased by Milt and Myrt Neeley. It then became known as "The Pub". After Mr. Neeley died, Myrt ran The Pub with her brother Chuck Matthews for seventeen years. In 1960 a new building was built to accommodate the tavern and the business relocated to 208 West Main Street. When it sold to Walter Grove in 1965, it was known as "Walt's Pub" for three years. It was then purchased by Fran and Virgine Pokorney who presently operate the business along with a catering service. It is now known as the "Cary Pub". Today the 12 Spring Street address houses Revere CTD Real Estate. Past businesses at this location consisted of the River Valley Clarion newspaper office, The Cary Bootery, and Ellinger Sales Corporation. Another applicant for a saloon license in 1893 was Charles F. Lederle. His saloon and grocery bond was approved, but little else is known about him. The first pool/billiard hall in Cary was "Abbott's" at 40 Crystal Street. Fred M. Abbott received a license to operate the business in 1894. The building was constructed in the late 1800's. Evidently the location didn't suit his needs because around 1900 Mr. Abbott relocated to 105 West Main Street. He had two pool tables and one billiard table in his new facility. It was heated by a big pot-bellied stove. The apartment over the pool hall had the name of its builder "Krupicka" on each board on the kitchen floor. Edwin Kerns was the landlord. at Kerns rented the flat above the pool hall in the early 1900's. His sons, Speed and Francis, were born there. During prohibition, Abbott's pool hall received the only license issued by the village board, as there was no liquor served. In dire need of a vacation, Fred Abbott sold his business to Frank and Mary (Bejcek) Petrik in 1925. It operated as "Petrik's" until 1927 when Frank became ill with tuberculosis and died, leaving Mary with ten-year-old son Edward ("Pete"), and a business to run. Mary Petrik met Edward C. Gitzke, a customer from Chicago who would visit Cary when he came to the Red Oaks bachelors' club in Cold Springs subdivision. Mr. Gitzke drove the first Standard Oil Company fuel delivery truck in the city of Chicago. Three months later, he gave up his driving position with Standard Oil, and married Mary Petrik. The pool hall became known as "Gitzke's". There was a soda fountain in the front where penny candy was also for sale. The pool tables were behind a drawn curtain in the back room. Also available was a drop-off laundry for the River Valley Cleaners in Algonquin. When prohibition ended, Gitzkes immediately applied for a liquor license. There was better profit potential in beer and liquor. It then became a tavern/ pool hall. They no longer had ice cream or penny candy. Eventually the pool tables gave way to five or six slot machines. It was not uncommon to have to wait in line to play a machine. The slots paid all overhead and other monies generated were free and clear. Mary Gitzke was a good business woman. In planning for sons Pete and Robert to take over the business, Mary decided that they needed to buy a larger building. This pool hall closed in 1942 when they purchased the Allen building at 108 West Main Street. Later businesses at 105 West Main were Ann Boehmer's Restaurant, then Clara continued next page 85

86 Lenz's, the Cary Restaurant, the Pizza Peddler, and today the Pizza Junction. At 40 Crystal Street was Suburban Electric and now Grove Products. Another pool/billiard hall was operated by T. F. Leonard in 1894 and 1895. The location is not known. Joseph Krupicka began hauling stone and making preparations to build a three-story building on the corner of his property at Spring Street and West Main ( 101 West Main) in 1894. The building was constructed for his son-in-law Charles Lazanski. It was a saloon through 1898. There was a dance parlor upstairs. Krupicka sold the property to Edwin Kerns in 1904 where he had a general store for many years. Currently it houses Team Colors, with the Cary Station book store occupying the south part of the building on Spring Street. Application for a dram shop license in 1896 and 1897 was made and granted to Al Bogart. This saloon along with Lederle's saloon and grocery, and Leonard's pool hall, are of unknown locations. It's possible one or all of them could have been at the same location. Another saloon, Tony's Sample Room or "Jensen's", appeared at 44 Crystal Street (formerly Railroad Street) in 1900. It was owned and operated by Anton Jensen. This building was also constructed during the late 1800's. It was originally three floors. The third floor has since been removed. Bessie Kotal ran the boarding hotel in the tavern building. Tony received help tending bar from his brother Louis. In 1913 Tony's son Harry took over the business for three years while Tony ran the pool/billiard tables. When Harry went to Chicago to be a machinist in 1917, Tony found himself running the tavern again. The last liquor license purchased by the Jensens was in 1919, then prohibition struck. A soft drink parlor was operated by Louis Geary in the Jensen building in 1924. During a liquor raid, when two bottles of "Sandy McDonald" whiskey were found on the back stairway, the business was closed down for a year. Jensens didn't operate as a saloon again after prohibition. After WWII the American Legion hall was located here. There was also a clothing store operated by Tony Forrest. Today it is Walsh's Upholstery and Carpet. Cary Station was originally an 80 acre parcel of land purchased from the government by William D. Cary in 1843. When the village was platted in 1859, its location was to the west of the Chicago, St. Paul and Fon du Lac Railroad. Thomas C. Allen purchased lot one, block one ( 108 West Main Street) of the original plat in 1897. The structure built there in the late 1800's was worked on by carpenter Joseph Krupicka. A saloon opened in the Allen building in the early 1900's. It was called "Hrdlickas and Hubkas". Frank Hrdlicka was a shoe maker in Chicago. His wife Mary {Hubka) Hrdlicka was Cary's postmistress from 1913 to 1932. Mary's brothers Emil {Louise) and Ed (Helene) Hubka would bartend the tavern. When Frank died in 1910, the business became known as the "Hubka Brothers". Large plate glass windows were put in the building's front in 1912. Charles T. and Vera Allen became the landlords after his father, T. C. Allen, died in 1913. It continued to operate as a bar until prohibition. Emil Hubka died in 1924 and Ed Hubka died in 1932. In 1924 C. T. Allen, Attorney and Mayor R. B. Powers, moved their real estate office into this building. They occupied the entire lower floor and remodeled to suit their needs. After Allen and Powers vacated the

building, a number of different businesses were in it. One being a hairdresser's shop which was run by Daisy Griffin, daughter of Emma Lando Griffin. After sitting empty for a number of years, Allens sold the building to Ed and Mary Gitzke in 1942 for $10,000. The Gitzkes relocated from their pool hall to open a tavern in this building. It was here that Cary's first television would be seen. They opened at 5:00 every morning to get the Chicago newspapers left at the depot by the 5:22 train. The drug store did not carry the morning papers. Sunday papers brought in a lot of customers. Food was always set out on Friday nights. Sometimes there were fish fries, fish caught from the river or Silver Lake. When Mary died in 1957, Ed continued to operate the tavern with his son Pete and Pete's wife Jane. Pete passed away in 1962. After Ed died in 1967, the building was put up for sale by Robert and Norma (Narowetz) Gitzke. Larry and Betty Hoban bought the tavern in 1970 for $35,000 and it became known as "The Tracks". Owners during the next ten years were Jim and Jane Vavra, and John Babut. Its present owners, Leo and Sharon Florio bought the building in 1981. It continues to operate as The Tracks tavern. Instead of a "shot and a beer" type bar, it is popular with the local youth of Cary. Its interesting to note that what began as a saloon in the early 1900's is still successful as a tavern. Joseph and Christine Jankovsky had a dram shop at 14 Spring Street ( formerly Depot Street) in approximately 1906. This was previously the site of Miner B. Weaver's meat market. Elizabeth Wallace was the landlord of the building until 1910 when Arthur and Effie Rathbun purchased the property. The business was referred to as The White Front or "Jankovsky's". It can be identified in early Cary photos by the Cary Buffet written across the building front. Charles Masek was a bartender here for three years. After borrowing a gun from Grebe's Hardware Store ( 18 Spring Street), he was found dead in his room at the Freeman Hotel the next morning. It was presumed he committed suicide. The Jankovskys had two children, Vivian and Elmer. Joe operated the saloon until his death in 1917 at 34 years of age. He had been a prominent Cary businessman for eleven years. He was known for his unswerving honesty and pleasant disposition. His wife Christine and his brother Robert continued to run the business for another year. The building which stood between Petriak's Antiques and Revere, CTD was torn down many years ago. At 9 Jandus Road was Louis and Marie (Kotal) "Jelinek's". This was located between the old post office and the drug store. They had seven children. Louis opened the doors to his establishment about 1904. It was a saloon and buffet. Mr. Jelinek had a strong interest in matters pertaining to the progressiveness of the town. Electric lights were installed in the building in 1911. He operated the business until 1918. The ownership transferred to his wife when he died in 1920. Marie Jelinek sold to Oscar Nordby in 1924. He converted the business to a paint and wallpaper store. It is still referred to by some as the Nordby building. Other businesses here were an A & P store, the Young Democratic Club of McHenry County, the Cary Launderette and the Pixie Soda Shop. The Ventriss Tavern was at 56 Crystal Street. It was opened by Tom Ventriss in 1936. He married Harriet Trebing. Tom was partners with Ben Bick in the tavern and also a partner in Bick's Garage at 60 Crystal Street. The building is currently Cary-Grove Automotive. continued next page 87

88 Originally at 100 Crystal Street ( then Railroad Street) was H. M. Burton's Hardware. From 1903 until 1925 it would be known as Miner B. Weaver's Hardware. From 1925 until 1962, William and Hannah Serre's Hardware. Later a hobby shop was in this building. Today it is the site of "Cardella's". Cardella's actually began at 56 Crystal Street in 1973 when Charles Cardella bought it from George Wyman for his step son. It was called Smitty's Tap ( also the location of the Ventriss Tavern). In 1974 he sold it to his father, Joseph, and brother Fred Cardella. It was a small tavern serving Italian sausage, chili and hamburgers. They purchased 100 Crystal Street in 1975 from Stewarts. The move gave them more room. Currently the tavern has dining space and is a popular breakfast spot. One of Cary's East Main Street bars was "Ma ielson's" located at the southwest corner of County Line and East Main. Originally in 1921, Henry and Annie Opal Schugart had a grocery and ice cream store here. There was a large closed-in porch with ice cream parlor tables and chairs. Mary ielson, "Ma" as everyone called her, opened a bar here in the late 1940's. Cary's LaMac Sportsmen's Club, chartered in 1951, originally held their meetings here. This bar was also known as "Cozy Corners" and "Ma and Pa Kettles". The property remained vacant when the building was destroyed by fire. Built 1893 Wascher's Tai•ern and Boarding House The tavern at 203 East Main, began as an ice cream store owned by a Mr. Prince. After WWII, Carl and Hilda Larson started" ki View" tavern and grocery ( appropriately named for its view of the ski jump in Fox River Grove). It was a considerably smaller building until an addition was added on to the west end. Rumor has it that there used to be break down gambling tables. There was a look-out posted at Main treet and Highway 14, that sent word ahead when the law was coming, and the gambling tables would be disassembled and taken across County Line Road into Lake County. When Ed and Lill Wojnarski purcha ed the property in 1957, it became "Lill's ki View". They lived behind the tavern. After Wojnarskis pa ed

away, their daughter and son-in-law, Loretta and Leo Mazur, took over the business. It is currently "Hal's Place", purchased by Hal and Lynette Larson in 1980. River Bend at 6614 S. Rawson Bridge Road was a small tavern first owned by Irv Moe in 1943. When Art Giovanoni purchased the property in 1946, Cary was introduced to pizza. It changed hands again when Marv and Dorothy (Buresh) Crump bought it in 1954. They continued offering pizza and as their dinner business picked up, it was necessary to add on to the dining room. They were very successful in running a fine dining establishment here for seventeen years. After being closed for four years, Tom Decker purchased it in 1979 and reopened it as a bar/restaurant. River Bend is currently owned by Charlie and Merrily Ray who have had it for the last eleven years. It is celebrating its fiftieth birthday. Spring Beach Tap at 189 S. Northwest Highway was built around 1950. It was originally known as "Sally's". Rolla Graham leased it out from 1974 to 1984 when it was called "The Super Bowl". Its present owner, Pat Hughes purchased the business in 1984. Maple Tree Inn began at 130 Crystal Street. In 1914 this was the home of Cary's blacksmith, Peter Rasmussen. Lorraine McDillon operated the Suburban Beauty Salon here in the early 1960's. Ernie Downs and Dick McKinney formed a partnership and opened Maple Tree tavern in 1976. Terry Neeley and Roman Vartack also had the business for a short time, as did the owner of the building, Wally Topalovich. Its present owners are Bill and Shirley Golden who have operated the tavern since 1985. In 1991 they relocated to 101 orth First Street. A favorite past time here is the electronic dart games. John's #4 at 645 Industrial Drive was originally opened by John Babut in 1983. The present owner, Tim Corcoran, has had it since 1990 when he and partner Doug Drover purchased "John's Gar and Brill" as it is called today. It operates as a bar/ restaurant. Volleyball tournaments are enjoyed here during the summer months. The interaction of people was a contributing aspect in the growth of Cary. The taverns provided a vehicle in which to do this. With radio and television virtually unaccessible, news in general was received in a limited fashion. ewspapers were a vital source of information and not everyone received them. Although most of us look at taverns as a place that sells alcoholic spirits, they were much more. They provided the atmosphere for social contact. An opportunity to chat with your neighbor or talk to the businessmen and establish yourself as a resident. To pick up on the latest town gossip or hear news unknown. Catch up on the crop reports or baseball scores. Or perhaps simply a place to express your discontent or provoke a smile. They were a substantial contributor to the growth of this town, and a social anchor in the rough times in the early days. ❖ Karen Gitzke Parrish MAPLE TREE INN - 1985 89

90 FRANKE LUMBER CO. - about 1958 Center section of picture was the buildings of A rps and Wulff 1902. Large building top right is Franke Lumber Co. H. R. STEWART, INC. - 1930

THE HISTORY OF C. FRANKE AND COMPANY, INC. Christian Franke purchased the property along Route 14 and adjacent to the railroad tracks across from the Cary Station depot from Alfred O. Hack { successor to Arps and Wulff) in March of 1912, ( according to the March 21, 1912 Crystal Lake Herald). He dealt originally in flour, feed, coal, coke, seeds and salt. The same issue of the Crystal Lake Herald reported that "Arthur Franke went to Cary last week to take charge of the grain elevator which his father, Chris Franke recently purchased." Clarence W. Franke, Arthur's younger brother, also went into the business with his father at the grain elevator located along the railroad tracks in Algonquin. The same building is now occupied by Wynwood Builders. The earliest known telephone number was 41-J. The business consisted mainly of grinding corn, oats and wheat for the farmers in and around Cary. The grains were brought in via horse and wagon to a platform where they were dumped into a chute to the basement, then moved to an elevator to the first floor where it was ground, sacked, and then carried out to the wagons. Art acquired the name "Dusty Morgan" in this process due to being covered with feed dust; it is not sure where the "Morgan" part came from, though. 1902 ARP. & WULFF FEED AND GRAIN BUSINESS Between depot & Route 14. Now parking lot for commuters. Owned by A. 0. Hack in 1916 and sold to Christ Franke. To the north of the feed mill was a small livestock holding area used to ship cattle to Chicago via the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. This area was abandoned and torn down in the early 1920's, and a coal elevator was built to receive coal unloaded from railroad cars. The coal was shoveled into a chute from the car and then elevated up to the top of the building by a series of buckets. It was then dumped into another chute and directed to one of three different bins from where it could be loaded into a horse-drawn wagon. It was then delivered. The Borden Condensed Milk Company purchased the property at the corner of what is now Borden Avenue and Route 14 from George Lowe Jr., April 15, 1903. On eptember 11, 1919 the Bowman Dairy began remodeling the milk plant purchased from Borden. After they closed the milk plant on December 1, continued next page 91

92 1924 C. Franke & Company purchased the property in order to expand into the roofing, millwork and lumber business. The milk factory also had a railroad siding which was useful to bring carloads of coal to the back of the property and thereby increase the variety of coals available for the customers. To the rear of the property was an ice house that was used to keep the milk cool for shipment to Chicago by rail. This building was used by C. Franke & Co. partly to store mill work. There was also the Edstrom Cable Co. ( which never really got going) and a place to keep two trucks used to haul coal. Part of the upstairs was made into a basketball playing area. The former Borden building burned down on Saturday afternoon, May 5, 1934 causing $15,000 damage. (The two old boilers from the milk factory were discovered buried in 1968 and again in 1984 while doing remodeling work.) Later the same year, a new lumber shed was built covering the area of the buildings that were burned. During World War II, the ice house was torn down and the lumber sold because the business could not buy lumber at that time. On Sunday evening November 3, 1957 the lumber shed burned down again in a $50,000 blaze. Two large trucks and $40,000 worth of fine-dressed lumber were lost. It was rebuilt once more with the current block building. Another fire on March 20, 1963 destroyed the coal elevator attached to the main office along the railroad tracks. Fortunately, a very thick wooden firewall stopped the flames and prevented the further spread of the fire to the remaining structures. Art Franke died playing golf on Labor Day, September 7, 1964. Norman Franke, Art's second son and current owner, opened a new office and showroom on the north side of the lumber shed in 1968, and moved the entire operation to one side of the street ( except for the shed directly across the highway). With the coal business being obsolete, four pole-type sheds were gradually built to the rear of the property to store materials for an expanded lumber business. After his father retired from the business in 1978, Norman Franke, Jr. took over operations. In 1984-85 he remodeled the block lumber shed, office and showroom to its present appearance with a larger hardware store and moulding and door display area. On November 26, 1984 the railroad siding was disconnected at 8:00 a.m. The shed on the opposite side of the highway was removed to make room for the widening of Route 14 in 1988. 1992 marked the firm's 80th anniversary with anticipation of 100 years in business in the year 2012. ❖ Norman A. Franke Jr. 1902 ARP & WULFF