Local Histories

Local Histories

Local Histories have been written on the following communities and may be available in various public libraries. All are available in the McHenry County Historical Society research library.

 

Alden:

• Undated six page typed copy. Author unknown.
• Alden, My Home, by MargoVan Dan. 2010.

Algonquin:

• Algonquin. Algonquin Illustrated, 1894. Early promotional booklet on the advantages of Algonquin at that time. 36 pages.
• Pamphlet, “Algonquin the Beautiful.” A centennial history written in 1935. 40 pages. No ads.
• Booklet, “Once Upon a Town – Algonquin. Ill.: The First 100 Years” written by the Algonquin Historic Commission. Includes pictures and text. 40 pages.

Bull Valley:

• Copies of the “Bull’s Eye” newsletter sent to property owners. Contains local history. 1979 - 1980 monthly issues at McHenry County Historical Society Museum.
• Soft cover book, Ostend – An Early History of the Ostend and Bull Valley Area by Loren Thompson. Purchase from McHenry County Historical Society. $10.

Cary:

• Pamphlet, “Cary’s Diamond Jubilee, 1893-1968. Contains mostly captioned photos.
• Soft cover book, The Heritage of Cary, 1893 – 1976. 158 pages.
• Hard cover book, Cary Me Back, 1893 – 1993. 272 pages.
• * Hard cover book, The Loss of an Era by Shirley J. Beene and Elizabeth H. Freeman. 2002. This 197 page book documents Cary area barns and farmers. To purchase, call 847/639-3790 or 847/639-7457.
• * Soft cover book, Cary & Fox River Grove by Pamela J. Losey and Shirley J. Beene. Arcadia, 2010. From Arcadia $21.99.

Crystal Lake:

• Pamphlet, a 16 page promotional publication titled, Crystal lake, Ill. “A Good Place to Live,” 1927. Contains photos and information from 1927.
• Pamphlet, 19 pages. “History of Crystal lake, Ill.” Compiled by Louise S. Watson and printed in 1957 and reprinted in 1961. The information was taken mostly from the 1936 Centennial Edition of the Crystal Lake Herald. Few pictures.
• * Booklet, Sesquicentennial. “Crystal Lake, Ill. – A Pictorial History, 1836 - 1986.” 100 pages. Available from Crystal Lake Historic Preservation Commission. 815/459-2020. $15
• * Soft cover book. Crystal Lake by Diana Kenney. Arcadia, 2009. Postcard History series. Available from Crystal Lake Historic Preservation Commission. 815-459-2020. $22.

Fox River Grove:

• 1951 Hard cover book, A History of Fox River Grove, 1834 – 1950. Written by Anne Roop. 182 pages of text and photos. Published by the Community Methodist Church. Separate index.
• Booklet, “Grove Golden Days, 50th Anniversary Issue.” An update of previous book from 1951-1969. 28 pages. Updated by Anne Roop McIlrath.
• * Soft cover book, Cary & Fox River Grove by Pamela J. Losey and Shirley J. Beene. Arcadia, 2010. From Arcadia $21.99.

Greenwood:

• Booklet, “Memories of Pioneer Days in Greenwood” published by the Greenwood Methodist Church in 1940. 45 pages with text and photos. Separate index.
• * Hard cover book, The Greenwood Book by Libbie Aavang and Norine Mathey. 2004. 514 pages. Indexed. Many pictures and well documented from pre-pioneer times though WWII and beyond with a few subjects. Purchase from McHenry County Historical Society. $30.
• * Hard cover book, Old Homes Across our Prairie, The Greenwood Book, Vol. II by Libbie Aavang and Norine Mathey. 2009. 357 pages. Indexed. Many pictures document the early homes and homesteads in Greenwood Township. Purchase from McHenry County Historical Society. $35.

Harvard:

• Early promotional booklet titled “Harvard, 1912.” 54 pages with pictures from 1912 and information on business, school, religions and housing.
• Hard cover book, Harvard Area, 1829 - 1976 published by the Harvard Bicentennial Commission. 221 pages.
• * Soft cover book, Harvard 150 Years: 1856-2006. Published May 2006. For purchase contact the Harvard City Hall. 815/943-6468. $7.

Hebron:

• Booklet, “Hebron, 1836 - 1936,” a centennial booklet of 95 pages. Separate index. Some pictures.

Huntley:

• Hard cover book, Huntley Centennial, 1851-1951. 146 pages. Includes ads from 1951, biographies and photos.
• * Hard cover book, At Home in Huntley, 1851-2001. Published 2001. 156 pages. Consists of pictures, an introductory summary of Huntley history and biographical interviews. A few copies still available. Call Huntley library 815/669-5386 x228. $15.
• * Soft cover book, Huntley by Nancy Bacheller. Arcadia, 2009. Images of America series. From Arcadia $21.99.
• Hard cover book sponsored by VFW Post 2372 and Businessmen. Service Record Book of Men and Women of Huntley, IL and Community. Includes WWI and II service people photos and history. Also has ads and local history. No date.

Johnsburg:

• * Soft cover book, Johnsburg and Pistakee Bay by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2008. Contains mostly pictures with captions. From Arcadia $21.99.

Lakemoor:

• Typed booklet, “History of Village of Lakemoor, 1836-1976.” 49 pages, no pictures. This was a bicentennial project authored by Pacita (Pat) Morrison. Lakemoor is the only village in McHenry County to have incorporated, then dissolved only to reincorporate again.

Lakewood:

• Booklet, “Homes and History of the Village of Lakewood, 1933-1998” produced on the 65th anniversary of the village. Contains a good summary of the history of this mostly residential community with pictures and histories of many of the early homes.

Marengo:

• Booklet, “Ruminations, Reflections, Expectations, 1835 – 1985.” 120 page Sesquicentennial booklet contains biographical interviews and pictures.
• In 1994 and 1995 two soft cover volumes were produced documenting all the houses on major Marengo streets. The booklets were called “History of Marengo Homes.” Vol. I covered Washington and Prairie Streets. Vol. II covered East and West Grant Highway and parts of other streets. A thorough tracing of house and ownership history with pictures. Vol. 1 available from McHenry County Historical Society. $13.
• * Soft cover book, Marengo, The First 100 Years by the Marengo Society for Historic Preservation. Arcadia, 2007. Images of America series. Many photos. From Arcadia $19.99.

McCullom Lake:

• * Soft cover book, McHenry and McCullom Lake by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2007. Images of America series. Many captioned photos. From Arcadia $19.99.

McHenry:

• • Soft cover booklet titled “McHenry, A History of its Pioneers and Settlement.” Published in 1936 as a centennial project. 20 pages. No pictures.
• Soft cover Sesquicentennial booklet titled “McHenry – A Proud Past and a Progressive Future, 1836-1986.” 70 pages. Includes photos, interviews and chronological events.
• * Soft cover book, McHenry and McCullom Lake by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2007. Images of America series. Many captioned photos. From Arcadia $19.99.
• Soft cover book, McHenry: Then and Now by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2011. Images of America series.

Ostend:

• Soft cover book, Ostend, An Early History of the Ostend and Bull Valley Area. 143 pages. Remembered, researched and compiled by Loren Thompson between 1960 and 1986. Includes a copy of the 1862 plat map showing where Ostend and Bull Valley were located plus 1892 plat maps of Greenwood and McHenry Townships. Purchase from McHenry County Historical Society. $10.

Pistakee Bay:

• * Soft cover book, Johnsburg and Pistakee Bay by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2008. Images of America series. Many captioned photos. From Arcadia $19.99.

Richmond:

• A handwritten early history of Richmond that was a third grade school project of Helen Parsons in 1917. It contains a surprising number of historical details. 40 pages.
• * Soft cover book, Northeast McHenry County by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2009. From Arcadia $21.99.

Ridgefield:

• A 6 page handwritten history of early Ridgefield and the first school written in 1913-1914 by Sarah E. Lanphear.

Ringwood:

• A typed pamphlet, “Days Gone By.” 11 pages, no pictures, no author listed.
• * Soft cover book, Northeast McHenry County by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2009. Images of America series. From Arcadia. $21.99.

Spring Grove:

• Book, Village of Spring Grove: Centennial History, 1902-2002. 138 pages. Many pictures, thoroughly researched.
• * Soft cover book, Northeast McHenry County by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2009. Images of America series. From Arcadia $21.99.

Trout Valley:

• * Soft cover book, Trout valley, the Hertz Estate, and Curtiss Farm by Lisa Damian Kidder. Arcadia, 2008. Images of America series. This book contains mostly pictures with captions. From Arcadia $19.99.

Union:

• Paper covered mimeographed 13 page booklet, “History of Union” written by 8th grade Union students in 1942.

Wonder Lake:

• Collection of Wonder Lake “Party Line” Weekly publication (incomplete) Oct. 24, 1963 - May 14, 1964.
• * Soft cover book, Northeast McHenry County by Sandra Landen Machaj. Arcadia, 2009. Images of America series. From Arcadia $21.99.

Woodstock:

• Hardcover illustrated promotional booklet, “Early History, Social and Educational, Industrial and Business and Professional Interests.” 62 pages, 55 illustrations and early business ads from 1895.
• Soft cover booklet, “The Historic Woodstock Square. Sesquicentennial—An Illustrated History of the Woodstock Square.” 2004. 34 pages. Includes old photos and information on some surrounding businesses and events.
• Soft cover booklet, “A History of Woodstock, 1852-2002.” Sesquicentennial booklet, 56 pages edited by Jane Dahm and Joan Mansfield, published by the City of Woodstock. A Chronological format was used and information is listed by year. Pictures are included.
• * Soft cover book, Woodstock, a pictorial history by Nancy Baker. Arcadia, 2006. From Arcadia $21.99.
• * Pamphlet produced by the Woodstock Historic Preservation Commission in 2005. “Walking Tour of the Historic Woodstock Square” with detailed building histories, map and photos. Free. Contact City Hall. 815/338-4305. Also on web site.

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