Nancy L. Baker

Nancy Baker, Greenwood Township

Nancy (Pihl) Baker is a lifelong resident of McHenry County. She was raised on her family’s farm west of Harvard.

After graduating from Carthage College with majors in geography and social science, she moved to Woodstock. She has lived there for 40 years.

Nancy worked as a planner for McHenry County and, later, for the city of Woodstock, tackling a wide range of projects. They included farmland preservation, historic preservation, zoning, long-range planning, transportation project programming and planning, and project design review.  Prior to retiring in 2018, she managed the stabilization and restoration of the Old Courthouse on the Woodstock Square.

Nancy enjoys local history research and stories from our past. The retelling of these stories about local people, places, and events in a way that is memorable and makes people want to know more is key. 

In addition to local history, Nancy trains and competes in dog agility and has picked up where she left off 40 years ago learning to play the guitar.

Nancy previously served several terms on the McHenry County Historical Society board of directors. She authored the book Images of "America - Woodstock Illinois," with all royalties donated to the historical society.