Zoning For Our Historic Downtown Area

 

 

On Monday June 20th, at 7:00 p.m., The McHenry City Counsel will be discussing zoning for our historic downtown area which will include the fate of this beautiful home built in 1903 by Nicholas Bohr.

The MAHS will be there to share a brief presenation on the history of the home and it's builder. Please consider attending the City Counsel meeting.

Below is shared from the FB page of our 3rd Ward Alderman Frank McClatchey:

Tomorrow Night ,20th, we are going to talk about zoning in our down town area, 1508 Green St. wants to make it a 3 flat/couch house.

I would like your thoughts and if you can share this with others... we need to act, as many people we get there the better.

this is what I will propose:

To Mayor and Council:

We live in a great city, our down town Business District is growing, with many new things to come…. But, we are leaving behind the true Essence of McHenry, our residents that live a few blocks from Green St, Riverside Dr, Main St. and areas of Ward 6.

Our very historic down town residential Zoning is being taking advantage of… yes this has been going on for many years, but it is way past do, TO FIX IT. I have no problem with someone buying a home, and renting it, but the impacts of these multifamily rentals are making an impact on our whole city. Yes, we as a city looked the other way, and kicked the can down the road…. That road should end if we want to protect our historic down town residents. It is time to act, Instead of reacting to this takeover of our neighborhoods.

It is time to act as a governing body, we were all elected to make McHenry a better place to live, not to let loopholes fill the pockets of people looking to make money on multifamily rental properties.

For those that make money from selling multi rental property, or represent the seller… we need to work as one, and not let money decide what is best for McHenry… We are all ONE!

“I move that the requested use of 1508 N Green St. be denied on the basis that it is either illegal or a grandfathered use that was discontinued and that staff be directed to prepare a document for council to review and approve amortizing similar uses in the neighborhoods upon sale by the existing owner.” In other words, if it is not conforming now, we will let it go until property is sold, and then go back to single family RS4 as it was meant to be and passed by the McHenry city Council, and Zoning board and reflected in zoning maps.”

Link to Agenda item: Pages 120-150

https://cms8.revize.com/.../6-20-22%20Council%20packet.pdf

Please call me with any questions, Frank 815.385.1813

 

Program Speakers from June 11, 2022

On Saturday, June 11, the MAHA held a wonderful program at Veteran's Memorial park.  Our speakers included Lee Lexow representing the American Legion, Ronnie Reber who represented the VFW, Ron Bykowski representing the Polish American Legion and Ernie Stetz who represented the Polish Legion Of American Veterans.

They each spoke about their role in these organizations and gave us a history of the organizations they represented.  

It was a wonderful and insightful program.  Thank you to each and everyone of these gentlemen!!

From left to right:  

Ronnie Reber - VFW, Ron Bykowski - PAL, Ernie Stetz - PLAV and Lee Lexow - AL.

Photo courtesy of Pat Wirtz. 

A. H. Hanly & Sons - The McHenry Brick Mill

We at the McHenry Area Historical Society as well as the McHenry Landmark Commission, are pleased to announce that our little yellow brick mill, The A. H. Hanly & Sons McHenry Brick Mill is now a designated Landmark!  Thank you to the McHenry City Counsel for voting yes!

Today, I'm sharing a very unique, one of a kind McHenry treasure from my personal collection.  This is a handwritten letter dated May 26, 1891.  It is written on stationary from the Office Of A. H. Hanly & Sons - Proprietors Of The McHenry Brick Mills.

Cousin Daniel,

Yours of the 17th at hand and I am quite tardy in answering but - was glad to hear that all the folks were feeling so well and that you have struck the right thing to make a fine grade of butter, as it will sell well there as the western butter go East - about 1/4 of it and the Eastern cheese comes west - so think you have a start in right direction and think it would be a good thing for us to make full cream cheese

There is nothing written on the back and there is no 2nd page so I'm not sure who wrote it however, I do have a few clues.

First, the letter is dated May of 1891.  Alexander Hanly passed away in January of 1891 so I know it wasn't written by him.  

He had four sons, Samual, George, John and Daniel.

The letter is addressed to "Cousin Daniel".  Back in the day, the words brother and cousin were interchangeable.   

I suspect that the letter was written by George to his brother Daniel.  George spent most of his time working on the farm and at the mill and I believe Daniel did some traveling.  Although I can't confirm this theory right now, I may be able to with a little more research.

For now, our newly designated landmark will have a plaque soon.  I will post here when I have specific date.

June 2022 Newsletter

 

The McHenry Area Historical Society Newsletter

Dear Members,

Welcome to summer, as we enjoy the warm weather after our volatile spring. We are again able to hold our June meeting in Veterans Park as we did last year. As we continue to fight the Covid-19 battle, I hope that all of you are doing your best to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe.

See you on June 11 at 10 am.

Greg Lofgren, Pres. 

Summer Meeting

Join us for our summer meeting, June 11, at 10 AM in Veterans Park. Since this meeting falls between Memorial Day and Independence Day, it is only fitting that this meeting will honor those who have served in the military.

Our speakers will include Ronnie Reber representing the McHenry VFW post and Lee Lexow representing the McHenry American Legion Post. They will share with us a bit of their history in the service and the history of the VFW and American Legion in McHenry. Perhaps there will be another speaker but it has not yet been confirmed. Join us as we share the memories and learn more about these organizations.  

We will meet in the shelter in the park, near Pearl and Court Streets where we can enjoy being out of doors. Bring a folding chair and if it is a warm day, bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. No food or drink will be provided.

In honor of Memorial Day here is a short quiz about this day.

1.       When was Memorial Day declared a national holiday?

A.      In 1950 when Pres. Harry Truman declared it a National Holiday.

B.       After the Civil War.

C.      In 1971 by a declaration of Congress.

2.       Who does Memorial Day Honor?

A.      All those who have served in the military.

B.       Those who died while in the service defending their country.

C.      Only those who served in the Army.

3.       Was this day always known as Memorial Day?

A.      Always known as Memorial Day.

B.      Originally known as Decoration Day.

C.      Originally known as Veteran’s Day.

Thank you Pat Wirtz

The April meeting concentrated on board games. Not the board games that we enjoy today, but board games that Pat Wirtz has collected over many years. Many of the games are over 100 years old.

Pat shared the history of the games and brought a large number of them which were placed on display, while he shared their history.

Thank you, Pat, for sharing your collection with us.

Quiz Answers

1.C Although the day had been celebrated unofficially for many years, it was often celebrated on different days depending on the state. In 1971 Congress officially created Memorial Day as a Federal Holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.

2.B Memorial Day is the holiday to honor those who perished in service to their country. Veteran’s Day, in November, celebrates all who have served the nation.

3.B Originally the day was known as Decoration Day in honor of placing flowers on the graves of those who had died in the Civil War by family members.

Visit our Facebook page for more McHenry history

McHenry Area Historical Society on Facebook 

 Membership Renewal

Please remember to renew your dues. Dues will be increased slightly in 2023, because of increased costs. So, renew now and take advantage of the lower rates.

Please mail to Danielle Miller, 1411 N. Green Street, McHenry, IL 60050 or bring to the June meeting.

Please Print

Name___________________________________Address______________________________________ City, State, Zip_________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone_______________________________Cell Phone__________________________________ EMail_____________________________________________________________________________

Membership: Individual $15______ Family $25_____Lifetime $250______Senior (60+) $10 ____ Student$10___ Contributing business (Owner and spouse) $75___

 

 

 

The Counts House

Dr. William P. Melindy and his wife Mary who was the daughter of Daniel Owen, built the home that we now refer to as The Count's House on land purchased for $500.00 from George Gage in the year 1860.

The Greek Revival home is unusual in the sense that it has 2 facades.  The north facade sits on Waukegan Street, while the south facade faces Main Street.

When the Melindy's moved to California in 1873, the home was sold to Fred Schnorr Sr. who came to McHenry in 1857.  Mr. Schnorr added the Gothic Revival addition shortly after he took possession of the home. 

Fred Schnorr was a shoemaker who operated his business on Main Street.  The McHenry Plaindealer reports that Fred and his wife Katherina maintained the most beautiful gardens in all of McHenry!

Katherina passed away in 1905 and Fred passed away in 1917.

In 1920, Fred Schnorr Jr. sold to the house to Count Oscar Julius Albert Bopp Von Oberstadt. 

The Count was born in Germany in 1866 and moved to Chicago in 1916.  Count Oberstadt was married to Elizabeth Schoenhofen, the daughter of Peter Schoenhofen who owned the Peter Schoenhofen Brewing Company located in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.  They produced Edelweiss brand beer and during prohibition, invented the famous Green River soda!  Count Oberstadt was the vice president of the brewing company.

For a time near the end of WW1 it was said that the Count was a German spy and that he was imprisoned in England.  I have not been able as of yet to confirm this.

In 1922, Count Von Oberstadt gifted the new church bell to St. Patrick's Church.  

The Count returned to Austria in 1927 and he passed away in 1928.

The house became the property of Clifford Sherman and his wife Laura.  Clifford was raised on the old Sherman homestead up on Sherman Hill.

Although the home has had several more owners throughout recent years, the beautiful historic house to this day is referred to as The Count's House.  

In 1982, it was added to the National Register Of Historic Places.

References:  The McHenry Plaindealer

 

 

McHenry Outdoor Theater

One of McHenry's treasures!  The McHenry Outdoor Theater.

Built by R.J. Miller in 1951, the opening day for what was once called the Skyline Drive-In was July 20, 1951.

In the 1950's, there were about 4000 drive in theaters located in the United States.  Now, there's less than 350 still in use.