Please join
The McHenry Area Historical Society
for a presentation on the WASPS
Judy Porter of McHenry will speak on the
Women’s Air Service Pilots of World War II
October 8th at 10:00 a.m.
at the McHenry Savings Bank
353 Bank Drive
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Women’s Air Service Pilots of World War II Presentation
The Hanly Mill Is Now Plaqued!
The Hanly Mill is now plaqued!!
The top one was added by Jim Althoff after he renovated it.
Monday, October 3, 2022
Presenting The Plaque To The Althoff Family At The Hanly Mill
On May 16, 2022, the Hanly Mill, located at the intersection of Crystal Lake Road and Mill Street in McHenry was designated as a landmark by The McHenry Landmark Commission and The City Of McHenry.
On September 29th, we presented the plaque to the current owners, the Althoff Family. Patti Althoff Siwicki and Katy Althoff were given the plaque by Ward 1 Alderman Victor Santi:
Katy Althoff, Patti Althoff Ziwicki and 1st Ward Alderman Victor Santi.
The McHenry Landmark Commission
It was a lovely day for the presentation. I will post a photo of the plaque as it appears on the mill building later this week.
A huge thank you goes out to Pat Wirtz for being our official photographer!!!
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Plaque Ceremony For The Hanly Mill
The Mill is located at Crystal Lake Road and Mill Street. Please come out and celebrate McHenry's 23rd Historic Landmark!!
Spread the word!!!
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
McHenry Area Historical Society Newsletter October 2022
If you would like to read our October 2022 Newsletter you can find it here:
Monday, August 22, 2022
The Empire, The Colony and McHenry Theater
Located on Green Street in the same location as our McHenry Theater sits today, the Empire Theater was built in 1918 by John and Mattie Smith.
They sold the Empire in 1934 to RJ Miller who changed the name to The Colony in 1939.
On 3 November, 1951 the theater burned down.
A new theater was built and the Grand Opening of The McHenry Theater was held on 9 February, 1955.
The most recent remodel was completed in 2018.
On a side note, RJ Miller was also the original owner of the Skyline Drive-In Theater opened in 1951. Today we know it is The McHenry Outdoor Theater.
Ref: The McHenry Plaindealer
Thursday, August 18, 2022
The McHenry Train Depot
The Chicago & Northwestern Train arrived in McHenry in the year 1854. Senator George Gage who owned the property in the main street area was instrumental in bringing the railroad to McHenry.
In 1908, a train loaded with cattle came into McHenry from Crystal Lake. It was headed toward Ringwood but crashed just south of the depot after taking the curve to fast.
The engineer, A. Jewell from Chicago avoided death by jumping out the locomotive's window. The conductor was also able to jump to safety but unfortunately, the fireman Ernest Auler was not able to escape in time.
Despite everything, the wreck was cleaned up by the end of the day.
Although the original train station was not damaged in the wreck, our current train depot built in 1910.
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