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COnGRflTULflTIOnS_u ..McHenry State Bank on the Grand Opening of the Gerald J. Carey Building We All Grow Working Together, Hand In Hand. FAST ACCURATE SERVICE-TITLE COMMITMENTS TITLE INSURANCE-ESCROW SERVICE KISHWAUKEE TITLE ^ CORPORATION W 4302-F W. Crystal Lake Rd., P.O. Box 168 McHenry, Illinois 385-7360 People's State Bank Opens August 24, 1929 Ma Bell Aid To Communications McHenry State Bank has had a new "dimension" for about a year, now, and it is proving to be the answer to communication problems between the three units; the main office, the Carey Building, and the Whispering Point drive-in facility. Dimension is the latest available phone system for a corporation offered by Illinois Bell, Reports Fred Kupstis, security officer for McHenry State. It handles most of the communication needs of the bank and the customers. The system allows a user with a single phone set to forward calls to another phone when recipient is not at hi* usual station. One person can answer any phone in the three -buildings and then transfer calls to any of the departments. The hardworking phone can also refer a call to hit secretary if the particular officer being called is not available. Persons in any of the buildings can be paged over the phone. Calls can be held in limited numbers without the useof theold "hold" button. Calls can also be stacked to the limit of two to a station if the phone traffic is heavy. Incoming calls are immediately screened and referred to the various departments or areas where they become a department responsibility. This frees up the switchboard for more calls. Conference calls involving three different phones both internally Ond with outsidecallers can be arranged. Kupstis notes that all this provides moreconvenience for their customers through better communication with the bank. McHenry State Bank has included a special feature with its phone system, a weather and temperature number 385-9400 which persons can call at any time. A programmed response gives the correct time, the outside temperature, and brief reference to the bank. Kupstis notes that the traffic on this line was particularly heavy during the severe weather last winter when people wanted a preview of ' the conditions before stepping outside. A box about the size of a freezer contains the intricate wiring, electronic devices and the programmed recordings that furnish the information. Probably most fascination is the hookup that translates the information from the temperature sensor into the messages coming over the phone wire. Calls for time and temperature average about 2000 per week. About the whole system, Kupstis notes that it provides for business growth with room for 225 possible extensions and provisions to add more* if needed. Taken from files of Aug. 29, 1929 P E O P L E S S T A T E B A N K O P E N E D Saturday, Aug. 24, proved to be a history maker in the annals of McHenry as it marked the opening of a new bank on Green Street. The P eoples StateB ank of McHenry is the name of the new financial institution which has been organized by a group of local citizens to carry on a general banking business on Green Street under a state charter just recently granted. The officer of the bank are as follows: Chairman of Board, E .L. Wagner; President, P.B. Webster; Vice-president, Simon Stoffel; Vice- president, Gerald J. Carey; Cashier, F I oy d M . F oss. T he board of directors is made up of the following well known men: P.B. Webster, Simon Stoffel, F.A. Bohlander, E .L. Wagner, William Spencer, R ichard B . Walsh and F .W. Wattles. The officers and board of directors are all men who are connected with the West McHenry State Bank practically in the same capacity and their success in managing the affairs of the West McHenry State Bank speaks well for a bright and prosperous future for the new institution. E verything was in readiness for the accommodation of patrons and visitors on the opening day at the bank and the spacious lobby presented a gala appearance with its decoration of beautiful baskets of flowers presented by freinds and business associates. The place was a veritable bower of blossoms with gorgeous baskets filled with beautiful gladioli, roses and mixed flowers presented by members of the Green Street Business Men's Association, Part t ime employees In various locations at Green St. : Grace R elnhardt, Nancy Mowrer, Joan F reund, Charles standing from left -Albert Vales, Judy Caracel lo, Dolores TStauffer . Seated from left -UIr lke Hermann, Nancy Fish, Joyce Schwanke, Lil l ian Larson, Linda V/ lgman, Majercik, Wall le O'Brien, and Cindy F rett . The McHenry State Bank was a pioneer in using part-time employees. The flow of traffic ata bank fluctuates and it is difficult to staff only for peak periods. Part time employees are an important part of the team at McHenry State Bank, enabling the institution to meet peak load requirements and to sustain the usual level of service in face of employee absence due to vacations or illness. The pool of trained or skilled 15 to 20 persons, most of whom are former full time workers or former employees of other banks, can handle most of the routine assignments when called on. President Thomas F. Bolger has encouraged the useof the part timers as mutually advantageous to both the individuals and to the bank. The people are fully qualified to act as tellers, secretaries, do bookkeeping preparation during her stint. Two of these valuable auxiliaries are former bank officers, one of whom daily oversees the processing of accumulations from the night depository. The hours of work varies according to conditions, but it is estimated that an average work total of each employee for the group is 15 hours. The arrangement allows these people to retain their sense of contribution through working. Reasons for leaving the work force originally range from need of time to raise a family to qualifying for and accepting retirement. Two persons of this group not appearing in the picture are Andrea Oeffling and Martha Hojnacki. The local bank also em ploys college students during the vacation periods. This has been most beneficial to the bank and to the individual. Among those who have gone on to financial or business related opportunities utilizing their McHenry State Bank experience are Bill Anderson- Chrysler Corp., Thomas M. Bolger- Loan Officer at M&l Bank in Milwaukee, Paul J essup-P rofessor of Finance at the University of Minnesota, Ronald Miller-Business Manager of Crystal Lake schools, Ralph Nowak-Trust Officer of an Indianapolis bank and Ronald Mr. Smith-Vice President of United Airlines. T hroughout the years, the McHenry State Bank has served as sort of a training ground for bank officers. Early employees of the McHenry State Bank who went on to top positions with other banks include Harold J. Bacon, longtime President of Home State Bank of Crystal Lake and Floyd Foss, President of State Bank of R ichmond. Allan M. Meyer, P resident of Deerfield State Bank and Harold J. Nye, Executive Vice P resident of F irstState Bank of R ound Lake also received part of their early .^training at the McHenry State Bonk„ PAGE 10 - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10.1979 (Continued from page 9) McOmber, In 1837, or posslVIe Christy Wheeler, the first postmaster, history indicates. Later more stores, a sawmill, a carding factory and a grist mill were added, using the readily available waterpower of the Fox River. Other enterprises included; a wagon factory, which also made sleds ana plows; a pickle factory, near the railroad: a butter and cheese factory and brick yard, near the present E ast Campus high school. A brewery was added to McHenry's Industries In 1868 and improved in me. Against this backdrop of dustry were being established a •umber of hotels, stores and service •utlnesie®. T he 'Irit bridge over the F ox R Ivor wot at K Im St. It wot of wood construction and became hazardout Vo use, to o new bridge wat built at Pearl St, in 1852, It wat replaced by a 'teel itructure in 1880. Thit remained auto until 1976, when it was replaced by a new cement bridge. The present E Im St. bridge was completed in 1927. McHenry, because of its involvement With the river and tributary streams, hcs an abiding interest in bridges, f he modern Green Street bridge, over Boone Creek, was completed in 1949, restoring a flow of traffic to McHenry's principal business street at that time. Modern technology reached McHenry as it became available and marked stages of the city's growth. The laying of rails was followed by the establishment of the telegraph/ service in 1873. The first switchboar< and exchange, owned by the Chicago Telephone Co., was installed in the Stoffel building in 1897 and remained under the management of Simon Stoffel until it was m oved to the Court St. location. _ A water powered light plant wat placed in the old Owen gritt mill in 1908. In 1915thit facility wat acquired by Public Service Co., which in turn was later taken over by Commonwealth Edison Co. The city water system wat ettablithed in 1898. Fourteen yeart later, gat tervice wat alto offered to city resident. Probably most Important under today's standards, was the paving of city streets in the early twenties, which freed the traffic from the mud and residents from dust. Early residents recall an early special advantage in shipping. McHenry held, before tKe advent of the railroad, service by steam boafs. which plied the Fox. Th4y disappeared after train service tbegan. The present McHenry Dam has contributed to the viability of the area for recreation purposes and the first dam of wood construction wat built thortly after 1907. T hit rotted out and wat replaced by a steel dam, with lock to maintain the upper stream* water level. In 1960 the present moderns dam and locks were dedicated and now serve the community, by keeping the river navigable and also provides a recreation area. In recent yeart,' growth hat accelerated and the city has expanded with annexations of large acreages, with developers bringing in facilities that soon represented whole complete communities within them selves. T he population of the city proper has reached 10100 as of last year, but the trading area (served by the McHenry Post office) is estimated to include over 50,000 persons. The business community is now considered one whole unit. New Accounts-Where It All Begins In Banking McGee's clothing store, Carey E lectric Shop, T homas P. Bolger, Mr. and Mrs. F .E . Covalt, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Spencer and family, Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Stephenson, West McHenry State Bank, National Bank of the Republic and Master Warren Jones. Both the exterior and interior of„the building has been redecorated and presents an ideal situation for the bank witha director's room and office room in the rear of the main bank office and lobby with a separate room for the safety deposit boxes. OVER $20,000 DEPOSITS FIRST DAY Floyd M. Foss, the cashier of the bank, was much pleased with the opening day of business with total deposits of $20,232 which is, indeed, a most encouraging record for the first day of business. Miss Rosalie Stilling, a former employee of the Citizens Bank, is assistant at the bank and her knowledge of the banking business will be of much advantage in the work. retpect and confidenceof local people and hit kind, friendly and courteous manner hat won for him the friendship of all who meet him and the opinion that Mr. F oss is just the right man in the right place is a universal one. F loyd, too, has a wide experience in all phases of the banking businett for where can you find a cathier who hat lived through three bank robberiet at hehat. F loyd it indeed much witer in thit retpect than he was before he experienced the two robberies at the West McHenry State Bank and assisted in apprehending the bandits after being held up at the Spring Grove Bank, where he was assisting for a few weeks in November, 1926. The general opinion seems to be that a new era of prosperity and efficiency was begun at the Peoples' State Bank on that opening day and that an institution of the highest caliber with a foundation of honesty and integrity such as was inaugurated by the founder of the bank, James R . Perry, is being established. The directors of the bank are to be commended for their choice of F loyd Foss as cashier, who is deserving of his well earned promotion. Mr. Foss is a local boy and well acquainted throughout the county having lived at Ringwood. H e attended the McHenry high school, where he graduated with the class of 1923 and immediately after graduation he started work at the West McHenry State Bank where he would have been employed six years on Sept. 10. Through his efficient work at the West McHenry State B ank during the past six years be has already won the Fully thirty-five years ago Messrs. Perry and Owen commenced a private institution in the rear of their store not far from the site of the present bank. The institution which was incorporated as a state bank in 1921 was the only organization of its kind in McHenry for many years until the institution of the West McHenry State Bank. T here is no doubt but that the new bank is on its way towards a happy growth and a prosperous future and as they stand for a better and bigger com munity they are worthy of y o u r p a t r o n a g e . New Accountsfrom the left -Debra Benes, Angle R elnwalI , Joanne E ppers, supervisor, and Patty Doherty. The New Accounts Department includes four versatile young women who also provide a reserve of trained help when other departments find themselves shorthanded. Joanne E ppers, who supervises this very visible quartet of personable workers in their lobby location asserts that besides their principle function of helping patrons to open new checking and savings accounts, the girls can also stand in as tellers, bookkeepers, switchboard operators, or work in the safe deposit area, or in the installment or credit department. All have beep trained in at least several of these areas or had work experience in them. Joanne notes that she, Debra Benes, Angie Rein wall, and Patty Doherty are all notaries. When requested, any of them can issue savings bonds and travelers' checks, help people order new checks and so forth in addition to their main job of opening new accounts. She estimates that during this period of rapid growth her department processes between 400 to 500 applications and related documents each months. Joanne adds that their work area in the Green St. building lobby puts them in a position to receive many questions from customers, and they are able to answer many of them or direct people to where they can get the answers or help requested. Ms. E ppers, a graduate of Western Illinois University, has worked for the bank for 5Va years. In addition to her regular assignment she is called on for public relations, news and ddvertising work for which she has been trained. This includes periodic presentations before groups of senior citizens or students to explain banking functions or new programs which are usually illustrated with films. The McHenry State Bank directors do not believe in give aways or promotions, as some larger city banks do, to stimulate business, but when occasionally small goodwill items are available for patrons or friends, they are distributed through the New Accounts Department. Joanne's expertise is also being utilized in the detailed arrangements for the grand opening of the new Gerald J. Carey building. And she is looking forward to its full utilization which will free up space in the Green Street building for her already crowded staff. Pioneer In Part Time Employees j