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' ' ! / 1 A ', - 4 LAME saetTioN fWENOLV Sfl«WC£ pROftSSIOf AWHCE 1* VfcARS fltffWfiNtfi In 1836, a year before Chicago became a city, Dr. Wheeler, a man of versatile talents who is often spoken of as the founder of McHenry, opened a small trading store to care for the** needs of farmers in the vicinity. The doctor's store was probably the nucleus of present McHenry. The area ran along smoothly without any official village organization until 1872, when it sought and was granted a village charter. It was just three years later that Alexander Graham Bell first caught Watson's ear at the tar end of a copper wire. No one dreamed this crazy new in­ vention, the "telephone," would revolutionize com-\ munications throughout the c ivilized world Who could have foreseen today's telephone ne twork spanning the country, uniting continents, able to put a McHenry carpenter instantly in touch with a cousin in Los Angeles, or a great aunt in Stockholm. But in 1875, people scoffed in disbelief at the news of a ."telephone." The telephone seemed like a freakish piece of science fantasy - completely incongruous with the ex­ perience of the day. (A voice travel along a wire? Preposterous!) Some scientists disclaimed the telephone as a scientific impossibility. Some people claimed Bell was a magician or ventriloquist perpetuating a giganic hoax. According to the wisdom of the day, you send a message to someone in the same city with a messenger; to a distant city via telegraph or mail . So who needs a telephone? Besides, how CADETS IN TRAINING - Three of the cadets in training under the Company I training program are, from left, John Rice, Kevin O'Brieniand Art Weber. Absent was Randy McCafferty. foolish and undignified - to talk at a disc of iron., „The telephone came to McHenry in June of 1897, when the first toll station was in­ stalled by the Chicago Telephone company in the premises of Owen and Chappel. Nineteen days later, another toll station was installed at West McHenry in the premises of Simon Stoffel. The telephone business in McHenry actually had its small beginning in the premises of Simon Stoffel at Front and Main streets; the Chicago Telephone company began providing exchange service there in 1898. Competition entered the McHenry.Jtelephone arena that same year, when the McHenry County Telephone company opened up for business in a direct challenge to the Chicago Telephone company. This event provided a boost to the widespread use of the telephone. Each company expanded service and added equipment in a frenzied race to outdo the other for new customers. By year's end, the McHenry company acquired almost as many subscribers as the Chicago Telephone com­ pany already had, thereby almost doubling the total number of phones in McHenry - - to a whopping twenty-six. But two rival phone com­ panies in town presented serious problems. A subscriber of one company couldn't call a subscriber of the other com­ pany, and vice versa. There were duplicate services. It got to be expensive and in­ convenient. When "the McHenry County Telephone company sold out to the Chicago Telephone com­ pany at the end of 1900, McHenry benefitted. For the first time, all McHenry lines,, were connected, and most telephone users were glad to get rid of the double telephone system. The telephones had really caught on. By 1900, McHenry had its own Jineman-inspector with headquarters in McHenry, instead of Chicago, to take care of the maintenance and in­ stallation work. By the end of 1905, 196 phones served McHenry. McHenry residents could call Spring Lake, Pistakee Bay,Fox Lake, Chicago, Lake Geneva, Woodstock, Crystal Lake, Aurora and Wauconda, among other towns, by 1907. To meet the new demand for service, a thirdf switchboard section was installed the following year to permit another operator to specialize in handling long distance calls during the summer vacation season.The telephone company grew, and by 1910 had five operating employees in McHenry. Expansion of facilities continued. The McHenry switchboard was moved to leased quarters on Green street, near Elm, in 1914, and a new switchboard was installed. Illinois Bell came on the scene in 1920, taking over the McHenry, Union and Crystal Lake exchanges. By the end of 1921, McHenry had up to 509 phones. The McHenry office, with some 700 phones in service, was visited by a bad fire on Nov. 28. 1926. Here's a quote from the Illinois Bell chronology : .. "At about 7:45 p.m. on this Sunday, the building south of the central office caught fire and was in flames shortly thereafter. Miss Villa Rothermel, chief operator, was on duty with one operator. Shortly, after the fire was reported, five other operators reported for emergency duty. This force maintained service until 10 p.m. despite the ab­ sence of electric lights (which went out shortly after the fire started) and gas (which was shut off because of possible hazard) and repeated reports that the roof and second floor of the central office building were on fire." Illinois Bell continued to improve equipment and facilities, and in 1938 moved into new quarters at 102 North Park avenue in McHenry. nillwriiriiM Ki i i iM* miiMiiNiW KADISAK TILE OFFERING YOU ONE OF THE LARGEST INVENTORIES IN THE McHENRY AREA! WHEN YOU PAY FOR QUALITY, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO CET IT Ever since 1946 we have believed that our customers should get the fullest possible value for each dollar they spend. Twenty-nine years in business is a record we're proud of. Serving the needs of McHenry County's homeowner and businessman with low prices and quality products, has been our goal-and we feel that we have met the challenge with great success. Enthusiasm, handwork and family pride has enabled us to expand our facilities from our smaller store in Richmond to our 6-year-old, and much larger outlet, in McHenry. We expect great things for '75 and with the efforts of fine business like the Plaindealer the future will bring prosperity and happiness for all. COMPLETE STOCK OF: • CERAMICS • MOSAICS • VINYL ASBESTOS • SOLID VINYL • CARPETS • LINOLEUM "COMPLETE INSTALLATION SERUICE" <3tie and ' 5002 West Route 120 McHenty, Illinois $15-385-7310 McHenry's population in 1940 v was 1,596, with R.I. Overton as mayor. The telephone's phenominal growth galloped ahead, and in 1946-47, central office equip­ ment was ̂ dded to increase the main station capacity from 1,448 to * 1,839. In order to provide larger traffic quarters, the business office was moved in 1949 from 102 North Park avenue to rented quarters at 136 North Riverside drive. As growth continued, more and more equipment was added. The number of phones served by the McHenry office, in­ cluding those in Johnsubrg and Pistakee, jumped to 3,145 by the end of 1950. Illinois Bell announced plans for dial conversion inAugust of 1956. No simple process, the conversion was the culmination of many months of preparation in McHenry. The transifon called for new buildings, new equipment, and new in­ structions to employees and customers. A building site was pur­ chased at the southwest corner of Pearl and court streets to house the new dial equipment. Installers made rounds to all the telephones in town, adding dials to their hitherto un­ derrated fronts. EVergreen would be the McHenry prefix. On Aug. 30, 1959, the new McHenry dial office at 111 N()rth Court street was cutover to dial operation. There were 6,212 phones in service at the time. Now McHenry residents could dial long distance themselves, without the help of an operator. This was a most important event for the growth of telephone calling. Without dial service, the volume of calls placed today -- or even 10 or more years ago ~ would be great for operators to handle. Rates would be higher. And perhaps not everyone who wanted a phone could get one. All number calling became effective in McHenry in 1962, when the numbers "38" replaced the prefix EVergreen. The most important telephone event of the 60's had to be the coming of Touch- ToneR service in December of_ 1965. Easier than dialing and" twice as fast, Touch-ToneR service will mean considerably more than speed and con­ venience in the furture. Its musical signals can become access codes tq computers, its push buttons a keyboard for sending and receiving in­ formation. Call Pak, an optional feature which offers cutomers an additional calling area for a special rate, was also in­ troduced in 1965. To meet the big demand for more telephone service, Illinois Bell began leasing a newly constructed building in 1970, at 507 Gracy road in McHenry, to serve as a plant center. The building would house fifty company vehicles. Another first came to McHenry in 1973, when McHenry coin phones were equipped with Dial Tone First service, thus enabling coift phone customers to reach a dial tone before depositing a coin. Illinois Bell had to introduce a new prefix in January of 1973, in order" to keep up with telephone growth in the McHenry area. This required a sizeable investment in new equipment. The new number -- 344 -- was McHenry's second telephone prefix, joining ranks with the familiar 385 number The first 344 telephone number went to Peter J. Parenti of McCullom Lake. "Modular set" telephones were also introducted in 1973. Components of the new telephone snap together without the aid of tools and plug into a specially designed mounting for quicker, easier installation. This way installers can spend less time at each location and therefore handle more customer orders each day. McHenry customers were able to help themselves to faster, more convenient Directory Assistance service for numbers within the 815 area code region in May of 1974. Before that date, McHenry customers had to dial 1-555- 1212, the universal long distance directory assistance number. Now McHenry customers could call 411 to get any telephone listing in the 815 area code. The telephone, like McHenry, is a vital growing force holding promises yet undreamed of. Illinois Bell and its Bell System partners'are continuing research into the variety of uses of the switched telephone network when it is linked to computers. Tomorrow's customers may be able to „ control their kitchen ovens and adjust their furnace ther­ mostats from remote locations McHenry telephone exchange as it appeared on April 16, 1912. The exchange was located in the Simon Stoffel building at the corner of Main and Front streets in McHenry. Pictured left to right, are Lena Stoffel, Louise Evanson, Gertrude MasqueletBarbian; standing. Bertha Wolf Martes, William Gallaher, repairman; Raymond Patchen, manager; and Florence Granger Alexander, chief operator. The McHenry telephone exchange, located in the Simon Stoffel building at the corner of Main and Front streets, shown here sometime between 1907 and 1910. Pictured, left to right are. Bertha Wolf Mertes, Esther Miller Mc Andrews, Anna Knox Winkleman, Lena Stoffel, Elsie Wolf Nelson, Theresa Barbian Shales and Florence Granger Alexander. The McHenry telephone exchange as it was on April 16, 1912. The exchange was located in the Simon Stoffel building at the corner of Main and Front streets in McHenry. Pictured, left to right, are Agnes Tesch Bienapfl, Bertha Wolf Mertes and Allie Simes. Chief Operator Florence Granger Alexander sits at desk behind the others. Clean Stream s- Guardipn Of Lakes-River In the mid-'fifties a group of volunteers interested in trying to clean up unsanitary con­ ditions in the Chain of Lakes and Fox River area in McHenry county, met at the home of Mr. Lily in Orchard Beach. Shortly afterward, the McHenry Chamber of Com­ merce, aware of the great asset the Chain of Lakes and Fox River were to the area, formed a committee to look into this problem. A letter was sent to the Illinois Sanitary Water board in regard to the unsealed boat toilets as well as some more flagrant land-based offenses. Ben Leland of this board suggested the group form an organization patterned after the Cook County Clean Streams committee. The McHenry Chamber of Commerce and McHenry City Council sup­ ported the group financially. Ward Duel of the Lake County Health department provided much information and guidance. According to the earliest recorded minutes of the committee, some of the officers were Dr. James McMahon. Mrs. Harry* Byrne, George Kammerer, Hugh Kirk and John Looze, legal counsel. Other interested members were C.G. Nacker, J.A. Piotrowski, Dave Kent, Elmer Antonson, A. Armit, W. Sutton. M. Mencel, Boyce King, Marvin McCrary, Charles Lasch, Julius Gruenfeld, Clem Wirfs, Mr. Hinspater, Frank Schaefer, Louis Groth. Walter Dean and Joseph Huemann. Over the months and years the following problems were discussed and acted upon: Water sampling at various areas on pistakee bay and Fox river. Investigating refuse and sewage dumps. Dye testing of toilets and septic systems of honfes and businessess suspected^ of emptying into bay or river, or being inadequate, adding to unsanitary condition. Investigating condition of sewage treatment plants. Attempting to establish a Health department in McHenry county. Attempting to develop Conservancy district in area to better control offenders and to police area. Supporting interstate legislation; conducted boat tour for state legislators. Investigating reports of in­ dustrial wastes being dumped into Nippersink creek and Fox river. Investigating numerous complaints of private in­ dividuals. Supporting Health depart­ ment in McHenry county. Modem Pictures By Wayne Gâ ord Supporting Northeastern Illinois Planning commission, pointing out oversights, especially environmental impact of expanding sewage plants, etc. Appearing at Chain of Lakes - Fox river authority meetings, contributing and filing in­ formation and testifying at policy development hearing. Cooperating and discussing common pcobelms with Kane County Clean Streams com­ mittee. Doing all things possible to improve water quality in area. At the request of the Lake County Health department and through the efforts of the Clean Streams committee, a law was passed in McHenry and Lake counties to seal heads in cruisers and to check other sources of pollution by boat owners. Marinas in the two counties were asked to cooperate by putting up signs regarding pollution, and by checking boats. Many hours were spent by Dr. McMahon, David Kent, Boyce King, Dr. Weiss, Elmer Stange, Mrs. Shulda, Mrs. F.E. Titus, Joseph Metzger, James Raycraft, Mrs. Robert Decker, and others, taking samples of water in various areas in the Chain of Lakes and Fox river to test for pollution and con­ tamination. Samples were received and refrigerated by Bill Goettsche and were taken into Chicago b^Marion Hocker for testing by the Chicago Health department. Ward Duel, sanitarian, instructed men, arranged for laboratory work and interpreted laboratory reports. Many professionaf men and governmental authorities have given freely of their knowledge and time by speaking at meetings, giving advice and suggestions and being genuinely interested in im­ proving water quality in the area. While the Clean Streams has not had many open public meetings in recent years, members have attended meetings and worked with other groups interested in the same goals. One group of meetings pertained to the dumping of treated wastes from Lake county into the river in McHenry county. From time to time offenses are brought to the attention of the group and corrected. Clean Streams tries to be the "middle man" between people who know of a pollution problem but don't know where to report it, and local, state and federal agencies. If anybody knows of raw sewage going into a stream or refuse being thrown into the water from land or boats (there is a $200 fine for such offenses) or unsealed toilets on boats, notify McHenry County Clean Streams Committee, 3616 W. Elm street, McHenry. " ' • < . 4 AUGUST 6, 1975 • PLAINDEALER CENTENNIAL EDITION-PAGE 10 by simply calling their home the future. ' in the last century. The^iext phones. McHenry and the telephone hundred years are sure to be Picturephone.R too, waits in have come a long way together every bit as exciting. McHenry And Telephone Come ,, , , • . . . . _ , . _ _ _ O l d S t y l e P h o n e S e r v i c e Long Way In Past 100 Years