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farm, construction and lawn and garden needs. SALES AND SERVICE Years of serving the McHenry area. Our History Geo. P. Freund, Inc. started from a blacksmith shop on Pearl Street in 1938. They handled only the Case line of farm equipment at that time. They moved from their orginal location in 1940, to Front Street, to acquire more room. They remained on Front Street until 1951 at which time they moved to their present location. The business was started by Geo. P. Freund. He is still active in the business, assisted by his three sons. Let Us Serve You The next time your looking for the finest in farm equipment, construction needs, or equipment for your lawn and garden, see us at Geo. P. Freund. We've grown over the years because we've offered you only the finest in sales and service. Our top name equipment wi give you many years of faithful service. Old Items Of Interest (From Sept. 15,1875, issue of Plaindealer) Hotel arrivals: The following are the arrivals at the Riverside and Parker Houses for the twelve days ending Saturday, Sept. 4: RIVERSIDE HOUSE: Seventy-eight persons registered from Elgin, Aurora, Cincinnati, Chicago, Woodstock, Richmond, Rockford, Geneva Lake, Waukegan, Delavan, New York, Marengo, Nunda, LaGrange, Kentucky, Ridgefield and Englewood. PARKER HOUSE: 70 persons registered from Chicago, Elgin, London, Hainsville, Fox Lake, Rockton, Marengo, New york, Aurora, Crabapple Island, Rockford and Woodstock. • • <f̂ the March 2nd Marks 51 Years For Marengo Federal Savings Young people were dancing time bookeeper were the Charleston, radios were not required. Up to this time, yet common and the little city records had been kept by Mr. of Marengo in northern-central Kelley's secretary. An electric Illinois was not yet 100 years sign" was purchased and in- old when it began. stalled. The company was The day was Monday, the 2nd growing. of March, 1925 at eight p.m. Early in 1953, the Association when a group of friends and was moved to its newly neighbors gathered at the remodeled office in a building Ellison Machine Co. to talk formerly known as the Gill over plans for a building and Building at 102 North State St. loan association. The small A grand opening was held May group had no idea then that l and May 2 with successful their discussion would result in results. a far reaching venture. Until the middle of 1954, all The temporary secretary at posting of accounts had been that first meeting was a young done by hand. Burroughs man who would later graduate posting machines were pur- from law school and would be, chased and by the end of the the one who would direct the year, all accounts were posted Association for 50 years. His by machine. The Association name was Frederick Royal further expanded its services to Kelley. the public by issuing money The first president of the orders, making share loans and Association was D.B. Boyle improvement loans. Em- who remained its president ployees benefited from almost continuously until 1948. retirement and insurance The Association, known as programs. Marengo Building and Loan In 1959, the Association Association under state charter became second in the county as moved along at a slow pace, the to the amount of its reserves, number of stock shares being In 1966, a committee was only 659 by April 27, 1925. The appointed to make plans first loan was made in June of relative to building a new home 1925. For a period of time for Marengo Federal. The thereafter loans were made as directors decided to purchase funds became available and the Eickstaedt property on expenses, though very few East Grant Highway as the site were paid as money could be on which to build the new office spared. ~ ** quarters and a contract was Meetings were held in approved for building. On its various places at first, there completion by the middle of being no central office until 1967, Marengo Federal was some years later when business moved to 200 East Grant High- of the Association was carried way,Jts present home. An open on in the law office of F.R. house was held on September 1, Kelley in Marengo Bank 1967/ The directors were building. pleased with its success. Early in 1935, the directors of In order to better serve the Association agreed to customers, an online computer federalize. A charter was system was instituted and by granted to Marengo Federal January. 1973, all accounts Savings and Loan Association were on-line with the computer on March 25, 1935. at Federal Home Loan Bank of By 1944 real estate prices Chicago. were beginning to rise. In 1945, Through its fifty years of the Association .began making existence Marengo Federal has G.I. loans at 4 percent interest, paid the highest rate of interest Slowly but steadily more funds allowable under Federal law, flowed into the Association and at the same time maintaining more loans were made. The strong reserves to protect its Association moved forward to rifiembers, a contributing factor reach one million in resources in its * success as a major towards the end of 1946. Shortly financial institution of sftpr thi« thp services of fi full- MrKfittfV COUtttV. GEORGE P. FREUND Geo. P. Freund, Inc. . quality equipment for 4102 WEST CRYSTAL LAKE ROAD, McHENRY, ILLINOIS PHONE 385-0420 AUGUST i, 1975 - PLAINDEALER CENTENNIAL EDITION-PAGE * 37,960 Served By Post Office The McHenry Post Office 1306 N. Green Street The first post office established in McHenry postmaster appointed and held township was in the year 1837. the office about one year. Christy Wheeler was the first According to ah 1885 yearbook, "in those day% the office accommodation by the scarcely paid expenses and was postmasters than for any held more as a matter of pecuniary rewards." The first post office was located in a log building near the present Riverside Hotel. When West McHenry sprang into existence at the time the railroad was built, there was soon a bitter rivalry between the two town sites. The spirit did not die out for many, many years. It was during one of these hard-fought rivalry battles that by some "hook or crook", the office was moved from the old to the new (West) side of town. For more than a year, the people at the old village had nor post office. Petitions long and strong were sent to Washington and in 1883, through Congressman Elwood, a man came from the department at Washington and looked over the field. As a result, a new post office was established and the two parts of McHenry each had a post office, one mile apart. For many years McHenry was the only city in the United States with two post offices. In 1950, the Main street (West McHenry) post office was designated as a station and it was discontinued in November, 1965. A list of the postmasters follows: Dr. Christy Wheeler, H.N. Owen, John W. Smith, Horace Long, Archelaus Siar, Herman N. Owen, Willard E.. Coleman, Richard Bishop, Frederick G. Mayes, John C. Smith, David S. Smith, John M. Smith, Jmes B. Perry, Chester V. Stevens, Miss Jessie M. Wightman, Jay Van Slyke (founder of the Plaindealer), Owen N. Owen, Albert Snow, Rollin Waite. Joseph C. Holly, Joseph W. Freund, Thomas J. Walsn, Nickolas F. Steflen, Walter J. Walsh, Albert Krause, E. Ray McGee, Acting Postmaster James Hettermann and LeRoy M. Smith. West McHenry postmasters wereCharels A. Walsh, Chester V. Stevens, Maria F. Stevens, John W. Kimball, Simon Stoffel, Henry C. Mead, Eber E. Bassett and Elmer J. Freund.. LeRoy M. Smith, who has been postmaster since 1961, reported that at the present time, the McHenry post office has forty-eight employees who serve 37,960 customers. There are eleven rural routes, seven city routes and three auxiliary routes which cover a territory of 144 square miles - six miles south, six miles north, six miles west and four miles east. The present post office is located in a building at 1306 N. Green street, which was built and dedicated in 1958. SERVING YOU SINCE 1938 ? Freund, Inc. Stamp Show Purchase Recalls '57 Depression When Jack Kelsey made a purchase at a stamp show in Chicago about two years ago, he' acquired with it this letter dated May 25, 1857, signed by Wm. Mead,,an early settler in McHenry. It was sent to Chester Granger, Pittsford, Vt., Rutland, Co. Henry C:* Mead was at one time post­ master of McHenry. The letter is printed just as it was written: "Mchenry, May 25,1857 "Mr. Chester Granger Sir. I hav just recieved yours in reply - to my last stating that you would send me - the stoves that I cald for But I would say that thare is A totile failure of the winter wheat In this country this spring and thare fore I wish you would not send me the stoves fore it tis the hardist times hear for to colect that I ever saw thare is no money to be had and the farmers hav nothing to buy money with I had fifty acers of winter wheat it looked well last fall But the hole of it is dead and tis so through the country and that Is our main dependance. I am very mutch Abliged to you fore your favor to me. In trusting me so far But I dont think it would Be Best for you or me to send them on till I hav colected what I hav standing out I hav thirty acers of spring wheat But the insect is cuting it down things look darke and Dubisus But I am in hopes that times will be better this fall All well hear Pleas write soon my Respectes to you and yours "Yours in haste "Wm Mead" (Continued from page 8) Clarence Anglese, Mrs. A.J. Wirtz, Earl R. Walsh, George F. Freund, Fred Bienapfl, Frank Johnson, Harold J. Nye and Mrs. Richard T. Williams. Of this group, Mrs. Anglese, Mrs. Wirtz, Mr.-Walsh and Mr. Freund are charter members. Librarians have been Mrs. C.W. Goodell, Miss Rita Martin, Mrs. Lon Smith, Mrs. Robert Winkel, Mrs. Lynn Stuart and Mrs. A.J. Uttich. JIM FREUND ROBERT FREUND •> End Of An Era GEORGE M. FREUND (Taken from the Oct. 18,, 1965 issue of the Plaindealer) Hubert "Bud" Liptrot is shown taking down the fKg which flies every day in front of the West McHenry station. It will fly there no- longer after Nov. 11, when government orders call for closing the station. Patrons unhappy over the decision have been signing - petitions in an attempt to keep it open.