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THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER " S E R V I N G T H E C H A I X - O L . 4 K E S R E C K ) X S I X C E 1 8 7 5 " 1 \ E> . VOLUME 106 NUMBER 45 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31. 1981 1 SECTION 16 PAGES 25 Robert and Marya Weber (above) show a painting of "The Count's House" on Waukegan road, which recently received the recom­ mendation of the state Conservation department for inclusion on the National Registry of Historic Places. Built sometime in the mid to late 1800's, the house was once owned by Count Oscar Bopp von Oberstadt. The picture (left) is a reproduction of a photograph of the house taken in the early 1920's, when Waukegan rood was yet unpaved and a picket fence ran along the front of the house. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD .\7 Charge Failure To Monitor National Registry Asked For Old Home by Anthony Oliver A home in McHenry may be included on the National Registry of Historic Places if the federal office sees fit to £0ncur with a recommendation of the Illinois Department of Conservation (IDOC) Earlier this month, the state Con­ servation department, Historical Sites division, met in Chicago to consider the merits of the Robert Weber home -- The Count's House - at 3803 W. Waukegan road. McHenry, as a national historical site. According to the Webers, the National Register in Washington D C. will make the final decision at a later date "We've been trying to get the house on ihe national registry for over a year, ' Mrs Weber said. Noting one of the requirements of the registry. Mrs. Weber said "The Count's House" was historically significant because a previous owner was the Count Oscar Bopp von Oberstadt and the architecture dates to antebellum times A letter from the Historical Sites division of IDOC said the "Greek Revival" architectural style went out of fashion at the close of the CivilWar. meaning that the house was probably built prior to 1865. The letter also noted that the porch, which was a different style of architecture, was probably added in about 1870. According to the known history of the land, the original tract, which was much larger than the existing lot, was a government land grant given to Daniel Owen, Jr., in 1837. In about 1840, the 160-acre tract was sold to George Gage, at a cost of $1.25 an acre. The parcel where the house stands was sold to Mary M. (Owen) Melindy in about 1859 and, in 1873, passed into the ownership of Oliver and Harriet Owen. The next year, Fred Schnorr bought the house from the Owen family. In 1920, Mrs. F.J. Schnorr sold the house to the Count Oscar Bopp von Oberstadt. Mrs. Weber said that not much was known about the Count. She said the Count came to the Chicago area in 1916, after having been detained in England during the first World War. She noted that for some time the Count lived in the Orchard Beach area, renting a cottage along the Fox river from Charles Lasch. The Count, she continued, took a short trip to Europe in 1922, to visit children living in France and Swit­ zerland In late 1927, the Count returned to Europe and it is believed he was ill and returned to his homeland to die. The Count reportedly died in Austria on Jan 28. 1928 Mrs. Weber pointed out that the record does not show whether the Count was accorded his title by being born into a noble family or papal ap­ pointment. He was named "Privy Chamberlain to the Pope" by Leo XIII, an honor renewed by Pius X. In 1922, the Count Oscar Bopp von Oberstadt donated a small bell to St. Patrick's church and it hangs to this day in the sanctuary belfry. The bell bears the personal coat-of-arms of the Count and his wife, Elizabeth, along with a decoration worn by the Count as Chamberlain to the Pope. The reverse side bears a cross and the name of the pastor. The bell was blessed by the Rev. Bishop Muldoon at a ceremony held in early October. Traditionally, all church bells are blessed and consecrated to the glory of God and one of the saints. In this instance, the bell was consecrated to St. Elizabeth, the patron saint of the wife of the Count, Elizabeth Bopp von Oberstadt. In 1927, the house was sold to Clifford E. Sherman, who retained ownership until 1941, when it was bought by Ed­ mund Lowe. Six years later, in 1947, Lowe sold the home to Norman Eggert, who kept it until 1958 when Robert Steuben bought it. In 1965. the home was purchased bv its present owners, Robert and Marya Weber. MCHS Five-Year Projection Predict Static Enrollment Fritzsche's Water Supply The updating of a demographic study for the area covered by High School District 156 indicates a fairly static enrollment for the next five years, Norb Wolter, district public information coordinator, advised the board of mmmrn mmt They are involved in over half of all fatal motor vehicle accidents, and each year they kill some 26,000 people, about half of all traffic fatalities. These killers have taken the lives of more than 250,000 in the last 10 years. Another million were crippled or seriously injured. They occupy one out of every 50 cars on the highway, and this figure rises to one in 10 on Friday and Saturday nights. With these kind of statistics, someone is sure to ask, "Why doesn't somebody do something?" It's a good question, and one that doesn't always produce an answer that satisfies. These people who kill are drunk drivers. If the Government suddenly declared war, wouldn't every Mom and Dad rise up against our leaders for putting their young people in danger of being killed by enemies they don't know? Yet they let them get into the car every day, as well as those dangerous Friday and Saturday nights, and take to the highway knowing that one out of every 10 drivers they meet won't be in control of himself or the car. (Continued on page 14) education recently. The enrollment for the current year (1981-82) is now listed as 1,561 and is predicted to reach 1,586 by 1985-86 and wavering at lesser figures during the intervening years, the updated five- year projection indicated. The study attributes the weak trend in school enrollment to the sluggish economy, both local and national. Dr. Robert English of English and associates, a demographer retained by District 156 as a guide to school decisions relating to future facilities and staff, urged the district to abandon the 3 percent growth factor for enrollment which had been suggested in the original study. In place of this he said they should base future enrollment estimates on the "cohort survival method", or in simple words the number of students from one grade who will continue into the next without being added to by families moving in. Wolter said the study, based on local records, showed the high school enrollment as 1,446 in 1971-72 and reached a high of 1,736 in 1977-78. From there it declined to 1,596 for 1980-81 and is at about 1,561 for the present year. Dr. English advised that the change in growth projections is the result of the downturn in new housing starts which has affected the McHenry area since the spring of 1979 and the rising tran­ sportation costs due to increases in gasoline prices. Because of the economic instability, English believes that the shorter five- year projection based on the CSM would be more reliable than the 10-year projection with its increase factor based on units of housing. Using this earlier method of projection, the enrollment for 1985-86 would have been 1,939. English noted other indicators for his no-growth projection: recent hikes in commuter rail tickets from McHenry to Chicago going from a monthly charge of 101.25 to $162, an increase of 60 percent, and from Fox Lake to $165, an increase of 75 percent; few signs of a sustainable strength in the economy; an increase in layoffs and problems with the interest rates. A summary of the housing permits in McHenry from 1971 to 1978 showed a total of 1,134 single family and 455 multiple family units started for yearly averages of 142 and 57. In 1980 the housing permits issued dropped 34 houses and 6 units of apartments. A survey of the planned real estate developments presented a bleak pic­ ture according to the study. Brittany Builders said there would be no development near Country Club Estates until interest rates decline. Quoted one partner, "You cannot make money on development right now." Fox River developer indicated a delay in plans, "Housing starts are a function of the economy." They will wait until interest rates come down. Falcon development north of McHenry reported at a standstill. Faestel development southwest of Bull Valley and Crystal Lake roads, annexation not being pursued and improvements on hold. Winding Creek by Residential Development Group has 88 lots open with 20 homes occupied and reports a number of contracts contingent on buyers' sales of existing homes that apparently are not going through due to market conditions. Fritch property no longer being considered for annexation to city by owner. Martin's Woods, all lots sold but only one house has been built. Woodcreek, two housing starts during the past year. Glacier Ridge reports no housing starts during last year and 19 families currently occupying homes. Several speculation homes built by contractors remain unsold Derby Acres at a standstill. Towne Orleans, or McHenry Lakes, reported financial problems, but may begin some town houses soon - Pheasant Valley, Lancer Develop­ ment corporation, no new activity, and one family without children moved in during the past year Contradicting the unfavorable in­ dicators are the live birth statistics for the county, the report said, "...district growth may be spurred somewhat in (Continued on page 14) The Il l inois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has an­ nounced that the Fri tzsche subdivision public water supply mear Lakemoor) i ias fai led to adequately monitor the bacteriological quali ty of i ts public water supply and has fai led to notify i ts customers of this deficiency. Residents have been made aware of the si tuation by the IEPA Public water supplies are required to notify customers through the mail within three months after fai l ing to perform adequate monitoring. If the water supply does not notify i ts customers within three months of such a violat ion, the IEPA is then required to issue public notice. This violat ion occurred during the Aug 10-Sept 6 sampling period Failure to adequately monitor a public water supply for bacteriological quali ty could al low contamination logo undetected for extended periods of l ime, according to the IEPA Bacterial contamination may indicate the presence of disease producing organisms that could result in the nut break of a water borne disease. Continue Station Hearing Official notice has been received from the Illinois Commerce Commission granting a continuance of the Chicago and North Western hearing to Jan. 22. The hearing concerns the change in status of the McHenry railroad station. The hearing will take place at the Commission office, 160 N. LaSalle street, Chicago, at 2 p.m. Prior to that time, the City of McHenry, Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Commission representatives will meet with RTA officials to clarify objections to their proposed change in status of the station. Charge Juvenile Who Held Hostage By Angela Burden Shaw Media News Service A 15-year-old Crystal Lake youth appeared in juvenile court Monday in connection with charges stemming from the holding of hostages at gun­ point Thursday night. The young man is charged with horrte invasion, armed violence, three counts each of aggravated assault, unlawful restraint and reckless conduct, and a charge of criminal damage to property. He is being detained in the Win­ nebago Youth Home on orders of Judge Leonard Brody, who conducted the hearing in 19th Judicial Circuit court, Woodstock. A further hearing on the charges is set for Jan. 8, according to Assistant State's Attorney Gary Pack, who handled the case for the state in Monday's hearing. The police account of the Christmas Eve incident revealed a woman, her son and a neighbor were held hostage by the youth with an M l rifle. Sheriff's police related that the juvenile entered the residence of 24- year old Patricia Chavez at 4718 Squaw Creek Road, near Crystal Lake, where her six-month-old son and a neighbor, 17-year-old Sherri Vann, were also held hostage With the aid of sheriff's police, the two women escaped from the home and a short time later, police convinced the youth to surrender Reportedly the juvenile fired numerous shots in the Chavez home and also fired in the direction of his hostages. Nobody was injured, police said. The court has not decided if the youth will be tried as an adult or a juvenile, according to authorities. In serious charges, at the discretion of the judge, juveniles are sometimes tried in adult court Two-Week Amnesty I l l i n o i s T a x e s P a g e 1 2 FREE TV Guide In Today's Edition Hiring Outlook Declines I n M c H e n r y A r e a P a g e 1 3