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PAGE/-PLAINDEALER -WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1984 general Highlights from bygone days recalled Information sought oh burglaries This week Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a series of five apparently related burglaries to businesses in McHenry. The first burglary occurred on Sept. 1, 1983. All five of the businesses are located along Elm St., (Rt. 120). The string of burglaries stopped in mid-October. In every case, entry was made by forcing a door or window at the rear of each business. 459-4800 Among the items taken were a television, stereo equipment, and cash. Total loss exceeds $1,000. Although this series of burglaries seems to have ended, no suspects have yet been identified. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards of up to $1,000 for in­ formation leading to the arrest and filing of criminal charges against offenders. If you have any information of this series of burglaries along Rt. 120 in McHenry, or in­ formation about any other crimes, call Crime Stoppers at 815-459-4800. All callers remain anonymous - you never have to give your name. HOME SHOW TV personalities Norm Abram from "This Old House" and Bob Thomson from "The Victory Garden" will headline the 1984 Home Show, scheduled for March 23 through 25 at Hem- mens Auditorium in Elgin's downtown Civic Center. Show hours are noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. No charge is made. SCHOLARSHIPS The auxiliary of Good Shepherd Hospital is again offering $500 scholarships for students residing in the hospital service area. For further in­ formation or to receive a scholarship application, call 381- 9600, extension 5104. For some reason our readers want more columns about old days and history of our area. Told a couple of readers that I am running out of ideas. They don't believe me. One fellow said he would like the history of McHenry. Jold So I Hear by Earl Walsh him it was old stuff. "Not to most of us", was his reply. So. Let's go back to the beginning. McHenry celebrated its Centennial in 1936. Friday, July 31 was McHenry Day with a program headed by the late George Johnson, Chairman. People came from far and near for the celebration. Somei who couldn't travel, sent letters and poems to be included in the booklet. But, here I am 100 years ahead of the beginning. McHenry was settled in 1836, then a part of Cook County, but during the session of 1836-37, the Legislature set aside the territory of what is now McHenry and Lake Counties. The new territory was named McHenry County in honor of General McHenry, who fought in the war of 1812 and the Black Hawk War. I don't know much about the days before the white men took over, but history tells us this area was in possession of the Potawatamie Indians. Grandma told us stories about the Indians crossing the Fox River and coming to homes on Irish Prairie to ask for food. She never expressed any fear of them. But, come to think of it, she wasn't afraid of the devil himself. The village of McHenry was surveyed and laid out in the year HEAR, BUT DO NOf UNDERSTAND? WE CAN HELP I FREE 30 DAY TRIAL STARKEY CUSTOM CANAL AID (SAME AS PRESIDENT REAGAN WEARS) HEARINC AID SALES A REPAIRS AU MAKES SERVICE CENTER HOURS WEDNESDAYS 10 TO 5 WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS! 675 & 13 BATTERIES DURACELL-RAY O VAC-EVEREADY BUY AT WHOLESALE $400 Robert S tons land, owwr 25 yrs. experience McHENRY HEARING AID CENTER 3937 W. MAIN, McHENRY 60050 [815)3*5-7661 KRYSTAL KLEAR CLEANING "WHERE NO JOB IS 100 BIG OR TOO SMALL" T^r OFFERING: QUALITY HOUSE CLEANING • Floors Stripped • Windows Washed • Office Cleaning • Carpet Cleaning • Homes Sanitized •Gift Certificates Available for Baby Showers. Birthdays |u & Anniversaries FULLY INSURED ft BONDED 815-385-1877 REDUCED HOUSEKEEPING RATES FOR SR. CITIZENS Ovtr 15 Y*on Of Satisfied Customers *299"SALE LOOK WHAT $29995 CAN BUY! mama mmm m wmm * RENT RINSEHVAC th« professional do-it-yourself carpet cleaning system First Houf of Rental FREE $1.00 per hour..for every hour thereafter (Example 2 hours... total charge $1 plus tax.) NO MINIMUM Special Rental Rate Good Monday thru Thursday RINSENVAC cleans the way professionals do at a fraction of the cost. SAT.. & SUN. NO MINIMUM OVERNIGHT SPECIAL! 8:00PM - 9:00AM $10.00 HOW*?! 4400 W. RTE. 120 McHENRY ILL. 1837 and became the County Seat. When Lake County was separated from McHenry, the people chose Centerville (Woodstock) as the County Seat. Old Timers claim that Cen­ terville wasn't settled, but when word of the election got out, some people cleared a patch of grass and trees, hastily put up some buildings and claimed the site as the central part of the County. No doubt about it being the central part. The rest of the story probably came from disappointed citizens in McHenry. McHenry \ had not built its Court House and jail until the same year (1844) the County Seat was changed. The building was situated in the City Park and later moved to a part of where the McHenry House still stands. George Gage, who owned land in West McHenry (Gagetown) was credited with bringing the railroad to that location in 1854. It wasn't until 1872 that McHenry was incorporated as a village. It was on May 15, 1923, that McHenry became a city. Dr. D. G. Wells was the mayor, the spark in the plan to construct and do away with little buildings out back. Progress followed forming of the Village. Telegraph was established in 1873, the first message being sent by Hon. F. K. Granger. Would you believe? He received an answer the same day. Telephones came in 1897, water systems in 1898, gas in 1912. My folks had gas lights, soft on the eyes, but not as bright as the electric bulbs that followed. Mesh mantles were a part of the gas lights. Tricky little things, it you talked across a room with too much of a thud, they shattered. A water power plant was installed in the Owen grist mill in 1908. This location was designated as being near Unti's Ice Cream factory. Today you would say the location is where the "Spirit of a New Decade' restaurant has been operated on the West Side of Green St. _ I have written about our first hotels so will skip that for now. The first Post Office came in 1837 in a log building near where the Riverside Hotel stands. The Post Office was moved to West McHenry in 1882. Old Timers swore the little building was moved bodily during the night. Overcrickersl The East Side got a Post Of­ fice in 1883. Mail was addressed to either McHenry or West McHenry. No house numbers. Everybody knew everybody. After years of growth, the official population of McHenry was 1,596 in the year 1940. Think I'll call that enough history for this time. Will get back to it. ' Suppose you think I remember all about the above events and dates. Oh, sure! What I remembered was where to look for the in­ formation to please readers who wanted it. Another St. Patrick's Day has come and gone. --And a grand day it was. Joe Etten came a-callin' with a package Verona had carefully wrapped. Opening it, we found a green cap from the Lawrence Welk Village with a March 17th, sleep the 18th, pin attached. Looking further we found a beautiful key chain with Irish blessings im­ printed. A doozy of a card came from Bob and Jean Adams. Bimbo's was a buzzin' at noon, McHenry Country Club at night. Suppose other spots were just as busy, but we couldn't observe all of them. Paul Overton celebrated his birthday on St. Patrick's Day as everybody tried to guess his age. Our one disappointment was not greeting Lucille Geraty who was hospitalized. This great lady gave McHenry a daughter, Pat Coughlin, a little colleen who is loved by all. Now* comes a struggle with myself. I can't find -it trt my heart to dispose of any of the cards received. FRAUD CHARGE Attorney general Neil Har- tigan's office has filed a fraud suit against Friendship Sight­ seeing Tours of Peoria for allegedly defrauding numerous individuals. Any individual who believes he or she has been defrauded by Friendship Sightseeing Tours should immediately contact Attorney General Hartigan's Peoria regional office, 323 Main Street, Peoria. WE CARRY ALL MAJOR MANUFACTURES! * CATALINA * ASSOCIATED * OAKWOOD * WOOD b DREAMS * PACIFIC TRENDS All beds include deluxe heater, U.L. approved 400 watt 3 D radial lap mattress, Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, stand-up liner, 9" riser pedestal, plywood deck, fill kit & adap tors, waterbed conditioner, 6 month supply, kiln dried frames, (no local products), crafted high glossed finished headboards. HIGH QUALITY NOT HIGH PRICES! : > • MATTRESS £ PADS 9 1/2 PRICE P.S. Bring us any quote, and we will give you more quality for the price! 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