For the better part of McHenry’s early history, the Riverside Hotel was the place for some of the best entertainment in the city. In the early 1890s, the Riverside featured the Chic Perkins Comedy Company. The Company was headed by Genevieve “Chic” Perkins and her husband Frank King. Most of the performances were comedy/dramas that… Continue reading The Chic Perkins Comedy Company
In the beginning of the 1930s, the Polly Prim soon went by the name of ‘The Bridge’ or ‘The Bridge Ballroom.’ During the 1930s and 1940s, the Bridge would operate similarly to the Prim. Dances, dinners, and fights were again very popular. However, due to some different factors, mainly from the Depression and World War… Continue reading The Bridge Ballroom
When the McHenry Post Office moved in 1882, it opened up one of the most interesting parts of the city’s history. For many years, McHenry was the only city in the country with two Post Offices in one zip code and surprisingly, it had some rather colorful events. (There was another fire on the north… Continue reading The Closing of the West McHenry Post Office
In the early morning of April 11, 1926, Mathias Laures was walking down Main Street in West McHenry when he noticed a fire in the back of the Justen Furniture & Undertaking business. He quickly spread the word, which included blowing the large whistle at the Borden Factory summoning help. Yet but by the time… Continue reading The 1926 West McHenry Fire
On the night of September 5, George Phister was just starting his security rounds at the Ravinia Park Casino when he was overtaken by a group of men in the dark. They took his keys, bound him and proceeded to rob the Casino. Also, in what was probably an accident in attempting to scare him,… Continue reading The Mysterious Case of Frederick Wennerstrom pt. 2
On December 10, 1961, McHenry Held its first Christmas Parade. Sponsored by the city’s Chamber of Commerce, the idea was to celebrate the holiday season as well as drum up sales for local businesses. The McHenry COC also sponsored the Fiesta Day Parade, Play Day as well as the Dollar Day. Just like today, businesses… Continue reading McHenry’s 1st Christmas Parade
Through most of its existence, McHenry County has been an area focussed on agriculture. In the late part of the 19th century, pickle factories became something of a fad in the county. Woodstock, Crystal Lake, and Nunda were just some of the local towns to have them. By 1880, McHenry actually had two pickle factories.… Continue reading The McHenry Pickle Factory
In the summer of 1935 St. Mary's softball charity game proved to be a memorable one. It pitted teams from the McHenry Elderly Men and St. Mary's Holy Name Society and featured a bonus game that between the Married Men vs. the Single Men. People were really looking forward to the game as it featured… Continue reading Red Faber Pitches in McHenry
The Everett Hunter Manufacturing Company was a staple in McHenry for many years. Everett Hunter's boat making business started in 1889 when he immigrated to the US from England. In 1919, business was booming and it was decided that they would expand into producing phonographs as well. What put phonographs on the map was that… Continue reading The Everett Phonograph & Music Store
