An article in Time magazine, December 28, 1936, tells the best version of the story.
"Singing Mouse"
"Inmates of the Chicago Industrial Home for Children at Woodstock were convinced last fortnight that a canary was loose somewhere in the building. Day after day they heard it chirp and trill. Day after day they searched for it high & low without success. Then one day the school manager heard the piping behind him, turned and beheld its astonishing source--a small, grayish brown mouse.
Captured, placed in a glass jar and named Mickey, the singing mouse became the wonder & delightof school and neighborhood. Even newshawks admitted after an audition that it actually sang. When Assistant Director Robert Bean of the Chicago Zoological Park called, it faild to perform. Nonetheless Director Bean, who had heard of singing mice before, offered $150 for it. Dr. Wilfred H. Osgood, zoology curator of the Field Museum of Natural History, also said that he had heard of singing mice, though he had never seen one. Declared University of Chicago's Dr. Maud Slye, famed cancer experimenter: "I have had 160,000 mice and I never had one that sang. If there is a singing mouse, I am open to conviction."
To the mouse, renamed Minnie after examination by Zooman Bean, came a supreme test one evening last week. Up to a microphone in NBC's Chicago studios stepped the master of ceremonies of the NBC Jamboree to announce "the phenomenon of the century...the only mouse in the world who actually sings." Into the studio marched the Industrial School's tall, gaunt Manager Oscar Alva Allred, carring Minnie in a wire-fronted box. Holding the cage before the microhone, Manager Allred poked a small piece of insulated wire through a hole in the box top, tenderly prodded Minnie's belly. As the visible audience of 400 listened raptly, out over a national network went faint, wavering chirps and trills. It sounded as much like a cricket as like a canary, but that Minnie really sang there was no doubt. After the broadcast a cage was fashioned of glass and cardboard, its bottom strewn with strips of cloth and paper for mousy nesting. Press and newsreel photographers crowded around, snapped perky, self-assured Minnie until midnight. A Chicago hotel matched the Zoo's offer for her. Manager Allred held out for $1,000, hoped to get it from Walt Disney, whose singing mouse escaped a few months ago.
How & why mice sing is a scientific mystery. Dr. Slye thought Minnie might have a respiratory condition similar to human rales. In 1932 Zoologist Lee R. Dice of University of Michigan suggested in the Journal of Mammalogy that all mice may sing, but on a pitch too high for the human ear unless the mouse has unusual vocal equipment. In other words, perhaps Minnie was a basso mouse.
Dr. Dice, president of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters, secured a singing mouse in 1926, has bred many descendents without producing another real songster. Last spring he reported to the Yale Institute of Human Relations the mouse's superiority to the canary as a musical pet. Observed he: "The musical mouse can be heard only 25 feet, so that the song is less irritating to the nerves and can be escaped easily by moving out of range."

The Woodstock Sentinel followed the story with several articles. It turns out that there were two singing mice, Minnie and a daughter. On September 15, 1938, both were on exhibition at the Methodist Church as part of the fiftieth anniversary celebration of the Children's Home. Unfortunately, just a little over a month later, Minnie died at the age of two years, two months.

The caption on the back of this photo identifies the event as Minnie signing her contract for a year of appearances on an unspecified "radio chain." Herbert Gensch is on the left and Robert Kendall from the radio chain is on the right.

In the Woodstock Archives, the file folder is labelled "Woodstock--Biography--Mice, Famous."


]]> Acme Newspapers, Inc.]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> Excellent Condition
File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1921 - 1950 notebook]]>
Looking at the landscaping, this photo was taken soon after.

A. S. Wright Druggist is printed on the front. He was in business from 1880-1840.

Auburn Post Card Mfg. Co. started in business in 1913 but changed its name to Auburn Greeting Card Company in 1929.]]> Auburn Post Card Mfg. Co]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards Notebook]]>
Auburn Post Card Mfg. Co., Auburn, Indiana 1913-1929]]> Auburn Post Card Mfg. Co]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]> The dome is obscured by smoke from one of the chimneys. A television antenna and two small enclosures show the working side of the building. The crown that was originally on the dome is missing.]]> Beatrice Pond]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
in Photos 1970-2002 notebook]]> Other buildings rarely photographed are along Jefferson St and back up to the Square:
122 S. Jefferson: St. John's Lutheran church (burned down in 1990 while it was being used as storage for Bohn's Ace Hardware)
118 S. Jefferson: Sherman Apartments built in 1905
116 S. Jefferson: (rear of Woodstock Dry Goods building)
114 S. Jefferson
Adjacent to the Odd Fellows building is the side of Sherman block: M. Sherman jewelers & instruments

Oddfellows]]> Bradford & Co, St. Joseph, Mich]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]>
Leander Young was a life-long resident of Woodstock. Born in 1851, he became a grocer as a young man and then expanding his store to include hardware. He was the Fire Marshall in 1898 and was a People's Life Insurance agent in 1914. He died in 1929.

His son Bart Colton Young, after graduating from Woodstock High School, became a stenographer. He was so skilled, that when Eugene Debs was incarcerated in the McHenry County Courthouse for six months in 1895 for contempt of court, he hired Bart as his clerk. After that, Bart worked for Oliver Typewriter Factory. His wedding anouncement in the Woodstock Sentinel describes the groom in glowing terms: "Soon after the Oliver factory came to Woodstock, Mr. Young was employed by the typewriter company, and through his strict attention to the detail work of turning out a perfect product, he has risen importance in the company's business until he now holds the foremanship of the aligning department and stock room, two of the most important departments in the whole factory." [Woodstock Sentinel, Sept. 21, 1905]

331 S. Jefferson
Frank A. Daniels was a "Popular pharmacist and manager Of Hoy's Drug Store for many years. Woodstock never had a finer gentleman or more progressive citizen than was Frank Daniels. Died Oct. 10, 1917." [Woodstock Sentinel March 13, 1937, Section 6 page 4]]]> Bradford & Co. St Joseph, Mich.]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook
]]>
There is also a rare view of the Montgomery Ward department store before the addition that doubled its original size.

At the rear a team of horses are backed up to the building. Across Throop St. several billboards can be seen: "Car of Value Pontiac V-6" and "Redfern Co."

Two men stand in front of the building and in front of a car although one man looks like he might be a ghost.]]> Bransby Bros.]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1921-1950 notebook]]>
Good view of the building that used to be at 131 W. Van Buren. In the 1935 City Directory, the listing was for the Double Dipper--ice cream with your hamburger.]]> Bransby Bros.]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1921-1950 notebook]]>
Also shows a clear view of the rear of Chauncy Hill's Blacksmith Shop 110 W. Calhoun (as well as 125 Van Buren)]]> Bransby Bros.]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1921-1950 notebook]]> The postcard is post marked March 24, 1914
Taken from the street near Benton, it shows the Opera House without a fire escape. The dirt streets and the rope on post railing on the square indicate that it was taken before 1912. It shows the Bunker Brothers building with an awning sign for C. S. Coakley and J. S. Andrews next door. J. S. Andrews advertised his groceries in the Woodstock Republican between 1907 and 1911 and on December 30, 1908 his ad said, "We moved to the C.F. Gaulke & Sons Meat Market." An article on Gaulke praised his good business skills at his corner stand.

Other visible buildings include Chauncy Hill's blacksmith shop on Van Buren and Stafford's Furniture on Johnson St.
111 E. Van Buren Bunker Borthers Hardware, Groceries, Barbed Wire
113 E. Van Buren C. S. Coakley
115 E. Van Buren
117 E. Van Buren J. S. Andrews
121 W. Van Buren City Hall
125 W. Van Buren Chauncy Hill Blacksmith
129 W. Van Buren
124 Johnson
C. R. Childs Photograph postcards Chicago]]> C R Childs Photographs]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In postcards notebook]]>
Keep your eye on THE FRONT WINDOW
Don’t fail to be at J. J. Stafford’s afore at 7:30 o’clock sharp Wednesday night and witness the novel fete of hypnotizing over the long distance telephone by the Great Mack of the Mack’s Hypnotic Comedy company. The Macks have a national reputation and are people of the highest moral and literary entertainers, whom to meet and to know is a real pleasure. The spectacle to be witnessed at the opera house has never been witnessed in this city before. No such artists In this line of work have ever visited this section. That the theatre will be turned into a merrymaking place as well as a school of instruction cannot again be said. All the tests and experiments, especially the comical ones, are the embodiment of entertainment. [Woodstock Sentinel Sept. 5, 1912]

C.R. Childs published the postcard, numbered G245. Charles R. Childs was a prominent Chicago photographer and post card manufacturer from about 1906 until the 1950s. He sent photographers out on the interurban trains to various towns in the Midwest to capture views that would be saleable. He specialized in "real photo" postcards.]]> C. R. Childs]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Keefe
In Keefe Postcards box in Keefe file cabinet]]>
Cyrus Durfee was a physician who practiced in Woodstock until 1874, then his name appears in the Chicago business directories until his death in 1901.

The house became the Always Inn sometime between 1903, When Thomas and Gertrude Shackell were married, and when this postcard was printed. The hotel was first known as Always Inn, but the name was listed as Hotel Hillcrest in the 1914 city directory. The Shackell’s ran the hotel until their deaths in 1950. He died on February 28 and she died March 13. It was still a hotel in 1960 (called The Crest), but was vacant for most of the 1960s. The house was divided into apartments around 1968.

Note the spelling ALLWAYS Inn on the concrete step near the sidewalk]]> CE Wheelock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> Digital Copy Only]]>
This postcard is the work of C. R. Childs. He was among the most popular and prolific postcard producers in the Chicago area. He started his photography business in 1900 and was one of the first to see the benefit of the new technology. By 1906, he was sending photographers on interurban trains all over the area and he remained in business until the 1950s. The postcard craze was at its height between 1095 and 1915. Newberry Library and the Chicago History Museum house extensive CR Childs collections.
The date estimate for the postcard is based on the beginning date that Childs was active, 1905, and the date for another card in this series "McHenry Co Courthouse and Sheriff's Residence 6201" that has dirt streets on the Square, so was taken before 1912.]]> CR Childs]]>
As in many postcards of the Square park, trees dominate the scene. The focal point is the bandstand, which was built in 1909 (not the current version of the bandstand.) Barely visible behind the trees and band stand are the buildings on Cass and automobiles on Main Street.

The production number is OA5192, indicating that it was produced in 1930.
]]> Curt Teich]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Keefe
In Jim Keefe file cabinet Postcards box
]]>
Teich used a four-color printing process. In this case, the court house is carefully colored while the other buildings in the photo have a slight color wash.

Druggist A. S. Wright published a postcard using this black and white photo with only a blue wash to color the sky.]]> Curt Teich]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> In Keefe Postcards box in Keefe file cabinet]]>
The parish house was built when Rev. Michael S. Gilmartin was pastor from 1905-1908. It was torn down in 1965 to make way for a new rectory during Fr. Joseph Egan's pastorate (1934-1968).

This information is from the Woodstock Sentinel 3-13-1937, Section 1, page 4.

We have no information about C. H. Dobbins.No information about C. H. Dobbins]]> Dobbins, C. H.]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

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The original Tappan Steam Pump then Oliver Typewriter factory is located to the right of the right-hand smokestack. The old McHenry County Courthouse dome is in the center bottom. Buildings on Cass St., Throop St., Washington St., Main St., Benton St., Church St., Clay St., and along the railroad tracks can be seen. The smokestack on the left is part of the Woocstock city power plant on Wheeler St. Clay Street School is in the top center.

Woodstock--Die Casting Timeline
Predecessors:
1893 Woodstock Public Improvement Committee offered a $20,000 bonus to attract industry
1894 Tappan & Wheeler Steam Pump Company moved from Chicago; produced pumps for Procter & Gamble, Colgate and other soap manufacturers.
1896 Oliver Typewriter Company produced typewriters sold all over the world. As the major employer of the area (1,400 employees), the company had a band, fire department, semi-pro baseball team and major social events such as a summer picnic in the Fox River Grove picnic grounds. The Oliver typewriter allowed the user to see the letters as they were typed, rather than raising the bar to read the copy. It went out of business in 1927 when it was deemed too costly to retool the factory. It stayed open a few years offering repair services.
1928 Alemite Die Casting & Manufacturing of Chicago produced aluminum cookware, parts for Hamilton Beach, Speed Queen, Whirlpool; electric trains and toys; and many other items. Their fireproof storage room held over 4, 000 different precision molds.
1935 Electric Auto-Lite made automobile parts and accessories, including door handles, grilles and hood ornaments for Ford Motor Company and Packard and others. It had over 2,000 employees in 1949.
1963 Woodstock Die Casting, (the name was bought from its parent company, Eltra Corporation) manufactured automotive, appliance and industrial fittings
1964 A five-year building and renovation project added 100,000 square feet to the complex
1979 Allied Chemical Corporation acquired Eltra.
1980 Allied merged with Signal Corporation and became Allied-Signal Corporation.
1985 Woodstock Manufacturing Corporation purchased the plant and named the company Woodstock Die Cast Corporation. Despite the name, the company was located in Southfield, Michigan.
1988 United Auto Workers Local 922 went on strike. The dispute over pay, pensions and safety issues lasted over two years.
1990 Woodstock Die Cast plant closed on June 29 with a loss of 757 jobs.
1992 Mary Ann Talbert and Pauline Gray convince officials to let them remove historical documents from the company vault the day before the building was closed-down and locked for good. Mary Ann donated the items to the McHenry County Historical Society.
1997 The 400,000 square -foot plant was demolished; the 204-foot smokestack was the last to go in May 7.]]> Don Peasley]]> IN COPYRIGHT]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Typewriters notebook]]>
Woodstock--Die Casting Timeline
Predecessors:
1893 Woodstock Public Improvement Committee offered a $20,000 bonus to attract industry
1894 Tappan & Wheeler Steam Pump Company moved from Chicago; produced pumps for Procter & Gamble, Colgate and other soap manufacturers.
1896 Oliver Typewriter Company produced typewriters sold all over the world. As the major employer of the area (1,400 employees), the company had a band, fire department, semi-pro baseball team and major social events such as a summer picnic in the Fox River Grove picnic grounds. The Oliver typewriter allowed the user to see the letters as they were typed, rather than raising the bar to read the copy. It went out of business in 1927 when it was deemed too costly to retool the factory. It stayed open a few years offering repair services.
1928 Alemite Die Casting & Manufacturing of Chicago produced aluminum cookware, parts for Hamilton Beach, Speed Queen, Whirlpool; electric trains and toys; and many other items. Their fireproof storage room held over 4, 000 different precision molds.
1935 Electric Auto-Lite made automobile parts and accessories, including door handles, grilles and hood ornaments for Ford Motor Company and Packard and others. It had over 2,000 employees in 1949.
1963 Woodstock Die Casting, (the name was bought from its parent company, Eltra Corporation) manufactured automotive, appliance and industrial fittings
1964 A five-year building and renovation project added 100,000 square feet to the complex
1979 Allied Chemical Corporation acquired Eltra.
1980 Allied merged with Signal Corporation and became Allied-Signal Corporation.
1985 Woodstock Manufacturing Corporation purchased the plant and named the company Woodstock Die Cast Corporation. Despite the name, the company was located in Southfield, Michigan.
1988 United Auto Workers Local 922 went on strike. The dispute over pay, pensions and safety issues lasted over two years.
1990 Woodstock Die Cast plant closed on June 29 with a loss of 757 jobs.
1992 Mary Ann Talbert and Pauline Gray convince officials to let them remove historical documents from the company vault the day before the building was closed-down and locked for good. Mary Ann donated the items to the McHenry County Historical Society.
1997 The 400,000 square -foot plant was demolished; the 204-foot smokestack was the last to go in May 7.]]> Don Peasley]]> IN COPYRIGHT]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Typewriters notebook
]]> Don Peasley]]>
IN COPYRIGHT

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Typewriters notebook]]> As of 2026, the property is still vacant.]]> Don Peasley]]>
IN COPYRIGHT

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In the Typewriters notebook]]>
Woodstock Manufacturing Company of Michigan bought Woodstock Die Casting from the Allied-Signal Corporation in 1985. After years of decline, the factory closed June 29, 1990 resulting in the loss of 757 jobs. The City of Woodstock took ownership of the property in 1991 and all the buildings were demolished in anticipation of redevelopment. The Water Tower was the last structure remaining on the site. Many townspeople watched as the tower, a landmark for more than 100 years, was toppled.]]> Don Peasley]]> IN COPYRIGHT

]]>
The panorama sky has a pinkish and blue wash, the trees and grass are a deep green, and the only building with any color is the red brown on the blacksmith's shop next to City Hall.

Comparing this panorama with the postcard "Park Scene, Woodstock, Ill." that has no information on the back other than "printed in Germany", we discover a bit of photo piracy--the two photos are identical.

The real publisher is E. C. Kropp of Milwaukee, who started in business in 1907. The postcard can be dated between then and 1910 (the postmark of the pirated card.) Kropp remained in business until 1956.

On the back of the panorama the Stamp Box lists the cost to send it:
"1 c to all Countries if writing your name only
2c to U.S., Canada and Mexico. 5c to all other countries, if writing a message"

121 W. Van Buren: City Hall
125 W. Van Buren" C. W. Hill Blacksmith
]]> E. C. Kropp]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Keefe
In Jim Keefe file cabinet Postcard box]]> Corner of Jackson & Throop
Listed as First Baptist Church in the 1914 City Directory

101 N. Throop now is on this location

"The present Baptist church was erected in 1866, being located at the corner of Jackson and Throop streets. It is a frame structure with a seating capacity of about 250, with prayer rooms in the rear, and cost about $7,000. It has been vastly improved in recent years, and the payment of the last obligation in 1927 was celebrated by a happy gathering of the membership. The steeple was blown off during a severe wind and thunder storm many years ago." [Woodstock Sentinel 3-13-1937 Sec 1 p 4]
E. C. Kropp Co. Publ. Milwaukee no. 39]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]> A train from Chicago may be due since there are a few men and a boy on that side of the tracks.
The number on the front of the postcard says 5-45.The date of the postcard is courtesy of Craig Pfannkuche/Chicago Northwestern RR Archives.

On the right behind the platform shelter is the City of Woodstock power plant smokestack.

On the reverse, The L. L. Cook Co. Milwaukee claims "All Rights Reserved" but the "Place Stamp Here" logo is that of the E. C. Kropp company. This means that the photo was taken before 1956 when Cook purchased Kropp.]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

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Buildings on Throop Street behind the Sheriff's House are visible

E. C. Kropp started in business in 1907 in Milwaukee. The card is postmarked 1908 and probably was printed that year since there is room on the back for a message as well as an address.]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]>
100 N. Benton
102 N. Benton
104 N. Benton
106 N. Benton
108 N. Benton
110 N. Benton
112 N. Benton
114 N. Benton Whitson's Hardware
116 N. Benton
118 N. Benton
120 N. Benton
122 N. Benton
124 N. Benton YMCA (upstairs)
126 N. Benton Harness Shop, Dr. Yessler Dentist (upstairs)

Ca. 1908: Edwin Whitson, last of the family, died in 1908]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards Notebook]]>
Although Paul R. Vogel Co. (1911-1940s) is printed on the back, the postage stamp area shows the EKC monogram of E. C. Kropp company (1907-1956.)

The lettering on the face of the postcard is very similar to the printing on the C & NW Railroad Station (ID 158) also by E. C. Kropp and probably the photo was taken at the same time period.

The traffic sign reads U. S. Route 14. In 1961, the bypass was completed and the signs changed to Business 14.]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]> The old school on South Street is more visible.


120 W. Calhoun

E. C. Kropp Co., Pub., Milwaukee, No. 353
It is postmarked 1915]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards Notebook]]>
E. C. Kropp company of Milwaukee was in business from 1907 - 1956. An identical postcard for sale on the web shows a postmark of 1907.

The message on back: Hello Bright Eyes, I love my Woodstock, but oh you Chicago. Having a fine time. Will see you soon. Yours, H. Sullivan. It was addressed to (Miss) A. E. Griffin, Chicago and was postmarkd 1910.

Earlier edition of this postcard is from Jim Keefe's collection. It is postmarked 1906 and the front says M. Sherman & Sons, Woodstock, Ill., Publishers. Front message dated Aug 17 06:
Hello Miss Scott . Here I am. Lovingly, Jessie]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards Notebook]]> A house is visible on the right of the church where the St. Mary junior high building is now located.

E. C. Kropp photography of Milwaukee was in business between 1907 & 1956. The photo is colorized.]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]>
Woodstock Hospital was moved from Clay Street to the Judge Theodore Murphy home at 527 W. South Street in 1915. This photo shows the Bentley Wing that was built in 1937 in front of the original building.

The name of the hospital was changed to Memorial Hospital after World War II.

L. L. Cook Co. printed this card after 1956 but the K. C. Kropp logo on the stamp area shows that Kropp (1907-1956) took the photo. The number is L-6.]]> E. C. Kropp, Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]>
E. W. Blossom's Jewelry and Watches was opened in 1868 at 117 E. Van Buren. From 1872 to 1885 the store was located at 107 E. Van Buren. After 1885 the store moved to 104 N. Benton (east side of Square).

The back of the stereoptican reads: E.W. Blossom, dealer in Fine Watches, Rich Jewelry, Silver and Plated Wares, Clocks, fancy goods, wall pockets, brackets, toys, pocket books, musical instruments, walking sticks, chromos, gold, silver & steel spectacles.
Watches, clocks and jewelry repaired and warranted.
Fancy and ornamental engraving. All goods sold engraved free of charge.
Remember I will not be undersold.
The photograph on the other side is a perfect picture of my store. Be sure and call before purchasing
East side Square, Woodstock, Ill.

A Victorian wall pocket is a ceramic vase meant to be attached to the wall.
Chromos are displayed on the high shelf on the left wall of the photo. These expensive reproductions of paintings were created by chromolithography, a technique for printing color that was popular after the Civil War until being replaced by offset printing in the 1930s.]]> E. J Dougherty, Elgin, Ill.]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe historical photos (copies and originals)]]>
Two versions of this postcard are included in the Jim Keefe collection. The first, and original, version is by E. C. Kropp of Milwaukee who took the photo and produced a colorized postcard. The second postcard has A.S. Wright Pub. in place of EC Kropp. It has a color wash rather than being full-color. Copyright laws were not always followed at the time, but perhaps Wright did work with Kropp rather than "pirate" the card.

When it was erected, everyone called it the Soldier's Monument. It has other names: Civil War Statue and The Sentinel due to the fact that the Woodstock Sentinel newspaper used a drawing of it as their masthead.]]> EC Kropp]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Keefe
In Keefe Postcards box in Keefe file cabinet]]>
Emerson Typewriter Co. was founded in Momence, Illinois in 1909 and moved to Woodstock in 1910. City subscribers raised $30,000 to purchase the land and build this 25,000 square foot building. Alvah Roebuck (of Sears and Roebuck Dept. Store) became a partner and the company was renamed Roebuck Typewriter Co. for a very short time. In 1913, the company was again renamed, this time to Woodstock Typewriter and was headed by Alvah Roebuck.

In 1950, the R.C. Allen company bought the factory, manufacturing typewriters and office machines. They went out of business in 1971l

Woodstock Wireworks (known locally as the lampshade factory) took over the building in 1972.

The building was converted into Emerson Lofts in 2006.
]]> Gus Persson]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
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The building on the right was known as the Dacy Block, where agricultural implements and vehicles were sold. The illustration in the 1872 Atlas and Plat Book of McHenry County shows an empty space to the left that the artist filled with drawings of the items that were part of the "agricultural warehouse of T. J. Dacy." In a photo taken in 1888, wagons, carriages and wheels take up the same space and Dacy is still the owner.

This photo was taken by Gus Persson sometime between 1906 and 1908. Lumley and Field Lawyers were only together for a short time and most of the advertisements in the Woodstock Sentinel were published in 1906. George Field served the U. S. government in Washington for a while during this period but returned to Woodstock. Both he and Vincent Lumley were actively involved in city and county offices.

Harts Grocery and Walters & Burger Carriages and Farm Machinery were still in business in the same location in the 1916 city directory.]]> Gus Persson]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> Black and white photo print
File Cabinet 6 Photos]]> Jefferson St back of Square]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe photos (original)]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original)]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos]]> The bench style show that it was before the new benches provided by Columbia Pictures after the filming of Groundhog Day.

The back of the photo has a note "Angela-call me- J. Keefe" with his phone numbers.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
100-108 N. Benton Murphy Building
110 N. Benton Studio 2015
112 N. Benton Stone's
114 N. Benton Lloyd's Paint N Paper
116 N. Benton Uptown Salon
118 N. Benton Cath-Lynn's Gift Shop
120 N. Benton Frames' Menswear

Main Street Shops sign]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
in Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
At the time of filming, this façade along with the modern stone façade of the buildings on both sides, were deemed inauthentic by the artistic director and were never filmed in the movie.

Harold Bushkopf retired in 1996
Angelos and Hair Directors were in their respective locations for years.
The back of the photo paper is stamped Kodak Official Sponsor of the Olympic Games which occurred in 1996.

109 Van Buren Hair Directors
111 Van Buren Bushkopf Pharmacy
113 Van Buren vacant
117 Van Buren Angelo's Restaurant]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
113 Van Buren]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (originals)]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe photos (original)]]>
112 Cass Town Square Realty
114 Cass Easy Travel]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (Originals)]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe photos (original photos)]]>
100 Cass Sewing Concepts
102 Cass Centerville Fabrics
104 Cass Thoughtfulness Shop
106 Cass Prairie Patchwork Mercantile Inc. (quilts)
108 Cass Tip Top Cafe]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
The church was on the corner of Church & Jefferson Streets where the Challenger Learning Center is now located. The original front portico and door was removed so outside access was from the street level only. The steeple was also removed and the Dacy Lumber sign put on the steeple support.

This photo shows most of the old house facing Jefferson that had been used as the lumber company office. It was demolished at the same time as the church.

A photo of the original church and the history is covered in ID 50.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Peasley
In Keefe Photos-Original photos]]>
The railroad crossing arm indicates how close to the tracks that the storage building was located.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Peasley
In Keefe Photos]]>
The large shed and the old house are gone revealing a small shed with Tonyan Construction Company sign who will construct the new store. Also visible for the first time is the Shell gasoline station on the corner of Church and Madison. The houses on the 300 block of N. Madison St appear very similar today.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Peasley
In Keefe photos
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