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
]]>
This view is from N. Jefferson]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Peasley
In Keefe Photos]]>
The very last wall of the church is coming down. The house that is visible across the street to the left of the tree is still there, but the white house set back has since been demolished for a parking lot.

211 Church St]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9 Peasley
In Keefe Photos]]> Presented by Kishwaukee Trail Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution 1962.

This plaque was on the Jefferson St side of the grocery store.

DAR
220 Church St]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

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

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
Jim started with a picture of the Woodstock Square taken near the E. Jackson St entrance that shows the smokestack in the distance beyond Main St. Next people gather to watch, including one photographer standing on his van. In the third photo, the chimney is starting to topple. In the fourth photo, only the dust remains where the smokestack stood. Finally, Jim returned to the same location on the Square to show the empty space in the distance where the smokestack stood.

For more photos of the demolition, see the Don Peasley collection.]]> 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 (original photos)]]> 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.
Jim Keefe took a series of photos in 1997, just before the buildings were demolished. They show both the buildings on the factory grounds and also the surrounding neighborhood. This ID has 5 photos. 5 more are included in ID 407.
Die Cast Site 5 shows First St. on the left and Clay St across the open expanse of grass after the demolition.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Keefe Photos (original photos) notebook]]> Die Cast Site 6 was taken on Clay St looking south toward the factory at the intersection of First St. The white residence at 703 Clay St is still standing.
Die Cast Site 7 shows the hood of a car parked in the train depot lot (on the west side of the track) that opened onto Wheeler St. The street crossing the tracks has since been closed off.
Die Cast Site 8 was taken from the train parking lot closer to the station showing a line of cars in that lot, the tracks, and then the back side of buildings on Clay St.The brown one is the back of White House Tavern and the white building is the Butternut Bakery Thrift Shop (see Die Cast Site 10 for the front).
Die Cast Site 9 is a longer view of the parking lot so that the entire south façade of the factory and the Woodstock Die Casting lettering is visible. This photo is good for seeing where the smokestack and the water tower were situated.
Die Cast Site 10 was taken on Clay St near the north end of the Moose & Hutchins . 409 Clay-White House Tavern; 421 Clay; 425 Butternut Bread; 425 Illinois State Employment Security.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Keefe Photos (original photos) notebook]]>
This photo was taken after the fire was struck. Firemen are still on the scene.The hoses are on the street and the McHenry Township Fire District hook and ladder truck is still on Main Street. This could possibly be a business photo--Jim Keefe was a Country Companies Agent. His business info is stamped on the back.

The signs and awning for DeWane's Photo Studio are visible.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
Jim Keefe took this photo in 1984--the porches are not the same today.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (originals)]]>
The street sign for the corner of Jackson and Tryon is made of cement.

207 W. Jackson
211 W. Jackson
225 W. Jackson]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> ]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original)]]>
108 S. Jefferson: Home Federal Savings Bank of Elgin
114 S. Jefferson]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (originals)]]>
These proof sheets are photos Jim Keefe took in 1972. There are additional color photos in the Keefe Slides in History Photos. The new Government Center was being built on N. Seminary. City Hall was going to move from the Opera House to the old Courthouse Annex at 121 W. Calhoun.
The Opera House needed repair and fundraising was about to start.
The old bandstand (without a roof) was demolished late that year to be replaced by a less than satisfactory kiosk out of a catalog.
Lake Avenue, South Street, Throop Street and Washington were still designated as Business Route 14, thus there was still a traffic light and Throop & Jackson.
S & H Green Stamps could be redeemed in the flat topped building on Throop & W. Judd.
Trees on the Square were still small after the devastating flood/wind storm of the 1968.
The proof sheet photos are named Proof Sheet 1 (2 or 3) with the description of the image in alphabetical order. Only a small selection are attached because the proofs are poor and the subjects often covered in better photos.

Here are the subjects:
Proof sheet 1-1-Opera House ticket office; 2-Opera House newell post; 3-Opera House inside entry from stairs; 4-Auditoriaum pre-restoration; 5-Balcony pre-restoration; 6-Jefferson St at E Judd; 7 Jefferson at E Judd (2); 8 North Benton from tracks; 9-North Benton St alley; 10-Cass St; 11-Opera House balcony seats; 12-skipped; 13-Opera House column detail; 14-Opera House Dean st side; 15-Square from 100 Cass; 16-Benton St Lloyds and Stones; 17-Square from under awning; 18-Square small trees; 19-soldiers monument; 20-Square S. Benton corner; 21-Old Courhouse; 22-Schultz Brothers (attached); 23-Courthouse entrance and fence; 24-Courthouse rear.

Proof Sheet 2-1-Square from Courthouse roof; 2-skipped; 3-Johnson St cars; 4-Square from Schultz Bros. sidewalk; 5-Post Office & Courthouse Annex; 6-Dean St at Calhoun; 7-Calhoun St 100 east block; 8-Calhoun St 100 east block and alley; 9-Calhoun St at Jefferson (attached); 10-Jefferson St from Calhoun corner (attached); 11-E.Judd from tracks; 12-Jefferson St back of Square buildings; 13-Jefferson St back of Square wide view; 14-E. Jackson view of Courthouse; 15-Jefferson St back of Square; 16-Main St mid-block (attached); 17- Main St view of theatre side; 18- Main St parking lot from Throop

Proof sheet 3 1-Johnson St from Calhoun; 2-Courthouse Annex 121 W. Calhoun; 3-Calhoun st from Throop St apartments; 4-Bandstand; 5-Courthouse and Sheriff's House; 6-Square from 112 Cass; 7-Square Main St planter; 8-Square Main St Wiens; 9-Fire Department; 10-Van Buren from Johnson; 11-Opera House & Cubby Hole; 12-Opera House; 13-not scanned; 14 Opera House wide angle Dean st view; 15-Opera House foundation; 16-Opera House brick; 17 Opera House entrance detail; 18-Opera House stone details (may be upside down), 19-Jackson & Throop traffic light; 20-Elks and Sheriff House rear view; 21-Throop & Cass from roof of Green Stamp store (attached); 22 Throop St parking lot and Chop Suey Hut; 23-Throop St parking lot.
]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original)]]>
These kids were identified in August 2019 by "Annie" who responded to the photo published as the Photo Detective in the Woodstock Independent.

Left to right: Danielle Ryan, Lindsey Gran, Ryan Gran, Ben Ryan, Shannon Ryan.

106 N. Benton Main St Shoe Shop
108 N. Benton Beard & Stovall Men's Shop
110 N. Benton Studio 2015 Jewelry
112 N. Benton Stone's on the Square]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)
]]>
Photo #6 would make an excellent illustration of the Square on Memorial Day. It shows the square and bandstand, courthouse, soldier's monument and flag.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]> 110 S. Johnson]]> 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 (original photos)]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
The bench style identifies this as before 1992 when Columbia Pictures restored the square after the filming.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
The series of events are easy to follow, with the crane needed to lift the wooden frame into place. In photo #10, John Schares poses in front of the successful project. Photo #11 was taken some time later, after the raililngs and fishscales have been added but before the lighting (next record) was installed.]]> 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 (original photos)]]>
None of the details are very clear especially when enlarging the photo.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original Photos)
]]>
Signs and are not any easier to read when the photo is enlarged.

112 Cass Town Square Realty
Concorde Inn (Hotel sign) upstairs
118 Northern Federal Savings Bank
124 Cass Galleria
130 Cass
132 Cass
134 Cass
Elks]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
The buildings on S. Benton and Van Buren are visible in the distance. The Bohn's Hardware sign is obscured by the tree. Angelo's Restaurant has expanded to the west where Rosewood Apparel stood for many years. She went out of business in 1985.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]> The two photos are taped together to make the treeline in the background to the west line up.
From south to north in front of the trees: Methodist church, city hall and fire department, Opera House, post office/home state bank, a corner of Woodstock Square Mall, cupola of the Erastus Richards house on W. Jackson, the old courthouse, the surveyors house on W. Judd and the houses on the corner of W. Judd and Tryon.

Roofs in the foreground include Harris Bank, Divorce Busters, and the raw edge of the law offices on VanBuren.
To the right of E. Jackson is Village Cove, Beard & Stovall Men's Wear and Studio 2015.]]> 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 (origional photos)]]>
The arches over the windows on both the First National Bank and Stone's Drug Store have all been painted white.

The monument is also called the Sentinel statue.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe photos]]> Jim Clegg is wearing a light blue tee-shirt and a dark brown cap in the photos and Jim Zoia is wearing a white and jade grean shirt. Jim Zoia's grandfather Anthony Zoia installed the Civil War Statue in 1909 and his son Tony helped with this project as well but does not appear in this series. He is in ID 418 Time Capsule Search.
The most poignant photo is 419-7 which shows Jim Clegg sitting on a park bench in a pensive mood. He acknowledged in a newspaper article that he was overwhelmed when he realized that his three-year $38,000 had come to fruition.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original photos)]]>
This rebuilding was led by Frances Kuhn and the Woodstock Business and Professional Women organization as a U.S. Bicentennial project. They used original plans and even some of the original wood gingerbread for accuracy.

Frances Kuhn was Mayor of Woodstock from 1965-69 and 1977-85. She was on the City Council from 1957-65 and 1971-77.

There are more images of this construction in Keefe Slides.]]> 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 (original photos)]]>
125 E. Calhoun: D-B Enterprises [advertising merchandise]]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (originals)]]> The actual date of the photo is January 1, 1990.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe photos (original photos)]]>
This photo is taken from Jefferson St with the Sherman Apartments on the right and a rare view between the buildings on the Square and Calhoun St.]]> 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)]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In keefe Photos (original)]]>
101 S. Benton
East Jackson and Jefferson streets]]> 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)]]>
The sign on the Wood Bin indicate that they are worried about losing business durning construction: We Are Open and Use Rear Entrance.

The building adjacent to the Opera House is vacant.
127 Van Buren Landmark Pharmacy
129 Van Buren The Wood Bin
Both businesses are in the old A & P grocery building.]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (original)]]>
There is a good view of the restaurant on the opposite corner, including the vertical Restaurant sign and the green terra cotta wall tiles.
117 Van Buren: Angelo's Restaurant]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (originals)]]> 101 Van Buren Hamer Schuh law office (partial)
103 Van Buren Cobblestones
105 Smith's Children's Shop
107 Hair Directors
109 Blazier's Pharmacy
111 Cobblestones
117 Angelo's Family Restaurant]]> 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 (original photos)]]> The date is determined by ID 182 since the cars are very similar.

110 N. Johnson: Montgomery Ward Dept. Store built in 1928 with an addition in 1934.

124 N. Johnson, Woodstock Post Office built in 1932. Moved to Country Club Road in 1991

Message on back: Woodstock business is built around a square like this [arrow points to a little map] with a nice lawn and trees in the center. Mowky's here [arrow points to northwest edge].
Park cars all around on both sides. Business houses all around here and the out side.

Postage stamp area has the EKC logo of E. C. Kropp]]> L. L. Cook Co. Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]> 103 E. Van Buren: Sears (1952-1958)
105 E. Van Buren: H. W. Schmidt (1946-48) and Moose (1942-50)
107 E. Van Buren: E. G. Shinner Market (1938-48)
109: E. Van Buren: National Tea Company (1940-48)
111 E. Van Buren: E. J. Field Hardware (1926-1952)
113 E. Van Buren: Woodstock Heating (1940-48)
113 S. Benton: Woodstock Dry Goods Company (1899-1970)

(dates mainly from city directories, not research, except Field Hardware (!) and Woodstock Dry Goods)]]> L. L. Cook Co. Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]> 126 Cass: F. W. Woolworth Co. which opened Sept. 28, 1928. The old frame building on this site, known as the Austin property, was torn down in April of the same year. Woolworth's remained here until 1965. At that time, Ackemann's Department Store of Elgin remodelled the building.
128 Cass: True Value Hardware
130 Cass: Vogue Shop & Hugh Deneen, atty.
132 Cass: Trackett’s Bakery (1940-1950)
136 Cass: L. A. Barmann "The Style Shop"
138 Cass: Knuth's Sandwich Shop and Ice Cream started here in 1930 and moved to 105 Van Buren in 1948, taking over a Sporting Goods store.
140 Cass: Elk's Club, built in 1923

The message on back:Aug. 16, 1947
"Red", Catherine & Charles & I went to Fontana, Wis, to swim then drove here & saw "73 Rue Madeline" and "The Devil Thumbs a Ride." Stopped at Belvedire for a soda.
no name and no address]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Postcards notebook]]> L. L. Cook Co. Milwaukee]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]>
The publisher is not identified on the card, but the style on the front (border and font) is identical to a William G. Hoffman postcard of the South Street Culvert. The back also has the same font and layout. The card is postmarked 1910.

Hoffman was in business in Chicago from 1908-1925.

In Postcard notebook
]]> Likely William G Hoffman]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]>
The message is on the front (as was required by postal regulations): "Best Wishes To You G.C.P"

The back of the postcard is for the address only. Post cards became popular in 1905. This one is postmarked 1906.

"Hand colored work, Luman T. Hoy" who started in the pharmacy business about 1870 at the corner of Cass & Hoy, and retired in 1928.
]]> Luman T. Hoy]]> File Cabinet 9 Keefe
In the Keefe file cabinet Postcard box]]>
Clarence Olson was the very respected band director for both Central School and Woodstock High School bands from 1929 until his death in 1953. Clarence Olson school is named after him.

The students in the photo:
First row: Gordon Boone, Irvin Tucker, Hazel Shales, Floyd Eckert, Bill Gancar, Loraine Dirrenberger, Grant Rassmusen, Lewis Soenksen, Jim Nevins, Elward Sherwin, Bill Dodge, Ralph Knutsen, Allan Smith, Modelle Morris.
Second row: Henry Smith, John Schuett, Edwin Belcher, Fred Drummond, Evelyn Baymiller, Jack Nevin, Raymond Youngberg, John Coe, Jim Ogle, Betty Dietz, Joyce Sayler, Ellen Paulson, Bib Diggins, Audrey Paulson, Molly Joslyn, Garry Austin.
Third row: Bill Frame, Frances Hansen, Gracia Knaack, Marjorie Thomas, Wilbur Kiefer, Russell Andrew, Dorothy Petit, Irv Walters, Ed Monroe, Oral Eckert, Lyle Huffman, Sam Herdclotz, Dick Howell, George Hesselgrave, Slade Austin.
Fourth row: Gene Judson, Elcon Seagrist, Jim Botts, Carl Smeltzer, Lowell Nienstedt, Melvin Belcher, Grover Wilkerson, Marian Woolf, Carl McBroom, Russell Leverans, ?Woolf, ?McBroom, Ed Gorenfla, Jim Tryon, Jim Phillips

The date is estimated by comparing another band photo dated 1934. The students are wearing the same uniforms and appear to be about the same age.]]> Medlar Studio]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Oversize box; People]]>