Browse Items · Woodstock Public Library Archives

401 W. Jackson Always Inn Postcard

This postcard, published circa 1910, shows the Cyrus Durfee House, 401 W. Jackson, during the years it was a hotel. Cyrus Durfee built his "mansion" in 1867. The Woodstock Sentinel extolled it as "One of the largest, most convenient, and best…

Tags: Businesses, Houses, Jackson Street - West

Jackson St Houses demolished 1969

1969 color photograph of houses near the corner of Tryon and Jackson Streets, Woodstock, Illinois. A few 1960s era cars are parked and driving on Jackson Street.

Three large homes on the south side of Jackson St that were demolished soon after this photo was taken to make room for the First National Bank (225 W Jackson) building and parking lots.

The street sign for the corner of Jackson and Tryon is made…

Tags: 1900s, Businesses, Houses, Jackson Street - West

Jim Keefe's Tour of Woodstock 1972

1972 black and white photograph of buildings on the southwest corner of the Woodstock Square, Woodstock, Illinois. Several 1960-1970 era cars are parked on the brick paved road.

Jim Keefe’s Tour of Woodstock 1972

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…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Calhoun Street, Churches, Jefferson Street, Johnson Street, Main Street

Kids on Rollerblades May 1997

1997 color photograph of five children wearing rollerblades and sitting on a park bench in the Woodstock Square park. In the background are two and three story brick buildings.

Three other kids have joined the two boys from ID 411 and are resting on a bench in the Square. What a way to enjoy a spring day.

These kids were identified in August 2019 by "Annie" who responded to the photo published as the Photo Detective in…

Tags: 1900s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Square Park

Montgomery Ward 1969

Circa 1969 color photograph of the Montgomery Ward Building located on Johnson Street, Woodstock, Illinois. There are several cars parked on the street in front of the building.

Montgomery Ward department store taken from inside the Square where there is one large tree and two small, newly planted trees.
110 S. Johnson

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Johnson Street

Panorama Cass and Sheriff's House 1993

1993 color photograph of the north-west corner of the Woodstock Square Park taken from the Square Park bandstand. In the background are two and three story brick buildings on Cass and Johnson Streets.

This panorama was taken from the bandstand showing Cass St west of Main plus the Sheriff's House on Johnson.

Signs and are not any easier to read when the photo is enlarged.

112 Cass Town Square Realty
Concorde Inn (Hotel sign)…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Cass Street, Johnson Street, Sheriff's Residence & Jail

Panorama Square Benton and VanBuren 1993

1993 color photograph of the Woodstock Public Square looking south-east from the Square Square Park bandstand. the main focus of the photograph is a large soldier statue and the decorative Springhouse building. In the background are two and three story brick buildings on Benton and Van Buren Streets.

Taken from the bandstand, this photo shows a closeup of the soldier's monument (without his head) and the bandstand.

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…

Tags: 1900s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Civil War Monument, Soldier Monument, Square Park, Square Park Bandstand, Van Buren Street

Soldier Monument 1969

1969 color photograph of the Woodstock Square Park, Woodstock, Illinois. Prominent in the photograph is a large soldier statue in the center of the park. In the background can be seen two and three story brick buildings.

View of the back of the Civil War soldier's monument with North Benton street in the background. Visible signs include Lloyd's, Stone's, and First National Bank. Note the small trees that were recently planted after the 1967 storm.

The arches…

Tags: 1900s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Civil War Monument, Soldier Monument, Square Park

State Bank Addition 1984

1984 color photograph of a brick building addition being constructed on the south-west corner of Jefferson and Jackson Streets, Woodstock, Illinois.

The top story is being constructed for the addition to the State Bank of Woodstock. The Odd Fellows building has been demolished to make space for the addition.

101 S. Benton
East Jackson and Jefferson streets

Tags: 1900s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses

Van Buren sidewalk widening 1986

1986 color photograph of work being done on the sidewalk in front of a few buildings on Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois.

The sidewalk is being expanded on Van Buren from Dean to Johnson streets to match the one on the east side of Dean. Bricks have been removed from the street an metal walkways cover the hole.

The sign on the Wood Bin indicate that they are worried…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Van Buren sidewalk widening Opera House 1984

1986 color photograph of work being done on the sidewalk in front of the Woodstock Opera House building on Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois.<br />
In the background ar other two and three story brick buildings.

The widening of the sidewalk on Van Buren has not reached the front of the Opera House yet. Bricks, sand, and construction debris are in evidence.

There is a good view of the restaurant on the opposite corner, including the vertical Restaurant…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Van Buren St May 1997

1997 color photograph of three story brick buildings on Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois. The street is paved with bricks and several cars are parked in front of the buildings.

Van Buren St buildings taken from the corner of E. Jackson and Benton.
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…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Van Buren St with boys on roller blades May 1997

Two boys emerge from E. Jackson ready to cross Benton St to get to the Square. They are on rollerblades so are resting on the corner flower planter to wait for traffic.

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Montgomery Ward and U. S. Post Office

Circa 1947 black and white photograph of the Montgomery Ward and Post Office buildings on Johnson Street, Woodstock, Illinois. There are several 1940s era cars parked on the brick paved street in front of the buildings.

Postcard in the same series as "View in Business District" showing cars parked on Johnson Street in front of the Post Office and Montgomery Ward's deparment store. Central School on Calhoun Street can be seen on the left.
The date is determined by…

Tags: 1900s, Automobiles, Buildings, Businesses, Johnson Street, Post Office

South East Corner of Square L-38

Circa 1946-1948 black and white photograph of the south-east corner of the Woodstock Public Square Park in Woodstock, Illinois. In the park are mature elm trees, park benches and paths. In the background are two and three story brick buildings.

Part of the same series as Montgomery Ward (ID 183) and View in Business Section (ID 182), this photo of Van Buren and S. Benton street businesses was taken from the Square. Identifiable businesses include:
103 E. Van Buren: Sears (1952-1958)
105…

Tags: 1900s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Square Park, Van Buren Street

View in Business Section

Circa 1941-1947 black and white photograph of one and two story brick buildings on Cass Street, Woodstock, Illinois. The photograph was taken from the north-west corner of the Woodstock Square Park. In the park are young and mature trees and bushes. Automobiles are seen parked around the park and in front of the buildings.

Photo taken from inside the Square Park shows the businesses on the west side of Cass St. It can be dated from 1941/2 (A & P groceries replaced by True Value Hardware at 128 Cass) to 1947 as shown by the date on the message.
126 Cass: F. W.…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Cass Street

May 15 1903 | Canute Lee Sells Blacksmith Shop

1903-05-15 (mcr) canute lee sells blacksmith shop oppostie court house to william parker.jpg

Canute Lee has sold his blacksmith shop opposite the courthouse Wm. Parker, and old and experienced blacksmith, who will conduct the business in the future.

Tags: 1900s, Businesses, McHenry County Republican Newspaper, Newspaper Article

Edgetown Motors

Circa 1953 black and white photograph of a car dealershop storefront in Woodstock, Illinois.

1010 Lake Avenue
Edgetown Motors automobile dealership was located at the intersection of Route 14 (now Lake Avenue) and Route 47. The signs outside and inside are all for Hudson automobiles. Edgetown became a Studebaker dealer around 1950. Note the…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Lake Avenue

Excelsior Market on Benton Street, circa 1883

Circa 1873/1884 black and white photograph of a horse and buggy with passengers parked on the dirt road in front of a brick building on Benton Street, Woodstock, Illinois. A few men and a child are seen on the sidewalk in front of the building.

110 N. Benton: Exclesior Market and part of the G. F. Stone Drug Store [112 N. Benton] also known as the Old Reliable Drug Store.

Woman seated in a buggy driving a horse and three men & a boy look on. The dirt street is lower than the sidewalk and…

Tags: 1800s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses

First National Bank interior 1950

1950 black and white photograph of the interior of a bank in Woodstock, Illinois. On the wall behind the teller counter are oversized historical photographs of Woodstock. These photographs now hang in the Woodstock City Hall building.

Interior of the newly remodeled First National Bank (101 N. Benton). Six giant Medlar photos are displayed on the wall. Several of the photos are now displayed in City Hall.

Amcore Bank scans (in History Photos) include a photo of this interior…

Tags: 1900s, Benton Street, Businesses

Hicksgas

1023 Lake Avenue
Hicksgas was founded by Harold Hicks in 1946. This photo was taken during the same time frame as the others at this intersection, so could be as late as 1953. In addition to the propane tanks, appliances such as a refrigerator,…

Tags: 1900s, Businesses, Lake Avenue

J. Dennis Livery Stable

Circa 1896 black and white photograph of a livery stable company in Woodstock, Illinois. In front of the building is a man holding the reins of two horses. Another horse and some horse buggies can also be seen in front of the building.

J. Dennis Livery Feed and Sale Stable
Corner of Jefferson and E. Jackson

Tags: Buildings, Businesses, Jackson Street - East, Jefferson Street

M. Blossom on chair in snow of 1881

1881 black and white photograph of a man sitting on a chair on top of a pile of snow. Behind the pile of snow are several people posing for the camera. In the distance are brck and wood buildings.

Another view of the great snowstorm of March 19, 1881 shows the east side of the Square. M. Blossom, jeweler, is seated on a chair perched high on a snowbank. The crew of shovelers pose to the left of the snowbank. The chair is in front of two…

Tags: 1800s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Winter

Main St Waverly House ca 1871-1891

Circa 1871-1891 black and white photograph of a three story wooden hotel building. On each level there is a porch with people. In front of the building is a wooden sidewalk, hand water pump and a horse and buggy.

"Waverly House hotel was built in 1851 by Roswell Enos. In 1854 it was purchased by Leander Church who enlarged it and gave it the name of Waverly House. Church sold it to Daniel W. Robinson who further enlarged it to the present size. The present…

Tags: 1800s, Buildings, Businesses, Main Street

Schulhof Plumbing Supplies

1950 black and white photograph of a plumbing supplies business at 1300 Eastwood Drive, Woodstock, Illinois. The building is made of brick.

1300 S. Eastwood
Schulhof Wholesale Plumbing Supplies is on the same site as Olson's Jobbing House which was also a wholesale plumbing supply company and which was identified in the 1951 Sentinel Ad. Shulhof first appears in the 1958 City Directory…

Tags: 1900s, Businesses, Eastwood Drive

Square east & southeast sides ca1899

Circa 1899-1904 black and white photograph of the north-east corner of the Woodstock Square. The picture was taken in the winter after a snow storm. There are several horse and sleds parked on the street. In the background are two and three story brick buildings.

East side of Square in winter from Medlar studio vantage point. Shows Benton Street from 112 N. to 113 S.
Shows the street covered in snow with horses & buggies tied to the park fence. The Spring house is visible.
After 1899-Church Block…

Tags: 1800s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses

South Side of the Square Van Buren St, circa 1868-9

Circa 1868-1871 black and white photograph of the Woodstock Square Park and brick buildings on Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois. The square park is full of young trees and appears to have a small crowd of people gathered together. In the distance behind the brick buildings is open unoccupied land.

Back of photo: Old Bunker Block burned 1871
This photo of the south side of the square shows the Phoenix block that would be renamed as the Bunker Block after Bunker Brothers moved their grocery, hardware and crockery business there in 1872. Their…

Tags: 1800s, Buildings, Businesses, Schools, Square Park, Van Buren Street

Square East side ca 1883

Circa 1883 black and white photograph of two and three story brick buildings on Benton Stret, Woodstock, Illinois. A few people are seen posing on the sidewalk in front of the buildings and one horse and carriage are seen parked on a muddy street.

East side of Square taken approximately the same time as the Baseball Team 1884 Benton St. photo ID 63.
100 N. Benton J. Kendall dentist (moved in 1883)
102 N. Benton
104 N. Benton E. W. Blossom Jewelry & Watches
106 N. Benton Sign for Phoenix…

Tags: 1800s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses

Square Northeast Side, circa 1866

Circa 1866 black and white photograph of the Hoy Block building, a three story brick building, on Cass Street, Woodstock, Illinois. In the foreground is a muddy Benton STreet with a few horse and wagons parked. To the left a portion of the Woodstock Square Park can be seen surrounded by a fence. In the park are young trees.

"VIEW OF THE HOY BLOCK DURING CIVIL WAR DAYS This excellent picture of the northeast side of the public square shows the Hoy Block [100-104 Cass], consisting of the first three store rooms to the right of the picture, together with a fourth building,…

Tags: 1800s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Cass Street, Square Park

Square south east side in mourning 1885

1885 black and white photograph of three and four story buildings on Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois. The buildings are decorated with mourning crepe to mark President Grant's death. Several men and young boys are seen posing for the photograph on the sidewalks in front of the buildings.

South side of the Square is decorated with mourning crepe to mark President Grant's death.
109 E. Van Buren A. S. Wright: Drugs & Medicines. The history of this business: Green Front Drug Store was opened by Cyrus B. Durfee in 1851 who took Chris…

Tags: 1800s, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Square Southeast side Pratt House ca 1870

Circa 1868-1871 black and white photograph of three and four story buildings on Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois. In the foreground is the Woodstock Square Park. The park has young immature trees and is surrounded by a white fence.

Pratt House
Back of photo: "This block of buildings on the south side of square built in 1853. In one of the upper stories over the drug store was Phoenix Hall where many church organizations conducted their services until they had buildings of…

Tags: 1800s, Buildings, Businesses, Square Park, Van Buren Street

Square Southeast Woodstock House ca 1868

Circa 1868 black and white photograph of three and four story brick buildings on Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois. Several men are posing on the sidewalk and there is a horse and buggy parked on the dirt street in front of the buildings.

South east side of Square with Woodstock House and Post Office. This is a blurred closeup of the same buildings as photo ID 37 [105-117 E. Van Buren]
Blossom's Jewelry was established in 1868. [117 E. Van Buren]. The photo could have been taken as…

Tags: 1800s, Buildings, Businesses, Churches, Van Buren Street

Woodstock Brewery & Bottling Works Fire

Washington Street

Woodstock Brewery & Bottling Works was founded about 1858 to bottle beer. A photo of the building is on page 15 of Headlight Sights & Scenes (ca. 1898) along with a history.

May 8 "Fire Wipes Out Main Building of Woodstock…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Fires

West Side of Square, ca 1860

Oldest known photo of the Courthouse [101 N. Johnson] and newly landscaped (1858-9) Square Park. The Courthouse was built in 1857. There is a description of the courthouse in the February 3, 1858 Woodstock Sentinel.
Neill Donnelly's Cheap Cash Store…

Tags: 1800s, Buildings, Businesses, Courthouse, Square Park

Fourth of July Tug of War, 1910

This photo gives a good view of a large portion of Main Street’s east side to the edge of the Square. Note that the far building two stories. Also, this is a good view of the Waverly House (with balconies).

Tags: 1900s, 4th of July, Buildings, Businesses, Main Street, Movie Theatres

Borden's Condensed Milk Plant on Washington Street, 1908

In 1903, the Borden's Condensed Milk company sent a delegation which included representatives of the Chicago and North Western railway to search for a suitable site to build a factory in Woodstock. After consulting with prominent citizens, Mayor E.…

Tags: 1900s, Breweries, Buildings, Businesses, Industry, Milk and Dairy, Washington Street

Ladies Foot Race 4th of July, 1910

1910 black and white photograph of a women's foot race on the unpaved dirt road Benton Street in the Woodstock Square. The street and sidewalks are lined with spectators watching the women run towards the camera. In the background are two and three story brick buildings.

Part of the big July Fourth celebration that Woodstock produced and invited all of McHenry County to attend. Six young ladies run down a dirt Benton Street. Five are wearing white dresses that flare up and show black stockings from the run while the…

Tags: 1900s, 4th of July, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Main Street ca 1910

1910 black and white photograph of Main Street, Woodstock, Illinois. On the unpaved dirt road are horses and wagaons. The street is lined with brick buildings. In the background is the Woodstock Square park with elm trees.

Main Street looking south, taken between 1909 (new bandstand visible) and 1910 (Gem Theater at 220 Main). The businesses are similar to the other July 4, 1910 photos taken by Gus Persson but there are no decorations so it is taken sometime earlier…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Main Street

Oliver Typerwriter Band 4th of July, 1910

1910 black and white photograph of a marching band leading a parade on Benton Street, Woodstock, Illinois. They are following the Parade Marshall on horseback. A small crowd watches from the sidewalk and two and three story brick buildings are in the background.

As part of the large July 4, 1910 celebration, the Oliver Typewriter Band leads the parade on Benton Street following the Parade Marshall on horseback. A small crowd watches from the sidewalk.
"The Oliver Typewriter band, which gets its name from…

Tags: 1900s, 4th of July, Bands, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Music, Oliver Typewriter Company, Parades

Tug of War July Fourth 1910

1910 black and white photograph of a crowd of people and one automobile on Main Street, Woodstock, Illinois. In the bacground are two and three story buildings and also the Woodstock Square Park. The words 'Tug of War, July fourth 1910, Woodstock, Ill." are written on the image. However, with the crowd the tug of war participants are not visible.

People fill Main Street watching the Tug of War, however, no rope is visible. Notice the fashions worn by men, women and children. Bunting and flags decorate the buildings and a car (1905 Buick?) brings up the rear.
Taken from the west sidewalk,…

Tags: 1900s, 4th of July, Automobiles, Buildings, Businesses, Main Street, Movie Theatres

A&P on Van Buren ca 1954

Black and white photograph of the A & P Supermarket on Van Buren Street in Woodstock, Illinois in the 1950s featuring buildings, brick paved road and parking meter on the sidewalk.

The A&P Supermarket on Van Buren can be seen from an angle. The old blacksmith shop has a black glass façade but no sign identifying the occupants. An edge of the Post Office is visible as well as a low, long building on Throop St. that is difficult…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Jackson St East at Benton ca1952

Circa 1952 black and white photograph of brick buildings and a brick aved road on the Woodstock Square, Woodstock, Illinois. In the background are elm trees in the Woodstock Squae Park.

A small portion of the Odd Fellows entrance and the side of the State Bank of Woodstock are visible. The concrete planters and the light brick façade were all replaced when the bank demolished the Odd Fellows building and used red brick for the…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Jackson Street - East

Jefferson St Lloyd's etc ca 1964

1964 black and white photograph of the rear of two and three story brick buildings. The fronts of the buildings face the Woodstock Square, Woodstock, Illinois. A few 1550s-1960s era cars are parked on the street and next to the buildings.

Buildings on the west side of Jefferson St with back doors to businesses on the the Square.

The front addresses would be on N. Benton:
112 Harpo's Dugout Tap (basement entry from the Square) has signs for Old Milwaukee America's Light Beer and …

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Jefferson Street

Johnson St and Ward's side ca 1954

1954 black and white photograph of the southwest corner of the Woodstock Square, Woodstock, Illinois. A few 1940-1950s era cars are parked on the brick paved street which is lined with parking meters.

The brick pavers of Johnson St stretch out past the McHenry County Courthouse and the Montgomery Ward department store. In the distance, the edge of the Post Office, the A&P grocery store on Van Buren and the Opera House are visible.
There are few…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Johnson Street

Montgomery Ward ca 1954

Circa 1954 black and white photograph of the Montgomery Ward building on Johnson Street in Woodstock, Illinois. The brick paved road is empty and there are parking meters lining the street in front of the building.

The front of the Montgomery Ward Department Store on Johnson St with the south side of the Courthouse in the background.

The window displays include bicycles, appliances and clothing. The small windows above the plate glass display windows are…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Johnson Street

Van Buren and South Benton Streets closeup ca 1954

Circa 1954 black and white photograph of the south-east corner of the Woodstock, Illinois square. The streets are paved with bricks and there are a few cars driving and parked on the streets. Two and three story brick buildings line the streets.

Closeup version of Item #428: "Van Buren and South Benton Sts"

Continuing the Public Works tour around the city, this photo includes a clue that the photos were taken around 1954. Bohn's added the two-story brick façade that year.
Other…

Tags: 1900s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Van Buren and South Benton Sts ca 1954

Continuing the Public Works tour around the city, this photo includes a clue that the photos were taken around 1954. Bohn's added the two-story brick façade that year.
Other businesses include
117 Van Buren Woodstock Grill and
115 Van Buren…

Tags: 1900s, Benton Street, Buildings, Businesses, Van Buren Street

Opera House Curt Teich postcard

1951 colorized postcard of the Woodstock Opera House building located on Van Buren Street, Woodstock, Illinois.

Postcard front labeled 1047 - City Hall Building Woodstock, Illinois

Reverse identification: City Hall Building and Theatre, Woodstock, Illinois. Genuine Curteich-Chicago "C.T. Art-Colortone" Post Card (Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.)

This postcard was…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Opera House, Postcard, Van Buren Street

Cass Street World War 1 Homecoming Celebration, 1919

On June 10, 1919 the city of Woodstock Illinois hosted a Homecoming Celebration for McHenry County's returning soldiers, sailors and marines from World War I.

Hoy’s Pharmacy was in business for many years, succeeded by Pfeiffer’s, Gibson’s and…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Cass Street, World War 1 Homecoming Celebration

Kendall Block on Cass Street, 1920s

This photo was taken in the 1920’s, showing the building where Prudential Realty and Town Square Inn are located. Compare it with the photo of the same building in 1883 (Kendall Block and Austin’s Grocery Store). The building has been doubled in size…

Tags: 1900s, Buildings, Businesses, Cass Street, Main Street

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