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

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In Postcards notebook
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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

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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]]> Wm. G. Hoffman, Chicago]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

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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]]> Online Purchase]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

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The American Legion building on this site was constructed in 1935 and demolished in 2004 as part of the Woodstock Station development.]]> Online purchase]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

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This print was made from glass negatives donated to the Woodstock Public Library. The photograph was taken at the Abraham (or Abram) Bodine McConnell House at the corner of Jefferson and South Street in Woodstock Illinois. A.B. McConnell was a son of one of the very first European settlers in McHenry County, William Alexander McConnell. A.B. was born in a log cabin in Richmond Illinois in 1839. He married Harriet Susan Potter in 1861 and had five children. The house was finished in 1894, the McConnells moved in November 1894. AB McConnell unexpectedly died three months later on February 15, 1894.
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Elijah Burbank also built two houses on Dean Street in 1855 near Dean Street School, one for his family (on the corner of Dean and Tryon streets) and one for the hired hands across the street (east side off Dean Street).]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> Public Works Department, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1951-1969 notebook]]>
On the right side of the photo, the house is shown without the later brick addition built by the U. S. government to house the Social Security Office.

209 W. Judd residence
215 W. Judd Chas. C. Stadtman attorney & real estate
225 W. Judd residence
227 W. Judd Thomas Merwin Funeral Home
301 W. Judd (Dr.). Edgar Clearwater

226 W. Judd McHenry County Farm Bureau and other agricultural agencies
302 W. Judd Vincent Lumley, Atty.
Laura Poewe: Laura's Cut & Curl]]> Public Works Department, Woodstock]]> ]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1951-1969 notebook]]>
There is a porch for a house since demolished and cars parked in the Courthouse Annex lot.]]> Public Works Department, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1951-1969 notebook]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
Small print, black & white]]>
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

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

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In Keefe Photos (originals)]]>
The left of the photo shows the side of the A & P with the Opera House roof towering above it.

The northeast corner of Calhoun & Dean shows the edge of an older building with different entrances than are there today.

200 Dean (Dr.). Klocek and others
201 Dean apartment
203 Dean apartment

115 W. Calhoun St Ray's Radio & TV
121 W. Calhoun Central Jr. High School]]> Public Works Department, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1951-1969 notebook]]> Keefe, Jim]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 9
In Keefe Photos (originals)]]>
Notable buildings now demolished include the First Baptist Church at the intersection of Throop and W. Jackson, houses and gas stations along Throop street, houses on W. Jackson and Tryon where BMO Harris bank and parking lots are now, houses on Dean Street between the Opera House and South Street where the city hall parking lot is now located. Also the Odd Fellows building on W. Jackson was torn down for the bank expansion.
City Hall/Central School at 121 W. Calhoun was being used as the McHenry County Courthouse Annex. The building did not have the fire house addition but had a larger parking lot.
The movie theater was smaller with a narrow store building and the Main Street parking lot, now covered by Woodstock Classic Cinemas.

Oddfellows]]> Medlar Studios, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1921-1950 notebook]]>
Few of the buildings in this picture remain on the north side of Washington St. witht exception of the large white building at the intersection with Wheeler St. It was a funeral home and is now a dentist's office. Also remaining is the apartment building at the far eastern end.

All of the Woodstock Die Casting (Eltra, Autolite etc.) buildings have been demolished.

The original Clay Street School building is visible behind the current school. El Niagra (120 First St.) looks just about the same except in 1950 it was Tony's Lunchroom and Skow Grocery.

Kristensen's Service Station was at 135 Washington (now belongs to St Mary Parish). According to the 1950 City Directory, the Dairy Queen is already there, so this photo may pre-date 1950. There is no DQ listed in the 1948 city directory.]]> Medlar Studios, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
In Photos 1921-1950 notebook]]>
Was either incorporated into or demolished for Sunset Manor a.k.a. Hearthstone Manor/Carefree Village/Woodstock Christian Care

May 20, 1904 Free Methodist Church formally open "Old Folks Rest Home" on 15 acres, formerly the James Allen farm, near the Chicago Industrial Home for Children [Woodstock Republican]

THE OLD PEOPLE'S REST HOME "Come in," softly came the voice, as we paused in a door-way. Helpless, bed-fast, suffering, her face looked, with its frame of soft white hair and her blue eyes, so sei-enely happy. "I have just been thanking my heavenly father for allowing me to spend my last days here." Our visitor was following the matron as she made her rounds. "Most of our guests have accumulated a little and invested it in a small home where they expected to spend their last days. But that was lonely, and there was much they could not do for themselves, so they have turned over their home to us, and we are helping them to enjoy what time they have left." This Institution opened its doors for the care of tho aged in 1903. One of the founders who later became its superintendent and chief promoter was the late Rev. J. D. Kelsey. At first it was only possible to accommodate about ten guests, but was later remodeled to entertain fourteen. On the demise of Rev. Kelsey, Rev. C. E. Maxwell became the superintendent, and it was during his term of service that it was brought to its present standard, and enlarged to accommodate eighteen. During all these years the home has been filled to capacity, with many applicants on the waiting list. The purpose of the founders was to provide a comfortable, pleasant home for those who had no convenient place to live, yet had some means they could contribute, which when pooled with others would be ample to provide for them the rest of their life. A survey of the roster shows many names that some of our readers would remember. For during the history of the institution of the 97 who have found this home as a "Haven of Rest" during their last days, nearly 20 percent have been from Woodstock and nearby towns. At the present time one-fourth of the guests are from McHenry county. The Home opens its doors to any desiring a quiet, comfortable cheerful place to live. At present there is an aged minister, a physician, the widow of a Civil War Veteran, the widow of a minister, a nurse and others who have contributed their part in the communities from which they came. Statistics show that those who have come to the home have lived eight to twelve years longer than they had any prospect of living when they came. The home family is in charge of a registered nurse and three assistants. They are always pleased to have friends call and make the acquaintance of the guests. The present superintendent is Rev. N. W. Fink. [Woodstock Sentinel 3-13-1937 Sec. 3 p9]]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
Small print on cardboard - Good Condition]]> Horse-drawn sleigh in distance
Melvin G. Tripp Photographer from 1891 to 1937
Photo taken the same time as those of 522 Dean (ID 15)
Near intersection of Tryon]]> Tripp Photo, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
Print on paper, small]]> Learning the trade of stone mason and plasterer, he moved to Woodstock where he enjoyed a very successful trade. He attempted different architectural styles with his brick: Italianate at 517 and Greek Revival at 522. The brick pattern of decoration on 517 is called corbeling and is said to be a Burbank trademark. He built the Jacob Harder House 123 S. Hayward and also assisted in building the Presbyterian church at 215 S. Tryon. He died in 1885 at age 80 in Dallas, TX, where he was visiting his daughter, and was buried in Woodstock. Jennette Burbank, a direct descendent, lived in the house until 1982.
Parlor photo has wallpaper, lighting, wicker rocker, Victorian décor lace curtains, unknown photo on wall.
The photographer, Melvin G. Tripp was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Tripp. He was a capable and successful photographer for many years. Lived a quiet and retired life. His gallery was in the Stone building, corner Main and Cass streets. [Sentinel 12-13-1937]]]> Tripp Photo, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY]]> File Cabinet 6 Photos
Print on paper, small]]>
The library has glass negatives of the McConnell family photos in File Cabinet 6.]]> Medlar Studios, Woodstock]]> NO COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY

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