Old Rat Hole
Title
Old Rat Hole
Description
The "Rat Hole" 101 S. Benton
The building was constructed in 1847 to provide space for additional offices for the county courthouse needed due to growth of the county. Henry M. Wait got the bid to build an "eight-foot brick building" but determining that this was too small, convinced the county commissioners to allow him to add a second story at his own expense. Because it was to be used to house county records, the thick brick walls were topped by a tin roof to reduce the chance of fire. According to the 1885 History of McHenry County, in the winter of 1848 a strong wind lifted the tin roof and carried it some distance away. The county officials, in the building at the time, naturally rushed out "in all possible haste. As they came forth they were greeted with a derisive shout and laughter from Henry Petrie, a merchant who exclaimed in great glee 'See the D--d rats crawl out of their holes!' Petrie was a Whig of very pronounced opinions and had no sympathy with the Democratic Party to which the county officers belonged." The building was known as the Rat Hole from then on, even in official records. When the Courthouse was finished in 1857 the Rat Hole became a saloon
Shown in this photo:
D. T. Ring Boots & Shoes. 1877 Directory lists D. T. Ring, shoemaker, residence Chemung St. Back of photo says D. T. Ring is standing on stairs between his two signs.
F. Marcus, Agt. is shown standing in front by barrels wearing apron: "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Markus were Germans who came to Woodstock in the years following the Civil war. We have no records stating the exact date. Mr. Markus was in the saloon business in the building called the "Rathole," on the corner where the State Bank is now located. One of his best known products, which had a wide favorable reputation, was the famous 'Markus' Bitters." Mr. and Mrs. Markus lived in a modest home located on Calhoun street where Elmer Carlson's second hand store now is. They were great lovers of flowers and during the summer their entire front yard, was a complete garden show of beautiful blossoms. The house was well back from the street and there was no room for lawn as the entire front yard was filled with beds of flowers of the Markus' own planting and cultivation. Mr. Markus was an early riser and spent hours and hours among the flowers he loved so dearly. In those "horse and buggy" days the average family "took a walk" on Sunday, and the route of the family parade almost invariably led past the Markus home, where friends would stop for awhile to chat and admire the beauty of the natural display. Mr. Markus was very public spirited in many ways and took a prominent part in local affairs. In 1893 the block burned where the Markus business was located. Following this disaster Mr. and Mrs. Markus moved to Chicago, where they spent their declining years in retirement." [Woodstock Sentinel 3-13-1937 Sec. 8 p2] However, the 1872 atlas lists Frederick Marcus saloonkeeper came to County in 1861. According to the McHenry County Democrat 12-19-1885, he died in December, 1885 (latest possible date for this photo) and many locals traveled to Chicago for the funeral.
Back of photo also identifies Henry Schneider (Schreider?) as the bearded gentleman in the middle
Phil. Best's Milwaukee Wis. Brewing Co.: dates between 1859 (Philip Best takes over the brewery after his father Jacob's death) and March 12, 1889 when the company became Pabst Brewing Company
Old Settler's Headquarters: The Old Settler's Association was started in 1868 and there is a listing for the Old Settlers Parade in June, 1878 in the Notes for Sesquicentennial History.
Bordwell's Meat Market: G. W. Bordwell is listed in the 1885 McHenry County history as are Dan T. Ring and Fred Markus. Bordwell's Market was taken over by C. F. Gaulke June, 1891.
The spire visible behind Bordwell's belongs to the German Lutheran Church on Jefferson St. built in 1858 and burned in the same fire as the Rat Hole on April 15, 1893
The building was constructed in 1847 to provide space for additional offices for the county courthouse needed due to growth of the county. Henry M. Wait got the bid to build an "eight-foot brick building" but determining that this was too small, convinced the county commissioners to allow him to add a second story at his own expense. Because it was to be used to house county records, the thick brick walls were topped by a tin roof to reduce the chance of fire. According to the 1885 History of McHenry County, in the winter of 1848 a strong wind lifted the tin roof and carried it some distance away. The county officials, in the building at the time, naturally rushed out "in all possible haste. As they came forth they were greeted with a derisive shout and laughter from Henry Petrie, a merchant who exclaimed in great glee 'See the D--d rats crawl out of their holes!' Petrie was a Whig of very pronounced opinions and had no sympathy with the Democratic Party to which the county officers belonged." The building was known as the Rat Hole from then on, even in official records. When the Courthouse was finished in 1857 the Rat Hole became a saloon
Shown in this photo:
D. T. Ring Boots & Shoes. 1877 Directory lists D. T. Ring, shoemaker, residence Chemung St. Back of photo says D. T. Ring is standing on stairs between his two signs.
F. Marcus, Agt. is shown standing in front by barrels wearing apron: "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Markus were Germans who came to Woodstock in the years following the Civil war. We have no records stating the exact date. Mr. Markus was in the saloon business in the building called the "Rathole," on the corner where the State Bank is now located. One of his best known products, which had a wide favorable reputation, was the famous 'Markus' Bitters." Mr. and Mrs. Markus lived in a modest home located on Calhoun street where Elmer Carlson's second hand store now is. They were great lovers of flowers and during the summer their entire front yard, was a complete garden show of beautiful blossoms. The house was well back from the street and there was no room for lawn as the entire front yard was filled with beds of flowers of the Markus' own planting and cultivation. Mr. Markus was an early riser and spent hours and hours among the flowers he loved so dearly. In those "horse and buggy" days the average family "took a walk" on Sunday, and the route of the family parade almost invariably led past the Markus home, where friends would stop for awhile to chat and admire the beauty of the natural display. Mr. Markus was very public spirited in many ways and took a prominent part in local affairs. In 1893 the block burned where the Markus business was located. Following this disaster Mr. and Mrs. Markus moved to Chicago, where they spent their declining years in retirement." [Woodstock Sentinel 3-13-1937 Sec. 8 p2] However, the 1872 atlas lists Frederick Marcus saloonkeeper came to County in 1861. According to the McHenry County Democrat 12-19-1885, he died in December, 1885 (latest possible date for this photo) and many locals traveled to Chicago for the funeral.
Back of photo also identifies Henry Schneider (Schreider?) as the bearded gentleman in the middle
Phil. Best's Milwaukee Wis. Brewing Co.: dates between 1859 (Philip Best takes over the brewery after his father Jacob's death) and March 12, 1889 when the company became Pabst Brewing Company
Old Settler's Headquarters: The Old Settler's Association was started in 1868 and there is a listing for the Old Settlers Parade in June, 1878 in the Notes for Sesquicentennial History.
Bordwell's Meat Market: G. W. Bordwell is listed in the 1885 McHenry County history as are Dan T. Ring and Fred Markus. Bordwell's Market was taken over by C. F. Gaulke June, 1891.
The spire visible behind Bordwell's belongs to the German Lutheran Church on Jefferson St. built in 1858 and burned in the same fire as the Rat Hole on April 15, 1893
Creator
Date
1877/1885
Collection
Citation
Medlar Studios, Woodstock, “Old Rat Hole,” Woodstock Public Library Archives, accessed June 15, 2025, https://woodstockpubliclibraryarchives.omeka.net/items/show/275.
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