A History of Woodstock 1852-2002 Sesquicentennial Edition

A History of Woodstock 1852-2002 Sesquicentennial Edition

City of Woodstock, Illinois

The Copy Express, Inc.

2002

en-US

Text

A History
of
Woodstock
1852 - 2002
Sesquicentennial Edition

Centerville - April 10, 1844
John Brink, County Surveyor

Woodstock
SESQUICENTENNIAL
1 8 5 2 - 2 0 0 2
Over 150 years ago Woodstock's founders came to this roadless land of ancient hardwood trees and grassy prairies. Mostly from northeastern states, those hardy pioneers brought with them their respect for education, religion and free enterprise. In a few years, when leading citizens acknowledged the obvious need to impose law and order on this rough frontier, the town of Woodstock was born.
From the beginning, Woodstock citizens have been energetically involved in education, religion, drama, music and social causes. Civic leaders have had to address many of the same concerns through the years.
As part of Woodstock's Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2002 this book has been prepared by a group of very dedicated volunteers. The mission was to relate the history of Woodstock, Illinois concisely, with words and pictures.
Some errors and discrepancies may have crept into this book despite our best efforts to prevent them. Sometimes the source material may be at fault and some we may have contributed. If so, we apologize.
The Volunteer Researchers: Betty Babcock, Barbara Carroll, Karlen Cooney, Jane Dahm, Darlene & Ken Fiske, Ron Hansen, Joy Isbister, Lisa Kelly, Caryl Lemanski, Joan Mansfield, Lynn & Karl Nielsen, Joyce & Bob Shook, Paul Thuma, Diane Treese.
Staff members at the Woodstock Public Library and the McHenry County Historical Society Research Library were most cooperative. Copies of the research notes, with sources, are available at both libraries. Thanks to The Copy Express for the cover.
Jane Dahm and Joan Mansfield, Editors
SPONSORS OF THE 2002 SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Platinum Sponsor
Centegra Health Systems
Gold Sponsors
Fifth Third Bank Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McArdle Baxter & Woodman, Inc.
Silver Sponsors
Alliance Contractors, Inc., D. B. Hess Company, Automatic Liquid Packaging, Inc., LaSalle Bank, Amcore Bank N. A., Wells Manufacturing Company, Thatcher Tubes, Town Square Players, Inc., Associated Electrical Contractors, Emtech Machining & Grinding, Inc., Colonial Antique Mall
Bronze Sponsors
American Community Bank & Trust, Blazier's Pharmacy, Northwest Herald, Knuth's
Published by the City of Woodstock, Illinois, June 2002 The Copy Express, Inc.

West side of Public Square - ca. 1870 Medlar Studio Photo

northern boundary at 42° 30' instead of the bottom tip of Lake Michigan. After creative census is complete Illinois becomes a state on Dec. 3. First Illinois Constitution adopted.
1820 Illinois population 55,211.
1825 Erie Canal completed between Lake Erie and Albany, N.Y.; shippingtime 8 days instead of 20 days. First passenger train operates in England.
1830 Illinois population 157,445.
1831 Cook County formed; includes present Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage and Will Counties.
1832 Blackhawk War. Steamboat trade on Great Lakes reaches Chicago from Buffalo, N.Y.
1834 Federal land office opens in Chicago. U.S. Congress approves Treaty of Chicago; Indians cede land in northern Illinois but are not required to vacate until August 1836.
1836 Legislature creates McHenry County from Cook County; includes present Lake County. Federal land offices now accept only gold or silver for land claims. Construction of Illinois-Michigan Canal begins.
1837 Panic occurs when National Bank ceases to exist and state banks extend too much credit so currency does not hold value. John Deere invents steel plow that can plow thick prairie sod. Liquor license in county costs $8.00 and sets prices; whiskey is 12V2 cents.
1838 Surveyors begin at third principal meridian and move eastward, finishing at the lake 4 years later.
1839 Illinois Legislature divides McHenry County to form Lake County. County seat is left at McHenry.
1840 Population: Illinois 476,183; Chicago 4,470; McHenry County 2,578. Took 3 days by oxen to haul grain to Chicago.
1840 Unhappy with $15 million state improvement debt, delegates from 14 counties meet at Rockford to propose secession from Illinois and annexation to Wisconsin.
1843 Log house is built by Bradford Burbank and Post Office established; Alvin Judd is named postmaster. On Sept. 4 Centerville wins vote to have county seat.
1844 Alvin Judd builds frame building and opens first tavern, has large room for gatherings. Judd's land preemption claim is legalized by special act of Congress and U.S. Receiver awards land to him January 24. Land is transferred to George C. Dean on February 22. County Commissioners accept Centerville plat. George C. Dean and Daniel Blair build plain 2-story frame courthouse and jail in Public Square and county offices are moved in on September 23. Wm. Sloan plants nursery west of town.
1845 Centerville being an overly common name, Joel H. Johnson steers change of name to Woodstock through Legislature; his native town in Vermont. Dwight & Beach open first store.
1846-1848 Mexican War
1846 Illinois Republican is first newspaper in Woodstock. First Presbyterian congregation meets and first school taught in courthouse. County builds "fireproof" 2-story brick building with tin roof on the corner of Dietz and Benton to house county offices; it becomes known as the Old Rat Hole because County officers are called rats by some.
1847 First school is built on school lot (possibly log). McCormick begins building his reaper in Chicago.
1848 Illinois-Michigan Canal between Chicago and Illinois River is completed. Many canal workers settle in the area. Second Illinois Constitution adopted. Presbyterian church is built. Grist mill, brewery, hardware, shoemaker, drug store, newspaper, blacksmith, wagon makers, taverns, groceries, and attorneys are in business by late 1840s in Woodstock.
1849 County voters approve township form of government with Board of Supervisors as allowed by new Constitution.
1850 Population: Illinois 851,470; Chicago 29,963; McHenry County 14,978; Dorr Township 1,139.
1851 South side of Public Square is swept clean by fire; Argus newspaper and 3 other businesses lost. It is reported that Illinois-Wisconsin railroad has charter to build from state line to Chicago. County and Algonquin to build bridge over the Fox River for railroad. Many advertisers in newspaper are from Lake Street in Chicago. Ownership and location of businesses in Woodstock change frequently; a trend which continues to today.

1852-1861
1852
Illinois Seventeenth General Assembly on June 22 enacts law to incorporate the town of Woodstock. It is to be one mile square. Officers shall be President, Treasurer/Assessor, Constable/Collector plus three Trustees elected from each of two wards, all with one year terms. The town government is given set powers to levy taxes, regulate certain activities, require sidewalks be built, condemn land for roads, and sell real estate for non-payment of taxes. Law is not in effect until a vote is taken on July 26 to approve incorporation. If favorable, election of town officers to take place first Monday in August. Regular elections to take place first Monday in April thereafter.
Election for town officers is held August 2; Alvin Judd is President. On August 21 the first meeting is held in the courthouse. Board acted the first of many times on a request to extend Tryon Street south to intersect with Marengo & Dundee Road.
C.B. Durfee opens first bank. Steam saw mill opens. Woodstock Drug Store advertises soda fountain and ox marrow, bears' oil, rose oil, hair tonics, clover and garden seeds for sale. Enjoyable vocal music concert at Presbyterian Church.
Wool is 42$ - 45$ per pound. A well-fed, well-tended sheep will provide approximately 5 pounds per year.
McHenry County Agricultural Society is formed to conduct agricultural fair.
1853
Ordinance passes to regulate unmuzzled dogs and sluts running at large. Permits killing or shooting.
Two more 3-story brick buildings to be built next to Phoenix block.
Town board reports $240 in taxes collected; passes an ordinance providing for impoundment of any hog, sow or pig running at large.
Town board levies 3 days work from every able- bodied male citizen to work on the streets or commutate at 75$ per day.
Town board passes ordinance to prohibit strong beer or porter, sold, given or drank on Sundays. This is the first of many, many actions passing, repealing and re-enacting regulation of alcohol of all types for this decade and far beyond.
Town board acts on first sidewalk matter; to be built of oak planks 10' by 1W on sturdy stringers. This is the first action on a multitude of sidewalk matters that continue into the 20th century.
Alvin Judd advertises 2-horse carriage routes to Union, Elgin, Waukegan, and points north. M. Haas advertises coffins, black walnut made to order-short notice.
1854
Shade trees are required to be set in rows 10' from street. Illinois-Wisconsin Railroad given permission to use streets and alleys of the town.
St. Mary's Catholic Church organizes and builds new $4,000 brick church.
County gets permission from State Legislature and levies tax of 2 mills per $1 of assessed value on real and personal property to build new courthouse and jail.
Large quantities of wheat are grown. Brick storehouse is built to store it.
Burtschy's brewery located near barn of old Woodstock House burns. Cheap Grocery Store advertises 16 lbs. 1st rate sugar $1.
Republican Party formed at Ripon, Wisconsin.
1855
Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac railroad reaches Woodstock and hauls several trainloads of wheat. Passenger trains run daily (ex. Sunday); 2 trains from and 2 trains to Chicago; travel time varies from 2 Vi to 4 hours.
At election in April to remove the county seat to Algonquin Township the ayes were 1048; nays 2095.
Town board votes to widen road from Woodstock to Crystal Lake and names it Lake Street.
"Whereas, confusion and turmoil seems to be the order of the day and drinking and dissipation and street fights are practiced..." ; town board establishes police force.
Railroad is obstructing creek and water is accumulating.
Property owned by Mary McMahon on west side of Public Square, occupied by Hill's Tavern, is bought for $3,000 by citizens of Woodstock; donated to County for new courthouse. Old courthouse and site given to the town.
Haas & Griffing build first ice house at Dufield Lake east of town.
1856
Town board refuses to pay for gunpowder used to celebrate victory in election to move county seat.
County sells "Old Rat Hole" to Lindsey Joslyn for $723.
Woodstock Sentinel publishes first issue July 17; formerly the Illinois Republican. Boston Cheap Store changes its name to Woodstock Cheap Store.
McHenry County Agricultural Society holds Sixth Annual County Fair at Woodstock October 8th and 9th.

Fines are set for immoderately driving or riding a horse and for trains going over 10 m.p.h.
Extending Benton Street to Clay Street and Dean Street south along Woodstock-Dundee Road is approved.
Town board requires all dogs, sluts and pups be registered and owner to pay $1 each; paid V. Tracey $2 for burying dogs.
County loans Agricultural Society $1000 from Swamp Land fund to buy 10 acres east of town for fairgrounds.
New brick 3-story courthouse and jail on west side of Public Square is completed at a cost of $47,000.
Street Commissioners to lower grade on Johnson Street with street funds.
Rev. Todd's new 150-student school building burns 12 weeks after completion; Cosgrove convicted of arson goes to prison for 6 years. School is held in basement of Presbyterian Church.
1858
Request received by Town board to build a sewer on north side of Calhoun to the bridge on Jefferson Street.
Old courthouse and jail in Public Square burns on July 4th.
Town board lets contract for $569.99 to grade and fence the Public Square
At least 14 places have liquor licenses in the town. Appoint a Vigilance Committee to investigate liquor sellers' compliance with law.
Baptists build church. Bertschy starts brewery.
1859
Highway known as Union Road running west from corner of cemetery to be called South Street
Recommend removal of cemetery on South Street as unfit for burials.
Contractors grading public square are to round the corners. Public Square to be manured and seeded and trees set out; paid Alvin Judd $4 for watering trees.
Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac railroad becomes Chicago & Northwestern railroad.
Illinois is leading wheat producer, mostly from Rock and Fox River Valleys. First oil wells drilled in Pennsylvania.
1860
Population: Illinois 1,711,951; Chicago 112,172; McHenry County 22,089; Woodstock 1,327.
In February fire damages tin shop; the next day livery stable on Main Street, saloon and furniture rooms are destroyed. Horses saved.
Smallpox appears at Miles Lyon house. Town board takes charge of house to prevent spread and Dr. P.W.Murphy is paid $12 for attendance.
Scarlet fever claims children's lives in the spring. Some other causes of death in this era: consumption, dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera, putrid sore throat, stricture of bowef, bleeding of the lungs, typhus fever.
1861
Abraham Lincoln becomes 16th President of United States on Mar. 4.
In April the vote for repeal of the Woodstock town charter is 45 in favor and 95 against
Confederate guns fire on Fort Sumter on April 12.
Town reports cash on hand $16.01.
In May the County levies a tax and appropriates $3000 each to Woodstock Company and Marengo/Union/Riley Company; to use $1000 for uniforms and equipment; the rest for families.
By May 13, the Woodstock Light Guards consisting of 78 men and officers join 9 other companies at Camp Scott on the fairgrounds in Freeport, Illinois. Have no guns.
The Woodstock Rifles organize with 6 officers and 51 men. M.L. Joslyn is Captain. Ladies of Woodstock meet to sew 100 "Havelocks" for the Light Guards at Alton, III.
From June to December town board meetings are without a quorum or just 1 or 2 minor items are addressed.
In August the Light Guards are at Fulton, Missouri; clothes are in rags.
In September Captain Joslyn left for Aurora with enough recruits. Muster for cavalry at T.D. Murphy's office. McHenry County cavalry is at Washington, D.C.
In October a member of the Woodstock Light Guards dies of typhoid fever at Warsaw, Missouri.
In December a party of Pottawatomie Indians, 4 men, 3 squaws, 3 papooses, camp near Dufield's Lake on their way home to Wisconsin after a trip to beg pork, flour, etc. to last the winter.

IN HONOR OF OUR NATION'S DEFENDERS ERECTED TO THE SOLDIERS 1861-65
Erected 1909 by Woodstock Woman's Relief Corps No. 223 Auxiliary to Woodstock Post No. 108 Grand Army of the Republic
Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society

1862-1871
1862
News of war. Urged to have patience in response to propaganda of the rebels. Tax bill now before Congress provides a duty on spirituous liquids of 15 cents per gallon; ale and beer, $1 per barrel; stemmed, leaf tobacco, 3 cents per pound; when manufactured add 5 cents & on cigars, 5,10 & 20 cents per pound, according to value.
In April the Board bought 2 acres for $300 for free burials for paupers.
Ordinance to prevent cattle, horses & hogs from running at large during certain hours was passed. Trains leave Woodstock daily at 10:14 a.m. & 2:46 p.m., arriving in Chicago at 11:45 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Established a police force.
Sec. of Treasury Chase to Rep. Spaulding: "...immediate action is of great importance-the Treasury is nearly empty." House approved issue of $150,000,000 in Treasury notes & made them legal tender for payment of all debts, public & private in February.
During Valentine Week, 397 drop letters mailed at Woodstock Post Office. Feb. 26, William Lincoln (Abe's son) died after a 'protracted' illness.
Letter to the editor states that McHenry County should get order from Governor to send a number of good nurses to take care of our boys, instead of trusting them to strangers.
"None killed in Woodstock Light Guards!" Minor injuries to Joseph Bird & Frank Hannaford. Captain M.L. Joslyn, home on leave to "recruit his health", reports on the bravery of Woodstock Rifles in battle of Pea Ridge.
April 22, Woodstock University for ladies & gentlemen opens with Rev. R. K. Todd as director. Weekly board $2.50. Room rent 38$ a week.
Those dissatisfied at their assessment made under the War Tax can appeal to Mr. Ferguson, Assessor, in Mr. Mansfield's office Dec. 18 & 19.
F. A. Wheeler & Sons put out an appeal for "50,000 lbs of wool wanted for new woolen factory." Woodstock Sentinel costs $2 per year, including a weekly Chicago Tribune.
1863
Ladies Aid Society sends quilts, pillows, dressing gowns, socks, sheets, bandages for the sick & wounded to Chicago Sanitary Commission for war effort.
Scoundrels steal clothes off clotheslines. John Steffens, a stranger, pulled a wild parsnip, ate it & died of distemper. Newspaper wants farmers that still owe for subscriptions to pay with a few bushels of corn and oats immediately.
Saturday was one of the busiest days in Woodstock. Over a hundred teams around the Square in afternoon. Merchants were smiling.
The U.S. Deputy Collector will be at Woodstock during the week to receive the U.S. taxes. 10% is added unless payment is made promptly. Oct. 6.
1864
Influential & well known capitalists have formed an association to organize another National Bank in Woodstock. Much property changing hands this spring. Indicates Woodstock, like John Brown's soul, is "marching on".
Sewing machines, $27; potatoes, 62$ a bushel; turkey, 10$ lb.; butter, 20$ lb. on April 27.
Wife of A.W. Cumins received letter from prisoner of war husband stating he and other Woodstock boys well.
1865
Professor Fitzgerald of Chicago in town to open a Dancing Academy if finds enough pupils. Largest temperance meeting ever held in McHenry County on March 8.
The Woodstock Sentinel gave high praise for Lincoln's inaugural address.
A license of $10 a table is required for keeping or using a Billiard Table. South Street was straightened and the bodies in the South Street graveyard were relocated to the new cemetery.
"Bonfires blazed, bells were rung, guns fired" with the report of the capture of Richmond. April 9, General Lee surrenders to General Grant. Bon fire on the Square. April 19, all places of business to close from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. to observe the day set apart for the funeral of the President. Buildings & Square all decorated in mourning in honor of the murdered President.
May 12, "Peace Proclamation! Jeff Davis Captured! Boots & Shoes at Reduced Prices; J.L. Hoyt." Returning soldiers invited to march in 4th of July parade.
13th annual Fair of McHenry County Agricultural Society on Sept. 27-29. General Grant expected to attend 1865 Illinois State Fair in Chicago. Registry Law passed by the last General Assembly requires every person who desires to vote to register.
Visitors to the Fair could not find hotel accommodations. Universal cog wheel clothes wringer for sale.
1866
Jan., Runaway horses with sleighs were frequent. "Messrs. Moody & Co. have repaired, renovated and put into 'apple-pie' order their bakery and have secured the services of a first rate baker to take charge of it. They are, therefore, prepared to furnish their customers with the best of bread and cake, pies and confectionery. The repulsive appearance of the old stand should not deter anyone from patronizing them,


as all are assured that whatever cause for dislike existed on the score has been removed."
"Large wood pile in front of the depot caught fire from sparks falling from locomotives." Aug., Serenading Parties on moonlight evenings become popular. A neat & comfortable hotel, the Waverly House opens.
The Chicago & Northwestern railroad, moving freight, had 36 trains pass through Woodstock in 24 hours. The hope is they could dispense with them on the Sabbath.
1867
Dr. Crandall's new post office being erected on north side of Square. Fifty Young Warrior Mowing Machines are being manufactured at The Woodstock Foundry. Wm. A. Norton & Co. have opened a stock of glass, crockery, queensware, etc. in building north of post office.
Base Ball Club being organized by young men of Woodstock. Base ball fever does not diminish. Suggest hold tournament during County Fair.
The exterior of Court House is receiving a thin coat of red plaster, which is burned into the brick with muriatic acid. White mortar marks outlines. Costs more, lasts longer.
Rev. R.K. Todd's buggy crushed by rail cars backing up on crossing near Presbyterian Church. Man & son escaped injury. Train failed to ring bell as required by city ordinance.
Businessmen on the Square agree to close on Thursday, Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as U.S. President has appointed as day of Thanksgiving and prayer.
G. DeClercq is proprietor of Woodstock's first cheese factory.
1868
C.B. Durfee purchases 40 acres of peat land north of Woodstock. Sell for $5 a ton for fuel. Phoenix Hall is too small. Need for larger hall in town.
Dr. W. P. Adams has opened a circulating library in his drug store. Dr. Richardson will also have one. Each will have 200 volumes of choice books. Let books weekly for a small sum for the privilege of reading.
Committee on Streets & Alleys should establish a uniform grade for sidewalks. Property holders do as they please. East side of Square is dangerous. New public school on Throop St. cost $40,000. A model institution with 400 pupils & 8 rooms.
1869
Trial run from Chicago to Woodstock of "an oil-burning locomotive bringing 20 freight cars." Very satisfactory. Oakland Cemetery laid out & lots sold by J.C. Choate. Woodstock Cornet Band serenaded in Park (Square) in May & would like a band stand & pay for the 4th of July performance.
July 4th procession formed in front of Court House. Besides
bands an immense covered wagon, drawn by 4 horses, & containing 40 young girls, dressed in white, representing States of the Union, Goddess of Liberty, etc. T.J. Dacy broke ground for a new grain elevator.
Teachers may make monthly schedules and present to Town-ship Treasurers for pay. Velocipede mania has not hit Woodstock but a sample three wheeler is to be shown soon.
The County Democratic Convention will meet in Woodstock next week. First time Democrats on the ballot. Will not stand a ghost of a chance. Republican ticket a good one.
Nov. a great storm raged for 3 days leaving 18 inches of snow. Superb for sleighing.
1870
April. Mr. E.E. Thomas fell through the dilapidated sidewalk in front of the Methodist Church on Sunday evening. Coal cost $9 a ton. Need a first class fire engine in town. County Fair to be in Sept. Cost for a man & his wife for 3 days is $1.
1871
Over 100 loads of ice passed through the Square to Arnold, Zimmer & Co. ice house in Feb. Many parents & others visiting schools.
J.M. Kimball of Woodstock invents & patents a washing machine. Geo. Bassett of Woodstock invents & applies for patent for adjustable step for painters & others using a ladder.
New Methodist Church is dedicated in September. Apples are 15$ a bushel.
A.B. McConnell needs a good, practical cheese maker to take charge of a large factory in March. Good wages.
Oct. 8, "Great fire in Chicago. City destroyed" "Fire in Woodstock. The entire business portion narrowly escapes destruction. Loss $20,000." Court House saved by water stored in a large cistern at Court House. The fire discovered in a haystack in the rear of Jas. Lulny's saloon, back of southwest corner of Square after church on Sun. Burned south & southwest side of Square. Woodstock relatives hear of terrible toll in fire same day in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.
Nov. 16, Need to rebuild the sidewalks that were destroyed by the fire.
1872-1881
1872
Public schools close for a month's vacation in Feb. Postmaster general requests that the name of county be added to all mail addresses.
A $25 reward is offered for the capture of Charles Randall who escaped from jail; had been detained since last fall for grand larceny.

G.S. Southworth, County Superintendent of Schools announces that Woodstock teachers must be present for a 2-day public written examination in March.
Juvenile baseball clubs, the Stars of Marengo played the Alerts of Rev. Todd's Woodstock Seminary; Stars 26 - Alerts 25.
Town Board sets fines of $5 to $25 for anyone who clings to or gets on train cars passing through Woodstock.
T.J. Dacy demonstrates a Rotary Force pump that will throw stream of water 50 ft.; holds 4 pails of water; a capital thing for sprinkling streets, gardens and great for fires.
$1,000 purse is offered for 3-day horse races held by Woodstock Annual Driving Park Assn.
All the buildings on the east side of the Square burn on Aug. 27th; 16 businesses, 1 dwelling and 3 barns; $31,000 loss. May have been arson; the town has no fire engine. By subscription citizens raise money to buy a fire engine; town has wells dug in the Square to fight fires.
The night watchman at the Woodstock brewery was smothered when a bin of malt above broke through the floor.
1873
Financial panic occurs because of low crop prices after Civil War and U.S. monetary policy.
In January citizens organize a fire company; the Town Board buys a lot and builds an engine house near the NE corner of Throop and Cass Sts.
Woodstock Bakery & Restaurant reopens on NE corner of Square. The Northwestern Musical Conservatory is organized.
A vote, March 24, on changing Woodstock's governing body to a city with mayor and aldermen was 109 in favor, 0 opposed. The new government organizes April 19 with John S. Wheat as mayor.
The Methodist and Presbyterian Society sponsors an excursion to Madison, Wise. 7 hours for the 85-mile trip with stops at Harvard and Roscoe; round trip is $2; 250 aboard. Woodstock Seminary changes its name to Todd Seminary for Boys.
The Montgomery Queen Circus comes to town; features great mastodon, Arabs on horseback, camels & more. Spring House is built in the Public Square for $600 to attract tourists.
Four fine business blocks have been built since the 1872 fire; occupied by 11 stores, a bank and a public hall. Squire Dingee & Co. pickle company is organized.
1874
A railroad accident 6 miles north of Woodstock kills 40 persons. A child of 10 months drowns by falling head first into a pail of milk.
Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is formed in Cleveland, Ohio.
Republican County Convention held at Courthouse to nominate local candidates and delegates to Congressional and Representative Conventions.
The Woodstock Dramatic Club organizes. Millinery Goods Store opens on the Square.
Barbed wire, invented by Joseph Glidden of DeKalb, III., is available.
1875
Heavy snows block roads and railroad; 15° to 20° below zero; wood and coal supplies diminishing seriously.
A Social at the Courthouse raised $100 for the poor of the town.
U.S. Congress passes the Civil Rights Act; requires equal facilities for both races; ignored in the South; Jim Crow laws are passed.
Fire destroys Austin's livery stable, 7 horses, Mrs. Hunt's warehouse on corner of Jefferson & Jackson on June 5th; $10,000 loss.
Heavy rainstorms in Sept. cause immense damage to fields, roads, crops and buildings; cause 2 serious railroad accidents.
A well-to-do farmer near Woodstock is killed by a kick from a colt.
1876
Alexander Graham Bell patents telephone and makes first call to his assistant Thomas A. Watson.
Gen. George Custer and 256 troops are killed in Dakota Territory at the Little Bighorn River.
Centennial 4th of July celebration in Woodstock draws 6,000-8,000; play, parade, games, music, speakers, and fireworks entertain. Seneca Twp. wins banner for largest group of 789.
Moral evils of intemperance lectures are given at Baptist and Presbyterian Churches. Corporal punishment of students is topic of meeting of McHenry County Teachers Assn. Fault is laid on churches and parents.
163 marriage licenses were issued by County Clerk, P. Whitney, in 1876.
1877
Literary Circle holds sociable to raise money to buy books; held in National Hall; dress like a literary character.

TIMES OF WAR
Civil War Co. A at winter quarters in Chattanooga - 1861. Medlar Studio Photo
Honor Roll of McHenry County residents serving during World War II. Surrounds the Civil War Memorial. Courtesy of Woodstock Public Library
Citizens seeing World War II draftees depart. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society

Company G Woodstock Armory on North Madison Street Built in 1912. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.
Co. G., Third Regiment of Illinois Infantry served during Spanish American War. Medlar Studio Photo.
Soldiers marching in World War I Welcome Home Parade 1919. Courtesy of Jane Dahm
School Board votes to add Botany and Rhetoric classes. Pigeon shoot held at Fairgrounds.
U.S. Supreme Court decision allows states to regulate rates for grain elevators and railroads.
Rutherford B. Hayes, after a hotly disputed election, becomes president; removes troops from the South to end Reconstruction; authority is returned to southern states.
The Red Ribbon Club, a temperance society is organized. Woodstock schools have 218 pupils; tuition is $4 for high school, $3 for lower grades.
One boy is killed, another injured trying to hop a movingfreight train in Woodstock. Both travelers from Penn. in search of • work.
A gang of pickpockets and "fakers" are captured on the 4th day of county fair.
Louis Pasteur presents the Germ Theory of Disease. Thomas Edison applies for patent for phonograph.
1878
E.C. Jewett accepts payment for taxes for Dorr Twp. at 1st National Bank.
Firemen will appear in uniform at the Grand Firemen's Dance, National Hall; admission 50 cents.
Old Settlers Reunion Day has parade and festivities in Woodstock.
High school class of '78 holds graduation exercises at Presbyterian Church. Citizens plan to raise funds for victims of Yellow Fever outbreak in the South.
Creamery is built about 2 miles north of Woodstock. "Our American Cousin" is presented at National Hall.
Presbyterian Church charges 25* to view "talking machine" (phonograph).
1879
Wife of Brigham Young speaks at Baptist Church on Mormon customs.
12 men compete in 8-hour tramp around the Square; champion walks 40 miles and wins $50.
Man is arrested for using indecent language in the presence of a lady.
Thomas Edison invents the electric light bulb.
Analysis of water from the Spring House by Chicago's Rush Medical College reveals recommendation for use in treatment of afflictions of the stomach, bowels, and kidneys; also to treat debility, anemia, etc.
1880
Co. G, 3rd Infantry, Illinois National Guard is organized.
Entire block, including Dacy's warehouse burns; $35,000 loss. May have been caused by an attempt to blowup and rob safe.
Catholic Church adds 22 feet; also panel work on ceiling and walls, curved altar at cost of nearly $3000.
2 children die of diptheria. Blizzard and extreme cold; -12 ° to -24° the end of December.
1881
In January, nearly every well is low or dry; no water in the 2 cisterns; may have to rely on ice for water.
Meat market owners agree to close on Sunday morning until April 1st to avoid $5 fine to person complaining.
Evening classes for Penmanship and Bookkeeping are offered by Prof. Becker of Rockford College in Furer's Hall.
Northwestern Gas Company to lay gas mains and service pipes in the city; expect to provide service within 60 days after operations begin; cheaper than coal; start with 40 customers; price decreases when more sign on.
To raise funds for school library, teachers of Woodstock entertain with public readings, recitations, and music. Adults 35$, children 20$. Raised $78.
Pickle Growers' Union formed with 100 members. Chicago Clothing Store opens; advertises: 50% cheaper than any other place; Latest Styles, Best Quality, Lowest Prices.
Woodstock has 1 fire engine, 2 wells, 2 reservoirs in the Square.
Records show there were 56 businesses and 7 lawyers, 6 doctors, 6 ministers and 1 academy serving Woodstock and the surrounding area. Included in the 56 businesses were the usual food, clothing, hardware, and drug stores plus 2 lumber yards, 2 flouring mills, 6 blacksmiths, 1 wagon shop, 2 hotels, 3 livery stables, 1 feed, salt and lime store.
1882-1891 1882
May 13 the interior of the Kellogg block, owned by E. Session, was gutted by fire. $5,000 loss.
Presbyterian Church on the corner of Calhoun and Tryon streets dedicates new building built by Simon Brink on December 25th.
E. A. Murphy residence on Jackson Street destroyed by fire. $7,000 loss.
1883
M.N. Wein opens a dry goods store at the corner of Benton and East Washington streets.
Kinderwald, a boarding school for girls opens on Oct. 1 by Rev. & Mrs. Samuel Cox Hay, minister of the Presbyterian Church.

Skating social given by Mrs. T. D. Murphy at the Opera House for benefit of the Congregational Society. 35 cent admission & refreshments. City Council agree that it has been a year of improvement with more fine residences & businesses completed.
1884
January 12, the City Council tells city marshal to notify all parties to clear their sidewalks of snow and keep them clear.
Many Leap Year parties on Feb. 2.
Feb. 23 at 3:00 a.m. there was an alarm for a fire in the J. C. Choates block where the Odd Fellows Hall is. A telegram is sent to Harvard calling for aid. In three-quarters of an hour the new fire engine from Harvard arrives by train. The inside of the building from cellar to roof is destroyed. $30,000 loss.
Mrs. Eliza Edwards was walking down Clay Street when she stepped on a loose sidewalk board which flew up, throwing her to the ground. It caused injuries which made her walk with a cane for quite awhile.
A visit of the "Black Eagle", Gen. John A. Logan, vice-presidential candidate, to the McHenry County Fair brings a large crowd. He is an old army friend of A. S. Wright, who is Secretary of the Fair Association.
October 18 the Hon. Carter H. Harrison visits Woodstock while running for Governor. Greeted by 3,000 people.
The annual Thanksgiving entertainment given by Todd Seminary attracted many patrons.
1885
Woodstock Cemetery Association was organized with John S. Wheat as president. First meeting was at the Waverly House in August.
July 30, a memorial service for U. S. Grant is held on the square.
James Duffield died at age 84 as the result of injuries from a fall on the ice.
Property for sale by Richards & Arnold includes a small, nearly new, comfortable house on a half acre of fine land for $900. $55 per acre for farm land.
The Presidential Inaugural Ball is held at Opera House in Murphy's Hall on March 7. After the ball at 12:00 a.m., an elegant supper is held at the Richmond House.
Market Quotations: cattle, $5; hogs, $4.50; cheese, 5$ to 8$ a pound; creamery butter, 19$; dairy butter, 15$; eggs, 15$ a dozen.
City Council met to establish the amount to be paid for dram shop licenses. $500 per annum.
Owner took bit out of mouth of a racing mare so it could get a drink of water at the Main Street watering trough and horse ran away with head down and into the hind wheel of a lumber wagon. Fell dead.
Spring City Band is organized. Frank Medlar conductor and cornet player.
Telephone station is located in A.R. Murphy Jewelry Store.
1886
Library moves from Murphy's to Wright's Drug Store on the south side of the Square and Mr. Wright, the druggist, is made librarian.
The Woodstock Brewery is destroyed by fire in August.
May 22 the Hoy Block buildings were raised 4 feet and dropped lower floor 2 feet, giving higher & better ceilings in the basement as well as lower stories. Brought huge jacks from Chicago.
Work progresses on bandstand in the Square. Sidewalks are of wood and the streets, in the rainy season, are like a bottomless pits.
July 16, James Dacey, convicted Chicago killer, was hung in the Court House yard. Simon Brink assisted by his two sons, Fred S. Brink and Charles S. Brink erected the gallows that were loaned by Cook County. Dacey shot Chicago Alderman Gaynor in a saloon quarrel. Two trials held in Woodstock. Hanging witnessed by 150. Body turned over to Patrick Dacey, a brother, who took it back to Chicago on the 4:52 p.m. train.
Two-mile skating race in the Armory for Woodstock Championship medal.
April election. Joel H. Johnson re-elected police magistrate.
1887
Woodstock Brewing and Bottling Company incorporated. Located at very northwestern corner of city on Washington Street. Large business established in 1858. Destroyed or partially destroyed by fire several times. Always rebuilt.
Joel H. Johnson appointed postmaster by President Cleveland. Sheriffs house built next to Court House on Johnson Street.
Woodstock has six saloon licenses at $1,000 each. The year before there were nine at $500 each.
Concrete sidewalks are replacing easily worn out pine board sidewalks in many places. Much cheaper and nicer. The Woodstock Democrat newspaper wants to see cement walks in the park.

INDUSTRY THROUGH THE YEARS
Oliver Typewriter Factory - ca. 1905. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Woodstock Typewriter Factory built in 1910. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Borden's Condensed Milk Co. built in 1904. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.

Guardian Electric - route 14 and Lake Avenue - 1967. Don Peasley Photo - Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.
Eltra Manufacturing Company - Clay & First Streets Ca. 1980. Courtesy of Woodstock Public Library.
Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad completed through Woodstock in 1855 made the connection to Chicago markets. Medlar Studio Photo.

Schneider, barbers; Whitson & Brother, hardware; Zimpelmann & Kappler, Grocery; M.D. Hoy & Son, dry goods; Bart Austin, crockery & groceries.
June 1, Alderman W.W. Cook, made a motion that the city purchase the John Bunker empty lot at the corner of Dean and the Public Square for $2,000. Vote to build the City Hall.
1889
City Hall is erected with Simon Brink & Smith Hoag, architect, as overseers. Provision is made for a public library, reading room, council room, magistrate's office, police and fire department. The basement contains the city calaboose or jail, steam heating plant, & storage room. Second floor is the opera house with gaslights.
The State Bank of Woodstock chartered & Mayor E.C. Jewett was cashier. April 20, Woodstock Chamber of Commerce was chartered and organized. The Chicago Industrial Home for Children, located on Seminary Avenue, was incorporated.
1890
Opera House was dedicated with entertainment by Patti Rosa & Company who produced "Margery Daw" on September 2nd.
Population of Woodstock was 1,683.
John C. Donnelly was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives.
The Woodstock Library Association vote to move books to a room in City Hall.
1891
Transferred the library to the city of Woodstock on January 26.
The old Presbyterian Church building on Church Street, owned by T. J. Dacy, was fitted for an armory for Company G.
Chicago Telephone Company put in new poles and took out old ones.
September 12th ball game between the Judd and Jackson
Street and the Alley boys was the most interesting of the season.
October 24 Wm. Kennedy plans to open a billiard and poolroom in the Kimball building on Main Street.
1892-1901
1892
Fire on east side of Main St. started at Waverley House by a kerosene lamp Jan. 5. Destroyed the hotel, 2 saloons, billiard parlor, harness shop, feed store, boot & shoe store, several residences; $35,000 loss; little or no insurance. Favorable wind limits the damage.
Citizens have a charity ball to raise money for relief and many sewing bees to make clothes and bedding for the fire victims.
Whitcomb L. Judson of Chicago invents the zipper. McHenry County Fair celebrates 25th Anniversary; held on two weekends. Woodstock Sentinel begins publication of Daily Sentinel a free advertising supplement delivered door-to-door.
Prof. Noble Hill purchases Todd School for $20,000 from Richard Kimball Todd; to pay $1,000 per year for 20 years. The school has three buildings; Hill makes extensive renovations and begins to build reputation.
1893
A huge fire demolishes south half, east side of Square April 15 & 16. Destroys infamous "Rat Hole" which contained meat market, tin shop, tailor shop, shoe shop. Also burns German Lutheran Church, barbershop, hardware store, milling shop and the hook and ladder company. Fire began in M. Church's livery barn. Few had enough insurance but all relocate to other space. Finishes off all of the original ramshackle buildings on the Square.
The "Woodstock Ladies Benevolent Penny Society" is formed by group of women living at south end of Washington St "to work for and to do good". Hold suppers, teas, band concerts and sell cookbook to raise money to buy food for the hungry, sew clothing, bedding for the poor and provide holiday provisions for families that could not afford them.
The Columbian Exposition to celebrate the 400th anniversary of America's discovery held in Chicago from May to Nov. Many Woodstock residents visited the fair; saw visitors from all over the world. Exhibits of Edison's light bulb, Tesla's electric coil, Westinghouse's alternating current dynamo, electric transformer and motor; also the first Ferris wheel and the hootchy-kootchy dancer "Little Eqypt".
Woodstock Public Improvement Committee leads efforts to attract industry by raising funds to purchase property and erect building. Buys 5 A. just east of railroad roundhouse on First Street.
First Baptist Church on NW corner of Throop and W. Jackson Sts. reorganizes after fire in 1893.

1894
City issues $10,000 bonds; buys a lot on First St., drills 1,014' well, builds 40' dia. by 10' deep reservoir, buys pumping outfit, installs 20,679 ft. of water mains, 42 hydrants and 16' dia. by 80' water tank on W. Jackson St.
Chicago Industrial Home for Children, haven for orphaned children, headed by Rev. Thomas B. Arnold, moves to Mrs. Roxey D. Stevens home on farm at 940 N. Seminary Ave. Mrs. Stevens, a childless widow asks only for small annuity and home for life.
Wheeler & Tappan Co. is successfully recruited; a building is erected on First St. site.; has its own steam plant and electricity. If plants stays 5 years they receive title to property. Name is changed to Tappan Steam Pump Co.
American Railroad Union strikes against the Pullman Co. in Chicago; stops mail delivery; Federal court issues injunction; Eugene V. Debs, president of union, refuses to obey.
1895
Eugene V. Debs was sentenced to 6 months and 6 other union members were sentenced to 3 months; serve their time in the McHenry County jail. Later Debs says he converted from unionism to socialism while in Woodstock. On last day the townspeople carried him to train station on their shoulders.
Woodstock Sentinel ad offers a set of Encyclopedia Britannica for $1 asking potential customers to "Give Your Boys a Chance!".
New water system is in operation.
1896
Oliver Typewriter, founded by Rev. Thomas Oliver of Iowa, takes over the building previously occupied by the Tappan Steam Pump Co., on condition it remain 5 yrs. It has 150 employees and turned out 100 typewriters in the first 8 months of operation. Largest plant in Woodstock and one of largest in the world.
The Woodstock Ladies Benevolent Penny Society becomes the "Penny Mite Society".
The McHenry County Farmers' Institute is formed to educate its members through speakers, organize excursions to agricultural colleges and provide scholarships for young people pursuing careers in agriculture. Forerunner of McHenry County Farm Bureau.
City grants franchise to Allen B. Wager of McHenry County Telephone Co. to construct complete local telephone company. Chicago Telephone Co. directory in Oct. lists 4 Woodstock subscribers on its toll (long distance) service at 25$ for 5 minutes.
1897
Woodstock Brewing and Bottling Co. wins blue ribbon at state fair in Springfield.
The Northwestern Rabbitry is established at the end of Washington St. by Mrs. Edith Kinsman-Poyer to breed rabbits for meat and skins. Belgian Hares and "Flemish Giant" breeds were imported and raised.
City installs electric power plant at water system site. Adds boiler, engine for light plant and installs 442 poles, 26 miles wire. No poles around Square. Cost $12,250.
1898
The battleship Maine is sunk in Havana Harbor; led to the Spanish American War. More than 100 volunteers of Woodstock's Co. G, Third Regiment of Illinois Infantry muster on April 26th and serve in the conflict. Flags flew all around town and especially the Square when Pres. McKinley signs the resolution of intervention.
St. John's Lutheran Church is rebuilt on the NW corner of Jefferson and Calhoun Sts.
Rev. J.D. Kelsey replaces Rev. Arnold as head of Chicago Industrial Home for Children.
1899
The Citizens Telephone Co. incorporated by M.L. Joslyn, J.C. Donnelly, D.F. Curley takes over intertown telephone lines of McHenry County Telephone Co. Consists of 100 miles of metallic circuit lines connecting 22 communities in the county.
1900
The Kodak Brownie camera is introduced by George Eastman. Cost $1 and is the first camera to use film rather than plates making it more operable by the general public. Film is 15 cents per roll.
Allen B. Wager's independent telephone company, sub-licenses and takes over and operates telephone toll stations . Local service has 140 stations on 25 miles of open wire pole lines.
Rural Free Delivery (RFD) of mail begins in Woodstock area on Mar. 1.
1901
Dr. Windmueller introduces first automobile to Woodstock. His Milwaukee Steam was purchased from the Milwaukee Automobile Co. and he drove it to Woodstock. The daring doctor frightens citizens roaring up and down city streets. It took some time to get up steam and often it was necessary to back up and get a longer head start to get up hills.
The Northwestern Rabbitry expands; may be the largest plant of its kind in the world.

Fountain in the Public Square surrounded by wood plank sidewalks 1882
Medlar Studio Photo

Pres. McKinley shot on Sept. 6th; dies Sept. 14th. Teddy Roosevelt becomes president.
Guglielmo Marconi sends first wireless telegraph Morse code signal across the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 12th.
The Woodstock Telephone Co., owned by Chas. H. Donnelly, Geo. W. Field and other local citizens take over ownership and operation of the 165 local telephone stations and 4 toll circuits via Elgin to Chicago Telephone Co. on a sublicense.
1902-1911
1902
Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Ellsworth and Amos W. Anderson were shot & killed at the Ellsworth home, corner of Madison & E. Washington Sts. in March. Son, Earl Ellsworth, spins a story but is found out and ultimately found guilty.
Mead & Charles, grocery, phone 41 offers 19 lbs. cane sugar $1; 5 gal. gasoline 50$; also have first moving electric light display in window.
Erect $4,000 building, on Main St. to house Wittenberg & Bodenschatz candy manufacturing company.
Oliver baseball team plays first game and wins.
Fire causes great damage April 4 & 5 to Northwestern Rabbitry on E. Washington St; many valuable rabbits and cavies killed; building saved.
Fire wipes out main building of Woodstock Brewing & Bottling Co. on May 5th. Hydrant is 3,000' away; fire dept. has 2,000' of hose; Harvard helps out; other buildings saved. Loss $70,000.
Ad: Wanted:Dishwasher $4 per week. Co. G wins laurels at summer camp in Springfield. City rents space to schools for classroom. Costs 10$ to raise bushel of corn; can sell for 50$.
A.J. Olson to erect $25,000 milk factory west of Dingee Pickle Co. City agrees to provide $2,000 drainage for Olson if he invests at least $15,000.
Rotten bandstand removed from park; to be burned. Kellogg apartments are built on Dean St. Oliver builds offices.
Rev. W. A. Sunday holds revival at Methodist Episcopal Church.
1903
D.F. Quinlan, city's first real estate broker, and others agree last year very prosperous. City lot: $175; farm acreage $40-$80 per acre. Mail order catalog companies cutting into local business. City approves an additional exit for City Hall for safety reasons. Many pupils absent due to grip and measles.
Oliver adds 250' x 80' to factory to triple machine output; 800 attend dedication. More housing needed.
Woodstock High School graduates 15; all female. City has 9 saloons. Knights of Columbus is instituted. City installs ce-
ment sidewalks around City Hall. City needs street signs. Public baths installed in Kellogg's addition.
McHenry County Fair has new depts. of antiquity & artistic butter designs and 2 new buildings. Ideal Restaurant on Main St. offers Liver & Bacon 25$.
1904
Local businessmen form Retail Merchants Protective Association. Free Methodist Church operates Old Folks Rest Home on Seminary next to Children's Home.
Local man, A. J. P. Bertschy, is acclaimed nationally for telephone repeater invention. $15,785 school bond issue passes; to build new 4-room school on corner Grove & Clay.
Switching accident at train yard; 10 cars derailed, signal tower smashed, tower man buried in rubble; rescued; broken leg & bruises.
Butter statuary display at County Fair; antiquity exhibit in 1837 log cabin moved to fair from Queen Ann prairie. Fair makes a profit.
School opens; primary grades half day; not enough room. Big electrical storm; lightning damages flagstaff on cupola of Courthouse.
Carry Nation addresses 2 large audiences at City Hall. Woodstock Dry Goods opens in Church block addition.
Borden builds Condensed Milk plant; ships carload of bottled milk to Chicago each day; builds ice house.
Fire at Opera House in Dec; movie equipment burns, dense smoke, damage to floor. All escaped; some through windows; some jumped onto roof of outside balcony.
1905
Ice harvest in Jan. at Dufield's Lake & brewery pond. Hon. William Jennings Bryan lectures at City Hall. Woodstock Dry Goods ad: Corsets, Ultra Bust Curving Waist Model 39$ to $1.
Leading citizens propose a hospital be built. Clay Street school opens for 180 pupils in April. City changes name of East St. to Seminary Ave.
George K. Bunker, 79, dies; teacher, farmer, businessman, 2-term mayor; prominent and successful. Statue of Abraham Lincoln of pure McHenry Co. butter a feature of County Fair.
Railroad ad: California $25; Short Line, Fast Trains, No Delays. Ad: Lots for sale: $1 down, 50$ week. E.F. Stone, druggist, disappears from town; locks store, boards train. Power of attorney sent from Denver to local lawyer to settle affairs; wife and son were ill.
1906
St. Mary's builds parsonage. April 13 San Francisco earthquake and fire; 1,000 dead; 300,000 homeless. Woodstock

erects 1st building of its kind in Woodstock.
Hecht Bros. Mfg. Co. build new brass foundry between Dingee Pickle and Borden factories. YMCA and Elks Lodge organize. Board of Local Improvements approves new $80,000 sewer system; paid by special assessment on benefitted properties. City ordinance; no more wooden sidewalks be built.
First high school erected at cost of $25,999.
1907
Schuett & Schaff, implement dealers demonstrate vacuum milking machine; can be powered by steam, gasoline engine, electric motor, tread power.
Grace Evangelic Lutheran church holds first services. Odd Fellows erect splendid new $26,000 lodge building, corner of Dietz & Jefferson Sts. Dedicate New Free Methodist church building on McHenry St. opposite the seminary.
City to pay portion of cost of new cement sidewalks. Dedicate new Congregational Church building.
Ad: A.R. Murphey, druggist & jeweler; "Use paint when you paint. Sherwin Williams Paints". Ad: W. H. Cornue, Auctioneer. Post office moves to Odd Fellows building.
Dr. John Guy purchases house on Clay St.; to convert to hospital; hot water, electric lights; surgical & maternity wards.
Woodstock Pleasure Club presents program of boxing, wrestling, magic & music at City Hall Dec. 3 for $1.
1908
High school students publish first year book; "Blue and White"; 100 pages; $1 per copy. Pasco Austin, 82, dies at his home on South &Tryon; married Harriet Judd in 1848; one of town's wealthiest citizens.
Contract is $76,847.60 for new sewerage plant. Howling blizzard in Feb. blocks roads; drifts 6' to 8' high. Hospital opens on Clay St.
Fire destroys Hall & Eckert Lumberyard corner of Lumber & Madison Sts. in April. City to install street signs. City's existing 1600' deep well drilled to 2100' deep; pumps 200 gal. per minute. City to drill second well 1200' or more deep.
Women's Relief Corps makes appeal for final funds for monument in the Square; has been raising funds for past 10-12 years. James Kelly, Jr. struck by south bound freight train; both legs, one arm severed; dies 3 hrs. later.
1909
Dairy farmers meet to organize Farmers' Milk Producing Assn.
Memorial service held at Oliver Factory for Thomas Oliver, inventor of Oliver typewriter; born in mid 1800s in Woodstock, Canada; 1,000 attend.
Earthquake felt in Woodstock. City approves maps for required house numbers. Oliver Band gives concerts in Square. New $700 bandstand has electric lights.
Giant ostrich races at County Fair. City installs more electric lines & street lights. 4 carriers begin free mail delivery in city. City $8,000 in debt.
Citizens of Woodstock subscribe $25,000-$30,000 in stock to bring Emerson factory to town. Work begins in Nov. on foundation for new Emerson typewriter factory; side track laid out from Clay St. east along Church St.
Nov. 3, Soldier's Monument unveiled in center of Square; of marble, base is 26'8" & 9' sq.; 6' statue; work by A.J. Zoia; $3,000 raised by Women's Relief Corps; 3,000 attend ceremony.
City is divided into 4 wards; 2 aldermen each ward. Western United Gas & Electric Co. lays mains & pipes for gas; is connected to Elgin.
1910
Heavy snowstorm stops railroad traffic for days. Dwight & Osborn advertise gas stoves. Woodstock short of coal. Issue on ballot to wipe out city's 12 saloons loses; wets 826, drys 552.
Dedicate new $60,000 St. Mary's Cathedral on corner of Lincoln & Tryon in March.
Banquet & grand ball held at Emerson's $40,000 typewriter factory, Madison St., on April 21st; operations to begin May 15th. Grace Lutheran Society dedicates remodeled church in June; purchased German Presbyterian church building on Washington St.
City purchases 12 lots in block 4 of Spring City Addn. for dumping ground; establishes Fire Dept.; to pave streets around Square & short way in each direction. State Bank buys Sherman block at corner of Benton & Dietz.
McHenry County Medical Assn. organizes; doctors set rates; town calls $1.50, office 75$, minimums; 6 doctors in Woodstock; Windmueller, Anderson, Doolittle, Smith, Guy, Seelye.
The armory building between Dean & Jefferson Sts., home of Co. G, burns to the ground Nov. 12; destroys $6,000 of government property.
Telephone exchange moves to 2nd floor of Church block over Woodstock Dry Goods. Thanksgiving turkeys 2$ to 4$ per lb.
1911
Dedicate Rogers Hall, new study building at Todd School. Woodstock Community High school graduates 23 in June.
Fire Dept. requests City to hire man & team of horses to sleep

Ad: If your Victor Talking Machine or Victrola needs maintenance. Will oil and adjust or repair. Call 169-J.
V.D. Sherburne's new Ford Agency reports sales of 3 Torpedo Runabouts and 6 Touring Cars.
City lets bid to Logan & Geirtz of Elgin to lay 14,837 square yards of Vitrified Brick Pavement for $28,465.71.
City grants petition to allow movie screenings on Sunday if they are clean pictures depicting historical, educational and biblical topics and only from 7 to 9 p.m.
County adds to county jail; extends south wall 10' and makes building 2 stories tall.
The Square accommodates farmers with hitching rings. 16 beautiful pillars mark entrances and adorn corners of park; electric globes on the pillars.
School opens with 110 beginners and 875 in whole school. High school has 132 students, including 1 post-grad.
Begin work on new armory on Madison St. Building to be of brick, stone, steel; to be complete in 4 months.
Aviation Meet, Automobile and Motorcycle races at Fair Grounds; features match race between a horse, bicycle, motorcycle, aeroplane.
Pres. Teddy Roosevelt wounded by demented fiend in Milwaukee.
City is splendidly paved and ablaze with thousands of lights by Dec.
1913
Ads: For sale; high-grade automobile, 1910 model, 45 hp. Will take good driving horse as part payment. New Ford Runabout auto sells for $525 at V.D. Sherburne's.
16th Amendment to the Constitution ratified Feb. 25 legalizes income tax.
Sleet and snow is worst in history of county; miles of telephone, telegraph and electric wires down; poles snapped off like matches. Woodstock Businessmen's Association is formed
City to pave Tryon St. High school graduates 27 at Opera
House. Saturday Special; 10 qt. dish pan 10$. HartSchaffner & Marx suits $18 and up, overcoats $16.50 and up.
Businessmen's Assn. asserts present curbing is not high enough to keep horses from getting over into park.
Wynkoop's 7-pc. orchestra furnishes music for Co. G. dance at Woodstock Armory New Year's Eve; couple 50$.
1914
Woodstock Hospital Assn. is created; to run hospital on Clay St. Woodstock goes "Dry" by 400 votes.
Oakland Cemetery builds mausoleum; of white marble, Bedford stone & tile. World War I begins in Europe.
City to pave streets: Dean, Throop, and a portion of South, West Jackson, Washington, Calhoun.
City to have 5 saloons; anything to obstruct view must be removed.
Serious fire at City Hall on Mar. 12 damages City Library, 1,906 volumes are lost.
Emerson Typewriter changes ownership and name to Woodstock Typewriter Co. in April.
Speed limits for autos on Square and business streets is 10 m.p.h.; around corners 5 m.p.h.
Women vote in school board election.
Fine new depot is completed by C&N.W. railroad.
1915
Woodstock Hospital moves from Clay St. to more adequate home on South St. Ready for patients Jan. 4.
John J. Stafford purchases splendid new Cunningham ambulance; space for patient and 2 doctors; fittings of solid mahogany, electric lights. Also new Chicago Motor Hearse; silver gray with mahogany interior, 35 h.p.
Residence for sale at 520 South St., $3,000. Button boots sell for $3 pair. Nine-piece cooking & roasting set, new process, pure aluminum, $1.98.
Golf club is formed by local men. Banks offer savings accounts at 3% interest.
Horse sale at Novelty Tie Barn; 22 horses purchased on behalf of the British government for use as artillery horses in the war zone
Congregational Church presents musical comedy "Billie's Bungalow" at Opera House. Tickets 25$, 35$, 50$.
Woodstock receives new auto fire engine in November.
1916
Christian Science Church established.
Automobile licenses for 1916 must be on autos by first of year or else!

HEALTHCARE THROUGH THE YEARS
First Woodstock Hospital on Clay Street. Established in 1908. Courtesy McHenry County Historical Society
Woodstock Hospital moved to South St into Judge Murphy's former home in 1915. Courtesy of Jim Keefe.
Women's Auxiliary to Memorial Holiday Hospitality Day at the Chester Gould home. Ca.l950's Courtesy of Jane Dahm
Woodstock Hospital on South Street showing Bentley addition built in 1937.
Memorial Hospital for McHenry County on South Street, ca. 1980 Courtesy of Woodstock Public Library

American Red Cross Nurses' Aide group during World War II Medlar Studio Photo
Old People's Rest Home on Seminary Ave. Built in 1903. Later named Sunset Manor. Courtesy of Woodstock Public Library.

Miller's Strand Theatre showing "Little Pal" starring Mary Pickford. Matinee 3 p.m. 5$ & 10$; 7:30-9 10$.
1917
6 are charged with bootlegging and illicit liquor traffic. Ad: Will store cars in heated garage; $4 per month for live cars; $3 for dead.
Co. G returns from duty on Texas border in February; Citizens extend hearty welcome; big reception at Armory and sumptuous banquet.
St. Mary's Parochial School building is complete, cost $38,042.40. Has 4 teachers for up to 6th grade.
Headline in newspaper: "Woodstock people must build more homes" Oliver factory to be expanded to produce many more typewriters.
April 6, U.S. Congress authorizes president to enter war on side of allies. Co. G members take Federal oath; requires 3 yrs. Service; 3 yrs. in reserve. 15 recruits volunteer. Drill on Tuesdays.
Sherburne advertises Red Crown gasoline 19$ per gallon.
Tuesday, June 5 all men age 21 to 31 must register for draft. 3,016 register in county.
Federal government buys site for post office at NE corner Throop & Calhoun; City accepts ground for continuation of Johnson St.
Woodstock Red Cross Chapter is organized in May.
1918
Ralph Park Wells, 7th Engineers, first overseas victim from Woodstock; reported drowned.
Moose Lodge organizes. 23 graduate from high school at 40th annual commencement at Opera House.
3,925 men age 18 to 45 register in county; 641 in Woodstock. Military funeral services held for dead soldier, hundreds attend.
July 4th parade wants 500 autos decorated with national colors; prizes offered. The Sycamore-Woodstock Gasoline Railroad line is junked.
Nov. 7th newspaper report: Woodstock goes wild with joy when peace news arrives; whistles blow, bands play, crowds carry November lithe armistice is signed.
1919
18th Amendment to Constitution is ratified Jan. 29 prohibit-
ing sale, transport or manufacture of intoxicating liquor. Clarence Darrow speaks to large audience at Opera House. Judge CP. Barnes, States Attorney Lumley speak at large meeting to mourn former President Teddy Roosevelt.
More houses needed in Woodstock; every house occupied; waiting lists. 10% tax on ice cream.
20,000 cheer at Woodstock Homecoming Celebration June 10th as uniformed McHenry County soldiers march by.
Woodstock Typewriter workers organize union; strike for more pay, 8 hr. day; 44 hr. week. In Aug. plant shuts. In Sept. men accept 9 hr. day, return to work.
Fire destroys old grade school on Throop St. next to high school, Dec.2. School reopens in church and vacant Murphy home on W. Jackson with split shifts.
Serious coal shortage hits both city & factory power plants in late Nov. until soft coal miner's strike ends. Oliver closes on Nov.29; 1200 out of work; reopens Dec. 12. Businesses close early to save on city's coal supply.
1920
Heavy fines levied for illegally transporting intoxicating liquors on county highways.
New Community High School District purchases 8 acre property on Putnam St. for $9,500; buys 5 more adjacent acres for $10,000. City drills 2 new wells at First St. water plant.
Curtis airplane lands on Schuett's farm just NE of Woodstock; Cub reporter tells of experience on plane ride. Severe hailstorm in Aug. damages roofs, breaks many windows, 200 at factory; destroys bumper corn crop.
Erect temporary wood building with beaverboard lining next to high school for grade school pupils. To build $33,300 addition to Clay St. school. Largest enrollment ever in schools.
19th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified Aug. 26 giving vote to women.
Woodstock Milling Co. opens near railroad on E. Jackson in former pickle factory to produce flour, cornmeal, breakfast food and chickenfeed.
Canned condensed milk market in Europe collapses; farmers' pay cut 10% due to overstock of canned milk since the war; condensing plants being reduced. Local members of Milk Producers Assn. hold angry meeting at Courthouse.
Judge Barnes empanels first-ever all- woman jury to hear woman's incompetency case; "...instead of the usual 6 men from among the loungers around the Courthouse..."
Newly organized American Legion ejects man from dance for doing the "shimmy".
1921
Back to farm movement reported due to lack of work in facto-

Hospital acquires more land for $8,500. City reduces salary of all appointive city employees 10% (with exceptions).
Chicago Motor Club establishes branch in Woodstock. American Red Cross gives $5,150 to build Woodstock Contagious Hospital on hospital site.
School Board contracts to build new high school; cost $226,800. Bids for Dean St. School just over $89,000.
Woodstock typewriter factory builds 106' water tower; holds 75,000 gal. Bad late April snow storm closes roads; drifts 8' high; harms buds & branches.
City requires all eating places to be licensed and inspected; all electrical wiring to be inspected. City's motorcycle cop makes 9 speeding arrests. City to pay V2 cost of sidewalk repair. Bus line connects with nearby towns. City buys new $3,000 water pump.
AJ. Olson Creamery Co. builds new creamery, ice mfg. & storage plant near railroad NW corner E. Jackson & Madison.
International typing champion visits Woodstock; uses only Woodstock typewriter. City sets up $600 fund to hire expert to rid the business district of rats.
III. Bankers' Assn. warns banks to have deputy sheriffs on duty; towns should have vigilance committee, shotguns in all buildings around banks, high powered cars for deputies, etc.
1922-1931
1922
Penny Mite Society earns $1,219 from ads & sale of cook book. 25 families receive Christmas dinner baskets from Penny Mites.
Truck runs into lamp post on Square; post and all 5 light globes smashed to smithereens. Women will serve as election judges and clerks at city election first time in history. 1,000 gather at St. Mary's church for funeral of Judge C.H. Donnelly.
New Dean Street School opens. City prohibits use of wood shingles due to so many fires this past winter. City buys new fire truck. Fire destroys grandstand at fairgrounds.
Ice skating rink formed south of typewriter company by citizens who loaned team, plow & scraper. Fans gather at Conway's News Depot to hear football game on the radio.
Ads: Good 7 room house for sale, $1,700. FT. Ferris offers special hours to hear New Edison phonograph.
1923
County Farm Advisor says half the cattle in county are tubercular.
Fire destroys Methodist Church on South St. Sun. Feb. 4th . Plans to remodel are changed to build anew; cost $65,000.
Contract let to build new cement road between Woodstock and McHenry; to widen to 19 ft. Ad: Fresh ground hamburger
3 lbs. for 25$. Clarence Darrow is Decoration Day speaker.
Proposed Route 47 is dotted line on map; will be paved hard road. Cement work complete on South St.
Wind storm downs large trees and flattens corn. Fordson Tractors are $395 f.o.b. Detroit. Large number of diptheria cases in Woodstock. Lilacs are in full bloom in Dec. because of warm weather.
1924
Booze joints raided by Sheriff Edinger on New Year's Day; confiscated wine, whiskey, kegs of beer, 7 slot machines. Milk farmers are out on strike due to price reductions.
Chamber of Commerce spearheads fund raising efforts to bring new industries to town. City nets $2,239 from vehicle tax on 821 cars, taxis & motorcycles.
City makes traffic 1-way on Main & Benton Sts. Funds are raised and Lydell Metal Storefront Co., Gordon Mfg. Co., sheet & pillowcase maker, and Holmes Disappearing Bed Co. come to town. Wien's - white kid footwear, $7.
In March Lidell company moves into old brass foundry site; Holmes Bed Co. moves into new building at SE corner Church & Madison. Housing shortage looms due to new factories. Holmes Bed Co. asks for more space.
70 graduate from high school. Engage WCHS band for summer concerts. Dedicate playground on Clay St.; named after former Mayor Olson.
Motorists expected to pay attention to signal lights at Dean & South, "Red means stop".
Zenith Corp. sets up radio in Square to test reception; 400 gather to hear. Woodstock Typewriter makes electric typewriter.
1925
Ag Dept. at high school now has 38 students. When train hits car at Benton St. crossing, 2 killed & 2 injured; crossing flag man was on duty.
City takes no action when Ku Klux Klan asks to rent Opera House. In April epidemic of measles closes schools. Gladys Swarthout, famous soprano, sings at Opera House. Pres. Calvin Coolidge passes through city on train; waves from observation car.
Judge CP. Barnes and V.S. Lumley indicted for conspiracy; found guilty of perjury. Sheriff dumps 65 barrels and 25 half barrels of beer into the sewer behind Courthouse.
In July 91 autos with 294 passengers visit tourist grounds, SW corner of Hill & Jackson, for camping or meals only. Public schools have 867 pupils.
4 banks pay half cost of special police guard due to many bank robberies. Chicken pox under control; 2 cases scarlet

LEISURE TIME THROUGH TH E YEARS
Spring City Band organized in 1885 poses in front of Courthouse. Medlar Photo
Princess movie theater on Main Street ca. 1924 Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Cattle judging at the McHenry County Fairgrounds Courtesy of Jim Keefe

Oliver Typewriter Company Women's Softball team at Oliver picnic in 1910. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.
Group excursions by train were common in early years of 20th century. Old depot building was replaced in 1914. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Woodstock Municipal Pool opened in 1962 in City Park. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society

Railroad begins using car run by generated electricity for passenger, mail & baggage as experiment. New wig wag signals in operation at railroad crossings. Heat wave continues; 20 heat deaths in Chicago.
Jackson St. is paved from foot of hill to cemeteries. Local men visit a talking movie show in New York. Local promoters buy land in Bull Valley; plan to build dam and sell lakefront lots.
Lumber & Madison Sts. have cement pavement.
1927
Fire destroys Stone's shoe store on NE corner of Cass & Main in Jan.; much damage to Tripp photographs, Moka's shoe shine parlor & Lindval's shoe repair; very old wood building.
Woodstock Fur Farms locates 1 mile west of town; to house 200 fox pairs. Illinois Dept. of Ag. crews use burners to destroy corn borers. Wards has Riverside Balloon cord Tires-$9.89 to $21.95. Charles Lindberg lands in Paris May 21.
Adding machine company wants to move into Oliver building & produce typewriters. Woodstock Implement has demo of latest power equipment.
Supt. Willis says no gym can be built at high school due to debt limits. Woodstockian George Moriarty debuts as Detroit Tigers' manager. Locals urged to buy coal before strike.
Movies at Opera House while Princess Theater is enlarged and reborn as the Miller Theatre. Red Cross asked to double $300 quota for Mississippi flood relief. Texaco gas station built at Madison, Lake, South,
Large nursery firm buys land NW of town for raising roses. Woodstock Typewriter buys own electric power equipment. Propose to use vacant Oliver plant for airplane manufacture. Oliver equipment sold at auction.
Ad: Evans Market will deliver meat orders, just call. Chamber of Commerce in debt; disbands. F.W. Woolworth leases store at 126 Cass.
1928
R. P. Pfeiffer buys out Hoy Drug Store at 100 Cass. Muddy roads, cars that hesitate sink to axles. Good crowd at meeting to discuss location of Rt. 47. "Ben Hur" playing at Miller Theatre.
R. W. Sears, Woodstock Typewriter President, buys airplane to pilot. Library Board pleads for more room; plan to build balcony for books in City Hall library.
Alemite Die Casting & Mfg. Co. of Chicago buys Oliver plant. Some accused of secret plan to spend $125,000 City funds for new sewage disposal plant.
Old Austin property on NW side Square demolished; build new F.W. Woolworth store. Stage Womanless Wedding at Methodist Church. 6 typhoid cases. Plans for new St. Mary's gym.
Famous Ranger Girls' baseball team to play local heroes. Goodyear tires; $8.50 to $12. Sheriff Sanford confiscates 300 gals. wine. High school graduates 54.
City buys new Seagrave fire truck. Local National Guard company mustered out. Old Donnelly building on SW corner of Square torn down for Montgomery Wards store. City accepts Hanaford's Woods with Rider's Pond for restricted residential use.
New equipment is installed at city power plant. State Rt. 19 to pass through Dean & South intersection; must remove stoplight in middle.
1929
Fire destroys Woodstock Milling Co. on Calhoun. Milk producers strike for a month. Mi Her Theater gives free sets of glasses. Milk in stores now 13$ per quart.
New St. Mary's Gym dedicated. Legislature passes 3$ gas tax to help pay for hard roads. Lions Club organizes. R.O. Andrew builds new mill and ice plant on site of burned mill.
New mayor plans to pave streets; install new boiler, smoke stack, coal storage & handling device at power plant. Ad: Sears Roebuck offers info on buying a Sears house.
Montgomery Wards new store opens Sat. Aug. 17th. Samples of new, smaller dollar bills on display at banks; first change since 1861.
City contracts for new sewage treatment plant. Local boy first to become Eagle Scout. Wonder Lake is filling with water. Oct. 29 stock market crashes.
Roger Hill new head of Todd School. Below zero weather in Nov. Blizzard blocks roads; milk backs up.
1930
New coal handling equipment at power plant in place. Fire causes damage to Palmer barn & poultry house on Lumber St. American inventor develops analog computer.
9 local homes & 3 stores robbed. Fire causes $5,000 dam-

age to jewelry store on Cass St.. Oldest building in town destroyed by fire; threatens Courthouse. City to buy new police car. Old stack at power plant razed; bigger one built in 1929. Plan subway under C. & N.W. tracks near Smith's crossing.
1931
New city sewage disposal plant costs $78,861.50. More than 30,000 men given jobs to improve 800 miles of Illinois highways.
Begin new $70,000 post office building. Begin work on new wing of Courthouse. 980 students enrolled in Woodstock schools.
Unlawful bootlegging of oleomargarine brings down the price of butter. Daylight savings change creates confusion. Due to Depression, schools adopt bank account savings program to teach thrift.
1932-1941
1932
Subscription to Woodstock Sentinel by carrier 10$ a week or $5.00 a year.
Woodstock Dry Goods- silk dresses $7.70. Sheets/Pillow slips 89$. 3 year guarantee.
Jan. 7, A & P-bread, 5$; 2 lb. slab bacon, 29$; 1 lb. jar peanut butter, 10$; 10 lbs sugar, 49$. New Pontiac V-8 under $850 at Hurley Garage. Chevrolet 6, $475 at Townsend Chevrolet Sales. Roller skating after school at Woodstock Armory. 5$ for children.
District 72 & 152 School Board Meeting. Reduces all staff salaries 10% due to economic conditions. Schools solvent.
Woodstock Post Office opens May 1. First federally owned building in McHenry County. Built 1931-32 at cost of $40,000.
City Council vote no fire calls outside city limits except in emergency. Traffic one way west on Cass to Throop.
200 Legionnaires of McHenry County meet at St. Mary's gym, vote war on hoodlums and racketeering in city.
Orson Welles graduates from Todd School for Boys
Start grading for Rt. 47, Woodstock to Hebron June 9. Pour cement Aug. 1. Hoodlums bomb machinery on Aug. 4, $4,500 damage.
Woodstock Typewriter, with over 500 workers, town's leading industry. Sales in 1932 up 58% over previous August.
A.F. Field property purchased by School Board for Clay Street School playground.
A still large enough to make 400 gallons of alcohol is found on A.C. Pierce farm 7 miles NE of Woodstock. Still owner found shot & killed in Chicago 2 days later.
Woodstock Public Library robbed of $15 on August 7. Clarence
S. Darrow, prominent lawyer, spending several days as guest of John Stafford on Tryon Street Aug. 9.
St Mary's dedicate new Green & White football field. City reduces water rates from $2 minimum to $1.50 for each house.
Crime wave. Homes ransacked, $60 to $70 taken plus watches & jewelry. Police and sheriff working on case. Arrest 3 local 17 year olds. 20 fire calls answered in 1932. 4 were false alarms. Total loss, $2,918.
1933
Feb. 7, Winter's worst snowstorm. Snow at Rose Farm drifted against greenhouse, causing roof and side to cave in. Work all night to save plants. Many freeze. Schools closed.
Gov. Horner makes proclamation to protect depositors from Run on Banks on Mar. 4.
Mar. 6, President Roosevelt issues proclamation closing banks for 4 days. Bank Holiday. The State Bank & American National Bank will open each morning from 8:00 to 9:30 to make change, exchange currency or coin for equal amount. Later the State Bank reopens for regular business & American National Bank was refused permission to reopen because of mortgages made.
Factories cannot issue paychecks. Some did but cannot be cashed at bank. Some stores are accepting them. Bank Holiday was extended for an indefinite period. Currency gradually disappearing.
Mar. 16, at 4:30 a.m., road crew's 2 large steam shovels & elevated loader blown up by hoodlums near Mark Hansen Farm on Rt. 47. Piece of steel from one shovel went through south side of farmhouse where 2 children were sleeping. 50 windows in barn & every house window smashed. Also dishes.
Milk strike results in arrests & unrest for dairy farmers. June, 72 graduate from WCHS. 13 from St. Mary's and 7 from Todd.
June, M.N. Wien's Dept. Store bankrupt. After sale moves out of town. Julius Wien opens new store in August. Post office workers have 9 day furlough without pay, except for postmaster & rural carriers.
June 21, Heat wave with record of 98 & 100 degrees broken by rain. John C. Miller will continue to manage Miller Theater for Anderson chain. Closed for 2 weeks for alterations to sound & decorating.
July 1, postage reduced from 3$ to 2$ for local mail. Rest still 3$. Only 450 motorists out of 1,000 have applied for city license plates. Deadline Aug. 1.
July 26, Rt. 47 between Woodstock & Hebron open to traffic. High School Band entertain at Veterans Hospital in North Chicago. 800 patients thrilled.
240 unemployed register for jobs at city auditor's office. Notice in Sentinel Nov. 21. Expect to grow to 250.

PUBLIC WORKS THROUGH THE YEARS
Original water tower on corner of Hill & Jackson Streets built in 1894. Replaced in 1960. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society
Woodstock City hall built in 1890. Housed all city offices and the library. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society
Installing the Vitrified Brick Pavement in 1912 on Square streets. Courtesy of Jim Keefe

Electric street light on Cass Street. Courthouse, Sheriff's residence & jail in background. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Woodstock Power Plant on Wheeler Street after coal silos were installed in 1930. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Combined water works and power plant before 1929. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Seminary Avenue Water Treatment plant built in 1962. Don Peasley Collection of the M.C.H.S.

Local farmers give away free milk to Woodstock community because of milk strike Jan.6.
Petitions presented to City Council by Hospital Board stating hospital should become property of city. A tax would be necessary. Voted April 18 by citizens & lost 2 to 1.
City Council recommends $300 per year license fee for taverns. Taverns to close all day Sunday, open weekdays 7 to 11 & Saturday 7 to 12.
Bed Factory at Church & Madison Streets in receivership because of Depression. Montgomery Ward invites public to 3 floor remodeled store.
Man walked into Chicago Motor Club office to call Justice Dept. as he was trailing car containing members of Dillinger gang speeding to Chicago. Secretary denied use of phone.
1st National Bank of Woodstock opens May 9. Weather Bureau records most severe drought since 1896 for first three weeks of May. May 22, showers saved city from approaching dust storm.
Acting company to summer at Opera House with Orson Welles doing Shakespeare. City paves street in front of Post Office. Woodstock Typewriter sells 400 typewriters to Los Angeles School Board.
American Legion secure necessary funds to repair Armory from State so can use as headquarters for Illinois Emergency Relief Commission.
100 Spanish American War Vets hold 21st annual reunion at Opera House. Woodstock Tourist Park at Hill & Jackson Streets closes for the season on Nov. 1. 362 cars registered 1563 people.
Members of Glen Crest Country Club voted to change name to Woodstock Country Club in Nov. City may lower power rates. Will save $3000 per year pursuant to Supreme Court knocking out sales tax on light & water sold.
1935
City lowers power rates 18%. Woodstock Public Schools to teach typing in all elementary schools next fall.
Because of scarlet fever epidemic graduate 76 without ceremony at high school. Miller Theater installs new air conditioning plant. $10,000 crop loss due to heavy rains in NW section of Dorr.
Electric Auto Lite purchases Alemite Factory. Securing right of way for Rt.47 between Woodstock & Huntley.
City Council votes in favor of all garbage wagons being closed & covered. 1048 register on opening day of school. 205 at
St. Mary's. 1st. Congregational Church celebrates 70th & Presbyterian 89th anniversary
Fire destroys old Borden Building. 1035 auto licenses sold during year.
1936
20 degree below temperature closes schools. Blizzard grips county. Roads close. Factory workers sleep in jail overnight. Drifts 25 feet high.
Woodstock Citizens Literary Digest Poll vote 4 ¥2 to 1 against New Deal policies. Oil burner blast causes 5 businesses to be destroyed. $20,000 damages. Hospital is beneficiary of Bentley Estate, $400,000.
Plan dedication of new American Legion on Clay Street. City Fathers vote to tear down Spring House built in 1876.
Contract let for grading the approaches for subway under Chicago NW Railroad on Rt. 47. Grading between Woodstock & Huntley. City buys fire truck to replace a 1926 model for $7,100. Best equipped department in Northern Illinois
1937
State Bank votes to double capital because of high business volume. Sentinel prints 80th Anniversary Edition. City Council votes to prohibit sale of fireworks in city. Start building new hospital in April.
Burglars break into Dining Car Tavern. Steal $80, cartons of cigarettes, candy & whiskey. 72 graduate from high school. 28 from St. Mary's.
June 20, Severe rain, wind, hail. Damage in the thousands. City "transformed into huge lake" Hottest day of the year on June 25. Woodstock Progressive Milk Producers Association formed.
1938
Formal opening of new 3 story hospital in Jan. Food drive reaped 900 jars of fruit, vegetables, juices, jellies for hospital larder. Square parking problem. Chicago Motor Club recommends one way traffic.
New 10 acre-40 lot subdivision at McHenry Ave. & Olson St. $5,000 price. New 4000 kilowatt turbine to increase efficiency of Power Plant.
Relief hits new high. 2,282 people in county on rolls. April blizzard. Heaviest snowfall of winter. Using horse wagon sleigh to transport milk.
New 2 story firehouse being planned on south end of City Hall. 2nd story for police, council chambers, lounge.
20th anniversary of AirMail. Plane picks up 1497 airmail letters at Rafter Field (Dean St.) May 20. High school band plays. State to license auto drivers. 50th Anniversary of Children's Home.

1939
Woodstock has oldest woman driver in state, Nellie Galloway, on Calhoun St. Drivingsince 1904. Miller Theater installs RCA Photophone Sound System. First in Illinois.
Merchants have Better Homes Exhibit at Congregational Church. 76 piece high school band wins 1st in District & State in April. Woodstock recognized as one of 11 ranking cities in state in safety. City & high school join National Safety Council of Chicago.
12 women's organizations petition city for restroom in new addition to city hall. Campaign to stop epidemic of false fire alarms. First Memorial Day without Civil War Veteran.
Need new well at power plant. New addition to Alemite Plant. Woodstock Journal sold. To be semi-weekly.
R.O. Andrew sells ice business to Chicago Ice Plant. Piggly Wiggly to open next to Miller Theater on Main.
Woodstock to hold first SoapBox Derby on South St. in July. Grand opening of Paul Knuth & Ralph Johannessen's ultramodern ice cream & lunch store on Cass St.. City Council turn down CIO meeting in square. Issue permit for Olson Park in Oct.
Pierce-Slavin to construct new funeral home on Washington Street. 50 new homes built during the last two years.
1940
Hospital buys property to the east for nurses quarters. Wright's Red Front Drugstore to close after 75 years. Will be replaced by National Tea.
City to extend water main on Pleasant Street. Will provide for 10 lots. Library expands with entrance on Dean St. Rose Farm produced 5 million roses in past year. Largest in world and sells all over world.
New city census, 6117. 646 increase. High School new addition since construction in 1921, open April 1. New auditorium gym. band room, cafeteria, pool, locker rooms, showers. Construction began in 1939.
First supervised playground season starts in June. High school pool also open to public. City Drama students of Chicago's Goodman Theater have 8 week season at Opera House. Paint interior in time for opening.
Dedicate Christian Science Church at Dean & South St. in Aug. Cost $17,000-$18,000. Celebrate 50th anniversary of City Hall on Sept. 4.
Hospital to raise fund to purchase baby Iron Lung. Build Locker Plant on Seminary & East Judd St. to store frozen food. City to be conscription Center for Draft of 21-35 year old males. 16,500,000 Americans will register. 1207 from Woodstock signed up Oct. 16. First call will be Nov. 18. New A & P building on Van Buren St. to open Dec. 1.
1941
6 inch snow fall, worst in 2 year period. Birthday Ball at high school to benefit infantile paralysis in Jan. $8,000 government construction grant for Woodstock Flying School on US Rt. 20 (Rt. 120).
Mayor Wm. R. Burns candidate for 6th term. Has served 12 years. High School Board discusses school bus system. 67 rural pupils in private autos. Owns 15 lots on Putnam St.. As no value to school, will sell & hope to use proceeds for bus system.
13 local men sign up for new Woodstock Militia Company. 4 men from Woodstock left for draft training.
Woodstock was highest in McHenry County Christmas Seal Sale, $426.07. American Legion sponsored WLS Talent Show at Opera House.
Montgomery Ward offers $5 for ice box trade on 6V2 cu. ft. refrigerator. Regular $114.95 or $109.95. Bowman Bros, Women's shoes- $1.99 to $2.99. National Tea, Potatoes-5 lbs 25$, Oxydol-2-24oz. pkg. 35$.
Wunderlich's Variety Store to open.
Citizens Keep America Out of War Committee poll 90 people. Results show Woodstock against any part in present war. Elks sponsor a 4 night carnival on west side of square.
37 year old woman beaten to death by St. Charles parolee on McCoy farm on Dean St.. 3 day manhunt. Pleads guilty. Vehicle stickers to be sold for upkeep of streets. National aluminum drive. Woodstock Typewriter received $106,000 Defense order. Building Boom.
300 see Duke & Duchess of Windsor on train as it passes through town. 3 welcome to Woodstock signs erected. National Defense Program tying up installation of city's new boiler and steam generating unit.
Japan attacks Pear Harbor. Declaration of War. Local youths rush to join service. Post office has biggest year of sales of Defense Bonds & Defense Stamps. Red Cross asks city to raise $2,000. Miller Theater sold to Woodstock Amusement Corporation, John Pappas, president. Class A films will be shown.
1942-1951
1942
First snow storm of the new year brings traffic to standstill. Woodstock Red Cross War Relief Fund exceeds $2,000. Men 20 to 44 asked to register for military service.
Butter at National Tea 39$ a lb. Bohn's Hardware-3-12 qt. Dairy Pails for $1.09.
Victory Book Campaign for service men. Library will be depository & then sent to military camps. Victory gardens & Food Drive launched in city.

CELEBRATIONS THROUGH THE YEARS
Waiting for Welcome Home parade on Tryon Street 1919. Courtesy of Jane Dahm
Welcome Home Arch across Main Street for the celebration on June 10,1919. Courtesy of Jane Dahm
Decorated car to advertise Peteit & Sahs Groceries for 4th of July Parade, 1922. Courtesy of Alice Nulle
Centennial Parade in 1952. Courtesy of Alice Nulle

Large crowd on Benton Street for V-J Day Parade - summer of 1956. Don Peasley Collection of the M.C.H.S.
Dick Tracy Parade on the Square during Dick Tracy Days - 1999. Courtesy of Don Peasley

No rubber bath mats, rubber gloves, tires or rubber utensils until battle won.
Tag Day for Infantile Paralysis. City Council closes Barlet St. from Clay St. to Alemite office at request of Alemite.
Nation changes to Daylight Saving Time or "War Time" to conserve power for defense beginning Feb. 9. Gas 17.5$ per gallon.
Woodstock Typewriter, employing 900, will make small arms ammunition as War Dept. freezes all sales & deliveries of typewriters. Building Trades Class atWCHS cooperating with Navy to manufacture 50 model airplanes to teach Navy personnel plane recognition.
Defense bonds & stamps on sale at all public schools in Woodstock. All males 20 yrs. old before Dec. 31,1941 must register with draft board.
Todd School basketball team bring home Championship to Woodstock. Kroger Self-Service Grocery opens on Main St. in March. Remodeled & enlarged Montgomery Wards opens. Features 3 departments-clothing, home furnishings & hardware. Women's Wool Suits $9.98.
City Council approves oiling of all unpaved streets & black-topping Todd Ave.
Registration & ration books for sugar issued May 7; 1 lb. every 2 weeks per person. A & P Self-Service Store opens April 22 on Van Buren St.
H.T. Cooney head of War Bond Drive. Alemite joins with payroll deductions for War Bonds. Fire causes $10,000 loss in Hoy Block. Bohn's Hardware Store hardest hit.
New Moose Lodge occupying 2nd & 3rd floors of Kuby Building on Van Buren St. officially opens May 31.
Elks Carnival on Square in June. Band Concerts to begin in July under direction of Clarence Olson. "Bang" removed from July 4 celebration due to war needs. Dr. Roger Kaufman, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, honored for 33 years of service. Wards test 30-day charge accounts.
4 cannons in City Square used for salvage as part of war effort. Housewives urged to save waste fat; used for nitroglycerin. Gas rationing begins November 30 at midnight.
1943
20 below zero weather grips city; drifting snow closes schools; trains 5 hours late; farmers using horse pulled bob sleds to transport milk to Bordens.
Office of Price Administration (OPA) to start food & shoe rationing March 1. Registration for coupon book #2 held at high school causing it to close for 4 days.
Robert Vieregg heads "Share Your Car Plan". Woodstock Grill will be closed all Tuesday's because of shortage of points needed to acquire food & supplies.
Gas Ration Book "A", coupon #5 allows 4 gals, Mar. 22 to May 21; Sugar coupon #12 good for 5 lb. until May 31; Cof-
fee, #26 for 1 lb. expires April 25; #17 in Book 1 for 1 pair of shoes until June 15.
Mothers & wives asked to work in war plants. Arrange hours during school. Married men included in Nov. draft.
Santa Claus at Bohn's Hardware on Nov. 26 & 27, in spite of the war but no street decorations. City to be bus stop for Peo-ria-Rockford Bus Co. from DeKalb to Waukegan. Provides transportation for Alemite workers.
1944
Mayor picks committee for city centennial in 1952. WCHS graduates 68, St. Mary's, 13; Todd School 12.
Eiks & Legion have Carnival together on Square; not enough help due to war. Typewriter factory employees receive Army-Navy "E" award at WCHS auditorium. U.S. Office of Civilian Defense gives National Security Award to Electric Auto-Lite Co. (Alemite).
Annual bowling tourney for county at Sherbune lanes on Church St.
1945
War Production Board orders Woodstock to dim lights to conserve energy. Woodstock Daily Sentinel sent to every service person.
City purchases 80 acres for City Park for $15,000 from Westman. 35 homes to be built by FHA; begin with 7 on Queen Anne Street.
Nation mourns the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Harry S. Truman sworn in April 13.
Todd School purchases 90 acres on Rt. 120 for Class I airport. May 8, V-E Day (Victory in Europe). Mayor Johnson stated war not over & celebrating should be thanksgiving & prayer.
Vote on consolidation of rural schools July 21.1st annual Circus at new City Park.
Japan surrenders August 14. People go wild with joy.
American Legion planning extension of building on Clay St. in anticipation of returned servicemen as members. First case of polio reported in Woodstock; 4 year old child.
Woodstock airport open on Rt. 120; flight instruction, rentals & riders. 2,000 more workers needed at Auto-Lite to fulfill auto orders & 60,000 sq. ft. added on to building at corner of Clay St. & First St.
50 bed addition planned for hospital. Woodstock Typewriter producing more typewriter sales around the globe. Polio takes life of mother of six.
36 phone operators go on strike in Nov. Christmas spirit returns to decorated Square. Tire rationing ends. Sugar remains rationed.

1946
V.F.W. organize for servicemen who served on foreign soil. Frank Kennedy first commander. 224 charter members
May 30, city honors war dead with parade & program at Miller Theater. Soap Box Derby resumes. Housing shortage. Build barracks for 21 vets southeast of high school. 4 veterans graduate at high school.
Try automatic pinsetters at local bowling alley. Men's haircuts 75$. Rolling Rhythm Rink opens on McHenry Ave. American Legion celebrates homecoming carnival on Square. Sears Catalog Order office opens on Van Buren St.
Final vote of rural school districts for consolidation of country schools form District 10. Auto-Lite & Moose hold big picnics at new city park. Walsh Brothers buy Pingel Grocery on Benton.
Big homecoming for veterans on Sept. 15 at new city park. 8,000 attend. Count 34 war dead from Woodstock. 4-H Festival at Olson Park to raise money for new buildings at Fair grounds.
1947
5 rural schools sold for $12,020. V.F.W. buys Austin House on Throop St. Immunization for diphtheria & smallpox started in public schools. High wind & rain do $175,000 damage at Rose Farm. Telephone wires & poles down.
Selective service ends. Remove old hitching rail around Square. Grocers stay open on Saturday nights. Telephone operators return after 26 day strike. Dairy workers on strike.
Parking meters installed on Square. Sugar rationing ends August 1. Auto-Lite worker killed on 2nd shift. New Moose lodge at corner of Clay & Hutchins. Opera House opens with Woodstock Players; Geraldine Page in lead role.
Woodstock Typewriter Co. sold to Century America Corp. Veterans plan to rebuild Legion Home for 637 membership. Remodel Court House.
Apartment & house rents $75-$90 per month; have doubled since war.
1948
Farms getting fewer & bigger, average 195 acres; largest since 1860. Laura Wandrack retires after 36 years as librarian. Stores close Sat. night & stay open Friday night.
Farm & Home Show at Armory. Meat strike. Clay Street School addition. World Citizen Conference hold peace meeting at high school; from 31 states & 11 countries. Paul Knuth purchases Schmidt office supply & sports store on Van Buren St.
Women's Hospital Auxiliary begin to raise funds for new hospital wing. Greenwood subdivision lots sell for $265 to $1045. Polizzi Brothers buy Harvey Jensen store on Rt. 120.
Judge Barnes home converted to nursing home. Lucy Renich sells Sentinel to B.F. Shaw; Renichs published for 47 years.
Judge Carroll ruled organization of District 10 legal. New animal hospital on Lake Ave; Dr. Gay the vet. 1st National Bank modernizes. Shelley Berman in "Charlie's Aunt" at Opera House. Farm Bureau & McHenry Co. Service Co. pick 9 acre site on McConnell Rd.
1949
Art Beard & Ed Wienke purchase Bill Thome's Men's Clothing; opened in 1897. 1st McHenry Co. Fair in 24 years to be July 29-31 on Fair grounds. Woodstock Daily Sentinel 5$ per copy.
V.F.W. plan 4th of July celebration at city park. R. H. Palenske holds one man show at Smithsonian Institute in Washington. Glen View Naval Base planes crash in mid-air between McConnell Rd. & Rt. 14.
City installs 12 inch water main to hook up with south lines; more water for hospital. Berlin blockade ends.
Confiscate slot machines in County. Opera House gets new paint & curtain. Addition to St. Mary's gym. Gambling stopped in Woodstock.
1950
Montgomery Ward robbed, manager kidnapped & released. Increase in crime. Woodstock Typewriter since 1913, changed to R.C. Allen. District 10 opens 2 schools; Westwood (originally named Bona Vista) and Greenwood.
New minimum wage set at 75$. Burglars steal $150 from Farm Bureau safe on E. Jackson. Patton Shoe Store on Main St. gutted by fire. $50,000 fire at Harding Garage on Calhoun St.
Coal strike Feb. 22; power plant 9 day supply left; dim out program; WCHS closes swimming pool; Opera House only heated 3 nights a week; industrial 'blackout"; miners go back Mar. 4.
New dog tags to boost police pension fund; $2 males & $3 females. Rural school students on "Mud Holiday" in March; roads worst in history. World Champion Barber Shop Quartets hold meet April 30 at high school. 1,000 attend parade.
Beginning in June City Council will meet on 2nd & 4th Tues; Aid. John Dacysaid Fri. night meetings conflict with business. Wien's, dressy frocks, $8.95 to $19.95. Night gowns, $2.39 to $7.98. 6 day railroad strike ends.
14 foreign embassy employees visit Woodstock as typical small American City, June 13. Gertrude Dufield Matheny chosen "Women of the Week" for building own home on Country Club Rd.
Communist Army near Seoul, Korea. Fear WW III. Truman orders planes, warships and ground forces to Korea.
Council gives go-ahead on $350,000 storm sewer & sewage treatment projects. City & Dr. Neuchiller tangle on building

DISASTERS THROUGH THE YEARS
Hall & Eckert Lumber Yard Fire 1908. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Snow shovelers after snowstorm on Cass Street - January 6, 1918. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.
Woodstock Public School on NE corner of Throop and South burns Dec. 2, 1919. Medlar Studio Photo
Windstorm damage to 110 year old elms, July 1968, on the Square. Photo by Leverett Lappin. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.

Heavy snow often closed roads and the railroad. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
Inspecting damage from fire on Main St. Feb. 1, 1892. Courtesy Woodstock Public Library
Train wrecck knocked over signal tower in downtown Woodstock - 1904. Courtesy Woodstock Public Library

Mary P. Endres, Supt. of District 10, invited to Washington, D.C. by Pres. Truman for Mid-Century White House conference on children & youth. New Va mile cinder track constructed at WCHS. Group appointed to study sites for new city grade school.
1951
Air raid warning system located on top of Dacy Lumber ready to function. Flash snow storm on Jan. 22. After all night clearing, only one way traffic in town.
Directors of School District 72 file suit for purpose of clearing 102 year old title recorded for Central School property. 20 below zero in the end of January.
President Truman recalls General MacArthur from Korea.
President of 4-H Town authorizes purchase of 10 acres east of Fair grounds. St. Mary's opens new $165,000 building.
1952-1961
1952
At special election on April 29th to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Johnson, James Cooney, who ran on a platform to change from Aldermanic to Council-Manager, defeats Leonard Townsend 1,601 to 802. Referendum on instituting Council-Manager form of government wins 1,418 in favor, 935 opposed. Mark Lovejoy is appointed first City Manager.
Four day Centennial Celebration is in June; historic pageant, ball, Centennial Queen. Spectacular parade includes Gov. Adlai Stevenson riding in stage coach with Mayor James Cooney, 50 floats, 18 bands, 3 drum & bugle corps. City is congratulated by Woodstocks in Vermont, New York, Virginia and England.
Woodstock Moose Lodge moves into new home on Clay Street; built at a cost of $82,000.
Hebron Green Giants team wins IHSA state boys' basketball championship : Many Woodstock fans accompany team to Huff Gymnasium at the Univ. of lllnois in Champaign for championship game. On its way home the team visited Woodstock for a parade around the Square.
Emergency phone numbers for Woodstock residents were: Police 14, Fire 0, Ambulance 56.
Council gives permission for Robert Vieregg to park a popcorn wagon at the south entrance to the park in the Square until Oct. 15.
Eight cases of polio in Woodstock are reported by the McHenry
County Chapter of National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis; Hardest hit community in the county.
1953
Large addition to the VFW Post 5040 Home on Throop Street is completed.
Electric Auto Lite employs 2,000 with annual payroll of $700,000.
National Tea grocery store builds large food mart on Clay Street. Miller Theater installs Cinema Scope Screen; first panoramic movie screen in the area.
Co. A., 129th Infantry Regiment, 44th Division Illinois National Guard unit leaves Woodstock for 2 yr. service in Korean War. American Red Cross volunteers offer refreshments.
Woodstock's air raid test; first in northern Illinois, a success. Police Chief Emery "Tiny" Hansman is also Woodstock's Civil Defense Director.
Truce agreement is signed July 27, ending Korean War. CBS buys TV Channel 4, moves it to Channel 2 and renames it WBBM-TV.
Future Farmers of America is active at Woodstock Community High School. Kiwanis Club of Woodstock is formed.
City leaders visit Springfield to request a Route 14 By-Pass around the city; Gov. Stratton reminds them "Your city fathers came here 20 years ago wanting Route 14 to go through your city to promote business".
1954
Memorial Hospital for McHenry County begins efforts for major construction to modernize South Street facility.
Woodstock Midget League (later Woodstock Little League) play first game at Olson Park. Morton International opens research center on Route 14. Woodstock Jaycees Chapter formed.
Todd School for Boys closes its doors; Orson Welles its most famous alumni. Clarence Olson School, named after popular, long-time band instructor, is third school in School District 72; has grade and junior high combined.
City library board buys Cairns property on West Judd Street for a new library: cost $20,000.
1955
School District 72 sells Central Junior High School to County for $85,000 to be used for Annex to Courthouse.
After testing on nearly 2 million school children, Salk polio vaccine, in April, is pronounced safe and effective.
Little League officially organized in Woodstock; Jim Morioli, President, Toney Roskie, Player Agent. Little League baseball field in City Park is named after George Sullivan, 40-year Woodstock Daily Sentinel editor.

TV Channel 2 WBBM-TV in Chicago begins first regular programming.
First picnic shelter is completed at City Park. Memorial Hospital's Auxiliary opens Gift & Thrift Shop on Dean Street.
U.S. Air Force sponsored Volunteer Ground Observance Corps in Woodstock is chaired by Leonie Kennedy; deemed a necessary Civil Defense program.
1957
Employees of Memorial Hospital receive Salk vaccine immunization against polio. Carthage College considers opening a second campus in Woodstock.
Dacy Electric Company on Benton Street is gutted by fire, nearby buildings damaged; $200,000 loss.
VFW sponsors Woodstock Teener League for boys 13-15 who have graduated from Little League.
Starlings gathering in elm trees in great numbers cause nasty mess; Roost-No-More is offered as a solution by R.O. Andrew Co.
USSR launches Sputnik, the first space satellite
Woodstock takes part in 3-day nationwide Operation Alert; tests Civil Defense capabilities in case of nuclear attack.
Dutch elm disease attacks trees in Woodstock. Serious concern for the trees in the Square.
State plans to move ahead with By-Pass Route 14.
1958
Woodstock native, Johnny Stompanato, stabbed to death in California; body returned to Woodstock for services and burial.
Dedication of major addition to Memorial Hospital lead by Dr. C.E. Wittenberg, Chief of Medical Staff.
Construction begins for new Northwood School and new city library. Medlar Studio is 100 years old. District 10 school buses
travel 830 miles per day. A & P advertises Jane Parker Apple Pies for 43$.
First zoning ordinance is adopted by City. Mayor Cooney resigns to take County Judge position.
1959
New $63,000 city library building opens on Judd Street; designed by local architect William Fyfe, former student of Frank Lloyd Wright. New Marian Central Catholic High School opens with 421 students.
Zoning Board of Appeals members receive $4 per meeting; only city board to be paid. 2 lbs. of A & P Super Right, Thick-Sliced, Hickory Smoked, Sugar Coated Bacon sells for 85$.
Illinois Bell builds new dial central building at Jackson & Tryon. At 2 a.m. Aug. 30 telephone service in Woodstock converts to dial service.
1960
Council votes to add fluoride to city water supply; citizens' protest results in referendum; Yes 801, No 787. Woodstock gets fluoridation.
Meter maid is employed to relieve patrolmen for more important assignments. City builds 500,000 gal. water tower to replace old tower on corner Hill & W. Jackson.
Chamber of Commerce honors Chester Gould, Woodstock area resident, creator of Dick Tracv.
Thespian Troupe 991, brings drama back to the Opera House after a decade; young people present play, Kaufman & Hart's "You Can't Take It With You", directed by Esther Pantages Stewart.
Grand opening of remodeled Montgomery Ward store on Square.
1961
Following a heated controversy the City votes to sell Woodstock Utility Power Plant to Commonwealth Edison for $2,131,000.
Construction begins for new municipal pool at City Park; to cost $225,000.
Woodstock Fine Arts Association formed to promote Opera House activities; James Hecht is president. Community Youth Council is formed to study problems of young people from point of view of school, family court, church and doctor.
County approves construction of fall out shelter in Court House Annex.
East Germany begins building the Berlin Wall on Aug. 13.
6.9 mile By-Pass Rt. 14 around Woodstock officially opens. Has been under consideration since 1924.
Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs' celebrated power-hitting

1962-1971
1962
City electric power plant sold to Commonwealth Edison for $2,130,00.0 on Jan. 2. $200,000 down payment.
Feb. 20, John Glenn first American in space.
Gordon Thurow is named general manager of Electric Autolite & Harold Beth becomes president of 1st National Bank in June.
New Woodstock municipal swimming pool in City Park is dedicated June 11.
New water treatment plant on Seminary Ave. opens July 11.
Aug. 30, Chicago and Northwestern Railway strike.
St. John's Lutheran Church breaks ground on Seminary Ave. for new church Sept. 7.
Sept. 25, Chicago Cub's Ernie Banks speaker at Little League dinner in Woodstock.
Todd School buildings torn down in Sept. for new nursing home. October, Cuban missile crisis.
Dec. 3, John Carroll named chief deputy sheriff.
1963
Emery (Tiny) Hansman retired from police department in Jan. 14 years as chief. 22 years in all.
Three priests, Huntley youth die in plane crash near Rose Farm on April 1.
April 16, Melvin Stuessy named president of Woodstock High School Board. Aug. 1, Lester Edinger to quit Circuit Clerk post.
Firemen battle fire at 115 year old Mill Building on Clay St. for 10 hours on Sunday August 11.
Borden breaks ground for milk processing plant in August on west side of town.
Sept. 23, George Sullivan, 70, columnist and sports writer, dies while reporting high school football game.
County Historical Group organizes October 25.
Nov. 22, President John Kennedy assassinated.
Dec. 30, Specials at Ted's Supermarket. Folger's Coffee, 2 lb. can, $.99. Blatz Beer, 24-12oz. Bottles, $2.99 plus deposit.
1964
Jan. 14, McHenry County Historical Society has incorporation papers and is operating in the Woodstock City Hall.
Dr. John Tambone elected hospital chief of staff Jan. 16.
Feb. 3, Babysitter, Mary Lee David saves three children from burning house. Snowstorm cripples area on March 5.
Open house attended by 1,000 for new nursing home, Woodstock Residence. Former Todd School site, corner of Seminary & McHenry Ave. March 16.
Woodstock receives All American City Award from National Municipal League and LOOK Magazine on March 26.
Dr. Glen E. Wright dies. Practiced for 50 years. Nov. 4, Lyndon B. Johnson wins by landslide.
Illinois election results delayed by "bed sheet ballot". All state representatives elected at-large due to no redistricting plan.
1965
Frances Kuhn is elected Woodstock's first woman mayor. Nelson N. Stork announces retirement as superintendent of School District 72 in April.
July 27, 30,000 watch V-J parade.
Oct. 6, Sheriff deputies John Carroll and Donald Madsen injured by shotgun blasts. Both lose a leg.
City unveils Ryders' Woods Plan. City & county government search for Court House site.
Many attend enlarged Northwood School Open House on Dec. 12.
1966
Chicago Bears' Dick Butkus featured at Elks Sport Night, Jan. 6. 13 inch snowfall recorded on January 13.
George Hubert sells pharmacy at 100 Cass St. to Harold Schroeder. Mar. 31, Local commuters stranded by railroad strike.
April 14, Woodstock man killed in Viet Nam. SP/4 Donald Dermont Jr.
Robert Wilcox of Woodstock killed when trench caves in while working for Illinois Bell on May 27.
June 4, Theodore C. Schoreberg retires as superintendent of Woodstock High School.
Severe thunderstorms rip through county on July 11. School District 10 plans tour of buildings in August.
Sept. 26, Larry Dale, Woodstock teacher and coach, killed when struck by car. He was walking on roadway following a previous accident. He was 64 years old.
1967
Jan, 16 inch snowstorm closes schools. Three major snow storms in 11 days in Feb.
April 1, Junior College is approved.
Verda Dierzen named superintendent of District 10.
City of Woodstock landfill was commended in Sept. by direc-

Chicago Cubs' players Ron Santo, Glenn Beckert guests at Elk's Sports Night Oct. 30.
1969
April 16, Melvin Stuessy elected mayor of Woodstock. Bob Bradshaw named head football coach at WCHS.
High school district 152, grade school district 72 & rural district 10 became Consolidated District 200. July 21, Apollo 11 lands on moon.
County Board purchases 21 acres north of Woodstock on Rt. 47 for County Court House.
Rev. A. Stanley Beck of the First Methodist Church is critical after motorcycle accident August 4.
City erects 1 million gallon water tower on Lake Ave.
1970
Deep freeze, bitter cold in Jan.
Montgomery Ward building empty on Square.
A & P porterhouse steak $1.29 a lb., frying chicken 29$ a lb.
100 year old trees removed from square because of Dutch Elm disease. Armed robbery at Chekker service station on Rt. 47 in Feb.
Mar., Illinois Bell purchased 5 acres on West Side for 150 ft. microwave tower & radio equipment building. Underground coaxial cable to Jackson St. office
Joslyn Manufacturing & Supply Co. construct a High Voltage Lab. on Rt. 14 in March.
Mar. 23, Mays' Drug burglarized. $1,234.94 of merchandise stolen.
Mail strike ends. Local carriers return to work. Easter Lily at Woolworth, $1.87.
Mar. 26,6 to 8 inch snowstorm. Schools closed. 1 to 3 inches more to fall.
W.C.H.S. present "Bye Bye Birdie" in April.
May 21, Grand opening of Gibson Discount Center on Clay Street.
Reichert's 1970 Chevrolet Impala $2,888.
City Council purchases 40 acres of Bigelow property to expand City Park.
Complete Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant on Diekman Rd.
Two-month trucker's strike creates a supply problem for Woodstock businesses in May.
July, 1st National Bank breaks ground for new building at corner of Jackson & Throop Street.
Aug. 19, New Schultz Bros, store opens in former Montgomery Ward building. R.C. Allen closing plant in November. Foreign competition in typewriters.
Dec. 21, Supreme Court sets voting age at 18 for national elections.
1971
County awards construction bids for new courthouse on Seminary Ave. Break ground April 13.
McHenry County votes to establish a conservation district in April. Proposal passes by vote of 11,661 to 5019.
1972-1981 1972
Courthouse & jail moves from square to new county building north on Rt. 47.
City proposes landfill on Lamb Rd. Hearing Jan. 19 at Schnieder-Leucht-Merwin-Cooney Funeral Home.
Plan construction at Sunset Manor to be completed in 1973.
Meals-On-Wheels started in Woodstock by Church Women United. Hot noon meal & sandwich for supper, $1.75 per day. Memorial Hospital to prepare.
Vote to build McHenry County College campus. $3,100,000 bonds to purchase site & construct buildings.
City Council discusses present landfill on Davis Rd. Will accommodate until 1978. Appollo 16 moon launch.
City designates Opera House as historic landmark. Later listed on National Register of Historic Places. ALLEY OOP is a favored comic in the Daily Sentinel.
Kiwanis hold 20th anniversary Bike Day. Judging at Court House Annex.
Earthquake shakes up McHenry Co. Tremor felt in Woodstock. No damage.
1973
Courthouse, jail & sheriff's residence on square emptied & closed. Restoration of these buildings for use as restaurants & shops has begun. Old Courthouse placed on National Register of Historic Places.
Hornsby's Family Center opens on southwest corner of Rt. 47 & Country Club Rd.
State Bank expands & remodels exterior in style of other old buildings on square. Niki Flacks, sponsored by Fine Arts As-

SERVING AND PROTECTING THROUGH THE YEARS
The Woodstock police Department. Date unknown. E.C. Holmes is the driver. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.
Three fire trucks and volunteer firemen in 1950. Fire engine garage added to City Hall about 1940. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.
Oldest known photo of volunteer firemen in front of City Hall. Notice the ropes used to pull the hose cart. Lettering on shirts says, "Hose No. 1". Medlar Studio Photo

Woodstock Volunteer Fireman the morning after the Hall & Eckert lumber yard fire. April, 1908. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society.
Fire station on South Street built in 1974. Photo by John Babcock.
Woodstock Police move from basement of City Hall to new building on Lake Ave. in 2001. Woodstock Police Department photo.

Opera House closes for renovation in June. Opera House placed on National Register of Historic Places July 17.
Pork chops, 89* lb.; leg of lamb, 98$ lb. & grapefruit, 5 for 59*. President Nixon resigns, Friday, August 9.
1975
City offices & police department move into City Hall from Opera House. City landfill closes. Ackemann's of Elgin remodel Woolworth's Dime Store, north side of square, for department store. Court House Inn restaurant opens. Sheriffs residence opens as tea room.
VJ Day Parade & Pageant of Drums discontinued.
1976
Business & Professional Women's Club rebuild 1873 Springhouse in square. Arts & Crafts Fair on square celebrate nation's Bicentennial. Douglas Rankin appointed Executive Director of Opera House.
A replica of the original cupola was added to complete Opera House restoration in November.
Roy Dooley & Cliff Mason represent themselves in a class action suit filed by Colina Hutchinson against District 200 School Board for constructing an addition with school surplus funds. She says it should be used to rectify unsafe conditions in schools.
Demolish buildings in block of new city hall except Belcher house on corner of South & Dean St. for a parking lot.
Earl Butz, U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, spoke to 100 Farm Bureau Members at Fair Grounds.
Old Tie Barn Building on Throop Street burned down. WHS Girls Field Hockey progressed to State Tournament. Won 3rd.
A & P grocery store moves to 220 N. Jefferson from Rt. 47. Grand Opening Nov. 15.
1977
Jan. blizzard and below zero weather. Burning of the Greens on Jan. 6. Jan. 27 a snowstorm stranded motorists Some sleep at Free Methodist Church. Lasted 48 hours.
City adopts a comprehensive plan. Plywood Minnesota Grand Opening on Calhoun St. in April. Also first brush pick-up.
Opera House celebrates gala re-opening. Cost of restoration $500,000. Half from private donations. Tom Bosley& Shelley Berman return for gala.
Rural Woodstock Public Library District forms. High School Football team reaches Class 4A semifinals. City one of 38 cities in state with emergency 911 phone number. Women's dresses & pantsuits sell for $29-$59.
1978
Major blizzard causes traffic & other problems in January. Church Women United, with earnings from Clothing Closet, donate equipped medical van to visit people with no medical care twice a month.
Old Courthouse & Jail receive plaque acknowledging National Register of Historic Places. City Council approves Walden Oaks, 102 units on Kimball Ave. Includes federally assisted housing for elderly.
Beard & Stovall Men's Clothier, suits $125, on sale for $90; 1978 Ford Impala 3 seat wagon, $5793; Chevy van, $4523; sirloin steak, $1.39 lb.; butter, 77$ lb.
1979
Blizzards & heavy snow in Jan. 30 inches in 3 days. Roofs are collapsing with weight of heavy snow, many shovel off roofs.
Record spring floods in Feb. & March. City council adopts a comprehensive plan & map after 2 years' work. Defines agricultural, residential, commercial & industrial areas. Also Council's vision for change & growth.
Bert Hanson, Hospital Administrator 25 years, resigns. At State Bank, Don Still becomes Chairman of Board & Don Cooney President in Feb. City council approves annexation of 30 acres of Klemm property north of Northwood School.
115 acres, west of city, proposed for extension of Westwood subdivision in April.
Daily Sentinel publishes special history of Woodstock in April. Citizens are delighting in the discontinuing of fire siren atop Opera House.
1980
Memorial Hospital constructs new power plant & major remodeling. Hospital fund raising drive for $1.5 million with Mai Bellairs, Chester Gould & Jean Smith at helm. Groundbreaking in June for cafeteria, entranceway, 3 story South Pavilion.
Miller Theatre reopens as Princess & the Gem after renova-

Mini Mall in former Bowman's Shoe Store on Cass St. School referendum fails for a 90$ tax hike. Board blames it on the poor economy. Must cut budget.
Beautification program to start in town. Daffodil Walk through Josyln Woods in Bull Valley on April 24.
Pope shot twice as rode through St. Peter's Square.
Sodium vapor lighting to be permitted in city. Cripple Creek Hat Co. hold Grand Opening with a Country Jamboree held on Square on Aug. 9.
Downpour on Aug. 14 with near record rainfall. Flash flooding. City Council proposing a sign ordinance. Council also met to find way to deal with undesirable people congregating in square.
Victorian house on Fremont St. built by Judge Barnes is plaqued as historically significant by Woodstock Environmental Enhancement Commission for restoration done by the Rachford family.
2 armed robbers escape with thousands in cash from Quick Mart on Seminary Ave. Lock employee in cooler.
Egypt's President Anwar Sadat assassinated on Oct. 6.
Tom Bynes displays Christmas Village that he created at Woodstock Library.
1982-1991
1982
Snow, extreme cold, high winds cause school closings, power outages, closed roads, burst pipes and broken water mains.
Jewel-Osco store opens on Rt. 47 on January 14. A & P on Church & Jefferson closes in March.
Revenues decline for schools and the city. Clay Street and Westwood schools are closed. City adopts sign control ordinance.
Mike Ditka is named head coach of the Chicago Bears. State Bank pays 12.95% interest on IRA accounts. Woodstock Area Recyclers' first drive nets IV2 T. of aluminum cans, 6 T. newspaper, 3V2 T. glass. Woodstock Country Jamboree features Kingston Trio and WGN's Bob Collins.
Military jet tanker explodes, crashes in Greenwood; 27 crew killed. House fire on E. Calhoun; 4 injured and first fire fatality since 1958 in Woodstock. Steve Feldt found stabbed to death.
Twenty U.S. Immigration agents raid two area companies; remove 43 employees. Unemployment rate in Illinois 12.5%, McHenry County 7.5%. ComEd raises rates 7.8%. AT&T telephone system is restructuring.
Automatic Liquid Packaging opens. Wells DuraBar expands. New mini-golf, Bass Pro Shop. East Calhoun Street is reconstructed. The Square is on National Historic Register. Emergency agencies discuss surviving nuclear nightmare. "E.T." movie at theater.
1983
State Bank's ATM a success. Install CT scanner at Memorial Hospital. Americorp buys First National Bank. Can of Campbell's soup is 29 cents. Special tax district set up for Square improvements.
Opera House gets elevator; Bob Vila of "This Old House" appears at Opera House. 1983 Ford Escort is $5,497.
Woodstock Blue Streaks and Marian Central Hurricanes win state football championships. Odd Fellows building demolished for State Bank expansion.
337 telephone prefix now in use. Mary Calista Barter dies after brutal beating in her home by unknown assailant. City approves Woodstock Fire Dept. & Rescue Squad merger. Flags at half mast for Marines killed in Beirut explosion. Jonathan apples are 79<t for 3 lbs.
12th year of Rotary's Christmas Clearing House. Cabbage Patch doll madness. Baskin-Robbins ice cream store opens. Lights outline Square buildings for Christmas; financed by merchants. Dec. has 18" snow and -20°.
1984
Waterbeds, computers and satellite dishes advertised. D200 schools cover windows and more to save energy. Dial-A-Ride begins 6 a.m. March 6.
AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc. now provide long distance telephone services. McHenry County Waste Advisory Committee to plan for county landfill. Train hits cow, cow dies. Garage sales widespread. 1-year CD at Home Federal pays 10.5% interest.
Kids practice break dancing on Square sidewalk. No-fault divorce in effect in Illinois. Aavang's IGA grocery opens in store at Church & Jefferson.
Dedicate new Grace Lutheran Church on Kishwaukee Rd.
District 200 asbestos removal may cost $500,000. City demolishes old feed store on Jefferson for parking lot. Old Montgomery Wards building being renovated; will become Woodstock Square Mall. Carefree Village opens on N. Seminary Ave.
Accent Video, Graftek Press, new arrivals. Rosewood Apparel leaves. City removes stop lights at Dean & Throop, Jackson & Throop. Tavern owners object to DUI crackdown.

SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Woodstock High School on South Street - Built in 1921. Medlar Studio Photo
Dean Street Elementary School opens in 1922. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society
North Side School on Clay Street opens in 1905. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society

Woodstock High School built in 1906. Became Central Junior High, Courthouse Annex then City Hall in 1975. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society
Public school built in 1867 on NE corner of Throop and South Street. burns down in 1919. Courtesy of Jim Keefe
St mary's School on Lincoln Ave. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society
Clarence Olson School on W. Jackson Street opens in 1954. Don Peasley Collection at M.C.H.S.

fastened. Clay Street School reopens.
Mexico City earthquake; 3,000 die. $987,500 bond issue referendum to enlarge library wins 1,630 to 1,257. School referendum for tax rate increase loses. High school graduates 253.
Alco Discount opens in old Hornsby's building on Rt. 47. Liquor license suspended for Punjabi Lounge on Lake Ave. Turkeys: 88$ per lb.
1986
Industrial Fuel Injection (now SUMA) builds at Davis & Castle Rds. City stops spraying mosquitos. Ackemann's closes.
City's $1.35 million renovation of Square streets mostly done; coal vaults filled, new sidewalks & lighting, repair brick streets. State widens Rt. 47 to 3 lanes & installs curbs from Rt. 14 to Ware Rd. Westwood School reopens as kindergarten.
1987
Woodstock Independent newspaper begins publishing in April. Build addition to Presbyterian Church. 8 new board members for Oakland Cemetery. Viet Nam memorial dedicated at County Government Center.
19 days of over 90° weather. First Woodstock Mozart Festival is 2 weekends. City gets computer system. City library completes $1.5 million addition & renovation.
Holmstrom & Green law offices vacate Benton St. State Bank merges with Suburban Bancorp.
2 children drown in Walden Oaks' pond. Mary Lou West dies in house fire on S. Tryon.
City bans alcohol at all parks. Landmark Pharmacy on Square closes. Complete last phase of Square renovation- new concrete bricks for Main & Benton Sts.; cost $350,000.
1988
Woodstock's innovative per bag garbage pickup & recycling begins; blue bins were distributed in Dec.
Begin cleanup of soil and ground water at Die Cast site. Defenders operate recycling in city building at Throop & Washington.
Woodstock's old landfill on Davis Rd. put on USEPA Superfund list. Drought May to July; no fireworks due to fire danger.
Raymond and Ruth Ritter murdered and 2 children attacked in Aug. Arrest warrant for Richard Church, who fled.
Knuth's Office & Sports Supply on Main St. gutted by fire Sept. 1st, reopens in Woodstock Square Mall. Joey T's restaurant moves to former Knuth site in Dec.
United Auto Workers Local 922 strikes Woodstock Die Cast concerning benefits.
1989
District 200 realigns attendance boundaries; builds addition to Northwood Elementary for special ed.
Memorial Hospital's move to site near McHenry County College is objected to by City and withdrawn.
Alco Discount closes. 2 motel sites on south Rt. 47 approved. Special for women's haircuts $8.95. Tapestry Restaurant opens on south end of Benton St.
County takes option on site at Dunham & Brookdale Rds. to test for landfill siting. Many objectors for any site in the county.
College to expand and McHenry Co. Government Center begins major expansion; new jail, more office space, more parking; $25-$27 million.
Opera House $79,000 exterior renovation is complete. District 200 has 3,997 students.
Enhanced 911 surcharge of 50$ on telephone bill is approved by McHenry County voters, 12,142 yes, 6,427 no. Name, address, phone number will appear on dispatcher's screen.
Committee recommends new high school. Crop yields predicted to be above normal. City donates $100,000, Oscar Mayer $50,000 to purchase site for National Guard armory on Rt. 14 west of town.
1990
Old church building on NE corner of Calhoun & Jefferson burns. Woodstock Die Cast closes its doors; 757 jobs gone.
First Annual Dick Tracy Days celebration; parade and activities.
City approves hospital campus project for SW corner of Doty Rd. and Rt. 14.
City initiates DARE program in grade schools to combat drug use. City votes to design upgrade for Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant.
School referendum loses.
1991
Baghdad, Iraq is attacked by airplanes and missiles of U.S and coalition forces on January 17; The Gulf War (Desert Storm) begins. Locals encourage support for the troops.
Rain in early June ended drought but still hot and dry in July.

Dream Field at Emricson Park ready after being rebuilt by donations and volunteers. Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) opens 1 night a week in Woodstock.
New 23,775 sq. ft. armory on Rt. 14 west of town is built on 12.6 acres- building to cost State $750,000 and Federal government $1.6 million.
After nationwide distribution of description information, Richard Church, wanted for Ritter murder, is captured in Salt Lake City, Utah.
1992-2001
1992
St. Mary's School celebrates 75th anniversary.
Columbia Pictures begin finalizing its proposals and plans to turn Woodstock into Punxatawney, PA for filming "Groundhog Day".
Donald J. Cooney retires as president & CEO of the State Bank after 41 years.
In May a fire started on the back porch of Duffy's Tavern at 3:30 a.m. 14 people left homeless & four businesses destroyed on North Benton Street Five other businesses damaged. $5 million loss. At 3 a.m. fire department responded to another fire at Peter's Antique Shop on Irving Ave. $10,000 worth of damage. City Council outlawed tobacco for minors.
Allied Signal, the parent company of Woodstock Die Casting & the city of Woodstock announce they would join forces to cleanup and tear down the old factory on the 10 acre site bounded by the railroad tracks, Wheeler, First and Clay Sts.
Members of the Illinois Facilities Planning Board give go ahead for Memorial Hospital to build a new medical facility at Rt. 14 & Doty Rd.
New "Dream Field" baseball field opens at Emricson Park.
1993
Mrs. Illinois Pageant January 16 & 17 at the Opera House. McHenry County Fair Board approves new grandstand.
Iraq agrees to end hostilities in Gulf War.
In November the City of Woodstock fire and rescue merge with the Rural Fire Protection District.
City Council turns down ownership of old armory on Madison Street. Too costly to refurbish.
109th season for Woodstock City Band. Wettest June in history.
Bates Park to be expanded and ball fields rebuilt.
School Board places referendum for a new high school on November ballot. It was defeated. Centerville Plaza strip mall openes in late fall along Route 47.
1994
District 200 schools close one day in January because of below zero temperatures. Diesel-fueled buses would not start. Extreme cold weather in February causes water mains to break and frozen water meters. Snowiest February on record.
Good-Times bar & restaurant at corner of Church & Jefferson burns. Total loss of $300,000.
March 20 Lions Club held 64th ham dinner. Harris Bank purchases State Bank of Woodstock.
Merritt L. Joslyn law firm, established in 1851, became Campion, Curran, Rausch, Gummerson & Dunlop P. C.
City celebrates Square's sesquicentennial June 22-26.
Major league baseball strike.
EPA requires city to do cleanup of the former Woodstock Landfill site on Davis Road.
Woodstock Pool is named Dick Peters Pool to honor director of 32 years.
Noodles Restaurant one of the first to ban smoking. Library trades catalog cards for computers.
Memorial Medical Center has thousands tour at open house on Doty Road. 50th anniversary of Chamber of Commerce.
October 24 Marian Central breaks ground for $4 million addition. City Council names baseball diamond at Bates Park after Toney Roskie.
1995
After four negative referendums, District 200 voters approve $20,965,000 for a new elementary school and additions at Northwood Middle School, Greenwood and Westwood.
"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" played to a capacity crowd at the Opera House.
The Woodstock High School Choir releases a compact disc "Christmas" that won the Silver Record Award for outstanding recorded performance. Marian Central Catholic High School completes new gym and commons area.

PLACES OF BUSINESS THROUGH THE YEARS
Church Block on Benton St. Woodstock Dry Goods on first floor. Illinois Bell on second floor 1910 to 1959. Ca. 1910. Illinois Bell Telephone Photo. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society
Montgomery Ward & U.S. Post Office - Johnson Street 1946. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society
Schultz Bros. Co. on Van Buren Street in former A & P Store. Courtesy of Woodstock Public Library

Cass Street - Downtown Woodstock 1939. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society
F.W. Woolworth Co. Store on Cass Street Ca. 1946. Medlar Studio Photo
A & P Food Store on Route 47 Ca. 1964. Courtesy of Woodstock Public Library

Ku Klux Klan holds rally at County Government Center in Woodstock in August. Only 150 attended. Seven were arrested.
1996
Stop lights to be installed at Route 47 & McConnell Road. 650 ostriches at Longneck Ranch on Route 14.
First Groundhog Day celebration begins with breakfast at Tavern on the Square at 6 a.m.
DeWane Photography celebrates 50 years in business. News Depot closes its doors for good. June 8, V. F. W. celebrates 50th anniversary of Post 5040.
February 10, 3-alarm blaze destroyed Buschkopf Cabinet Making & residence on East Judd.
Excessive spring rain made grain planting three weeks behind normal. Family of Don & Helen Still make gift of $200,000 to purchase property adjacent to the Opera House.
Greenwood School dedicates new addition often new classrooms, an art room & new gym. November voters approved two referendums to provide money to hire teachers and to renovate & build additions at high school.
City Council vote to rezone Fair Grounds property to commercial/retail, clearing the way for shopping center.
1997
Jewel to anchor shopping center on Fair Ground & county property but new council rescinds entire plan.
Woodstock Die Casting buildings on Clay Street are demolished. District 200 tries to sell Raffel Road property.
Call off 4th of July fireworks because of a deadly fireworks explosion in Alton, Illinois. Held August 30.
Replica of original portico is added to Opera House.
High school varsity football team won all games and the Illinois High School Association Class 5A State Championship.
Level Alco store building on Route 47. Benoy Motors Sales celebrated 50th Anniversary.
Special census shows that Woodstock population had increased by 2,072 since 1994. Total 18,251.
September District 200 opens first new school ever built by the district. Mary Endres Elementary School, named for a national & local educator. Town now has 5 elementary schools.
Beard &Stovall, men's clothing store, the second oldest business on the square closes in May after 113 years in business. Square's oldest business, Stone's, closes a few weeks later.
Woodstock Theatre has grand re-opening in December after a major remodeling project.
1998
Break ground for high school addition.
City buys Butternut Bakery Thrift Shop & former employment security office (American Legion) on Clay Street to add to Die Cast redevelopment.
Marian Catholic High School to raise $1.5 million and build athletic complex on 27.5 acres.
Remodeling of Woodstock Library begins. St. Ann's Episcopal Church holds ground breaking in October for expansion of church on Jackson Street.
1999
13.3 inches of snow falls from New Year's Day to the 3rd. School closed on Monday the 4th.
County Health Department cancel Chili Cook-Off slated for Groundhog Days.
Blain's Farm & Fleet relocates to a new larger building on Rt.14 & Lake Ave. 132,222 sq. ft. of space compared to 90,638 at old store.
Midwest Acquisitions sues Woodstock over stalled fairgrounds development. County joins Midwest in the suit.
March 4 the Home State Bank opens in old post office. City chooses former Benoy property on Lake Avenue for new police station site.
Books-on-the-Square closes. Square without a bookstore for the first time in 30 years.
July 28 Com Ed reports a new record for power usage because of high temperatures for weeks.
August 25 Mercy Woodstock Medical Center celebrates grand opening on Lake Ave. Council rezones for proposed shopping center south of Rt. 14, between Castle Rd. and Lake Ave.
Broadacre Management studies uses for the Die Cast site. New neighborhood park on Banford Rd.
September 17 City Council passed Animal Control Ordinance. Prohibited exotic animals in city to prevent animal abuse. September 21 council exempts three activities involving animals; Groundhog Day, Dick Tracy Days & Harvest Fest or other city sponsored events.
Plan Commission plans ahead for peaker plants. Wants guidelines for the future.
Marian softball complex to be named Ray Benoy Field.
Knuth's Sport & Office Store celebrates 70th anniversary. Friends of the Library hold annual book sale on November 6 &7.
V.F.W. to conduct annual tribute to veterans at 11 a.m. November 11, Veteran's Day, at V. F. W. Home.
Construction begins on new District 200 Bus Center on Charles Road. Adult & Child Rehab Center observed 50th

Anniversary. Dec. 7 Council rejects Broadacre concept for Die Cast property.
City staff reports all city computer systems Y2K ready. An emergency operations center will be staffed New Years Eve.
2000
Diamond Exteriors closes their doors on Feb. I. Left 80 workers unemployed with no final paycheck or severance pay.
Joint agreement with Illinois Department of Transportation & city for installation of permanent traffic light at Rt. 47 & McConnell Rd. Includes widening of the intersection to improve the turning radius of trucks. $400,000 project funded by federal & state funds.
Challenger Center to be located at the Diamond Exterior building on Church Street. Will share with the library until remodeled library on Judd Street is complete.
District 200 School Board votes to delay the start of classes fpr fall 2000 by two weeks because of construction in the kitchen and cafeteria of the high school.
American Community Bank & Trust opens March 14. National Guard Unit in Woodstock to head for Kuwait from May to October.
Jim Clegg completes job of having granite slabs with names of 344 Civil War dead placed around base of the Civil War statue in center of Square.
Voters approve new aquatic center. To open summer of 2002 in Emricson Park.
Cleanup needed at old gun club site in Emricson Park be-
cause of lead shot in the soil. To build new aquatic center in northeast corner of park.
Smith's Children's Shop closes after 36 years.
2001
Busse-Thomas Florist closes after 90 years. Natural gas prices nearly triple. New gym at WHS named for Jim Shipley, former athletic director for 18 years.
Mickey Rooney & wife, Jan Chamberlin, appear at Opera House. Proposed shopping center south of Rt. 14 dies. Dominicks Fresh Store to open on Rt. 47 in 2002.
Another Die Cast study presented. Rededication of enlarged & remodeled high school on May 6.
Library closed from May 20 to June 11 for move back to enlarged & renovated library on Judd Street.
May 15, two men shot on corner of Throop & Judd Streets. Gang shooting.
Centegra Memorial Medical Center breaks ground for $44 million, 32,000 sq. foot expansion.
September 11, Terrorist attack in New York, Washington & Pennsylvania.
September 18 first school missions started at Challenger Learning Center for Science & Technology. 2,443 students participated in 92 missions by the end of 2001.
Police move into new station on Lake Ave. November 28.
Broken water main causes flooding on Madison Street between Calhoun & Jackson Streets. Flooded near by businesses. Copy Express, The Woodstock Ballet Studio & the Clothing Closet were all closed for a day.
Last entry in the 1952 Centennial Parade under the old elm trees along Dean St. Courtesy of Alice Nulle

Population
Year Woodstock Dorr Twp.* McHenry Co. Chicago Illinois
1820..............-0- .......................-0-.........-0-.......................-0-.............55,211

1830..............-0- .......................-0-.........-0-.......................-0-............157,445

1840..............-0- .......................-0-..........2,578.................4,470............ 476,183

1850..............-0- .....................1,139.........14,978.................29,963............851,470

I860..............1,327 ...................2,387.........22,089............... 112,172......... 1,711,951
1870..............1,574 ...................2,681.........23,762................298,977..........2,539,891
1880..............1,475 ................ ..2,662.........24,908................503,185..........3,077,871
1890..............1,683 .................. 2,796.........26,114..............1,099,850......... 3,826,352
1900..............2,802 ...................3,470.........29,759..............1,698,575..........4,821,550
1910..............4,331 ...................5,335.........32,509..............2,185,283..........5,638,591
1920..............5,523 ...................6,408.........33,164..............2,701,705......... 6,485,280
1930..............5,471 ...................6,371.........35,079..............3,376,438......... 7,630,654
1940..............6,123 .................. 6,980.........37,311..............3,396,808..........7,897,241
1950..............7,192 .................. 8,280.........50,656..............3,620,962......... 8,712,176
1960..............8,897 .................. 9,652.........84,210..............3,550,404.........10,081,158
1970 ........... 10,226 ..................10,765........111,555..............3,366,957.........11,113,976
1980.............11,725 ................. 12,199........147,897..............3,005,072........ 11,427,409
1990.............14,368 ..................14,231........183,241..............2,783,726.........11,430,602
2000.............20,151 ..................18,157........260,077..............2,986,016........ 12,419,293
* Township name was Center in 1850.
Woodstock Presidents of the Board of Trustees
Alvin C. Judd.......................1852-1854
Enos W. Smith...................... 1854-1855
Neill Donnelly......................1855-1857
Melvin B. Baldwin.................. 1857-1858
M. W. Hunt..........................1858-1859
H. B. Burton........................1859-1860
Neill Donnelly......................1860-1861
Merritt L. Joslyn...................1861-1862
H.S. Henchett...................... 1862-1863
Wm. Kerr............................1863-1866
Merritt L. Joslyn...................1866-1867
John S. Wheat...................... 1867-1868
B. N. Smith.........................1868-1869
M. D. Hoy...........................1869-1870
E. E. Richards......................1870-1872
L. H. Davis.........................1872-1873
Woodstock Mayors
John S. Wheat...................... 1873-1874
Neill Donnelly......................1874-1875
R. C. Jefferson.....................1875-1876
Neill Donnelly......................1876-1877
L. H. Davis.........................1877-1879
John J. Murphy......................1879-1881
Merritt L. Joslyn...................1881-1882
John D. Short*..................... 1882-1883
George H. Bunker....................1883-1887
Merritt L. Joslyn...................1887-1889
John J. Murphy...........................1889
E. E. Richards......................1889-1893
John D. Donovan.................... 1893-1897
Emilus C. Jewett....................1897-1903
Fred A.Walters..................... 1903-1907
George Hoy..........................1907-1909
John Donovan....................... 1909-1913
Albert J.Olson......................1913-1916

Hiriam J. Dygert...................1916-1917
S. E. Olmstead.....................1917-1921
Frank J. Green.....................1921-1927
Reid A. Pratt......................1927-1929
William Burns......................1929-1941
Raymond C. Johnson.................1941-1951
Raymond J. Heniken*.....................1952
James H. Cooney....................1952-1958
Ralph L. Ostrander................ 1958-1961
Thore Emricson.....................1961-1965
Frances M. Kuhn................... 1965-1969
Melvin Stuessy.................... 1969-1969
Joseph Gitlin......................1973-1977
Frances M. Kuhn....................1977-1985
Jim Shoemaker......................1985-1993
William Anderson.................. 1993-1997
Alan Cornue........................1997-2oo5
*Acting Mayors due to resignations.

SOURCES
Woodstock Sentinel 1901- 20th Century Edition
Woodstock Sentinel
Woodstock Daily Sentinel
Woodstock Daily Sentinel 1937 - 80th Anniversary Edition
History of McHenry County 1885
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois -McHenry County Citizens 1903
History of McHenry County Illinois 1922
McHenry County Illinois 1968
McHenry County in the Twentieth Century 1995
McHenry County Democrat Newspaper Courtesy of Sherry D. Anderson
Woodstock Independent
Woodstock Journal
The World Book Encyclopedia
Woodstock American
McHenry County Republican