The Huntley Farmside

              SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HUNTLEY SINCE 1960
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HUNTLEY, ILLINOIS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1992 - VOLUME 32, NUMBER 16
USPS 580-360
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Photo courtesy of Dorothy Schaller
By Dorothy Schaller
"Looks like Main Street parking was a bit crowded way back then...Lots of progress throughout the years, but the gazebo is still here at the Town Square. Years ago used to have concerts in the gazebo...In recent years the Huntley Lioness Club was instrumental in getting the gazebo restored. Since then, look at the nice Town Square today with the Park District's and other organizations' help."
Remember when the Town Square looked like this? It was 1911 or 1912. This photo was used in newspaper advertisements for Elgin Auctioneer, Howie Schultz. Don't forget to attend the Town Square and Gazebo plaquing by the McHenry County Historical Society this Saturday at 2:30pm.
If you have a photo that you would like to see in "Remember when..." - please send or bring it to the Farmside office in care of Tracey Schwartz.
Village Board Annexes Inland Property, Discusses Bowl-Hi Lot, Huntley Ready-Mix Property Annexation ¦
McHenry County Historical Society To Plaque Town Square, Gazetx)
The Historic, Sites Committee of the McHenry County Historical Society will be plaquing the Huntley Town Square Park and Gazebo on Saturday, August 8, 1992 at 2:30 P.M. The public is invited to attend and help celebrate the occasion. Mayor Jim Dhamer and the Board of Trustees are pleased to honor the community and the county with this memorial to our past. Perhaps this will be the beginning of greater recognition of Huntley's well-preserved past in its homes, commercial buildings and streets.
According to Nancy Fike, Curator-Manager of the McHenry County Historical Society's museum in Union, when Huntley was platted in 1851 land was set aside in the center of town for a town square park. Maps as early as 1872 show the area as open space. By 1892 that area was identified on the map as the City Park. A mid-summer 1932 issue of the Fox Valley Mirror included an article on Huntley and noted that the village had a lovely park and that it was an object of pride among its people.
Sometime before 1910 Andrew Schmidt did the cement work and laid the cement block for the gazebo. His son, Harry, remembers many horses being tied on the north, east and south sides of the park while the farm families shopped, when he was a kid, and could also remember how
local businessmen sponsored movies in the park, a practice that continued until the late 1930's, at least.
During the World War II era when the 4,200 square foot Pabst Dance Hall was new and Dreymiller's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor was on the first floor, many couples spent at least part of a Saturday night, between dances, in the town square park and gazebo, or in Dreymiller's sipping sodas! The Woodstock Sentinel of June 15, 1917 reported as many as 200-400 couples on a Saturday dance night in downtown Huntley. They danced to music by the Allison Dreamland Orchestra from Chicago, upstairs under the new electric lights. A cabaret program was featured between dances.
So it is with great pride that the Historic Sites Committee will present the attractive bronze plaque to Mayor Dhamer and the Board of Trustees Saturday, August 8th at the town square park.
The Historic Sites Committee hopes this plaquing will help encourage others to get involved in historic preservation through the Historical Society's plaquing program. For an application or further information call Chairman Al Kramka at 815-338-1490 or Nancy Fike at the Society's musuem in Union, 815-923-2267.
The July 9, 1992 Regular Meeting of the Village Board of Trustees was held in the Board Room of the Village Hall and brought to order by President Dhamer at 8:00 P.M.
Present were President Dhamer, Trustees Russ, Becker, Borowicz, Gow, Hoeft and Sheehan. Also present were Village Administrator Krauss, Attorney Todd Syverson, Village Engineer Schwegel, Public Works Director Schwartz, Building Inspector Ehrke and Police Chief Rossi.
The following minutes of various meetings were examined and action to same follows: June 4, 1992 - Special Meeting: Motion to approve was made by Trustee Russ, Seconded by Trustee Sheehan. Roll noted all ayes with the exception of Trustee Borowicz who voted nay and motion carried.
June 11, 1992 - Regular Meeting: Motion was made to approve of the Regular Meeting minutes by Trustee Russ, seconded by Trustee Gow. Roll noted all ayes and the motion carried. June 15, 1992 - Special Meeting: Motion was made to approve was made by Trustee Becker, seconded by Trustee Russ, roll noted all ayes and the motion carried. June 22. 1992 - Special Meeting: Motion to approve was made by Trustee Gow, seconded by Trustee Sheehan. Roll noted the following: Sheehan, aye; Hoeft, aye; Gow, aye; Borowicz, nay; Becker, nay; and Russ, aye. Motion carried.
June 25, 1992 - Special Meeting: Motion to approve was made by Trustee Russ, seconded by Trustee Sheehan, roll noted all ayes and motion carried. The Bill List was studied and
thereafter, Trustee Sheehan made a motion to approve the payment of same as presented, seconded by Trustee Becker. All trustees voted aye and the motion carried.
Village Administrator Krauss advised that there would be no Treasurer's Report this month as Village Treasurer McMahon is formatting same on computer at this time and was not ready. He stated that one can be made up for committee meeting and the next one will still be the old format.
President Dhamer reminded the Board that the Zoning Board of Appeals is still short of members and he appointed Mr. Tom Manning to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Trustee Hoeft made a motion to accept President Dhamer's appointment of Mr. Tom Manning, seconded by Trustee
Becker, all trustees voted aye and the motion carried.
He also advised the Board the next McHenry County Municipal Association Dinner meeting will be July 22nd at the Cary Country Club.
Village Administrator Krauss reported as follows:
Bowl Hi Parking Lot Variance: He asked Village Engineer Schwegel to address the Board regarding the letter dated June 24, 1992 sent by his firm to the village. He spoke regarding the engineering design and stated current design does not meet village requirements of proper on site drainage requirements and should require the petitioner to abide by current ordinance and in fact, aggravated downstream flooding. He noted the original plans were approved as were the amended
plans. Discussion followed on this matter and Trustee Borowicz brought up the drainage at the Patterson paved lot and felt all should be treated alike. Trustee Becker questioned the creation of runoff from adjoining property owners into the Bowl Hi property. Trustee Hoeft, after explaining the creation of the current ordinance for this purpose, made a motion that the petitioner should be told that when they get approval from Baxter and Woodman on water retainage they have to hold, they can go ahead with their parking lot calculating the square footage of the property regarding runoff and nothing else and that the variance is to be denied. Trustee Russ reminded that approval was already there. Village Engineer Schwegel
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