USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 27
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The membership of this prosperous camp of Royal Neighbors is 213.
MYSTIC WORKERS OF THE WORLD
HARVARD LODGE No. 21 was organized April 4, 1899 hy Joanna E. Downes and eommeneed with charter members as follows: William Bombard, Pearl Bombard, Edwin Briekley, Sarah Brickley, William Briekley, Cora Butts, Edgar Butts, Mary Burk, Patrick Burk, James Burk, Walter Bowman, Albert Brown, Michael Breen, William Budde, Charles Cramer, Celia Donovan, George Diggins, Ernest Diggins, Carrie Diggins, Judson Davis, Catherine Donovan, Herbert Emerson, Frank Ellis, Otto Fick, Bertha Fick, Julia Gleason, August Hochrath, Albert Hammerstead, William Jenkins, Mary Jenkins, Joseph Jones, Henrietta Kiskoski, Henry Lembsky, Lewis Leverenz, Mathew MeRoberts, Mar- garet MeCabe, Rose MeGee, William Maguire, Emma Ottman, Edward O'Brien, James Phinney, Jennie Phinney, August Rogers, Melvin Smith, John Sweeney, Kate Sullivan, Nellie Sullivan, Herman Stroede, John Waters, Daniel Waters, Kate Waters and Riley Whitmarsh. There are now 471 adult and thirteen juvenile members in this flourishing bene- ficiary lodge. They meet in Odd Fellows' Hall.
Their elective officers included these: Joanna E. Downes, prefect ; Earl Dowens, moderator; John A. Sweeney, banker; Ernest Downes, secretary. The officers now serving are: John Daey, prefect; Robert Kolls, monitor; Agnes Sweeney, secretary ; Margaret Hayden, banker; Cora Goodwish, marshal ; George Jones, warder ; Mary Hubble, sentinel : Charles Helmke and Anna Beherns, supervisors. The past presiding officers have been: Joanna E. Downes, Catherine Nihan, Catherine Lyons, Frances Powers.
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NUNDA LODGE 382 was instituted at Crystal Lake, December 20, 1900, by Worthy Downes of Harvard. The charter members were as follows : J. P. Sughrua, Mary Sughrua, Charles Kliber, Herman Freye, Hattie Freye, Mary Kliber, Dr. H. D. Ilull, Harrison Sargeant, Nellie Sar- geant, Charles Vermilya, Louisa Vermilya, Amelia Schultz, Fred Schultz, Cora E. Dickinson, Charles L. Curphey, Anna Curphey, Gillard Frost, Josehena Westphal, Mary Buford, Edwin Bissell, Floyd Terwilliger, and Lena Frost.
The present officers are as follows: J. D. Blackman, prefeet ; Esther Allen, monitor ; Aliee Cole, seeretary ; Lunn Richards, banker; Lenore Schneider. marshal ; J. P. Snghrua, warder ; George Bryant, sentinel. .
The lodge now has a membership of 190. They assemble at Wood- man Hall at Crystal Lake. The presiding offieers have been inelusive of these to date: J. P. Sughrua, who was prefeet for thirteen years without a break, and is known as "Old Stand-by," Earl Bryant, E. M. Bissell, Dr. H. D. Hull, and John Mair.
The Juvenile Department is rapidly growing in numbers. Daneing and refreshments frequently oceur at their meetings which are held the first Thursday in every month.
PROSPERITY LODGE No. 1030 was organized April 15, 1911, with ehar- ter members as follows: Prefeet, Carlton D. Ross; monitor, Helena M. Stoffel; secretary, Adah A. Casey; banker, John I. Sutton ; physician, Dr. Wells; marshal, Florenee Howe; warder, Phillip Aylwood; sentinel, Glenn Barker; supervisors, Katheryn Heiner, Frank E. Cobb and Rose Justen.
The present membership is 438. A. W. Hill is the prefeet, and Nino Conn is seeretary.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Nc HENRY COUNCIL No. 1288 was organized in 1908, at the village of MeHenry and now enjoys a membership of 320. The present officers inelude : Grand knight, E. R. McGee ; deputy grand knight, J. H. Miller ; secretary, M. P. Freund.
The following have served as presiding officers: Joseph W. Freund, C. W. Stenger, M. J. Walsh, Thomas Bolger, Walter J. Walsh, Casper Biekler, Ed. L. Hayes and A. E. Nye, Casper M. Biekler.
HARVARD COUNCIL No. 1204 was organized February 24, 1907, with charter members as follows: Thomas C. Carey, R. J. Starr, A. C.
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Strain, P. T. Brickley, B. F. Briekley, J. P. Burke, Frank Clarke, Bert Clarke, F. J. Condon, J. W. Conway, J. J. Crowley, E. J. Field, J. J. Flannery, J. Googley, B. J. Gregory, C. S. Hanson, W. J. Hereley, P. II. Howard, J. M. Iserman, C. P. Regan, F. J. Shepard, W. J. Sheahan, F. Sheahan, R. V. Sloey, E. C. Strain, W. T. Strain, J. H. Vrooman, W. H. Ashley, F. Behringer, E. M. Briekley, W. II. Boyle, R. P. Boodle, W. H. Sweeney, D. B. Waters, John Clarke, Thomas Burke, W. C. Crowley, W. H. Daly, E. J. Dolan, W. E. Doyle, E. N. Fernholz, G. Fitzgerald, M. F. Ilaley, P. J. Hayes, F. Hereley, M. Hereley, C. A. Madden, G. F. Massey, J. J. McGuire, A. J. MeCarthy, C. E. MeCarthy, H. E. Munger, T. J. Murphy, M. J. Nolan, John T. O'Brien, William H. Phillips, Richard Phalen, J. P. O'Connor, M. B. O'Connor, Joseph D. O'Brien, John W. Phalen, W. H. Powers, T. G. Ruffie, M. P. Sullivan, Dan Sullivan, J. A. Sweeney, M. J. Breen, D. T. Phalen. The present total number of members is about 206. The total amount raised for the war fund by Harvard Council of K. of C. was $2,757.
The following have served as presiding officers sinee the organization of the eouneil in 1907: A. C. Strain, 1907-08; Thomas C. Carey, 1908- 13; John P. O'Connor, 1913-15; James P. Burke, 1915-17; John T. O'Brien, 1917-20.
ELKS
WOODSTOCK LODGE No. 1043 was organized October 24, 1906, with forty-three charter members. At present the lodge has a membership of 400. The original officers were as follows: John C. Donnelly, exalted ruler; John J. Cooney, esteemed leading knight; J. P. Alt, esteemed loyal knight; V. E. Brown, esteemed leeturing knight; George W. Lemmers, secretary ; R. A. Pratt, treasurer ; Fred Derrenberger, tyler ; Garry R. Austin, trustee (one year) ; D. J. Omstead, trustee (two years) ; George A. Darmer, trustce (three years).
The order first met in Waverly Hall on Main street and from there moved to its present home in Odd Fellows' Building.
The chief presiding officers have been: John C. Donnelly, E. C. Jewett, George A. Cutteridge, Dell J. Omstead, E. D. Hannaford, C. C. Harting, J. E. Guy, D. J. Omstead, J. C. Rowe, J. L. Brown, George W. Lemmers, C. F. Baeens. T. L. Griffing is the pres- ent exalted ruler ; and Edwin M. Kemerling is the present secretary.
CHAPTER XX PUBLIC LIBRARIES
BY IDA L. GEIIRIG
WOODSTOCK LIBRARY-MARENGO LIBRARY-DELOS F. DIGGINS LIBRARY.
In a number of the school districts in MeHenry County, there have been for many years, small school libraries, some even with quite a goodly number of valuable books. The county has a fair law library for the use of practicing attorneys, and the high sehools of the county have excellent collections of books, but the three real public libraries, well established, and now supported by a tax or endowment fund, are those located at Woodstock, Harvard and Marengo. To the ladies of these communities must be given chief praise for the hard work they performed during for- mer years, trying to get together a suitable collection of library books. Year after year this work went forward, until finally the public generally took an interest, and as a result these public libraries were established.
WOODSTOCK PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Woodstock library had its origin some time in 1856, when through the efforts of a number of citizens in and near Woodstock contributions of books were made, and money secured from Judge Church, Doctor Perry, W. Murphy, C. H. Russell, Elmer Lamb, E. E. Richards, R. G. Shryver, M. F. Irving, J. A. Parrish and others, and in this way was started a library. This library was not free to the publie, but was kept up by subscription for many years. When the Woodstock Literary and Library Association was formed, December 10, 1877, it had as one of its aims the accumulation and maintenance of a library and the books left in the old library collection were put with the new ones. These books were sometimes kept in stores, but were free only to members of the club or association : others paid $1 a year, or ten eents a book, for their use.
On March 5, 1880, a new by-law was added providing for the election of a librarian and A. R. Murphy was the first one to hold that office. In
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a report made by him in 1881, he gave the number of books on hand as 148. In May, 1882, the books owned by the Young Men's Association were purchased for $20. In 1886 A. S. Wright, the druggist, was made Mr. Murphy's successor and the library was removed to the Wright drug store on the south side of the square, where a room was provided. For the year 1887 he reported the number of volumes to be 678. Verne Wright succeeded his father as librarian in 1888, and he in turn was fol- lowed in 1890 by C. D. Parsons. Through these years the Woodstoek Library Association gradually gathered together a library of standard books and the present library is greatly indebted to those progressive and intellectual members who had the forethought and energy to build as they did. Mrs. Mary Joslyn and J. C. Choate were especially untiring and inspiring leaders.
At a meeting of the association, held June 23, 1890, it was voted to move the books to a room in the city hall and January 26, 1891, it was decided to transfer the library to the City of Woodstock, to be the nucleus of the Woodstock Public Library. The books were now made free to all the people residing within the corporate eity. The mayor and council appointed the first directors: J. C. Choate, L. T. Hoy, C. A. Lemmers, A. Dreyer, Mrs. Mary R. Joslyn, Mrs. Frank Spitzer, V. S. Lumley, Dr. W. C. Cook, and Miss Mary F. Murphy. The librarian appointed was Erastus Richards, who was followed in turn by II. B. Rogers and Miss Winifred Hall (now Mrs. C. Curtis) from 1893 to July 10, 1911, when " the present librarian, Lura Wandrack was chosen. On the evening of March 12, 1814, there was a fire in the city hall which caused the total loss of 1,906 books and necessitated the removal of the library to the Rest Room in the courthouse until the latter part of May.
The library reports show number of books on shelves to be 6,912. The present directors are : R. C. Kaufman, J. S. Andrews, Miss Pauline McMannis, Mrs. J. R. Kellogg, Mrs. J. J. Stafford, Mrs. W. II. Shipton, C. R. Belcher, N. A. Sunderlin, and V. S. Lumley.
MARENGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
A collection of books were left to the city of Marengo by a former resident, Mrs. M. J. Harrington, for the purpose of starting a public library. A number of members of the Woman's Club formed a Library Carnival Aid Society to finance the library until taken over as a eity library on June 19, 1907. A room was rented in the old Green homestead, but later the books were removed to Doetor Nutt's office building where
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the library remained until May 1, 1917, when two suites of rooms in the Community Club Building became the home of the library. Miss Mabel Fay was the first librarian and she was succeeded by Miss Anna Blair. The present librarian is Nellie Fillmore.
This library has 38,000 volumes, seventeen magazines and papers on the reading tables, which are accessible to any one in Marengo or vicinity. The library is supported by a tax levied by the city. The present trustees are : Mrs. C. B. Whittemore, N. V. Woleben, Mrs. A. W. Kelley, Mrs. A. A. Crissey, Miss Mildred Burke, J. V. Patterson, E. D. Patrick and C. H. Bremer.
DELOS F. DIGGINS LIBRARY OF HARVARD
What is known as The Delos F. Diggins Library in the city of Har- vard, was first established through the generosity of Mr. Delos F. Dig- gins, a man born and reared in this community. During his later years, Mr. Diggins resided in Cadillac, Michigan, but wishing to be remembered by his home townspeople he gave a fund sufficient to build the present beautiful structure situated near the central part of the city : also plac- ing an endowment fund in the care of library trustees whom he appointed .to fill that position for their lifetime or residence in Harvard. In case of death or removal from the city of any of the trustees the vacancy thus formed was to be filled by the remaining trustees. Mr. Diggins' idea in "having one continuous board of trustees was principally to keep the" library affairs strictly free from politics.
The following named gentlemen comprised the first board of trustees of the library: A. B. Diggins, president; R. A. Nugent, vice president ; M. F. Walsh, secretary; F. F. Axtell, treasurer: and H. D. Crumb, W. D. Hall, and James Lake.
On May 7th, 1909, the library, which is a perfect structure with all modern appointments and conveniences and as near fireproof as a build- ing can well be constructed, was dedicated to the public with appropriate exercises. W. H. Ward, of Harvard, Ill., was the contractor; Mr. Wat- terman, of Chicago, was the architect.
Miss Elizabeth E. Wilson was the first librarian appointed, and on the second day of August, 1909, the library was open to the public for the issue of books for home use. The collection consisted of 1,794 volumes on the shelves ready for use. The first annual report shows a book cir- culation for home use, 11,627. Subsequent librarians were as follows: Miss B. Hamilton, Miss Cleo Lichtenberger, Miss V. K. Gher. In Septem-
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ber, 1917, Miss I. L. Gehrig was appointed librarian, and she was suc- ceeded by the present librarian, Mrs. I. L. G. Dickson.
One of the notable events of the year 1917-18 was the reorganization of the library according to more modern methods. In October, 1917, through the efforts of Miss Anna May Price, secretary of The Illinois Library Extension Commission, Miss Marie Hammond and the librarian began the work of reclassifying and cataloguing the books according to the decimal classification and completed the work in February, 1918, and the valuable dictionary card catalogue for public use was placed in the delivery room. In this card catalogue are entered all books contained in the library arranged according to author, title and subject.
In the spring of 1919, at a Roosevelt Memorial, the Womans Club of Harvard presented the library with a fine etching of the late ex-presi- dent, Theodore Roosevelt ; Father Lepper of the Episcopal Church, Har- vard, Ill., making the presentation speech.
The present board of trustees are as follows: R. C. Uecke, president ; H. D. Crumb, M. F. Walsh, F. F. Axtell, B. B. Bell, W. D. Hall, James Lake.
The first tax levy appropriating money for the public library of Har- vard was passed September 21, 1916, when the sum of $900 was given for the further maintenance of the library. For the year 1917 the same amount was received and since then the appropriation has been $1,000. This annual income, together with the interest from the endowment fund, maintains the library in a fitting manner.
Following board of directors was appointed by the mayor to govern the expenditures of the city's annual appropriation; six of the board being library trustees : B. B. Bell, president ; Mrs. A. C. McCarty, Mrs. Robert Hall, F. F. Axtell, H. D. Crumb, W. D. Hall, James Lake, Mrs. H. A. Towne, M. F. Walsh.
For a small library, there is a strong reference collection, which has been recently strengthened through many purchases and some gifts. The collection of bound magazines is especially valuable, suitable shelves hav- ing been built for them in the main reading and reference room.
The reference use made of the library by the high school pupils and general public has been wholly satisfactory, though there is room for still greater use of the library in the future. The juvenile department has been materially strengthened by the purchase of many books and subscriptions to the popular and scientific magazines. The library has
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the permanent loan of the valnable and most attractive collection of but- terflies owned by Mrs. H. A. Towne.
There has always been a hearty cooperation and assistance of the prominent clubs of Harvard and the community and for several years of "The Library Carnival Association." There are 6,900 volumes on the shelves.
CHAPTER XXI
WOMAN'S CLUBS
BY MRS. W. H. DOOLITTLE
ALGONQUIN-CRYSTAL LAKE-HARVARD CIVIC ASSOCIATION-HARVARD FORT- NIGHTLY-HARVARD WOMEN'S CLUB-HUNTLEY-LOTUS COUNTRY - M.\- RENGO-M'HENRY COUNTY FEDERATION-RICHMOND-RUSH CREEK- SCHUMANN-SENECA ASSOCIATION OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE-WOODSTOCK.
Until recent years the women of the country had little opportunity to give expression to their individuality outside their home and church circles. Any public appearance of a woman, unless she were an actress or singer, was discouraged, and the present desirable freedom of the sex with relation to their mental development, has been brought about through the untiring zeal and hard work of the pioneers in the move- ment. Today, small is the community that does not have one or more clubs of earnest, sineere women, whose efforts are concentrated upon not only expanding their own horizons, but the education of others to bring them to a similar condition ; the betterment of civic conditions; and the inauguration of much needed reforms of all kinds. The original prejudice harbored by the narrow-minded against these elubs, has passed, being wiped out by the record made by these organizations, and the time is not far distant when every woman of any intelligence will realize that it is her duty to herself, her family and her community, to avail herself of the privilege of elub membership.
ALGONQUIN WOMAN'S CLUB
The Algonquin Woman's Club was organized in June, 1915, with forty members, Mrs. Whittemore of Marengo aiding in the organization. Mrs. B. C. Getzelman, who was also very active in securing these forty charter members and organizing them into a club, was elected the chib's first president. During the first year the club affiliated with the county, district and state organizations. There is a present membership of fifty.
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The club motto is: "Who stays in the valley never gets over the hill."
From October, 1915, to April, 1916, the Algonquin Woman's Club was instrumental in securing a park for the town. The members of the club prepared a petition asking the town board to purchase a park site. An entertainment course given by the International Entertainment Bureau was sponsored by the club. The MeHenry County Federation meeting was held at the Congregational Church, Algonquin, May 6, 1916.
During the summer of 1916 the club had the mineral spring at the park cemented, and also had a eement bench made at the park. In the fall of 1917, the elub gave a children's course of special moving pictures.
During the period of the World War, the Algonquin Woman's Club was active in the Thrift Stamp campaigns, the Liberty Loan drives, Red Cross work and the sale of Red Cross Seals.
Flower seeds were distributed to school children by the elub in May, 1918.
Work done by the Home Improvement Club was under the super- vision of the Woman's Club. On February 11, 1918, the Woman's Club gave a cafeteria supper. It sent several boxes of old clothing, toys, canned fruit and apples to the Home for Destitute Children, to Erie Chapel Institute, Samaritan House Settlement and the Daily News Sanitarium. The elub also sent contributions to the Illinois Cottage at Park Ridge, the Library Extension Fund, Country War Fund, Benefit Fund for Soldiers and Sailors stationed in Illinois, and to the distriet work of the state federation.
The Philanthropy and Reform department in April, 1918, turned over to the elub $25 to start a library fund.
The president of the elub is Miss Ella Kee.
MRS. GEORGE KEYES
CRYSTAL LAKE WOMAN'S CLUB
The first Woman's Club at Crystal Lake was organized May 26, 1914, although previous to that date the women of the town had banded them- selves together, choosing Mrs. C. L. Teekler as president of the organiza- tion which was known as the Woman's Voting Club. Their chief aim at that time was to become familiar with the voting system, to post them- selves on parliamentary law, and matters pertaining to town, eounty and state work.
Early in the spring of 1914, the club held a moek election at the town hall and nearly every woman in the town went to the polls and
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voted correctly. This paved the way for the spring election at which time women were to vote on the question of local option. The votes polled by the women placed Crystal Lake in the dry seetion of the map. After this vietory was gained, it was suggested, by the president of the voting club, that the organization merge into a Woman's Club for im- provement, and broaden their lines of work, which met with the approval of all, and a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws.
Sixty-eight eharter members were enrolled, and the following offieers were elected: Mrs. Bertha Dolle, president ; Mrs. Ella Freeman, viee president ; Mrs. Mae Dike, recording secretary ; Miss Edythe Leach, cor- responding secretary ; and Mrs. Carrie Teckler, treasurer. During 1914 and 1915 meetings were held every second and fourth Tuesday in the month, the usual summer vacations being omitted. Great interest eon- tinued to be manifested, and at the end of the year 1915, the elub had an enrollment of ninety-four members.
The lines of work taken up by the club have been various, and as many similar organizations, the members have worked for the improve- ment of their town, taking up the cleaning of the streets and alleys, dis- posing of rubbish and garbage, placing of flowers and shrubs in the park and on high school grounds, making annual donations to the public library, establishing a charity fund, looking after those in need, visiting the Chicago Tribune Camp at Algonquin and donating to same, send- ing barrels of elothing and groceries to the Children's Home at Wood- stoek, contributing $20 to the Girls' Home at Park Ridge, observing National Baby Week, giving showers to the Domestic Seience room at the high school, and sending delegates to the county, district and state conventions.
During 1917 and 1918 the club members gave a large portion of their time to the Red Cross and Couneil of Defense work, beside selling Lib- erty Bonds and War Savings Stamps. During the past five years the club has been giving fine entertainments, engaging many speakers and artists of rare ability. Believing that education and thrift go hand in hand and that in community work there is strength, the elub has been working to establish a community center at the high school.
The graduating class of 1919 of the high school has given the sehool a Motiograph De Luxe, which has been installed in the gymnasium by Superintendent H. A. Dean, of the Crystal Lake schools, and a eo- worker with the Woman's Improvement Club, helping to build a solid
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foundation on which the rising generation may stand high above all that is worthless and unstable.
The club is looking forward to many community gatherings for the purpose of enjoying the educational and government films which are already being shown.
Dr. Mary King has been engaged by the club to examine the teeth of the grade pupils, and send a chart of same to the parents for inspec- tion. This movement in connection with the health erusade that is awakening so much interest among pupils and parents, will be another step forward in teaching the children to eare for their bodies and pre- serve their health.
The Woman's Improvement Club is always ready to take up new lines of work that will be beneficial or improve the town and build np the country, so that we may all be ealled true American citizens.
MRS. CARRIE D. TECKLER, Crystal Lake, Ill.
HARVARD CIVIC ASSOCIATION
The Harvard Civic Association was organized April 4, 1906, with the following officers: Mrs. J. W. Groesbeek, president; Mrs. C. W. Goddard, secretary; and Mrs. H. B. Minier, treasurer. Several viee presidents were appointed, and later an advisory board drew into line many energetie workers from all seetions of the eity.
The aim of the organization was to do its utmost along all lines bene- fieial to the eity; to co-operate with the mayor and eity couneil, and the then recently formed Business Men's Association, and to assist in every possible way to promote the welfare of Harvard.
The first objective of the elub was "the city beautiful ;" special elean- liness of the home and home surroundings was advocated; the anti- spitting ordinanee was to be enforced; a general paintup, eleanup and keep elean poliey was to be undertaken, and always Harvard was to be "boosted."
Every woman resident above the age of sixteen was personally in- vited to join the club and take an active interest in its efforts. No mem- bership fee was imposed. Funds were secured as needs arose by various methods, such as tag days, card games, food sales, which latter proved wonderfully successful, considerable sums being seeured by the sales of homemade bread, pies, doughnuts, eakes and other homemade bakery
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goods. Also, later, movie benefit pieture shows were extremely profit- able.
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