When the railroad came to Spring Grove in 1901, John Wagner built a tavern and hotel at the corner of Blivin and Hatchery Road, next to the railroad tracks. On May 3, 1912, Albert Pepping received a dram shop license to operate the tavern. You could order a Pabst, North Western Bry's beer or fine beer from the McHenry Brewery according to the signage. He, his wife
Catherine "Kate" Smith (Schmitt), and their four children moved into the upstairs living quarters. One child arrived six months later. Three more were born in the ensuing years.
In 1917, during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson instituted a temporary wartime prohibition in order to save grain for producing food.
This must have caused the demise of Albert's tavern business as his1918 his draft card showed him working for Bowman Dairy in Ringwood. By 1920, the census showed he was back farming in Spring Grove. They stayed until 1931 when the news reported their Spring Grove friends threw them a surprise farewell party before they moved to Crystal Lake. Alb died in 1964 at the age of 81. Kate, who may be the one standing with all the children in the photo, died in1970 at the age of 86.