Thank you to our special sponsors of the new downtown holiday decorations! When I asked if anyone would be interested in sponsoring our new street light decorations, the quick response from our community was amazing. Families, friends and businesses all pitched in to sponsor the seven poles.
I would like to thank BCB Coltman Properties, Billy’s Beef & Hotdogs, The Doherty Family & Resolute Plumbing, Inc., Scot Forge, RB Class of 2019 Football & Cheer Moms and The Grove Pub & Grill. Your continued support of our community is so much appreciated!
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I would also like to thank Trustee Bob McMahon and our Public Works team for a great job on decorating the downtown and Horse Fair Park. Bob worked closely with Public Works Supervisor Mike Ringler on the holiday lights displays.
The Village will be hosting a Letters to Santa Holiday Drive-thru at Horse Fair Park this Saturday from 4:00 - 5:30 instead of the annual Tree Lighting Festival because of COVID-19 restrictions. Santa will be there along with Mrs. Clause for a drive by and drop off of your Christmas wish list to Santa. Also, drive through anytime during the holiday season to enjoy the light displays.
Please remember to shop locally and eat locally if you can. Our businesses appreciate the support and the sales tax dollars stay in town.
Mark Eisenberg
Village President
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T's Toffee 6th Annual Open House |
This year Theresa & Lance will be offering curbside service for their Open House this Saturday, December 5 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m! You may place your order on their website at www.ts-toffee.com or call in your order to 847-274-9969. Your package will be waiting for you when you arrive and they will deliver it to your car. An Open House will also be set up outside in the garage if you'd like to browse their products. Located at 8818 Hidden Trail. View the flyer .
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Holiday Drive-thru and Letters to Santa Saturday, December 5! |
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Spring Grove COVID-19 Relief |
If you or anyone you know is at risk of the COVID-19 virus and need help with grocery shopping or with purchasing other necessities, please contact a volunteer helper at springgrovecovid19relief@gmail.com.
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Eclipse Hair Studio is once again collecting for Toys for Tots at their salon. Our community has always been generous to this program and although they know this year has been difficult for many, they still hope to to make a lot of children happy this Christmas. Final pickup day is December 15 but they will continue collecting until December 23 in case there are any last minute needs in the area. Located at 2020 Route 12, Suite U. Open at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday thru Saturday. Closing times vary. Visit them here.
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Photo of the Week
It would be hard to choose your favorite view of this exceptional sky that was over Spring Grove on October 27! 1. Clouds edge from Thelen Park submitted by Pete Mckee, 2. Out for an evening run by Gary Stark, 3. As seen from the Jewel parking lot from Garry Forman, 4. View from Pioneer Road by Gayle Gillmann. Thank you all for this photo study! If you have a photo of Spring Grove you would like to share, email it here.
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You should be receiving a brochure in the mail this week from our new disposal/recycling services company, Flood Brothers, who will begin servicing Spring Grove on Tuesday, January 5. The brochure will outline new rates, recycling guide, billing and much more. They will start dropping off trash & recycling containers this month but still use your Groot containers until after the New Year. |
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The Jake Vinyard Foundation Operation Feed 33 will be providing meals to those in need this Christmas. A new drop off location is at Nature's Feed located at 2440 Westward Drive. Donations are accepted thru December 12. View donation suggestions and more on the flyer here. The drive through pick up date is Saturday, December 19 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Platinum Terrain located at 7701 Blivin. Contact Randy Vinyard if you or someone you know is in need to make sure they have enough for everyone. Contact information is listed on the flyer. Visit jakevinyardfoundation.com.
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The new Tier 3 mitigation requirements aims to limit gatherings and encourages people to stay home to the greatest extent possible, while permitting some businesses and industries to remain open at significantly reduced capacities with proper safety measures in place.
Keep practicing the 3 Ws: Watch your distance, wear a mask properly (covering your mouth AND nose) and wash your hands frequently.
A map and information of the status of every Illinois county can be found on the IDPH website here. View a map of the United States and other countries to view potential risks associated with traveling. Areas with increased risk of COVID-19 are based on case rates.
If you have health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 800-889-3931 or email questions here.
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Give the gift of history! 1/2 off new individual and family gift memberships to the McHenry County Historical Society and Museum. Promotion valid until December 22. Purchase here!
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Isabelle Montgomery 1858-1927 |
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Carey farmhouse on English Prairie |
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Carey house in Wilmot, WI |
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Walter Carey and his four brothers were born in a log cabin to John and Mary Dorsey Carey. John left Ireland during the Potato Famine of 1848. His betrothed sailed on the same boat over, but died at sea. He met Mary in Chicago, they got married, and came to English Prairie in 1849, walking from the city to Burton Township with fifty cents in their pockets. He worked as a farm laborer until he was able to establish himself and was eventually very prosperous as a farmer, raising crops, cattle and sheep. When he died he owned three farms, which he deeded to his three living sons.
In 1884, son Walter married Isabelle Montgomery, and was eventually deeded the farm which stood at the corner of James Road and Wilmot Road (shown above). Walter was known as being a "most progressive farmer" and was also a partner in the Carey & Nett store at Wilmot. In 1894 he built the first telephone service In Burton Township that ran between his farm and his store in Wilmot, and a few years later he extended the service to Spring Grove. (In 1905, a resident got himself into a predicament when the telephone line in Spring Grove was undergoing repairs. Several wires were down when he used the phone to call up a lady in Solon Mills. After holding a pleasant five minute conversation he found, to his great surprise, that he had been talking the whole time with his wife. A lesson, the newspaper said, to some of the married men in the county.)
In 1898, the family, which now consisted of four daughters and two sons, moved to beautiful home in Wilmot, which Walter built and still stands today, and rented out his farm to tenant farmers. The new house was adjacent to the Wilmot flour mill which burned down two years later. He bought the mill site and built a new grist and feed mill, later adding a saw mill. In 1914, he started generating electricity for his home using the water power of the mill dam. In 1918, he formed the Carey Electric company and brought the first electricity to the thankful residents of Spring Grove.
In 1926, Walter died of cancer in his home at the age of 68, as did Isabelle, nine months later. The old Carey farmhouse on English Prairie was destroyed by a fire in 1942, which started in an overheated chimney. Many families in Spring Grove had, at one time or another, been tenant farmers on the Carey farm. They, and many others, were sad to see the old familiar landmark disappear forever.
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