HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinances - 22-30 - 05/16/2022 - Historic Landmark - 812 N Mill StMail to:
McHenry City Clerk
333 S Green St
McHenry, IL 60050
moohnson(@citvofmchenry.org
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McHenry City Clerk
333 S Green St
McHenry, IL 60050
COVER SHEET
Ordinance 22-30
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JOSEPH J. TIRIO
CLERK AND RECORDER
MCHENRY COUNTY, IL
2022ROO17946
05/18/2022 09:04:57 AM PAGES: 38
GIs FEE 24.00
COPY FEE 1.50
RECORDING,FEE 11.00
AUTOMATION FEE 8.00
An Ordinance Designating the former Hanly Mill at 812 N Mill Street, as a Historic
Landmark
Passed May 16, 2022
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
CITY OF MCHENRY
MCHENRY COUNTY
STATE OF ILLINOIS
Ordinance 22-30
AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING THE FORMER HANLYMILL AT
812 NMILL STREET, AS A HISTORIC LANDMARK
Passed by the
Mayor and City Council
Of the
City of McHenry
McHenry County
State of Illinois
May 16, 2022
Published in pamphlet form by authority of the Mayor and City Council of the -City
of McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois thisl7th day of May 2022.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
ORDINANCE NO.22-30
An Ordinance Designating th eformer Hanly Mill at812NMillStreet, as a
Historic Landmark
WHEREAS, the Thomas W Althoff Family Trust holds title to the property commonly
known as 812 N Mill Street, McHenry, IL and legally described on the attached Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, due to its historical significance, the former,Hanly Mill has been nominated
for historic landmark status by the McHenry Landmark Commission; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on May 3, 2022, to consider the former Hanly
Mill for designation of a Nominated Landmark in accordance with the City of McHenry Historic
Preservation Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing notice for the public hearing on May 3, 2022, was duly
published; and
WHEREAS, the Landmark Commission determined that the former Hanly Mill meets
the criteria of the McHenry Historic Preservation Ordinance for designation as a landmark,
evidenced by the report attached hereto as Exhibit B; and recommends that the City Council
designate the Riverside Chocolate Factory as an historic landmark;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of
McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois, as follows:
SECTION 1: The former Hanly Mill shall be and hereby is designated as a Historic
Landmark.
SECTION 2: A plaque carrying a brief description and account of the historical
significance of the property shall be placed at the former Hanly Mill.
SECTION 3: The City Clerk is hereby directed to cause a certified copy of this
ordinance, together with said Exhibits A and B to be recorded in the office of the McHenry
County Recorder of Deeds, McHenry County, Illinois.
SECTION 4: This ordinance shall be published in pamphlet form by and under the
authority of the corporate authorities of the City of McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois.
SECTION 5: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage, approval,
and publication in pamphlet form as provided by law.
Passed and approved this 16th day of May, 2022.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
A --
Alderman Devine
Alderman Glab
Alderman Harding
Alderman McClatchey
Alderwoman Miller
Alderman Santi
Alderman Strach
Way e ett, Mayor
Nays ' Absent Abstain
x
OL .
Monte Johnson, D uty City Clerk
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
EXHIBIT A
The subject property is located at the northwest corner of Crystal Lake Road and Mill Street,
commonly known as 812 N Mill Street, and is legally described as follows:
DOC 2014R0004376
PT LT 18 MCHENRY PLAT NO 12 MEMO:THOIVIAS W ALTHOFF TRS FAMILYTR CREATED UNDER
THE WILL OF JAMES L ALTHOFF
The owner of the subject property is Thomas W Trs Althoff, 812 N Mill St, McHenry, IL 60050.
PIN (Property Identification Number) of subject property: 09-27-480-005
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McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
PROPERTY TAX INDEX NUMBERS: 09-27-480-001 and 09-27480-005
THAT PART OF LOT 18 OF THE COUNTY CLERK'S PLAT OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP
45 NORTH, RANGE 8 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO
THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED MAY 6, 1902, IN BOOK 2 OF FLATS, PAGE 41,
DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE CENTERS
OF MILL STREET AND McI.-IENRY AND CRYSTAL LAKE ROAD IN THE VILLAGE OF
WEST MCHENRY; THENCE NORTH AND EAST ALONG THE CENTER LINE OF
CRYSTAL LAKE ROAD TO THE INTERSECTION OF THE CENTER LINE OF MAIN
STREET. WITH SAID CENTER LINE OF CRYSTAL LAKE ROAD; THENCE SOUTH AND
EAST ALONG THE CENTER LINE OF MAN, STREET, ADISTANCE OF 246.0 FEET:
THENCE SOUTH AND WEST ALONG A LINE THAT INTERSECTS THE CENTER LINE
OF MILL STREET, AT A POINT 295.0 FEET SOUTH AND EAST OF CRYSTAL LAKE
ROAD, MEASURED ALONG THE CENTER LINE OF MILL STREET, TO THE PLACE OF
BEGIA:NVING (EXCEPTING THEREFROM THAT PART CONVEYED BY WILLIAM
SPENCER ANDMARY FRANCIS SPENCER, HIS WIFE, TO HELENA M. ALLISON, BY
WARRANTY DEED DATED JULY 31, 1926, RECORDED IN BOOK 174 OF DEEDS, PAGE
517) IN McHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
McHenry County Recorder Phyllis K Welters # 2014R0004376
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
EXHIBIT B
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the City of McHenry Landmark Commission will hold a Public
Hearing at the McHenry Municipal Center, 333 South Green Street, McHenry, Illinois 60050 at
7:00 p.m. on May 3, 2022, to consider an application for the Former Hanly Brick Mill, 812 N Mill
Street, McHenry, Illinois 60050 for the following request in accordance with the City of
McHenry Historic Preservation Ordinance:
Consideration of designation of a Nominated Landmark in accordance with the City of
McHenry Historic Preservation Ordinance
The subject property is located at the northwest corner of Crystal Lake Road and Mill Street,
commonly known as 812 N Mill Street, and is legally described as follows:
DOC 2014R0004376
PT LT 18 MCHENRY PLAT NO 12 MEMO:THOMAS W ALTHOFF TRS FAMILY TR CREATED UNDER
THE WILL OF JAMES L ALTHOFF
The owner of the subject property is Thomas W Trs Althoff, 812 N Mill St, McHenry,'IL 60050.
PIN (Property Identification Number) of subject property: 09-27-480-005
A copy of the application is on file and may be examined during regular business hours in the
City Clerk's Office, at the McHenry Municipal Center, 333 South Green Street, McHenry, Illinois,
60050, and (815)363-2108. All interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard.
Published by order of the Landmark Commission, City of McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois.
/s/ Jeff Varda
Chairman, Landmark Commission
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Mc e
City of McHenry
Landmark Designation Application
The Commission or any person may nominate a landmarks) for designation by the City Council,
provided however, only the Mayor and City Council shall be permitted to nominate a landmark
if the owner of a.single,proposed landmark objects to the nomination. Criteria for Designation
are included on attached Exhibit "A."
Street Address of nominated landmark:
612 N Mill Street
Names) of owner(s) of Record of nominated landmark:
Thomas W Althoff Family Trust •
Brief Description of Property Location and attach map delineating the boundary and location
of the nominated landmark:
northwest corner of Crystal Lake Road and Mill Street, map attached
The legal description and common street address(s) of the nominated landmark or.
(Attached Plat of Survey or Subdivision Plat): .
see attached document
A statement indicating whether the owner of record of a single nominated landmark
consents to the landmark designation; all reasonable .efforts shall be made to secure the
written consent of the owner(s) before filing the nomination:.
per Jeff Verde, verbal consent was given by Todd Althoff
A written statement, with photographs, describing the property and setting forth the reasons
in support of the nomination (see criteria on attached Exhibit' A"):
See attached documents
Owner(s) Signature:
per Jeff Varda, verbal consent was given by Todd Althoff
Date:. 04 06 2022
The City of McHenry is dedicated to providing the citizens, businesses and visitors of McHenry.with the highest quality of
programs and services in a customer -oriented, efficient and fiscally responsible manner.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
The Little Hanly Mill
By Pamela Kelloqq
Introduction
History is a giant rabbit hole, an infrastructure that runs through time and space. Like the roads
spanning our beautiful country, the intersections connect people with events and those people
connect with others who left their footprints on the pages of our nation's history.
Many names and events inevitably come to the foreground while searching through documents
regarding our ancestors and early pioneers.
These names represent just a few of the brave souls who made their way mostly on foot or by
horse and wagon through the wilderness of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana to
Chicago and from there, north on the old Illinois Indian trails to the prairies of what is now
McHenry County.
Names like Barnum, Owen, Bishop, Gage, Boone, McCollom, McOmber, Sherman and Hanly.
They were just some of the people, who during their lifetime, helped to make McHenry Illinois
what we experience today.
These.are the old settlers that once walked our dusty,' dirt roads, farmed what are now our
subdivisions, set up our business districts, built our landmarks and laid the foundation for our
city.
They are not, however, the only names that come to the foreground of our history. The
ancestors of our early settlers were in many cases, those that fought for the independence of
our nation, signed our most important documents and battled to keep our union together.
My Mission
My mission in this presentation is to make a case for how important the little Hanly Mill is to
McHenry and our history. How it represents the lifetime of a humble farmer named Alexander
Hamilton Hanly and his contributions to our city, many of which are long gone or forgotten.
We will journey back in time to when McHenry was nothing but prairieland and timber. We will
meet other pioneers along the way, learn what they contributed to McHenry and we will see
how a simple little brick mill connects McHenry and her past with some of our nation's founding
fathers.
McHenry Had Three Mills
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
At one time, McHenry had three mills. In the Fall of 1837, A. S. Barnum, an early surveyor of
McHenry County, was settled just south of Boone Creek on what we now know as Green Street.
Shortly thereafter, John McOmber settled near the Barnum home.
John McOmber is best known for building McHenry's first framed structure. Once called,
"Buch's Place" today we know it as The Old Bridge Tavern. Among other structures in McHenry,
he built the Universalist Church, still standing today on Court Street and now the home of the
McHenry Masonic Lodge. The Universalist Church sits on the location of what was once
McHenry's very first schoolhouse.
Prior to those events, Barnum and McOmber entered into a contract to build a sawmill. It was
completed and then the claim was purchased by Herman Owen and James Salisbury who
added the dam and then ran the mill.
It was located on Green Street -just south of Boone Creek and it was the first sawmill in McHenry
County.
The Village Of McHenry started to grow once the sawmill was completed. Sadly an accident at
the sawmill in 1838 caused the death of James Salisbury. It was one of the first deaths in the
new village.
In 1851, Herman Owen, and his brothers built the first gristmill in McHenry. The Owen Brother's
mill, a wood structure, was located north of Boone Creek where the Green Street Cafe sits
today. They also ran a general store at that location.
In 1872, after the death of Herman Owen the property was sold to Richard Bishop. Mr. Bishop
ran the mill under the name Fox River Valley Mills. Along with operating the mills and the
general store, he added a wagon shop and pickle factory.
Richard Bishop passed away in June of 1895. Stephen Reynolds then ran the mill until 1908.
By that time, McHenry's first gristmill was in a state of disrepair. The property, which included
the Mill Pond, was purchased by the Borden Company.
In 1911, John W. Bonslett owned the property and the grist mill was razed in June of that year.
The mill pond was drained in 1929.
The third and only standing mill in McHenry today is located at Crystal Lake Road and Mill
Street. Started in 1869 and completed in 1870 by Alexander Hamilton Hanly and his sons, it
was then known as the McHenry Brick Mill and Champion Brick Yard.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
The yellow bricks for the mill, as well as for his home, were made by Alexander, himself from a
clay pit on his farm once located near the intersection of Crystal Lake Road and Lillian Street.
Considered Colonial in style, the little mill is three stories high with a basement. The original
brickyard was near the family farm but was moved to the back of the mill building where the
parking lot off of Mill Street is located today.
It is probably safe to assume that some of McHenry's brick structures were made of yellow
bricks from the Champion Brick Yard.
And according to the. McHenry Plaindealer, farmers came from all over McHenry and Lake
Counties to have their harvests processed at the Hanly grist mill.
West McHenry
As more pioneers came to McHenry, they settled along the banks of the Fox River near Elm and
Water Street, now called Riverside Drive. It was referred to as "Old Town".
With the mills and general store operating on Green Street, that area grew and became known
as "Centerville".
Born in 1813 in New York, George Gage came to Illinois in 1835 and settled on the southern
bank of what we know now as Gage's Lake in Lake County.
In 1847, George came to McHenry and purchased the property on the northwest corner of
Crystal Lake Road and Bull Valley Road. This property was once known as the Chester
Clemens farm. Eventually, George Gage's daughter, Georgianna married Homer Clemens,
Chester's son and they took over the farm. The Clemens Schoolhouse once stood on this
property and later, it became the Amos Whiting farm.
Eventually, George Gage bought up the property in the Main Street area so for a time, it was
referred to as Gagetown. Later it became known as West McHenry.
George Gage represented McHenry County as a state senator from 1845 - 1858. He was very
instrumental in bringing the railroad to McHenry in the year 1854.
The Railroad
Once the railroad arrived, doors of opportunity were opened for McHenry. It wasn't long before
the lots on Main Street and the surrounding neighborhood were purchased and homes were
being built. In 1855, George Gage built his home on Main Street which still stands today.
In 1858 he built a hotel called the Gage House, later known as the Parker House which burned
down in 1890. In 1859, a new Methodist Church was built on Main Street replacing the original
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Methodist Church which once sat at the northwest corner of Elm and Green streets. Around.
1860 what we refer to as the Counts House was built.
Main Street's business district grew to meet the needs of the neighborhood. Merchants included
a lumber yard, a blacksmith, a general store, a furniture store, a shoemaker, a harness
manufacturer, a milliner, saloons, a butter & cheese factory and of course, a grist mill and brick
yard. McHenry also had stock yards in that area due to the location of the depot.
West McHenry continued to grow and later, after Alexander Hanly passed away, which occurred
in January of 1891, the Hanly brothers built a canning factory located on the northeast corner of
Crystal Lake Road and Main Street.
While the foundation was being formed, a terrible explosion occurred due to the use of dynamite
Which killed three men and injured seven others. The year was 1906, not long after the Hanly
boys sold the mill to John Spencer.
The canning factory was eventually completed and ran until 1918 when it became the property
of the lumber yard.
Ancestry of Alexander Hanly and Susan Sherman
Alexander Hamilton Hanly was born in Olean, New York in the year 1816 to Ebenezer Hanly
and Hannah Reynolds, the daughter of a preacher.
In the early 1800's, the village of Olean was referred to as the town of Hamilton due to a
friendship between -the town's surveyor and the signer ,of our nation's Constitution. Alexander
Hamilton was a frequent visitor to the town so it is safe to assume that our pioneer was named
after him.
Ebenezer Hanly, a farmer living with his wife and child in Ohio by this time, died when Alexander
was only a year old. Alexander was then raised in the home of his paternal grandfather Samual
Hanly, his grandmother Catherine Mead and their twelve children in Hector, New York. This is
most likely where Alexander learned his farming and brick making skills.
Samuel Hanly was the son of Captain Samuel Hanly who served in the Revolutionary War. For
his services in the army, he received 500 acres of government land. After the war he farmed his
property and grew fruit trees.
In 1837, at the age of 20, and without any capital, Mr. Hanly came west to Illinois and made his
way to McHenry where he first settled on the banks of the Fox River.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
His early life in McHenry was spent breaking land in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. It
is said he used as many as seven yoke of oxen to plow through the prairie. What he was doing
was getting the land ready for other farmers to build their homes and plant their fields.
According to records at the Illinois State Archives, Mr. Hanly, starting in 1840 and at the
price of$1.25 per acre, purchased his farmland a few acres at a time until he owned one of the
largest farms in northern Illinois.
Alexander Hanly married Susan Sherman, in 1841. Her parents, Benson and Wealthy Sherman
came to McHenry from New York in 1838 and purchased the land on Route 120 just west of
Ringwood Road. These are the Sherman's of what some of us still call, "Sherman Hill".
Benson Sherman served in the War of 1812. His father, Samual Sherman served in the
Revolutionary War as one of George Washington's Life Guards.
Samuel, his son Benson and of course, Benson's I daughter Susan, Alexander's wife, were
descendants of the Shermans of Yaxley, the first five Sherman brothers and cousins that came
to America in the 1630's.
Other descendants of this Sherman line include Connecticut Senator Roger Sherman, one of
our nation's founding fathers and the only person to sign all four great state papers of the United
States: The Continental Association, The Declaration Of Independence, The Articles Of
Confederation and The Constitution.
General William Tecumsah Sherman is another descendant of the Shermans of Yaxley and a
cousin, several times removed from Senator Roger Sherman.
General Sherman was a cousin to our Shermans of McHenry. Because of this fact, a street off
of Curren Road was named Tecumsah. That street is located ' on what was once the old
Sherman Farm.
Born and raised in New York where she was professionally educated, Susan Sherman worked
as a teacher, educating the local McHenry children in the Sherman Schoolhouse on her father's
farm.
One of her students was Samantha McCollom, daughter of William McCollom who came with
his wife, children and other family members and settled on the property west of the lake that
eventually became the Sherman Farm'. When the McColloms first settled, there was still a small
Indian village in that area.
From the marriage of Alexander and Susan came five children, the first, a girl named Emma,
who died in infancy and is buried in the Ostend Cemetery near the old Sherman farm. Then
came the four boys, Samual, George, John and Daniel. The Hanly brothers were all well
educated, one being a graduate of the Todd School in Woodstock.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
The Hanly boys worked the farm with their father helping to run the many family businesses,
including the large and very successful dairy business which shipped milk to Chicago on the
train. Also on the farm, the Hanly's raised and sold livestock including Morgan Horses, cattle
and sheep. They also ran an ice business..
In 1874 a Pickle and Vinegar Factory was built on the east side of the railroad tracks north of
the Wilber Lumber Company and south of the Owen brother's millpond. Mr. Hanly was an
officer with the McHenry Pickle Works Company.
For many years, Mr. Hanly was a school director here in McHenry, having a strong interest in
public education probably due to his wife being a teacher. .He was on the Executive Committee
of the McHenry County Agricultural Society as well as a member of the Old Settler's Club. He
was a founding member of the Universalist Church here in McHenry of which he and his wife
were very active.
Judging by my many years of research, Alexander Hanly seemed to be an active man of a
tolerant nature. Not one,to toot his own horn, he spent his time contributing to the community
rather than talking about it.
Unlike some of our other early settlers, history has not given Mr. Hanly the credit he deserves
for the contributions he made to our city. His, death was barely mentioned in the local
newspaper and his accomplishments are minimally noted in history books.
The Hanly Mill Today
Today, the landscape around the little mill has changed quite a bit. What was once the 800
acre Hanly farm, a prosperous dairy and livestock business is gone, given way to a high school,
a post office and several subdivisions.
The beautiful Colonial style yellow brick home built by Alexander Hanly was lost to fire in 1975.
The canning factory no longer exists and the last of the Hanly descendants passed away in
1993.
The Hanly Millpond is thankfully still here, attracting ducks, geese and other wildlife for those of
us who are fortunate to live nearby. Sadly, most residents living near the pond are probably
clueless as to what it once was.
The little mill however, despite all the additions and the other structures around it, remains
almost untouched by time. It has stood as a cornerstone in West McHenry since 1870, built by
the hands of one of our very first pioneers.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Renovated but kept as original as possible and updated to meet current building codes by Jim
Althoff it is McHenry's only surviving mill and the last standing monument representing the
legacy of Alexander Hanly, his wife Susan Sherman, his four sons and many of our city's early
residents who undoubtedly walked the floors of that mill many times.
Conclusion
In closing this presentation, I hope I've shown the many contributions made to our city by
Alexander Hamiliton Hanly. We, the people of McHenry today, are still connected to the people
of our city's early history. And through their ancestors, we are connected to some of the people
who fought for our country and founded our nation.
My former husband, a Ford Certified technician, used to tell me that with cars, there are no
independent systems. Everything is connected and each component works simultaneously with
the others.
That is true of history as well. We are all connected and work together whether we are aware of
it or not. Past, present and future, held together by the presence of a 152 year old, little yellow
brick mill.
Sources:
The 1885 McHenry County History Book
The McHenry County 1832 - 1968 History Book
McHenry 1836 - 1986 Sesquicentennial Book
Historical Encyclopedia Of Illinois Volume 2 McHenry County
1872 McHenry County Atlas
The McHenry Plaindealer
The Woodstock Sentinel
The Crystal Lake Herald
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for McHenry, Illinois
Illinois State Archives
Ancestry.com
Find A Grave
Wikipedia
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
HANLY BRICK MILL
Built in 1869-1870 by A.H. Hanly at a cost of $20,000. Became a flour mill
in 1875. Purchased by John Spencer in 1906 as McHenry Flour Mill, however,
flour production stopped before World War II; purchased by William Meath in
1946; purchased in 1950 by Brenda Life and became the McHenry Mills, Inc.;
purchased by Chuck Miller in 1958; purchased by J.L. Althoff in 1982.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Mr..Hanly was a,pioneer, a`entrepenauer, and a significent
fiqure in the history and developement of McHenry, Illinois.
Surely a giant in his. -time.
Alexander was born at Olean,.,Cattaraiagus County,,New•York on
the 23rd. of August, 1816. His father -was Ebenezer Han1y1 a
farmer. His mothers maiden name was Hannah Reynolds. She was
a daughter of Elder James Reynolds, a Baptist minister of
Tompkins County, New York. Alexander's grandfather, Samuel
Hanly, fought in the Revolutionary War. Alexander's mother.
was born at- New York•; his . father . at Virginia.
When Alexander was a small child in 1817, the family moved to
Cincinnati, Ohio, intending to ma?�� +hat their home. Soon after
they arrived his father.Ebenezer died. Alexander was sixteen
months old at the time. His mother.and her family returned to
New York State to the town of -Hector in Tompkins County.td live.
Alexander was sixteen years old when his mother died in.1832
.at.Hector. He remained in Hector until 1836 when he was 20 years
old.
On the 12th. of February, 1837, Alexander Hanly arrived in
Illinois. He came the entire way by wagon. He went to. -McHenry
County on 7 March, 1837.
Upon his arrival in McHenry, Alexander and another young man
from his home town bought a claim'for land. A.man later jumped
the claim, and fifty men tore down his house, presumably
Alexander's.' They relinquished the -claim later. Mr. Hanly
then bought a half interest-in,a section of the farm for .
$350, for squatter's rights. He lived on this land all the
rest of his life.
On' the 3rd. of October, 1841, Alexander married Susan Sherman,
the daughter of Benson and Wealthy Sherman. Susan was born on
the 5th.or 15th. of December, 1819 at Fulton County, New York.
She arrived at McHenry County with her parents in 1838. Before
her marriage, Susan taught school in'her father's cabinp this
was before a school was built.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
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.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON UNLY .
1816-1891
And the HANLY BRICK MILL
1869 -
of McHenry, Illinois
STILL THRIVING in 1968, but as the original Written by:
portion of Miller Feed & Seeds is this building erected T. Larry Phalin
by A. H. Hanly known as McHenry Brick Mills, 515 Crest Drive
reproduced from the IB72 Atlas. 'See "McHenry Flour Mills". Cary, Illinois 60013
Ph. 312-639-3723
20 August, 1984
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Alexander and Susan were the'parents of 5 children:
Ham
Born
Died
Age
Emma
1842
1842
30 days
Samuel Benson
1843
1910
67 years
George Hamilton
1846
1923
77 "
John Edwin
1849
1915
66
Daniel Francis
1863
1906
42 "
Alexander was primarily a farmer in his early years -in
McHenry. His home and farm are about one mile south of
McHenry on the Crystal Lake --McHenry blacktop,.on the
West side of the road.
A.H. as Alexander was known as, was one of the founding
fathers of the Universalist Church at McHenry on the 17th.
of January, 1853.
One of A.H.'s first ventures outside his farm was to
start a milk business to distribute milk in Chicago.
He was the first person in the McHenry area to do
this. In 1861 , Benson, A.H. I s- oldest son who was
18 at the time went to Chicago to live. He handled
the distribution there. A.H. shipped his milk plus
milk from other farmers. Benson stayed there until
1870 when he returned to I:cHenry to manage the grist mill.
In 1869--702 A.H. built the McHenry Brick Kills at the
cornor of Nest Main street and the Crystal Lake blacktop.
It is a four story building which originally was 4QX44 feet
in size. The brick to build the mill was made by him on
his farm. The original building cost $20,000..
The machinery .which prose!se.1 tile' grain was driven by
a 5OHp. Lefel water wheel. The water was brought in by
a race from the dam 412 rods away. A rod is a measure
equel in length to 16T' feet. Therefore, 412 rods would
be 6798 feet, alittle over one mile. -A race is a pathway
for water to flow in, such as a millrace. The water came
from Boone creek. The Climax Brick Idachin.e was also water powered.
V-1hat was built in 1869-70 as the McHenry Brick Mills
is shown as a illustration in the 1872 Atlas of McHenry
County. It was later renamed as the Champion Brick 'Yards
and the IcHenry Mills.
The 1870'census of McHenry County shows that A.H. 's
oldest son Benson was working at grist mill, while the
two younger boys, Edwin and George were working at
the brick yard._
The 1877 Dirctory of McHenry County lists A.H. as a
fariner, miller, and a brickmaker. He indicated that
all of his sons were part of his businesses.
(2)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
I
Apparently, A..H.. stuck to the farm most of the time
leaving the other businesses to his sons. Benson, his
oldest boy, managed the Grist Mill from it's opening
day in 1870, when he was 27 years old until 1882.
In 1882 Benson moved to Chicago.again where he and
his Brother'George had a successful wholesale milk
business. At this time John Edwin, A.H.'s third son,
took over the management of the mill, which he retained
for 17 years, until 1897. John Edwin was called Edwin.
In the 1885 History of McHenry -County, Mr. Hanly is
quoted as stating that"he and,his family had operated
the grist mill called Hanly & Sons since it's erection.
They have a good patronage, doing custom work, on some
days they take in as high as 500 bushels of corn. At
this time his residence was a fine two story building of
brick.. The brick was made by hire, from clay on his farm.
The main part of the building was 44X33 feet, with a L,
40X27 feet. There were 14 rooms with a celler under
the entire house. It's cost was W,000. "
"In 1885 he was the owner of 765 acres of land. All
of this land was usable with splendid pasturage. 'He
made general farming and stock raising his principle
businesses. He was also involved in the dairy business
and stored ice in the large basement. He was personally
keeping fifty cows. t1
"Mr. Hanly was a radical temperance man, and of the foremost
to assist in every good work. He also served his
township in several of it's public offices in a very
able way."
Alexander Hamilton Hanly died at his home on Monday,
January 12, 1891 at the age of 74. He died as a result
of being thrown from his buggy. Services for his funeral
were through the Universalist Church, buriel was at
Woodlawn Cemetery,McHenry.
After A.H.'s death, Benson and George sold the milk
distribution business in Chicago. and Benson returned
to McHenry to live on the farm with George and their
mother Susan. Susan Sherman Hanly lived until the
'loth. of April, 1900 when she was 80 years old.
(3)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Edwin managed the grist mill until about 1899. He
then moved to Waller , Texas where he bought a farm.
William Phalen then took over the management of the
mill. William was born at McHenry on the 13th. of
December. 1856. His parents were Patrick and Elizabeth
Phalen who arrived at McHenry from Ireland, with a'stop
at Syracuse, N.Y. where they resided for awhile.
They set foot at McHenry on October, 1853.
William started in the millers trade at age 15 in
1871 at Owens Bros. He worked for Mr. Bishop when
he took over Owens' mill. He started for Mr. Hanly
in 1879.
On the 15 September •1904, The Hanly dill was sold
to William Bartlett of Chicago. The sale included all
the buildings and 2 acres of land to the east of them.
Tix. Bartlett retained William Phalen to manage the
Mill. It was said that, the Hanlys - would continue
to farm.
Ironically, on the 24 th.of September, 1904, the
Hanly cottage on Waukegan Street burned to the ground,
this was only 9 days after the sale.:of the Mill.
Benson and George managed the family farm until 1905
when it was rented out.
On January 1st. 1906, William Phalen leased the mill,
apparently from William Bartlett.
George Hanly was now active in starting a Canning Plant
at McHenry, for canning corn and other vegetables. He
had two partners in this venture from Chicago. It was
a stock company,with stock sold to the local farmers.
The stock -was all sold, and additionally, approval
was obtainea from the Village of McHenry to build.
The Canning Company purchased land from the Hanly s
for $500 to build a factory. The land was north of
the current mill. and Pain Street. Et bordered the
Crystal. Lake-Mchenry Blacktop between liain and what
is now Rt. 120.
Construction started in February of 1906.
(4)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
On February 21, 1906, in the very cold winter they
were attempting to build,the foundations of the building.
In those days they did.not have heavy equipment so.they
used dynamite to dig the trenches. On this particular day
the dynamite.was frozen, so John Hilt put 6 to 7 pounds in
a pailof water to thaw. It didn't day if there was a fire
under the pail. At 3;30 pm. Ci: Ldd s particular Wednesday,
John Hilt lifted the 6-7 pounds of dynamite from the
bucket of water and it exploded.. .......
John Hilt died within the hour at Northwest Hotel. He
had two legs and a arm blown off. He was 40 years old,
married, from Cleveland.
William Phalen •died as a result Of a severed artery in
his leg. He was 52 years old.
Elmer Dewey of Hartford, Wisconsin died at 1 am the next
day.
The fourth victim was Mr. Lamphere of McHenry who died
3 days later on 24 February, 1906. He left a young widow
with a small son.
Those that were hurt were as was reported on March 1st.
Clarence and Frank Cobbs are improving.
Charles Geske with a wound in the face was doing as
well as could be expected.
Thomas Powers, good, considering his wounds. Thomas
a old man at this time, never completely recovered,
according to his friends.
Oliver Moore, better, thought his leg could be saved.
Charles Phalen, William's son, great improvement,now
taking nourishment. He is 17 years old.
William Phalen, Charles Phalen, and Thomas Powers were
only visiting.the donstruction site, they were'not working
there. The Canning Company owners were not initially going
to pay any nursing or buriel expenses for non --employees,
but I believe they later relented.
(5)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Again, ironically, William Phalen's son Robert, aged
11 died on the 30th of March, 1906, just 37 days after
his father's death of an unrelated disease. One would
wonder if grief was a factor. Just 3 months later, A.H.
Hanly's youngest son,Frank,was found in the millrace, a suicide.
The next event was in Wauconda. The-Wauconda Mill of
John Spencer and his son William burned to the ground
an 6 July, 1906. It was believed due to spontaneous
combustion. There was no insurance. John Spencer was a
immigrant from Northampton, England in 1869. He
managed the Wauconda Mill for 25 years.
At the request of some McHenry business men, John
Spencer purchased the Hanly Mill in August of 19069
as the result of William Phalen's death.
At the same time, Alice Fair Phalen moved to Kenosha
Wisconsin where her son William was a Blacksmith. Her
son Charles who was in the Canning Plant explosion,
went with his mother to Kenosha, and lived to a old age.
The Spencers arrived,at McHenry by buggy on 16 August,
1906 from Wauconda. John Spencer moved into the William
Phalen residence next t'o the mill, with his family. John's
son William and his family moved into the Simon Stoffel
residence on the'lsouth side of Waukegan street, close
to route 31.
In a 7 February, 1907 article in.the McHenry Plaindealer,
they lasted all the changes that took place at the Hanly
Dill since John Spencer purchased it. The biggest change
was the machine power system. When John arrived at the
mill, the machinery was driven by a Lefel Viater wheel,
with water from the mill pond, through the millrace
supplying all the power. He replaced this with a new coal fired
vvaern steam engine. It was a Compound, .120 H.P. engine
built•by Fitchburg Morse. It generated 200 pounds of
pressure in the boiler. The smoke stack was 60 feet high.
A well was dug in the basement floor to suppply it with
water that was 88T feet deep. -
In the basement he also installed a large lathe which was
powered by a gasoline engine. John Spencer had been a
machinist and millwright in England, as was his father
before him. The lathe was used to build and maintain
the mill equipment.
On the dock, John installed a corn dump with a belt
so no physical labor, i.e. with a shovel, was required
to unload the trucks and wagons.
(6)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2922R0017946
On the main floor was the double set rolls, and a attrition
mill, bins of all kinds, and a stone for grinding Buckwheat
and Rye. These were probably the large millstones that
were especially imported from Verdun, France. Each stone
was about 5 feet in diameter, about 2 feet thick, and with
a hole in the center. If this is the millstone quoted in
the bible, you would certainly not want to have one
around your neck.
On the second floor was a Haugenmacher plan sifter,
middlings purifier,.two wheat scouring machines, a corn
meal bolter, a rye bolter, a dust collector, and a roll
exhaust.
On the third floor were 25 elevators, a wheat scourer,
roller screens, dust collectors, and a bran crusher.
The elevator was added to'the original mill building,
apparently John Spencer had it built to hold 10,000
bushels of grain.
John Spencer retired from the mill, which was now known
as the McHenry Flour I-11ills, on-1 June, 1913. He moved
to Edison Park with his wife Charlotte. Johnl,s son,
William purchased the mill.
William added the North grain storage building in 1915.
Under William, in a typical year the mill produced
20,000 barrels of flour, feed, and meal. Sometime later
William replaced the steam. engine with a one cylinder- c�ie•sel engii
They manufactured Early Riser Flour, Graham Flour,"Who'le
Wheat Flour, Self -Rising Buckwheat Flour, Corn Meal,
Breakfast Foods, poultry feeds, and they also dealt in
grains. These were all recorded in advertisements in 1935•
Thebest years for the McHenry Flour wills were probably,
during World War I when they could sell all they could
produce. The production of flour for home baking almost.
ended by the time of World War II in 1941,
V7illiam "Bill" Spencer kept the mill until his retirement
in 1946. At this time the Hanly Mill as it started out,
ended the function it served for 77Years from 1869 to 1946.
Longtime employees at the closing of the mill were 011ie
Kamholtz, Paul Patske, and Thomas Phalin. Tom started in
1929, I believe Kamholtz was there even longer.
(7)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
The mill was then sold to William "Bill" Meath in
about 1949. The name was changed to McHenry Mills Inc.
The business was changed to.concentrate on the production
of feed, as well as selling feed produced by others.
Meath sold the business to Charles "Chuck" Miller. He
operated the business as Miller Feed and Seed. This
business closed down a number of ye�.w: ago. The buildings
were in a stage of deteriation, as unused buildings do.
The property and buildings were then purchased by James
"Jim" Altoff, a lifelong resident and businessman of
McHenry. He endeavered to restore the buildings to
their original likeness. In this venture he succeeded,
The Hanly Brick Mill is now a handsome office complex.
This ends the 'story of Alexander Hamilton Hanly, a Giant
in his time, and a business that influenced the County that
he built it in. 11
P.S. I have not been able to connect the famalies of '
William Phalen, who managed the Hanly Mill, and Thomas
Phalin who worked at the mill from 1929 to 19462
and married.William Spencer's daughter, Ellen, my
mother.
T. Larry Phalin
(8)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
THE CHILDREN OF ALEXANDER AND SUSAN ( SHERMAN) HANLY
1. EMIJA (1842-1842 )
Emma was born on the 30th. of July, 1842, she died
30 days later on the 30th of August. Buriel was at
Woodlawn.
2. SA-f':'L BENSON (1843-1910
Samuel Benson was born at McHenry on the 18th. of
August, 1843. He thought to enlist in the Civil War
but was kicked by a horse and was unable to. He went
to the business college of Bryon and Stratton in
Chicago, and took a Commercial course. He returned to
the farm.
He moved to Chicago in 1861 to handle milk shipments.
His father was the first to make shipments from the
area. They also handled milk from other farmers.
He returned to McHenry in 1870 to run the PDrist Mill.
He managed the mill until 1882. He .then -moved to
Chicago where he and his brother George had a successful
wholesale milk business.
The Milk Business was sold -out and he returned to the
farm at McHenry in 1891 because -of rheumatism. He rejoined
his brother on the farm until about 1905 when the farm
was rented.
He was reported to have married Georgia Terrel. There
apparently were no children. She is not mentioned in
his obituary. They were living together at the time
of the 1-880 census. She was 2 years younger than Benson.
He was called Benson or S.Ba • most- of his life.
Benson died on the 27th. of November 1910 at McHenry.
Buriel was through the Universalist Church at Woodlawn
Cemetery.
(9)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
3. GEORGE HAT--iILTOIy'
George Hamilton was, called ,George or G.H. He was
born at McHenry . George never married. He was active
with the family farm, mill, or dairy all his life.
At the -time of the 1870 census he is listed'as working
in the family brick works with his brother Edwin.
In 1883 he formed the dairy business with Benson.
He shipped milk from 100 cows on their farm, as well
as milk from other farmers to chicago, where Benson
lived and handled the distribution. They sold this
business in 1891, the same year that their father died.
While on the farm George kept alot of animals. He had
as many,as 1500 sheep at one time. He bought 700 at
Wisconsin in a single purchase. He was active in showing
the animals at stock shows and fairs.
He was active in the family businesses until 1905
when the farm was rented and the mill was sold to
John Spencer$ he was then 59 years old.
He continued to live in a house next to the mill until
.he died on the 4th. of December, 1923 aged 77 years.
Buriel was at 'Noodstock Cemetery.
George became involved in the canning plant in 1906,
a stock company consisting of local farmers.
4. JOHN ED+ IN
John Edwin was called J.E. or Edwin most of his life.
He was born of the 16th. of January 1849, at McHenry.
He attended the McHenry Public Schools, and later the
Todd School at Woodstock.
He married Helen Grace Shirts, also listed as Ella
,Schurtz in another publication on 4 June 1870 when he
was-,21 years old.
For seventeen years, Edwin managed the Hanly Flour
and Feed 1,11ills. He quit because of poor health.
He purchased a farm at Texas where he lived for several
years. He later returned to McHenry where'he was, active
in farming and with the canning plant with George. The
farm was at Waller, Texas where he was living in 1906.
Edwin and Helen were the parents of 4 children, 2 dying
in infancy, and twins George Alexander and Harry Hamilton
(10)
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
4. JOEN EDWIN (CONTINUED)
In 1923, the twins were the only Hanly survivors from
any of the brothers. George Alexander was living in
Elgin, and Dr. Harry Hamilton, known as H.H., was
living in Peoria. Dr. H.H. was married, as he and
his wife were shown as having a daughter nn ? ;•.arch,
1906. The twins were born in 1878.
Edwin died on the 29th. of January, 1915 at the age of
66. lie had appendicitis 8 months before his death, and
peridonitos set in, this is attributed as to the cause
of his death.
He was survived by his wife and 2 sons. Buriel was
at Vloodlawn cemetery. His wife Helen is not shown as
being buried there. In the Hanly plot are two children
Walter Hanly, 1875-1875, and Edwin 1875-1878 who died
in infancy. They were probably twins and the children
of Edwin and Helen.
Helen had a sister, a 14rs. 'Salisbury who lived at
Kirkland, Illinois.
George Alexander, the son, married Miss ]Mande Bennett
in Chicago on 9 April, 1904.
5. D_AI`IEL FRANCIS (1863-1906 )
Daniel Francis -was born on the 22nd of November 1863.
He was called Frank. He.attended the NlcHenry Public
Schools and The Business School dt Dixon, Illinois.
On the 11 Mar 1890 He married PIiss Florence A. Bennett
whose mother, Jessie, was Jiving in Elgin in 1906. Frank
was 26 years old at the time.
He spent all his life working on the family farm.
Frank died on 30 June 1906 when he was 43 years old.
He was found drown in the mill race. This is the waterway
to turn the waterwheel at the grist mill. His obituary
whentto great detail about his anxiety attacks, and how
hel'chose -his own time."
Buriel was throgh the Universalist Church, buriel was
at Woodlawn. He belonged to the Modern Woodman of America
rl He was survived by Benson & George of I�chenry, Edwin of
Waller, Texas
0
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
i
The McHenry Flour Mllls, located at 4106 Crystal Lake Road, will be The main building will house the new corporate offices of Taylor
completely renovated witnl. t _2e weeks under the direction of its MadeGolf Clubs.
new owner; Jim Altoff. The historic structure, which was built in 1869 . ff!raldAoto byNnna Bertulis)
by AS, Hardy, has been restored to much of its original condition, �'
McIMNIff
1qP En. FLAID
20t
Free Press
Newspaper Group
Volume 3 — Issue 20 Wednesday, May 19,1982 18 Pages .
U
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Hisioryisrecalled
'.
McHefnryFlourMlls
going.r115moreI
13YDONNABERTUM
lhte of McHenr} s otdesl existing
In 1s75 the business became the
McHenry Flour M111, which was later
buildings has been •saved : from
1,almosl certain destruction and will
purrhased by John Spencer in 1906 -
and run for 75Years. His son
remain to be admired by generations
,William
Spencer, took over the business in
to come.
19141.
The McHenry Flour Mills, at Main
Street and Crystal Lake Road, Is
Al the mill in 1935 and for 60 years
before, products including Early
being transformed from city eyesore
to city landmark, thanks to the
Riser Flour, graham Flour, whole
dream of a McHenry businessman to
wheat flour, self -rising buckwheat
pour, corn meal end breakfast toads
preserve imemory ofhis boyhood.
many other . residents of
were made. Production o! flour
slopped before World Warll,
McHenry, Jim Altoff passed the 115
Year old buldtng on a daily basis
William Spencer died In
watching It slowly decay ana
September, 1940, and the mill was
crumble through abandonment and
sold to William Meath a year or two
vandalism. He purchased the
property January, not, knowing
later. The name was changed to
McHenry Mills, inc„ and the
o
how he would use It;,but only to
business converted to the production
andgrindingoffeed.
rescue b ildingrom illfate,
f The building has had only flue
Meath sold the historic -
1� owners since its construction by A.H.
Hardy. In 1669. HaNy was one of the
establishment to Charles Muter, whoo
operated business as Miler Feed
first settlers in the county In 1036 and
and
The
a large landowner west of McHenry
mil was closed a number of
village
years ago, and It began Its stow
"WhenIwas nine or10yearsold, I
stages of deterioration .and ruln.
had a one -stop paper route," recalls
Altair. "I wouid atop at the train
When Altof! tint Investigated _the
building, roofs had collapsed and
'rllAlton, !eked paper,
delivered It to Mir, Spencer (second
floors rotted. Rats and raccoons took t
over and virtually no valuable [time
^owner of the Mil). I got 25 cents a
had remained after years of
vandalism
week, and on holidays, I got an extra
querter."
But much of the building's original
;"For iO years It's been empty and
they were going tolearltdown.]was
born
construction could be salvaged.
While clearing out the building,
Altoli a crews found a pulley wbic4
and raised on the west side o[
the city and I dust wanted to see It
had apparently been used In the
preserved."
original grain mill. The Land -made
Altoif quickly dove Into. books
recording earl count history and
brick and beams held together by
hand-lasliloned pegs, over 100 years
got more and more involvedryIn.the
old, Lend as the structure
building's past, six weeks ago, work
'. crews began the building's moliar
lastedsecurelyin
was sandblasted Al inside and out.
And when Altotf s crews cleared
In three weeks fhe
out the old grain elevators, some of
rand
Ytistor n will be complete,
Allot[ says the main building will
the shafts released pounds of (lour,
probably ground almost 50Years ago.
be the new headquarters o! Taylor
"Some of the little things In this
:.Mede Golf Clubs. Plans for use of the
building are really amazing" sold
Altoffr as he brick
..auxiliary buildings are still
uncertain.
pointed'eut wails
In the basement of the structure,
Healy, who settled In McHenry
County In 11137 with general farming
almost two feet thick "It's a fun job
and 1 mhavinga ball, ,
t and stock -raising his principal
Some parts of The mill had to be
business, bull the McHenry Mills
completely reconstructed, each as
{rud Champion Brick Yard In 1669.
'ills brick for the mill, and for
the roof and the basement floor, New
windows were especially designed to
Hardy'shome were mad ebyhlm,an
"jrle farm near y. The orlglnal three
look like they were from the 1900's.
Air conditioning and ventilation
!story, 4o by 44 foot building cost Its
k0rotownert20,000.
systems _ are being Installed In
accordance with modern-day
The Climax Brick Machine was
building codes. ,
powered by a 50-horsepower Lefel
Allof 's restoration project will be
j�lrr�ter�vrhcel,-atrd Boone Cre* was complete In n f w weekilAnA lbq 91A.., ..
p!tug out to feed water to the eyalem. brick mil wJ11 once again be an ` '
fibs water supply was cut oft mine
-Uve business In the City of
5 kinatime later, when the Crystal Lake McHenry, The new owner plane to
ettop was built and the business install abronzeplaqueinthebuilding
WAS converted to a steam power
that will briefly tell the story of the
Itnethod•
old Handy mill.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
1MENBER WAY 13ACK WZZN--- McHenry, Plaindealer, 1935
60th. Aiiiii.versary -Issue
GEORGE HANLY TOOK PREIIIUMB AT WOODSTOCK AND WAIIKEG" FAIRS WITH HIS RAI.
NOE AN HORSE?
• For sixty. years McHenry flour as been
paramount in quality. Established even be-'
fore the birth of the Plaindealer the first flour
,mill in this section has grown and: improved
with the modern trend 'of times, even as the
Plaindealer has done and in this anniversary
number the owner, William Spencer, takes this
opportunity to wish for the Plaindealer con-
tinued success and prosperity..
Both . the newspaper and the mill are im-
portant institutions in a city and a community,
Each has a definite function that is of value or
otherwise to a community depending on the_
service given to the public And the support
given in turn by that public. Whether it's
making flour for bread for the hungry popu-
4,rxe oi; milling, news for, hungry- readers, the
supliort andco-operatio'Vof 'tlii public is need-
ed iA making the venture a success.
In the first issue of the Plaindealer, print-
ed lixcty ;rears ago appears the ad of A, H.
Hanly, and Sons, proprietors of the McHenry
Mills' and Champion brick yard.
From the dripping paddles of the, Lefel
water wheel, the turbine, the wasteful steam
plant with its tons of coal to the Diesel of to-
day. is .the history of the milling industry.
A. H. klaiily, who built the mill with
bricks made of clay dug from his ocrn land,
was born in 1816 in Nuys York state, . When
Hanly,' at the age of twnty years, ,came here
he was without capital. When lie died he left
800 acres of land, a milli distributing business,
an ice businl ss and a brick yard, where the
bricks that Brent into the mill were niad4.
In 1906 the NieIlenry Flour �lil( teas pur-.
chased 1)), John Spencer, who is yet liviug. He
is tho fattier of Williani Spelit!pr, the present
mviier. Ile wny born in Eti ;land Where lie was
u ni:u•hinist . aiiil- hiti first joh in this country
was in the locomotive shops, bttildhicy 010c'
11104
l for the & RAwk 1-Aland rail+vi+y,
Saving his. money, 'i;; eater combined with
.a man named Huke to build printing presite-,
at 81 and 83 Jaoksan Blvd., Chicano. Re alw)
built presses for printing books for the blind
and for mans years all the books for the blind
were printed on presses 'built by Hq.ke w
Spencer.
In 1881, John Spencer sold his interest
in the press eompanyl anu moved to Vandmila
Where he bought the flour and grist mill
which he operated .for -more than a, clnarter
of a century. ,
In July 1906 the "mill was destroyied oy
fire, there was no insurance, and John Spencer
came to UcHenry to stairt over again. 11v
bought the mill from the Hanly s, improved it
and made it an achievement to evoke admir:-
Lion. Later on he retired and Rent to Chicano
to live and in 191.1 his son, William, took over
the business, supplying customers for the past
twenty-one years, whocomehere from mile-;
around.
The main building of the mill was bniit
in 1870 and stands three stories above the
ground. Twenty ,}-ease ago the north* buildin-
was erected And before that the elevator whidi
holds 10,000 bushels of ¢rain_
In a year this mill produces, on, an aver-
age, 20,000 barrels of flour, reed and meal.
At the mill is manufaatured•i-rlv I`-.amr
Flour, Graham Flour, Whole Wheat V2.-mr,
Solf-rising Buckwheat Flory, Corn Meal amd
Breakfast Foods, mwaufa.ctures poultry feeds
and deals in grain. L.
In its entire history ibe mill bai been
owned by but two families. Its produet.s have
been u matter of Bride to the eoermunity .1A
well as the owners.
Here nuiy yet be se+,11 tlin old Fr1,im1.1
millstones imported from Verdun,
1i-iliiltni Spviiver is livart and soul with
the Plaindealer and Nvislies its ntatiagvuieiit all
kin(14 of s-11C 18% -
Cl
1 r I r I! r
�.�
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
,HISTORIC BUSINESS
McHENRY FL01-11. a,KMLS
Today it is the Miller Feed and Seed, at
4105 Crystal hake Road, owned by Charles
"Chuck" Miller. But for 75 years, starting
with 1875, it was the McHenry Flour Mill
and before that it was the McHenry Mills
and Champion Brick Yard, operated by A.
H, Handy & Sons,. the senior, Handy being
a first settler of 1836 and large landowner
west of McHenry village. -
The McHenry Brewery
Most people today would want to put an
For many years McHenry had a brewery.
"e" in the name, but the IB72 Atlas has
'McHenry beer was known throughout the
"A. H. Handy" in bold type. Hundreds of
area, The brewery was built in 1868 by
McHenryites, as this book is read, can re-
George Gribbler. The owner in 1885 was
member "Hardy's Woods." And two daugh-
. Gottlieb Boley who bought it in 1880. This
ters of William Spencer, Mrs.Dorothy
brewery was passed down to "Patsy" Boley
Scherver and Mrs.. Ellen Phalin, provided
who operated it at least up to the 1930's,
this History with background while a third
the main building being located at Green
daughter, Mrs. Berteel Stenger, was living
and Pearl streets.
with her husband, Richard, in 'San Carlos,
Miller Monument Co.
California.
A McHenry Flour Mills ad in* the June 6,ndealer
Probably the oldest continuous business in
1935, issue of the McHenry Plai tells
McHenry Township is the Miller Monument
how John Spencer, William's father, bought
Co. at 3438 W. Elm street. Back in 1868
the McHenry Flour Mill in 1906. John was
born in England where he was'a machinist.
L':• ; • f .,
His first job in this country was in the loco-
:" '"'�'• `
motive shops, building engines for the Cbi-
cago and Rock Island railway. In 1881 John
r -
moved to Wauconda where he bought a flour
-'
and grist mill. When the mill bu cd in 1906
he came to McHenry. William took over, the
Y
'"` "°"""
.Rt�K wr«
business in 1914.'"
{per§
The main mill building was erected in
1870, standing. three stories high. At the
4
mill in 1935 and for 'sixty. years before was
made Early Riser Flour, Graham. Flour,
-
Whole Wheat FIour, Self -rising Buckwheat
-
Flour, corn meal and breakfast foods. Pro-
�•-,,-•-..
duetion of flour stopped before World War II.'
-
William died in September, 1948, and the
^ -
mill was sold to William M each a year 'orin
STILL THRIVING 1966, but as the original
two later, the name being McHenry Mills
portion of Miller,Feed & Seeds is this building erected
Inc., making and. grinding feed; Meath sold
by. A. H. Hanly known as McHenry Brick Mills,
the historic establishment to Charles Miller.
reproduced from the 1872 Atlas. See "McHenry
Flour Mills".
McHenry County Illinois History, 1832-1968
McHenry Twp Page 757
t
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
�i-••. ��. �_�-ram
A. H. HANLY BRICK M ML - a 1969-70
W. Crystal Lake Road'
McHenry, Illinois
Owner: Mr. Charles Miller
i
A. H. Handy was born at Olean, Cattaraugus Co., N.Y. on August 23, 1816. He the cream. colored brick manufactured at the Hanly Brick Mill. The first year they
lived in Hector, Tompkins Co., N.Y. until 1836 when he came to McHenry County manufactured 900,000 bricks, the next year 1,800,000 and the following year
by wagon. 2,000,000. They employed twenty-five hands and did a great business.
Being an astute business man, Handy eventually accumulated 760 acres, of land. He married Susan Sherman on October 3, 1841, and they had five children —
He was a farnrer, miller and brickmaster. In 1869 70 Mr. Handy built the McHenry Emma, Samuel Benson, George Hamilton, John Edwin and Daniel Francis.
Brick Mills. The original building was 40 x 44 feet and cost S20,000- The machinery The area now known as "Whispering Oaks" was once a part of the Hanly estate.
was run by a water wheel. Many of the buildings of the afea are constructed with
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
t
1) ?jWK-"!-PLiIND 3ALER-WEDNESDAY KAY2s,1882 ,
Open-
Series
Y. 0, Bill ;"'-
- will conduct
Sunda May 3 Wingate �}: tea :�., •;,,�;;�•°:"• '.�a;;.�,.�.:..�L..: ,. • .;�,- ';• - • _—=="�e?vi '.r?;
conduct the first of the summer -;_i j b r
series of Veteran Acres Prairie walks.
Wingate is a professor at Nor. '! ,, .r�`.:r. �' f'. �;�+' .F.;,:.• `? .-� , V•r::_ :v. _ .. '' .
theastern Illinois university.�. �r r•;; _ ��t•. �' : _ _ -
lifelon student and a r ;`•^ �: r .rr" .. aC r' :.�,.... r
g udent of the not +- � ' - , , �y' � • uraI history' �� '�•'• _
of rthern Illinois.:.,.• `:''�.. '•,::'�` ��_�'^"' . �_ �'a: :: �:-��" 1 ' :.� ` ,' is �rc
As he introduces the'group to the .., ;'w •:"x, .-�: ..� - :..? ••:• • �•�s"-,:;�i•',:,;,.�.: - � -
ear] flowers o .,:; .' 'r ".• j`::' C ; f • :.k;: `
Y f the pralrie,:Wingate �.,,�s y.. �. c:a(, �sr . _;x.^,..ar',.'2..
not only Identifies them, but also
recounts the uses made of these plants :�' , ' : do�f}`t•.;o ,+:,: _
'�e"l•.. ' a}'"• .• t.+..
by early settlers. Since Spring
woodland flowers are.still in bloom,
Walk w ill also go through a
this May �' :.�. ... � -•�.;� 'tii���.:? �' � .•r - ..
wooded area to observe which plants
choose habitat �: y .:.:.,,.. •:••
� this over the open
grasslands, ._ ;kf;j �•` -.
These walks r�_,,iJi~lyF1 t•i y:, oe•l.
are sponsored
Friendsthe Vet Acres Prairie,b{: �: •:. , t'-
of a Veteran
a committee of McHenry
� ittenry County - �,, - .. _ _j:••:•,x •~ ..:
chapter of Illinois Audubon society. �:: V :: ;'::, •:
They are held on the last Sunday of
each month, May through August, and c ''
will last from one and one-half to two
hours. The group will meet at 2 p.m, at 1 l
the Nature center in Veteran Acres
park in Crystal Lake. ,..,yl,- irk
Everyone is invited to .attend. The Old
]� /�� ] ],: Spencer
lil `l Remodeledwalks continue no mattterpwhat the weather is, so come re ared for whatever the weatherman has to :' - -.1•, �:'•-'*- ��'' .•'. '�����-.~ .
offer. One of McHenry's landmark plant, The water wheel was later
buildings, the Spencer Mill on P
Aman:wouldstandonthe platform
For more information, contact Lake road, is bein rem Crystal replaced by a steam engine. and pull himself u to the to floor "ti'?t` .(°� .'. • : ���f'"5''%'"' �' `''"Y
Claudia Cichon (312) 639 6362. g died and Althotf said the buildin was con- :
prepared for buslness- with a rope,' Althoff said. p +•,�1. p AN.
by its most strutted in 1869 by A.H.A13anly. In the FoIiowing Spencer's ownership the
recent owner, James L. Althoff. building was the McHenryp ,, ..,:; m•
op rate and mill and the o eration went into the , 1 = a -ram:.•: ?f ,;,,ha4
Applications For Althoff hanging the d these pato A.H Champion
a ly and Sot Yard, operated by hands o£ William Meath in 1999 or :
months brie a,e:.- .t �ts::i ..,.•
1950. The, name was changed 'to
modern building codes .and' All of the brick for the buildin was,��.
g McHenry,MiIls, Inc, Meath began the
l specifications. the
noted,, however, . made on the Hanly farm, south of the making and grinding of feed
Fa!! Musical that as much of the original building site.
would be saved as The historic building
t The Woodstock Musical Theatre possible.. 'They dug the clay from the field, "Chuck" :.a Miller,. sold
"There's not a'bolt in these beams," and made bricks on the farm," Althoff r Charles Chuck' Miller, . who company is now accepting ap- Althoff said, referring to onefeot- said.. rented out the structure for the °' ''�`'` ` :. j�",�s`�±,n _ +•
plicatfons for director musical square timber support beams in the The brick factory was later sold to :operation of Miller Feed and Seed. director, �-
choreographer, assistant mill. "They're all held together by John spencer, in 1906 and Inter ~+ `
Althoff said the roofs had fallen in ,
director stage manager, set designer wooden pegs." pen and lay that way for years. The roofs' - •• :::: ; • •>; ..:
passed to his son, William, in 1914. and the concrete floors were replaced. Work continues (above) in the Spencer mill `as
and set construction foreman for their In the basement of the structure, William Spencer continued the milling "We found some old tools under the remodel the historic building. Owner Jim Altho:
production g "Oliver", opening Oct. 8 one can see the arched passageway In operation. floor and we don't even know what needed to bring the structure up to modern specltict
1 j and running through Oct 23. at the the wall where Boone creek ran Inside the building, wooden grain some of them were used for," Althoff can move in. The photo (Ieft) shows the arched pa
Woodstock Opera House. through the building.' In the opposite elevators climb to the top of the four said, flowed through the basement of the mill. The ere
"Oliver" is the musical version of said be creek then woll was a similar und down to and Althoff stories
� es and the V-shaped hoppers are which supplied power to the mill
Charles Dickens classic, Oliver Twist, about where the George P. Freund Running between the elevatoched above the first rs is a sandblasted, r. The showing the whitde of the e brick STAFF PH(
Set in London in the 188(Ys, "Oliver" Implement dealership stands today square, lattice wooden platform of the original structure and the red to make it look as it did a century ago. try to have
concerns an orphan boy whose many The creek turned a water wheel, which served as a self operated brick used for a later addition. Althoff The It3cHenry contractor added that Registry of
misadventures lend the setting far which-suppliedpower to the rest of the elevator. such well remembered songs as said he intended to paint the building when the building Is finished he may the structu
"Where i. Love?" and "I'd w Do CQ�eI?dC11' Of, State Events
Anything". "Oliver" auditions will be DCCA. The Illinois, Inc., economic visitors to our state and Illinoisans .Calendar I
announced later in the summer,development and tourism visitingother areas of the state to ca1I brochures,
Those Interested In participating in During the warm spring and the Calendar is'publlshed by DCCA's promotional program has been im— or write to our travel information Informatit
one df the above areas should send summer months, visitors and Department of Tourism, headed by plementd by DCCA since August, centers for up -'to -the -minute in- Michigan
I• rti :_ _-� _-.-.. re4iderttc of Tllinnfa prp o, fps h,, r.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
The McHenry Flour Mills, 4105 Crystal LakeRoad, McHenry, will be The main building will house the new corporate offices of Taylor
completely renovated within three weeks under the direction of its Made Golf Clubs.
new owner, Jim A]toff. The historic structure, which was built in 1869 (Free PressPhotoNrponnaBerfulis)
by AR Hanly, has-been restored to much of its original condition.
City code committee will inspect stairways
13YJEFFWAALKES
future outside stairways be enclosed.
outside stairways.
stairways. "It doesn't get Into
Members of the city's code review
Several residents of the
They requested the city council to
aesthetics,"hesaid.
committee will be inspecting outside
neighborhood, most of which Is under
consider restrictions; the
Committeeman Jim Berg said it
stairways on duplexes In the Old
review by the city for possible
eduncilmen referred the •matter to
was very difficult . to regulate
Town area with an eye toward
rezoning from R-3AtoR-2toprevent-
the code review committee.
aesthetics. He also noted enclosed
whether or not to recommend that all
further duplexes, disapprove of
"I THINK THESE open stairways
stairways can create problems
are terrible because It makes It look
because residents could store things
■ L . l
Ji i4'� i 1<1 Te Nii7QTI7. rp)
i a
iike a tenement section of town,"
Mrs. Arthur Jenner told the
on the stairs.
Committee member Bob Drayton,
Lit 1111i L Y
Y{' i.
committee at a meeting Thursday
an architect, said an architecture
afternoon.
review committee might be able to
fcoagnuedimmpW11
verdict under the courtroom door
Mrs. Peggy Hubbard said open
regulate stairways, but it was noted
Foreman said hewnlask thejurors
andleave.
stairways were acceptable if they
that homeowner associations and
what their declslonwould have been
"Therewasnojoy fnwhatwedid."
are at the rear of the restdences,but
officially -designated historic
If Albanese bad not testified in his
He said the jury was suprised to
sbeobjectediolhemonthesides,
districts are usually the only
own defense and to Identify defense
learn It would be voting an a sentence
The residents asked the committee
situations under which such boards
attorney Richard Kelly's most as well astheverdlet.
""„`:: `" `l�LTi:OF D$`� ib,SjlrprlrCd (Hht
torecommend.tgthecltycpuncDthat
required to •be
operate, ,,,,,,..:-,,.,:•�.,.-,.. -
effective arguments: -
all-stairways"be' •
Drayto0. d A93CRnitleem�uJahn
_
McHenry County spent ;8,Od0otUy'�tVl'i8dl'Lf'i'f41
H Eir,ie1H@x?NffQ!01iI -
-ive
gnplosed•, and at the backs of. t-
iiherman.:.suggested. enclased
hotd�"the Albanese- trial In
thought we were ilnished after
-Iewe him. t thouaht thev weit�
buildings.
Thn..1...IL.�1�.i-IS.n.. ..e..il+d1.._.....
stairways can look just as ugly as
_-,.-.-1.,-
MCI
will.
By DONNA
FreePress
McRENRT
aides[ bulldin •
almost certa
remain to be
to come.
The McHer
Street and f
being lransfo
la city lane
dream of a M
preserve a m-
Like . man
McHenry, R.
year -old bull
watching i1
crumble thn
vandalism.
property in
how he wou
rescueltlron
The build]
owners since
Handy in 186!
first settlers
a large land)
village.
"When I w
had a one-sti
Altolf. "I w
station, pick
delivered It
owner of the
week, and or.
quarter."
"For I0 ye
they were go
born and ra
the city and
preserved."
Alloff qu]
recording el
got more ar
building's p,
crews begat
facelift, am
restoration v
Alloff says
be the new
Made Golf C
.auxiliary
uncertain.
Handy, wl
County in 1s
and stock -
business, bi
and Champ;
The brick
Han]y's hom
his farm nei
story, 40- b,
flrstowneri
The Clim
powered by
water -wheel
dug out to h
The water i
time• later;;
lila(•jtiap llrf
was• conver
method.
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
to get 'downstairs
had left, Sliding
speeded up the
those fancy r'ed
ones were in use.
A your mother's
:k that didn't 'work.
e to them.
.oe of the sock was
ed that our -mother
a which encircled
.uff. He put the tree
ret sand to hold it
t from drying out,
rought some' 'warm
;dew the right: 'sizes,
ter, • the real ;joy of
i giving rather. than
me -about doing all
lopping with ten
lating 'the huge
Oars was no easy
Ichanges in one's
ten it is children.
er joys of having
tnearly as spine
lour loved ones
sincere words of greeting —MERRY
CH RISTMAS t
I and newly
tan so much
and the . ap-
i0ds peaks at
dstmastime.
THIS CHRISTMAS
Give time
Remember an old friend
Share a meal with someone lonely
Give Hope
Live joyfully
Raise the spirits of a child
Give Peace
Forgive an enemy
Set differences aside
Give of yourself
Perform acts of kindness
brought the
teir spouses
and friendly
lgs out the
i gs reach
n with the
lortunate.
'iy season
:"Ad stand.
Give love
-and Christmas.will be forever
Contributed
East Campus In
OEA Membership'
Under the leadership of Mrs. Beth
Marcello, McHenry high school
Business Education leacher, 10 East
campus students recently became
charter. members of the Office
Education association. East campus
has been added to the O.E.A. mem-
bership.
The East campus charter was
sponsored by the West campus club,
which has been in existence for a
number of years.
The.Office Education association is
a club for high school students who
are affiliated with office careers and
-other careers in the business field.
The new charter members of the
East campus Office Education
association include ,Terry Abbink,
Beth Baker, Chris Bakrr, Tracy
B•,.ssi, Deanne Brooke, )!.;ib Gende,
Jenny Hunt, Caroline I: ;in, Larry
Kenyon, Trina Labinski, :1; ff Lomax,
Lynne Podpora, Dow re irl, Victor
Itomandine, Debbie Smith, Cindy
11'rue, Cindy Watkins, and Alyson
Weslgard.
STATE OFFICES CLOSET)
All secretary of state offices and
facilities will be closed for_Christmas
and New Year's, Secretary of State
Jim Edgar has announced. Downstate
driver services facilities outside Qook
county will be closed Saturday, Dec,
25 and Saturday, Jan. 1, and will
reopen Tuesday, Dec, 28 and Tuesday,
Jan, 4. All other offices and facilities
will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 and
Friday, Dec. 31, and - will resume
business Monday, Dec, 27, .and
Monday, Jan. 3.
Complete Mill Restoration
When all work fs finished on this building, restoration of
the Old Mill complex at 4105 Crystal Lake road will be
fro as I completed. James Althoff, the owner, said the tin building
f shown above was built as a one-story structure in 1900 anti
iords
4 was used for storing feed bags. It has been unused for
;tested, more than 15 years, The process used to convert the
building to two stories was unique in this area. The roof
was lifted and the walls tipped and laid underneath.
Althoff said the conversion look only two. and one-half
how-s. New windows in the building came from the nuns'
residence at St. Patrick's church which was recently
razed.
STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD
N
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Women's Conference Center
CERTIFICATION
I, Monte Johnson, do hereby certify that I am the duly appointed, acting and qualified
Deputy City Clerk of the City of McHenry, McHenry County, Illinois, and'that as such Clerk, I am
the keeper of the records and minutes and proceedings of the Mayor and Aldermen of said City
of McHenry.
I do hereby further certify that at a regular meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of
McHenry, held on the 16th day of May 2022, the foregoing ordinance entitled An Ordinance
Designating the former Hanly Mill at 812 N Mill Street, as a Historic Landmark, was duly
passed by the City Council of the City of McHenry.
The pamphlet form of Ordinance No. 22-30, including the Ordinance and a cover sheet
thereof, was prepared, and a copy of such Ordinance was posted in the City Hall, commencing
on the 17th day of May 2022, and will continue for at least 10 days thereafter. Copies of such
Ordinance are also, available for public inspection upon request in the office of the City Clerk.
I do further certify that the original, of which the attached is a true and correct copy, is
entrusted to me as the Clerk of said City for safekeeping, and that I am the lawful custodian and
keeper of the same.
Given under my hand and seal this 17th day of May, 2022.
T
C�.
Monte Johnson, DEOuty City Clerk
City of McHenry
McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946
Rental Housing Support Program-(RHSP)
State Surcharge Exemption Declaration
Illinois law (55 ILCS 5/3-5018) requires that the Recorder collect a Rental Housing Support
Program State surcharge for the recordation of any real estate -related document unless the entity
recording the document is any State agency, any unit of local government or any school district.
6413y checking this box and affixing my signature below, I hereby claim that the entity recording
this document is a State agency, a unit of local government or a school district and thus claiming
to be exempt from the Rental Housing Support Program State surcharge.
6 o-F A r
Name of State agency, unit of local government or school district
/ 720,Ae .4.
Name of person presenting this declaration .(Please Print)
Signature
this declaration
RHSP Exemption Declaration Form 20170327-1.docx
this document (Please Print)
.5- // -7 /2 �
Date
McHenry County Recorder JOSEPH J. TIRIO # 2022R0017946