McHenry Times

City of Crystal Lake Historic Preservation Commission met Nov. 3.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

1) Call to Order

L. Solak called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

2) Roll Call/Attendance

The following Commission members were present, Judi Halter, Nancy Haskins, Diana Kenney Bob Kosin, Brittany Niequist, Lisa Solak, and Bob Wyman. Natalie Tyron was absent. City Planner, Elizabeth Maxwell, was present for staff.

3) Public Comment

Rosie Roche introduced herself as the new Executive Director of the Dole. She has interest in preservation and is excited about the historic Dole Mansion. She just wanted to meet the commission and learn a bit more about what they do and hopes she can work with them on the Dole.

4) Approval of Minutes of the October 6, 2022 Regular Meeting

D. Kenney requested the minutes be changed to reflect that the money from the book sales would go to the save our stones cemetery fund. B. Kosin noted a misspelling in the word movie. B. Kosin made a motion to approve the minutes with the noted corrections. B. Wyman seconded the motion. On voice vote, members Haskins, Kosin, Niequist, Solak and Wyman voted aye, Members Halter and Kenney abstained. Motion passed.

5) New Member Discussion

Ana Freund was present. She said she is currently the development director of a non-profit as she runs the marketing department for a philosophy think tank. She recently moved to Crystal Lake and they purchased her husband’s childhood home, which is near Central High School. She spoke with the Mayor and wanted to be involved and he suggested the HPC, so here she is to learn about the commission.

D. Kenney welcomed her and explained that they are a working commission. Historic preservation and education are their mission. They research homes, they are currently writing up the veteran’s book, they organize the trolley tour, as well as review and issue grants and certificates of appropriateness. Mr. Freund asked about how much time this may be per week. D. Kenney responded that, that depends on the project and your role in the project. Right now, she and N. Haskins are working on the book and it is taking hours to do formatting and proof reading.

B. Wyman explained the trolley tour. They started with walking tours where people would open their homes up and people in period clothes would show people around. D. Kenney then created the idea of the trolley tour. They research a set of houses and create a route. Through the research and writing up of the stories on the homes, you learn a lot about Crystal Lake’s history. D. Kenney shared that the tour makes money for the grant program and it educates people.

B. Niequist talked about the landmark process. She noted the local preservation ordinance is what really protects a home. The national register is nice, but it does not prevent the house from being changed or torn down. They are working on encouraging more people to plaque their homes. Once they are protect any major change to the exterior requires a Certificate of Appropriateness. B. Wyman said they just had a Sears Home apply for and receive landmark status.

B. Niequist asked what her interest in the HPC is. Ms. Freund said her enthusiasm is for the City in general. History was her favorite subject in school. She thinks she can help with marketing and fundraising, which are things she does now. She has done campaigns, mailings, ticket sales, and marketing. B. Kosin said there is a lot to learn about Crystal Lake.

D. Kenney made a motion to appoint Ana Freund to the Historic Preservation Commission. B. Niequist seconded the motion. On voice vote, all members voted aye. Motion passed.

6) Cemetery Cleaning and Veteran’s Book

D. Kenney provided an update on the cemetery. Algonquin Township is working with a local arborist, Bruce Peters, to clean up the landscape. There was a dead tree that was taken down. They removed the brush that was along its base and found another old headstone. There is another tree dying that will need to be removed. They also removed other brush from the edges and corners. They removed the old “Lake Avenue Cemetery” sign and added a flag pole with solar light. She was very pleased with the progress.

D. Kenney said she met a resident who wanted to be involved. He noticed the many damaged headstones and said he can help research companies that can repair the stones. She said the priority for stone repair would be Veterans and then life safety, meaning those that could fall and hurt someone. He will be in contact with her.

N. Haskins discussed the book progress. She made the 12 pages of changes that were sent to her. She had been looking at other vendors to print the book. She visited Copy Express in Woodstock and he was very pleasant. The cost for 100 book out of the Montana company was $841 and the cost from Copy Express was $734. His site has five star reviews. D. Kenney said she had worked with him before and he printed the classic car night info and he may do the McHenry County newsletters now.

D. Kenney made a motion to select Copy Express as the vendor. B. Wyman seconded the motion. On voice vote all members voted aye.

D. Kenney thanked N. Haskins for working on the text and doing the edits. D. Kenney said they are looking at doing a second set of edits and would get the book out to a few people to get more eyes on it. L. Solak asked if there is anything else other members can do to assist.

7) Landmark Meeting Follow Up

L. Solak said reading through the old books she was able to find some of her properties. This will help personalize the letter. B. Niequist said this is the long game where you just keep checking back with the owners and encouraging them to apply.

8) Trolley Tour

Many members have heard from people asking about a trolley tour. It is a popular event. D. Kenney laid out a possible route of Sears homes. Since they just landmarked the home on Illinois Street, it seems fitting. There have been a few tours over the years that have had a Sears Home or two on them. She has found 22 or 23 Sears Homes along the tour route and almost everyone is a different model. She ran through the route starting at City Hall then to Caroline Street, which has one home, then there are two on College Street, taking a left on Rosedale, where there is a house, then right on Wallace, right on Lill to see another house, back on College, and then right on Eastview and there is a house. Now would be a break as they drive up north on Main up to Glenn so this would be filler time for the presenter. There are five homes on Glenn then go to Illinois Street where there is one or two homes and finish with the 215 Illinois Street. There are 12 different models and since many have been featured before it is low on new research.

D. Kenney said the Historical Society will be doing a Sears Home display next year. B. Wyman said he will contact some trolley tour companies. D. Kenney said they will need three tour guides and they are down one because of Jim’s passing. Each tour guide does the presentation differently and then another member is the navigator and helps tell the trolley driver when and where to stop. Another suggestion for a tour could be moved and removed, but maybe that is saved for 2024. L. Solak noted Bethany Lutheran is turning 100 next year. It was stated that two Sears Homes were moved to McHenry Avenue to make room for the church so this could be good filler material on the long drive.

Ms. Freund asked what a typical tour day looks like. D. Kenney said there are two trolleys that leave every 30 minutes and the route is about 45 minutes long. Each trolley hold 30 to 34 people. The demographics are all over as you’ll have families with young kids, older residents and middle aged. Each ticket holder gets a tour book. The tour is educating and entertaining. They have sold ads in the book and banners. They could use help on the marketing and selling of ad space and banner advertising to increase funds. The tour is the second Sunday in June.

9) Member Inquiries and Reports

B. Wyman said he contact the McHenry County Historical Society about the 1940s movie and they had no record. They suggested the Illinois Institute of Films who also replied they had no record. B. Kosin things the Congregational Church may have some info and asked if D. Kenney could reach out to them.

10) Adjournment

There being no further business, D. Kenney made a motion to adjourn the meeting. N. Haskins seconded the motion. All members voted aye. The meeting adjourned at 7:58 p.m.

https://www.crystallake.org/home/showpublisheddocument/21824/638084397029170000