Students get a lift to visit McHenry history museum

Thanks to grant from the Community Foundation of McHenry County, the McHenry County Historical Society is able to continue offering $200 grants to defray transportation expenses to the museum. Each public or private elementary school within the county is being offered $200 in an effort to encourage students to visit your local history museum in Union.

This program is designed for third- to fifth-graders between late September through November, and again in the spring, March through May.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the society offers two-hour programs exclusively in the one-room, West Harmony School. A more expansive, two-hour tour is available Thursdays and Fridays that includes the 1895 West Harmony School, the museum and an 1843 log cabin. Available times are from 9 to 11 a.m., 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. to noon. Four weeks notice is preferred whenever possible.

Click on Educational Programs under the heading "Museum" on the society's website home page at gothistory.org to learn about the various programs offered. Call (815) 923-2267 with any additional questions.

Up to four classrooms are able to be accommodated at one time. For groups larger than 90 students, two days are recommended.

Museum tours and West Harmony programs are free to schools whose townships and/or municipalities join the Society as governmental members. Without a membership connection, there is a $3 charge per person to help defray related expenses incurred by the society.

At present, governmental members for 2014-15 fiscal year include the communities of Crystal Lake, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Lakemoor, McCullom Lake, McHenry, Prairie Grove, Richmond, Ringwood, Spring Grove and Woodstock, as well as Alden, Algonquin, Burton, Coral, Dunham, Dorr, McHenry and Riley townships. If your town or township is not on the list, encourage them to join. The cost, which has remained frozen for many years, reflects the number of people living within a town or township. For specifics, click on the "Support" tab on society's website.