Huntley parade growing along with town
It's as all-American as brass bands, hot dogs, and apple pie. Once again, Huntley is gearing up for its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26 -- a local slice of Americana that has been drawing crowds for more than 20 years.
And these days, those crowds are getting larger every year, says George Hellner of the Huntley American Legion, which hosts the annual event.
"When we started, the parade lasted about seven minutes. There weren't too many (participants) in it," he recalled. There weren't many residents in Huntley, either, but in recent years the size of the town and its parade has grown.
"Last year, we had around 100 entries and the parade took 45 minutes," Hellner said.
As the parade has grown, so have the crowds who come out to see it. For years, the procession formed up by town square, then marched up Church to Dean Street, and on to the Huntley Cemetery. Last year, that traditional route was changed because of large crowds and traffic that could no longer fit into that quiet neighborhood. The parade was moved to Main Street and a separate, smaller ceremony was held at the cemetery.
This year's parade will again follow the new route, stepping off at 11 a.m. at the new village hall on the corner of Main and Ruth Road, and proceeding west on Main Street to the downtown square, where a brief program and color guard ceremony will be held. This year's special guest speaker, Hellner said, will be David Larkin, a retired Sergeant Major with the U.S. Marine Corps who now lives in Sun City. Also participating will be members of the 8th Illinois Cavalry, a mounted Civil War re-enactment group.
There will be plenty of brass bands and hot dogs, Hellner says, although he can't promise any apple pie. A free lunch for the public will be served after the ceremony at the American Legion Hall, courtesy of the Legion Auxiliary.
This year, there will be no memorial at the Huntley Cemetery, said Lee Stump who organized last year's service. Local Brownie scouts will visit the cemetery, however, to place flags on the graves of local veterans who are buried there.
To enter a unit in the parade, you may download a registration form at http://www.huntley.il.us, or stop by the Legion hall at 11712 Coral Street. For more information, contact Legion commander Pat Conley at (847) 659-1883.
History in Huntley: May is National Historic Preservation Month, and also Local History Month here in McHenry County. To mark the occasion, Huntley's Historic Preservation Commission held their first "Woodstock Street Stroll," a walking tour of historic houses, last Saturday afternoon to rave reviews. Costumed interpreters were stationed outside several homes and, to the delight of visitors, gave first-person accounts of the lives of former Woodstock Street residents. Some were so convincing, said one Huntley native who, as a child, had known some of those earlier occupants, "that I almost thought they had come back to life!"
If you're interested in Huntley history and want to help preserve our local landmarks, the Huntley Historic Preservation Commission wants to hear from you. The public is invited to a free workshop on landmarking and historic districts, at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the old village hall (corner of Coral and Church in downtown Huntley). Local experts will share their experiences in restoring and landmarking their own homes, and participants may also learn about plans for the newly forming Huntley Historical Society. To learn more, call (847) 669-9600.
High School graduation: Commencement for the Huntley High School Class of 2008 will start at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 1 in the school's East Gym. Around 350 graduates will receive diplomas this year and their families are invited to attend. For information, call principal Dave Johnson at (847)659-6600.
Mini relay for cancer: Heineman Middle School students will race to raise money for the American Cancer Society. at their 2008 Mini-Relay, set for Thursday, May 29 at the Square Barn Road campus. The day-long event will be a small-scale version of the Relay For Life events that are held throughout the nation. Activities include athletic competitions, music, entertainment, refreshments, and prizes.
Last year, the school raised $17,500 for the American Cancer Society. All cash proceeds go to the charity, so organizers are looking for donors to supply refreshments and prizes for the students who take part. Small electronics, CDs or DVDs, games, gift certificates, and other prizes are requested. Drop off your donations at the school office or phone Beth Richardson at (847) 659-4300.
Chamber golf outing: Tickets are selling quickly for the Huntley Chamber of Commerce 2008 Golf Classic, an 18-hole fundraiser set for Friday, June 27 at the Pinecrest Golf Club. Sponsors and prize donations are now being sought. For details or to sign up, call (847) 669-0166 or visit www.huntleychamber.org.