Historical society to open new exhibit
On Sunday, May 3, the McHenry County Historical Society, 6422 Main St. in Union, opens for the season with a new two-year exhibit from 1 to 4 p.m. Titled "Arrival: The 1890s," the exhibit puts Marengo history in the spotlight showing how this community and McHenry County in general existed during this decade.
As with the previous "Arrival" exhibit highlighting Fox River Grove in the 1920s, museum exhibit curator Grace Moline uses the lives of real individuals and their experiences arriving here in the 1890s to tell the story of community and county within national and world history. The result is a very personal look at past times.
Prominent Marengo family, the Patricks, along with the Patrick servants take visitors to their world which includes stepping into the Patricks' attic where kids played, tried on old clothing and peeked out windows to look at the town below. Music box songs and train whistles remind visitors of the glory days of the Marengo Opera House where one will meet the movers and shakers of Marengo's "Gay Nineties."
Learn about the bicycle craze that took over in Marengo as well as the rest of the country and visit a dentist office from that time. Find out how isolated, lonely and overworked servants were. This and more make up "Arrival: The 1890s." A pamphlet depicting Marengo 1890 sites that still exist will be available at the exhibit and in Marengo thanks to the research and preparation undertaken by the Marengo Society for Historic Preservation.
Sunday's museum opening includes the following 1890s entertainment. From 2 to 3 p.m., dog handler and trainer Lindy Sander of A+ dog Training will be present with dogs showing grooming techniques, confirmation judging and obedience training. During the last decade of the 19th century, dog shows became very popular.
From 3 to 4 p.m. nationally known ragtime and jazz pianist Richard Zimmerman accompanied by Tracy Doyle entertain by performing and explaining "Gay Nineties" music.
There is an admission charge for nonmembers of the historical society. Call the museum at (815) 923-2267 or visit www.mchsonline.org. Free family passes are available online.