McHenry history museum hosts ‘Return of the Dead’ event

Submitted by McHenry County Historical Society

It has been said that “truth is stranger than fiction.” Local history bears that out. Visitors to the McHenry County Historical Society will learn just how strange the truth can be by coming to the society’s annual historic Halloween program from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19. The program will be held at the society’s museum at 6422 Main St., Union.

That evening four of this county’s tragically deceased will reappear to relate the details of their demise. The true stories begin in 1860 and end in 1967 and involve incidents from body snatching and being “taken for a ride” to a forgotten punishment and dismemberment.

At 7:30 p.m., the stranger-than-fiction stories begin in the museum’s Eckert Hall auditorium. Doors to the museum and West Harmony one-room school house open at 7 p.m. Weather permitting, there will be time for a marshmallow roast and bonfire on the museum grounds.

Tom Reed of Marengo will be here to provide the appropriate musical background as Kurt Begalka of Harvard, Craig Pfannkuche of Wonder Lake, Rick Carlstedt of Lakewood and Marlene Lantz of McHenry provide the horrific and scary “True Crime” details.

Admission to “Return of the Dead” is $5 for adults and $3 for senior and students. This program is not suitable for young children. Members of the historical society are admitted free. Eckert Hall will seat 120. For more information, call (815) 923-2267 or email to info@mchsonline.org.