Winners chosen for historic photo contest in McHenry County

Posted June 19, 2012 8:00 am

McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Nick Chirikos, left, presents the award to the first-place winner Peter McCormack at the Historic Preservation Commission's meeting on June 6. Courtesy of McHenry County Historic Preservation C

Submitted by McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission

As part of “Look at Local History Month,” the McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission conducted a photo contest which solicited pictures of historic buildings and architecture of note from around McHenry County.

The contest winners were: first place, Peter McCormack for Streit Road Barn; second place, Margie Bjorkman for McHenry High School, East Campus; and third place, Rob Peterson for Starline Building, Harvard. In addition, the commission received photos of the Boy Scout Cabin in Deicke Park, Huntley, the Fish Hatchery in Spring Grove and several private homes. View the photo contest winners on the McHenry County Historic Commission website mchhpc.org.

The McHenry County Historic Preservation Commission celebrated “Look at Local History Month” in conjunction with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and local historical societies, municipal commissions and committees. Historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride and maintaining community character while enhancing livability and is relevant for people of all ages, all walks of life and all ethnic backgrounds.

For more information on the photo contest, call Sean Foley in the Department of Planning and Development at (815) 334-4560.

Third-place winner is Starline Building, Harvard by Rob Peterson. Hay-handling equipment manufacturer Hunt, Helm and Farris, later the Starline Corporation, expanded job opportunities in the community when it arrived in 1883. By April 1891 Harvard had become so populous that voters acted overwhelmingly to form a city. Harvards first mayor was N.B. Helm. Courtesy of McHenry County Historic Preservation C

Second-place winner is McHenry High School, East Campus by Margie Bjorkman. Distinguishing this stunning architecture and ornate limestone facade against a beautiful blue sky. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Commission

The first-place award, Streit Road Barn by Peter McCormack, highlights the shadow of the farms windmill against the barns gambrel endwall. Courtesy of McHenry County Historic Preservation C