Huntley celebrated the 100th anniversary of the paving of Woodstock Street on May 6, 2017. Woodstock Street has been in existence for over 170 years. It began as a dirt path for horses and wagons and served as a rudimentary route from Woodstock to Huntley’s square. The square boasted many flourishing businesses and the train depot sat just south of … Read more
The Village of Huntley, founded in 1851, is a rapidly growing community located in southern McHenry County and northern Kane County. Huntley is bisected by Illinois Route 47 north and south, the Union Pacific Railroad northwest and southeast, and bordered on the south by Interstate 90. The Blackhawk Wars of 1834 resulted in terms that … Read more
Huntley Area Public Library Historians Mary Beth Manning and Nancy Bacheller presented “Huntley History: 100 Years Ago” at the library for the monthly program — Local Voices. It was the second time the duo spoke to the community to a packed house. For those that could not make it, and Huntley history buffs, we recorded … Read more
Milk Plants and Milk Processing in Huntley The milk and creamery business in the Huntley area was deemed “An industry upon which much of our present and future prosperity depends” –July 21, 1894 The Huntley News The first cheese factory was established in 1866 by Messrs. Blanchard and Woodworth on the farm of A. W. … Read more
The imposing white building on the south side of Main Street near the town square has been a village landmark since it was built in 1892. The Village of Huntley recently purchased this property, known by local historians as the Sawyer-Kelley Mill. W. G. Sawyer and John T. Kelley actually owned two grain mills … Read more
Huntley Area Maps 1953 – 2001 Huntley Station 1853—This earliest map of Huntley Station was made two years after the first train came through the town, but before there was evidence of much development. Note that the present Church Street was originally named Railroad Street south of Main Street and there was no name given … Read more
Huntley History Timeline The first permanent white settlers arrived in the Huntley area about 1838. But many other countries had laid claim to Huntley soil before that date. The homeland of the Native Americans was claimed by various nations through years of wars and exploration. 1492 Spain claimed the Western Hemisphere by virtue of Columbus’ … Read more
People, places and important dates in the early development of the Village of Huntley, IL. Grafton Township The terms at the conclusion of the Black Hawk War of 1834 required Native Americans to vacate their land and to move west of the Mississippi River. White settlers began moving into northern Illinois following the war. … Read more
The best known name in the village is, of course, that of the Huntleys. Village namesake Thomas S. Huntley, as well as his oldest son, Charles, led notable and interesting lives. Thomas Huntley (1807-1894) was not the first settler to arrive in this area, but he was the first to envision a thriving community here. … Read more
Although the town is named in honor of Thomas Stillwell Huntley, he was not the first to settle in this area. The Whittemore and Cummings families were generally regarded as among the first settlers to make a mark on the area. Prescott Whittemore and his wife, Lucy Geer Whittemore, came to this area in 1838 from New Hampshire. … Read more