The Huntley Link: Illinois Statehood Bicentennial 1818-2018

  The Huntley Link: 200 Years of Huntley Firsts, Facts and Oddities Click here: The Huntley Link   Presented by the Huntley History Research Committee:  Jim Blaskey, Donna Britton Miller, Keith Mallegni, Jake Marino, Lonni Oldham, Geri Rizzo and Nancy Bacheller. The information presented in this document is to the best of our knowledge.  If … Read more

Oliver Statler – Nationally Acclaimed Huntley Author

Oliver Hadley Statler (1915-2002) was a Bestselling Author and Japanese Art Expert From his small-town, midwestern roots, Huntley native Oliver Hadley Statler found his life’s passion in Japan and became an internationally acclaimed best-selling author and interpreter of Japanese art, culture and history.   Today, the Huntley native’s impressive collection of Japanese art is maintained by the … Read more

Huntley Town Square Gazebos

Huntley Town Square Gazebos The first gazebo was built in the town square in the late 1800s. This gazebo, often referred to as a bandstand at that time in history, can be identified by its vertical wooden slats and dark columns.  Note how small the town square is in this photograph.  The buildings behind the gazebo were located west of the First Congregational Church.   … Read more

Huntley History at Illinois Digital Archives

The Huntley Area Public Library Local History Department honors Huntley’s rich heritage in collections available on Illinois Digital Archives. There you will find digitized photographs, documents, and other records including the entire run of the Huntley Farmside Newspaper. These materials are available to all and preserve the information for future generations. If you have additional information pertaining … Read more

Huntley History Alliance Photography Contest: Then and Now

The Huntley History Alliance recently announced the winners of its photography contest, Then and Now.  The Alliance consists of representatives from the Huntley Park District, the Huntley Area Public Library Local History Department, The Huntley Historical Society, and the Village of Huntley Historic Preservation Commission.  These groups work together as the Huntley History Alliance to preserve … Read more

The History of the Village of Huntley, Illinois

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

Sawyer Kelley Photo Slideshow

Enjoy this Sawyer Kelley photo slideshow from the mill in Huntley, IL before it was demolished. The Huntley History Alliance was invited by the Village of Huntley to walk through the Mill and make a photographic record of the building before demolition. Photographs were taken by members of the Huntley Historical Society, the Village of … Read more

25 Must See Items in the Local History Collection

The Huntley Area Public Library has an extensive Local History collection. The staff have selected 25 must see items in the local history collection in honor of the library’s 25th Anniversary. 1.      Daily Journal from the Fencil Fuze Plant 1944-1945 2.      Fuzes & Tubes from the Fencil Fuze Plant 3.      Huntley High … Read more

Huntley Native Featured In Cubs Documentary

The Chicago Tribune put together this look at the career of Huntley Native Margaret “Midge” Donahue, who became the first female front office executive in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs. Huntley Library Historian Mary Beth Manning is interviewed in the video. Donahue is credited with creating the concept of season tickets. Huntley Native … Read more