Meet Lester Edinger

 January Collections Spotlight

Last year, the McHenry County Historical Society celebrated 60 years of collecting, preserving, and sharing its county's history with the public. To commemorate this anniversary, our featured exhibit, “60 Years, 60 Objects: Stories from McHenry County,” remains on display through October 2024. This exhibit highlights sixty artifacts from the historical society’s collection. Object #37 is an unfinished violin made by Silas Pierce. The finished portion of the violin includes the soundboard, fingerboard, and scroll. The violin lacks a bridge, tailpiece, pegs, and strings. It has not been varnished.

Silas Pierce, a son of Mavel and Eleanor White Pierce, was born in Spring Grove on March 22, 1849. His parents had come to what became Spring Grove in 1838. Silas lived all his life in Spring Grove except for a couple of years in Michigan. He married Lizzie Rix of Volo, and they had four children.

Silas owned a “wood shop” at 8007 Blivin Street, where he also lived. He made violins, sharpened skates, and repaired things, including guns and musical instruments. In Woodstock in 1929, Silas furnished the music on his violin at what would have been the Princess Theater, which he made himself at his own machine shop.

Silas Pierce died in Spring Grove on December 11, 1938. His death notice in The McHenry Plaindealer of December 15, 1938, stated, "He was exceedingly fond of music and took great delight in fiddling for old-time dances playing on violins which he himself made." 

Visit the McHenry County Historical Society’s Museum to view the unfinished violin and other 60th Anniversary objects on display when it reopens in the spring.