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Step Into the Past

 Last year, the McHenry County Historical Society & Museum 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 objects from the historical society’s collection. 


Object 54 is a pair of white leather shoes worn by Mary (Denison) McConnell of Richmond in the early 1900s.  

 Mary Denison, a daughter of Daniel and Julia (Falkner) Denison, was born in Hebron, Illinois on January 3, 1876. She married Frank B. McConnell of Richmond, Illinois on June 10, 1897. They built a large Queen Anne-style house on the west side of Richmond. Frank B. McConnell, a son of George and Susan Cushman McConnell, was born in Richmond Township on March 29, 1879. His father was the organizer and owner of the State Bank of Richmond. Frank became the president of the State Bank of Richmond.

One of the properties held by Frank McConnell was a farm located in Kittson County, Minnesota. In the early-1960s, Frank and Mary went to visit that property. They remained there. Frank McConnell died in Edina, Minnesota on April 22, 1964. His body was brought back to Richmond and he was buried in the Richmond Cemetery. Mary Denison McConnell died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 12, 1967. She is buried next to her husband in the Richmond Cemetery.

Visit the McHenry County Historical Society’s Museum to view the pair of shoes and the other 60th anniversary objects on display during museum hours, Tuesday - Friday, 1 to 4 PM, and Saturdays, 11 am to 4 pm.   

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