Curator's Corner: The Art & Alchemy of Curating

Love and Remembrance 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 57 is a lapel locket attached to a Fleur-de-lis pin. This locket was owned by Delia Cleary of Marengo. It was purchased from Gill Jewelers in Marengo in the early 1900s. Delia Greene Cleary, a daughter of James and Anna Mackin Greene, was born in Edgartown, Ireland, on February 11, 1874. She married James Cleary in Manhattan, New York, on October 14, 1913. At the time of their marriage, James was a Marengo stock dealer. Their first child, James Jr, was born in Marengo about 1915. James Cleary died in Marengo on June 2, 1941. He is buried in Marengo’s Sacred Heart Cemetery. ...

A Trowel's Gotta Do What a Trowel's Gotta Do! 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 53 is a trowel used by stone mason Andrew Simons of Crystal Lake in the 1850s. This trowel was used to build the Walkup and Wallace houses in Crystal Lake during the 1850s and1860s. Andrew Simons was born in Leroy, New York, on March 24, 1829. He came to Crystal Lake in 1849 and applied his mason’s trade.  He married Charlotte Crittenden in Crystal Lake on November 4, 1855. Andrew Simons fought in the Civil War as a member of the 36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry’s Company H. He died in Crystal Lake on February 10, 1892. Andrew Simons is bu...