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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. 

Mason Trowel McHenry County History Museum Union IL

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 buried with his wife in Crystal Lake’s Lake Avenue 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 pm to 4 pm, and Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm., except 7/15 to 8/1, when the museum will be closed for roof and HVAC renovations.   

Location: Union, IL 60180, USA

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