Dear Village Resident,
On May 2, Judge Christopher Harmon swore in Spring Grove's 4 elected Trustees, Jeff Letzter, Mike Lee, Katie Fitzgerald and Mike Gajewski as well as our new Treasurer, Tina Witt.
We are happy they will continue their commitment to preserve and improve the quality of life in our community that we all hold dear and we thank you for putting your trust in them!
Mark R Eisenberg
Village President
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Solicitors
With the weather turning warmer, we may be seeing more solicitors around the village. Solicitors must first register with the village and should provide you with a permit upon request. If the solicitor does not have a permit, please contact the police department at 815-675-2596 or, if after the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., the non-emergency dispatch number at 815-338-2145, while they are still in your neighborhood. Try to report vehicle information when you call.
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Natures Feed In-Store Demo
Stop in at Natures Feed this Saturday, May 13th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and grab a free sample of OC Raw Pet Food, receive an exclusive bounce-back coupon during the demo, and save 20% on OC Raw frozen food during the month of May! Restrictions and limits may apply.
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United States Postal Service Food Drive
USPS letter carriers' food drive is the second Saturday in May (May 13). Put your non-perishable donations in a bag by your mailbox and your letter carrier will deliver it to a local food bank. Find more information at their website or Facebook page.
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Village Recycling Event
The Village of Spring Grove has set up multiple recycling events throughout 2023, our next one will be Saturday, May 20 at the Village of Spring Grove Municipal Centre in conjunction with our first Farmers Market of the Season.
It is estimated that 85% of all clothing and textiles ends up in landfills in the U.S. today. With the goal of increasing recycling in mind, Helping Hands Recycling collects unwanted textiles in an attempt to divert millions of pounds of clothing from landfills. They will collect nearly everything you want to get rid of, click the flyer for acceptable items.
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Discover Medical Neuropathy Seminar
Are you or a loved one experiencing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy? Join Discover Medical Center Friday, May 12 or Friday, May 19 at 2207 Route 12, Suite E for a FREE seminar to discover:
- What really causes peripheral neuropathy
- Dangers associated with medications typically prescribed for peripheral neuropathy
- How to stop nerve damage before the effects are irreversible
- How their revolutionary protocol provides outstanding results for sufferers of peripheral neuropathy
Seating is limited, call 815-675-9355 to make your reservation.
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Mothers Day Flowers
Order your Mothers Day Flowers from Birds of Paradise!
Located at 2404 Spring Ridge Drive they are open Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Available are fresh flower arrangements, their best seller locally grown patio plants and hanging baskets. Visit their Facebook page, website or call 815-363-8568
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Kickball sign-up is Open
Kickball is back at Kickoff to Summer! Sign up will be limited to 8 teams with single elimination. Sign up now by emailing us at info@springgrovevillage.com. Sign up will be available at the event if teams are still available.
Our second annual Kickoff to Summer is Friday, June 2 from 4pm to 9pm, kids games, live music from Gritman, Moran and Ryan, food trucks and cold beverages, you don't want to miss it!
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Tulip Fest to remain open through Mother's Day
The third annual Richardson Adventure Farm Tulip Festival will remain open through Mother's Day, May 14th. George Richardson, who co-owns the farm along with other family members, said this week that he anticipates the first 300,000 tulips that bloomed may be wilted by late this weekend but that several hundred thousand have just opened and another 80,000 remain pre-bloom. So the display is expected to remain gorgeous through May 14th. Read the full press release here.
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Julie Ledger submitted this photo of two bald eagles in a tree off of Main Street. If you have a photo of Spring Grove you would like to share email it here. | |
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Recreation Program Golf Lessons
Summer Golf Lessons are open for registration, lessons are for kids, teens or adults! Register here.
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Veteran Suicide
Each day 22 veterans take their own lives by suicide. The March for 22 raises awareness and destigmatizes asking for mental health support.
On May 28th, the McHenry American Legion Post 491 will march 22 miles through McHenry County and we ask that you join them in bringing awareness to this very important cause. Click here for the flyer with a map and QR code, and here for the informational packet.
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Residential Recycling Event
Saturday, May 13 from 9am to Noon at Chesak Elementary School, located at 10910 Reed Road in Lake in the Hills sill have a recycling event for McHenry County Residents.
Acceptable Items to donate are:
- Televisions and computer monitors (fees apply)
- Computers (desktop, laptop, netbook, notebook, tablet), keyboards and mice
- Printers, fax machines, scanners and small-scale servers
- DVD Players, DVD recorders and VCRs
- Video game consoles
- Electronic keyboard and portable digital music players
- Digital converter boxes, cable and satellite receivers
For additional items accepted but not listed, visit elginrecycling.com or contact them by calling (847) 741-4100.
The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County will be accepting alkaline batteries at a fee of $1 per pound, fluorescent tubes and bulbs for a cost of $.50 to $1 each (depending on length), clean Styrofoam, packing peanuts, reusable bubble wrap and textiles (clothing, linens, rags and shoes tied together by the laces).
Additional recycling events are scheduled throughout 2023. For more information about the current and future recycling events, please visit MCDH's Solid Waste Program.
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4th of July Parade Registration is Open!
The 4th of July parade is Tuesday, July 4th at noon in downtown Spring Grove. Participation is FREE, sign up at the link here. Businesses, families, youth groups, all are welcome to participate!
Parade Theme is "your favorite movie", we can't wait to see everyone's decorations!
Monday July 3 Bella Cain is back! Join us in Horse Fair Park beginning at 4pm with food trucks and cold beverages for all ages! Bella Cain will perform from 8pm to 11pm.
Fireworks are Tuesday, July 4th at dusk from Thelen Park. Parking on July 4th is $10 in all parks.
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Storytelling Festival
Save the date! Saturday, September 23 the Spring Grove Storytelling Festival returns to Spring Grove Park!
Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy family stories, animal stories, funny stories and everyone's favorite, Ghost Stories! Food trucks will be on site.
For more information, visit their website here. Spring Grove Park is located at 2102 Main Street.
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Snapology Summer Programs
Summer Camp Registration is open! You can attend both the Village of Spring Grove's Junior Camp and Snapology's Camps! Plus, this year Snapology has added a 4-day afternoon session- take a look at their schedule here. Programs run from June 5- August 10th, excluding the week of July 4th. Questions? Contact mchenry@snapology.com.
Snapology is Hiring!
Snapology is hiring awesome summer program instructors and camp counselors in Spring Grove and the surrounding areas! Preschool teachers, elementary ed, paras, as well as college students are encouraged to apply (education or STEM related fields are a plus!) Learn more about them here or contact them at mchenry@snapology.com or 815-708-1200 today!
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Support Local Veterans
The McHenry County Department of Health and its participating partners announce the annual Operation Dropbox donation drive will begin May 1 to support McHenry County Veterans and their families. Read the press release here.
Items that can be collected are:
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Non-perishable food and snacks: canned soups, stews, fruits and meats; granola bars, shelf -stable milk, condiments, cereal, bottled juice, sugar, peanut butter, jelly, salad dressing, apple sauce and fruit cups
- Manual can openers
- Coffee pots and supplies
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Paper products and plastic silverware: paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, paper plates and bowls
- Full-sized personal hygiene products
- Household cleaning supplies
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Garbage bags: 12 gallon and 65 gallon industrial
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Detergent: dish and laundry
- New socks for men and women
- New pillows
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Cookware: pots, pans, utensils and baking sheets
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Gift cards: Walmart and gas
Click here for participating dropbox locations.
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Distracted Driving Press Release
View the Press Release for Spring Grove's Police Department Distracted Driving Campaign.
Remember! Drop it and Drive!
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Blast from the Past - Anton & Kate Schaefer
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Kate Freund and Anton Schaefer in 1894 | |
The funeral parlor/furniture store at 1921 Main Street is the tall building. | |
Spring Grove ad from 1906 | |
Crystal Lake ad from 1925 | |
Even though William Seaver took the oath of office as the first village president, it appears Anton Schaefer took over the role almost immediately, so is often named the first president of Spring Grove. Born in 1871 in Germany, he came to this country at age 3 with his parents where they farmed in Johnsburg. He left home at 17 and became a carpenter and house mover for ten years. At age 23, in 1894, he married Kate Freund, and they had ten children with one set of twins – 5 boys and 5 girls.
In 1901 the family moved to Spring Grove where Anton started his furniture and undertaking business at 1921 Main Street, having received his embalming license from the school of embalming in Chicago. The family lived on a 48-acre farm south of town by the railroad. (The farming was done mostly by others, but he had dairy cows, sheep and grew pickles.) Starting in 1902, he held three terms as village president and was also a board member and treasurer throughout the years. In 1904 he also went into the banking business with two others but eventually became the sole owner. In his 2-story building, the bank was downstairs left, the furniture store and funeral parlor was downstairs right, upstairs left was a telephone company he was invested in, and to the right was a music store. The basement was the mortuary where he prepared bodies for burial and would sand, stain and varnish coffins and line them with fabric according to the families wishes.
The night before a funeral, two horses would be hitched up in the barn behind the building and their tails and manes braided. The next day, Anton would hitch the horses to his wagon hearse, and wearing a shiny silk stovepipe hat and sitting tall on the wagon seat, he would take the deceased to the grave site.
In March 1920 he sold his bank business to Spring Grove State Bank, thanked the people for their past patronage and asked them to support the new business. The bank had sustained many losses when an ice storm hit the area wreaking havoc with the telephone lines. Anton’s bank was heavily invested in the telephone company and the cost was great. To cover the loss, he sold most of his assets and accepted help from his brothers. The family then moved to Crystal Lake where Anton built houses and other buildings, including a Catholic church.
Now better off, in 1925 the family moved to Arlington Heights where Anton bought the Ardmore Lodge, a nine- or ten-bedroom home with peacocks running around the grounds. There was a formal dining room, a music room, a winding staircase and another one that went down to the kitchen. Now he was Superintendent of Building at Fort Sheridan. He also built many homes and public buildings in Arlington Heights.
Anton and his sons (who all became carpenters) were all over six feet tall. Anton had a quiet, soft voice and gentle piercing blue eyes. He was very welcoming, and everyone felt at home at the Schaefer’s. He died in 1945 after an illness of five weeks. He and Kate, (who lived until 1960), had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Story by Laura Frumet
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