SUPPORT YOUR
ARMED
FORCES
Many of our servicemen and women have been called to
active duty and are in the mid-east defending our great nation. We can
show them how much we appreciate their skill, bravery and the sacrifice they are
making for all of us.
If you know a Lakemoor resident who is currently
on active duty or you are a Lakemoor resident who has a family member, friend or
loved one serving in the armed forces, please call the Village Hall and give us
your name and the service person’s name and address. In the next
newsletter we will publish their names and addresses.
All of the
residents of Lakemoor can send these brave people a card, letter or note of
thanks. ( Maybe some of the children can do a drawing or other project for
them.) Surely the effort will be appreciated knowing that the folks back
home are thinking about them and appreciate them.
Please call the
Clerk’s Office at 815-385-1117. Thanks for your participation.
Happy Holidays
And A
Prosperous
And Healthy
New Year To All
The Elected Officials and Employees of the Village
POWER PLANT
According to news reports, the Village of Volo
is considering a combined-cycle power plant for the east side of Route 12, one
mile south of Route 120. This plant would go on property owned by Volo
President Burnell Russell and would produce 560 megawatts. The plant which
consists of an 80-foot high building with six 130-foot high towers would run 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. On peak days the plant would use 6.5 million
gallons of water and 3.5 million normally. It is proposed that the water
come from the Fox River and from waste water treatment plants. The plant
would discharge about 778 tons of carbon dioxide and 704 tons of nitrogen oxide
into the air every year. This is the same type of plant rejected in
Waukegan and Island Lake. Since Lakemoor is in close proximity to this
plant you may want to learn more about.
A continuation of the public hearing on the
combined-cycle power plant
being considered by Volo is to be held on January 12th at 10:30 at Wauconda High
School. Watch the local newspapers for any change to this schedule
Happy are all free peoples,
too strong to be dispossessed.
But
blessed are those among nations
who dare to be strong for the rest.
-
Elizabeth Browning
LAKEMOOR ORIGINS
Remembering the past . . .
From 1928 to 1938 Lakemoor was primarily a resort and vacation spot and
activities centered around fishing, boating, swimming, picnics, lawn parties,
ice skating and ice fishing. Wood bridges were constructed over the
recently dug channel on the roadways. Among the few year-round residents
were the Weggener’s (shortened to Wegner Road) and the Wagner’s (Joe Wagner/Dowe
& Wagner). In 1925 Al Seyferth constructed a home on the lake east of
the Longhorn called Villa LeOrra. It was stone masonry with a sunken
garden and pool and stone lions at the entrance. All that remains today is
the stone silo and pond. In 1928 Holly’s dance hall was built on the
highway (across from the current Village Hall) and in 1935 it became the Lily
Lake Casino. That same year Phil Thennes began operation of a gravel
pit Next to Holly’s was The Lake View Café (later the Lily Lake
Cottage Inn owned by the Schiavone’s) which was also a regular bus stop for the
Greyhound and Bluebird lines. Boyko’s Place on Hollywood and 120 was a
restaurant, the local post office and a service station which later became Fred
and Irene’s (Bykowski). The Lilymoor Club and Beach House (now the
Longhorn Restaurant) provided a meeting place for get togethers, boating and
swimming. Spring 1937 became one remembered as the “time of the
flood”. Due to heavy snowfall and the fact that Lily Lake Drain had not
yet be enlarged, Lily Lake and the channel went over their banks and flooded the
highway and surrounding areas. Residents had to be rescued by boat and
those on high ground could only get in or out by boat or swimming. The
newly opened Vogue (dining and cocktails) on the corner of Willow and 120
found their merchandise floating down the highway. In 1938 Mr. Sex built a
new real estate office which is now Holtz Motors. In May 1947
Charles and Amanda Fritzsche, having purchased the Weggener farm recorded
Fritzsche’s Subdivision at the county courthouse. In 1950 Mary and Vincent
Schiavone constructed a new building and opened a small dress factory.
By 1938, two distinct groups had formed: year-round residents, and the
summer residents who were mainly from Chicago. They battled each other
over whether Lily Lake should incorporate or not. In 1938 the Village of
Lily Lake did incorporate and in 1940 the population was 47 according to the
Federal Census. Many legal battles, jail sentences for contempt and suits
for damages followed the 1938 incorporation and residents voted to dissolve the
Village of Lily Lake in 1942. On November 27, 1951 a special election was
held on the matter of incorporating the Village of Lakemoor. Since most of
the objections to incorporation came from the areas of Lilymoor, Lily Lake Park
and Fritzsche Estates, it was decided that the Village would take in the area
formerly known as the Village of Lily Lake. The Village of Lakemoor became
a reality in 1952.
In the years 1931 to 1951, many clubs were formed
and active – Lily Lake Property Owners Assoc., Lily Lake Owners Protective Club,
Lily Lake Sportsman’s Club, Lily Lake PTA (for Lily Lake School), The Lily Lakes
Women’s Club, Lily Lake Ladies League, Businessmen’s Assoc., Lily Lake
Beautifying Club, Teen-Age Club, The Bramah’s baseball team, Birthday Club, A to
Z Club, Sewing Club, Lakeside Improvement Assoc. and card clubs. (My . . .
they were busy.)
It was decided in early 1951 that an application for
a charter for a volunteer fire department be filed and on March 14, 1951 the
charter was issued. Officers and Trustees were elected and membership was
limited to 30 physically qualified members to be selected by popular vote of the
officers and trustees. In May 1951, it was decided to purchase lots on the
highway to construct a building to be used to house a fire department and
community center. Money was pledged by most of the above
organizations and private citizens. Many fund raisers were held for the
Lakemoor Volunteer Fire Department building – carnivals, bingo, bake sales,
style shows, dances, paper drives and raffles. Before the end of 1952 the
walls were up and steel was set for the second floor. The building was
constructed on the site solely by volunteer men and their families. The
women of the community provided food and set up picnics on days when the men
worked on the building. (WOW, that’s community spirit to be proud
of!) The first fire truck was purchased in 1953 and a children‘s
Christmas party was held that same year. And it didn‘t stop there, all the
organizations pledged $150 per year towards maintenance and operation. In
February 1956, the Lakemoor Volunteer Fire Department became part of the McHenry
Township Fire Protection District and received funds to operate the department
from tax money. It was renamed Station 3.
(Excerpts from the “History of
Lakemoor” by Pacita Morrison, “Origins“ by Nancy Fike, McHenry Plaindealer
files) To be
continued . . .
Did you know -
Prior to 1938 Cleanup
Campaigns were held & prizes were given to those who kept their property
clean.
In 1939 the Village of Lily Lake purchased a motorcycle and
policemen patrolled evenings and weekends.
When the first Lakemoor
Police Department was formed the men served part-time riding in their own cars.
In 1939 streetlights were installed on the highway and were turned on for
3 hours during the winter months.