Free History Program For Children

Hands on History is a new FREE program offered by the Colonel Palmer House for the winter/spring program season. Hands on History presents a brief historical topic with a craft for children. Children age 5-10 are welcome to attend with an adult. All programs are held at the Colonel Palmer House located at 660 E. Terra Cotta Ave in Crystal Lake. Advance registration is not required for these programs, just drop-in.

Saturday, May 2, Noon-2 pm, Silhouetted in the Past

Create a Victorian-style silhouette for a Mother’s Day surprise

For more information contact Mary Ott at palmerhouse@crystallakeparks.org or 815-477-5873.

Holiday Events At Colonel Palmer House

Advance registration required prior to the program dates listed

Bedtime Stories – Dec 9, 12, 16 & 19 - 7-8pm

Victorian Holiday Tea – Dec 14 seating’s 12:30 & 3:00 pm

Colonel Palmer House

Step back in time and experience the holiday season at the Colonel Palmer House located at 660 E. Terra Cotta Ave. The Federal and Greek Revival Style home built in 1858 will be decorated in holiday splendor creating a perfect setting for Classic Christmas Bedtime Stories and a Victorian Holiday Tea.

Classic Christmas Bedtime Stories on Dec. 9,12,16 & 19th from 7-8 pm.  Cozy up in the front parlor of the Colonel Palmer House as Mrs. Claus reads Classic Christmas Bedtime Stories to children ages 2-7. Kids should wear their PJ’s and bring their favorite blanket and stuffed animal. Juice, milk and cookies will be served in the back parlor along with a surprise by Jolly St. Nick! Resident Fee: $15 Non-Resident Fee: $20

On Dec. 14th, the Colonel Palmer House hosts a Victorian Holiday Tea. Two seating’s will be offered at 12:30 pm or 3:00 pm as costumed staff serves guests a sumptuous luncheon tea. A special presentation by 4 Strings Attached, an accomplished group of youth violinists under the direction of Martin Lopez will set the mood for this annual holiday event. Resident Fee: $15 adult/$10 ages 12 & under, Non-Resident Fee: $23 adult/$15 ages 12 and under.

Both events require registration in advance through the Crystal Lake Park District at www.crystallakeparks.org or in person at the Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Building located at One Crystal Lake Avenue. For more information on either program please contact the park district at 815-459-0680.

Lunch And Learn At Colonel Palmer House

Join us on Friday, October 11 as we “Lunch and Learn” at the Colonel Palmer House located at 660 E. Terra Cotta Avenue in Crystal Lake. This series of historical topics continue from Noon-1:30 pm as Crystal Lake Historical Society president Diana Kenney, presents the program “Tracing our History Through Postcards.”

Diana tells how picture postcards are more than just a means of communication.  Postcards help to provide us with a portrait of American life. Learn the history of postcards, how to categorize and date postcards, and how these images can be used to trace your community's history. 

The Lunch and Learn series wraps up on October 18 as Craig Pfannkuche reveals the secrets to “Digging Grandma’s Privy”.

The Lunch and Learn program fee is $15 per program for non-residents and $10 for residents. Price for program includes a delicious boxed lunch.  Preregistration is required through the Crystal Lake Park District at 815-459-0608 or crystallakeparks.org. For more information contact Mary Ott at palmerhouse@crystallakeparks.org or 815-477-5873.

Lunch And Learn Friday October 11-Colonel Palmer House

Join us on Friday, October 11 as we “Lunch and Learn” at the Colonel Palmer House located at 660 E. Terra Cotta Avenue in Crystal Lake. This series of historical topics continue from Noon-1:30 pm as Crystal Lake Historical Society president Diana Kenney, presents the program “Tracing our History Through Postcards.”

Diana tells how picture postcards are more than just a means of communication.  Postcards help to provide us with a portrait of American life. Learn the history of postcards, how to categorize and date postcards, and how these images can be used to trace your community's history. 

The Lunch and Learn series wraps up on October 18 as Craig Pfannkuche reveals the secrets to “Digging Grandma’s Privy”.

The Lunch and Learn program fee is $15 per program for non-residents and $10 for residents. Price for program includes a delicious boxed lunch.  Preregistration is required through the Crystal Lake Park District at 815-459-0608 or crystallakeparks.org. For more information contact Mary Ott at palmerhouse@crystallakeparks.org or 815-477-5873.

Colonel Palmer House-Crystal Lake-Continues Sunday Series

The 2013 Summer Sunday Series at Colonel Palmer House continues on Sunday, August 11, 1-4 pm with “Weaving a Tale: Coverlets, Quilts, and the Art of Storytelling”. This FREE program takes place on the grounds of the beautiful historic Colonel Palmer house, 660 East Terra Cotta Ave (Route 176) in Crystal Lake. Summer Sunday programs are free and open to people of all ages.

Summer Sunday visitors will discover the history of jacquard coverlets woven here in Illinois from the 1840’s to the 1860’s. Loom woven jacquard coverlets began to appear in Illinois in the 1840’s as skilled weavers from the east moved west to acquire property. In many of the eastern states coverlet weaving had become competitive; Illinois offered an opportunity for the weaver’s to establish a new frontier of clients.

Predating the popularity of quilts, coverlets introduced color and design to bed coverings. The patterns and motifs used by weavers often followed folk traditions of Western Europe or the Eastern United States, particularly Germanic motifs. Weavers purchased or fabricated their loom structures and then added the Jacquard attachment developed by Joseph Jacquard of France in about 1800. This attachment allowed the weaver better accuracy and less time spent at the loom. With the rise of factories in the 1860’s, weavers of jacquard coverlets were edged out of the market. Factories could produce goods faster and at lower costs. Illinois would be the farthest west that weavers of jacquard coverlets were to go.

Coverlets are just one of the featured events for the final Summer Sunday, “Weaving a Tale: Coverlets, Quilts, and the Art of Storytelling.” Families will enjoy storytelling, weaving demonstrations, a quilt exhibit, and children’s craft.  During the Summer Sunday Series, Colonel Palmer House will be open to visitors.

For further information contact Mary Ott at (815) 477-5873, or via email palmerhouse@crystallakeparks.org.

Weaving A Tale, Jacquard Coverlets And Storytelling

Join the Colonel Palmer House staff under the shade of Colonel Palmer’s grand oaks and sugar maples for the final Summer Sunday on Aug 11th from 1-4 pm. This month’s FREE event features two new and unique offerings for the public. “Weaving a Tale: Coverlets, Quilts, and the Art of Storytelling” brings together a historical presentation of jacquard coverlets with two artful storytellers, sure to delight all ages.

Predating the popularity of quilts, jacquard coverlets were woven in Illinois during the 1840’s through the 1860’s as skilled weavers moved west to obtain land. An exhibit of these intricately woven bed coverings will be on loan from members of the Illinois Coverlet Guild. Jes Horwath of the guild joins us to explain their history within IL.

Visitors will be able to try different types of weaving techniques as members of the Woodstock Weavers Guild demonstrate a variety of fiber crafts, loom types, and weave structures.

A private collection of early American quilts will be on display for visitors to enjoy. This private quilt collection on loan from Audrey Veath of Barrington demonstrates the evolution of bed coverings from coverlets to quilts. Children will enjoy creating their own woven quilt with assistance of National Honor Society students from Jacobs High School.

Families can relax in the shade as two members of the McHenry County Storyteller’s Guild entertain all ages with oral storytelling. Long before the age of radio, television, and computers, storytellers were the source for information. Storyteller Jerry Martin brings to life tales of Native American heritage while Carol Waxenberg weaves stories of quilts and their place in American Folklore. Both storytellers’ will perform 20-30 min on the hour and half hour from 1-4pm.

During the event, the Colonel Palmer House will be open to visitors. The Palmer family and house history of the Federal and Greek Revival style home, which was built in 1858, will be presented. Colonel Palmer House is located at 660 E. Terra Cotta Rd, Crystal Lake. For information, call Mary Ott at 815-477-5873 or email palmerhouse@crystallakeparks.org.

For further information contact Mary Ott at (815) 477-5873, or via email palmerhouse@crystallakeparks.org.

In The Good Old Summer Time

The Summer 2013 Summer Sunday Series at Colonel Palmer House kicks off on Sunday, June 2, 1-4 pm with “Chewing the Cud: Cows on the Farm”. This FREE program takes place on the grounds of the beautiful historic Colonel Palmer house, 660 East Terra Cotta Ave (Route 176) in Crystal Lake. Summer Sunday programs are free and open to people of all ages. A new themed Summer Sunday event is scheduled in June, July and August this summer

This month's theme “Chewing the Cud: Cows on the Farm” features demonstrations of livestock farming in the 1800’s. Livestock farming was a necessity for the early settlers of Crystal Lake. Cows especially provided for many of the farmers needs. Dairy cows supplied milk for the family and a farmer’s wife made butter and cheese. Meat from beef cattle was preserved for use during the long winter months by drying or salting. 

Colonel Palmer House staff, Crystal Lake Historical Society volunteers and other costumed interpreters will demonstrate 19th century methods for butter and cheese-making provide information on the c.1858 home and the Palmer family who lived there. 

Visitors will be invited to engage in farm chores that include milking a cow and mucking a stall. A replica barn, on loan from the McHenry County Historical Society, will be constructed on site at 2 pm. Local historian, Nancy Fike will narrate the barn raising. Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy a wagon ride around the property once called “Palmer’s Corner” as well as tour the inside of the Colonel Palmer House and view exhibits relating to dairying in Crystal Lake.

For further information contact Mary Ott at (815) 477-5873, or via email palmerhouse@crystallakeparks.org.

Mystery Presented At The Colonel Palmer House, Crystal Lake

The Crystal Lake Historical Society will present Dearly Departed: The Mystery of the Body in the Lake at the Colonel Palmer House on October 19 and 20.  Tickets must be purchased in advance by phoning (815) 455-1151 or online at www.cl-hs.org. Colonel Palmer House is located at 660 East Terra Cotta Avenue (Route 176) in Crystal Lake.

The script was written by Sandy Price and is based on factual newspaper accounts detailing a major mystery in the 1920's that gave the local townspeople plenty to speculate about.  A body was found floating in Crystal Lake!!  How did it get there? Who was the victim? Was a crime committed? It was during this time of prohibition that the underworld, corruption, and sale of bootleg alcohol became part of our residents' lives--even in McHenry County.  Become part of the story as you move through the historic home and meet with early 20th century residents as they reveal the facts of the matter.

Diana Kenny, President of the Crystal Lake Historical Society states, “We are encouraging people to purchase their tickets immediately.  This popular event has sold out the last two years!”

The performances are scheduled to start every 15 minutes from 6PM-8PM both evenings.  Each performances lasts about 45 minutes.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors (65+) and children under 12.

1920s Mystery Of Body Found In The Crystal Lake

“Dearly Departed: The Mystery of the Body in the Lake” will be presented on October 19 and 20 at the Colonel Palmer House, 660 East Terra Cotta Avenue (Route 176), Crystal Lake.

A body was found floating in the Crystal Lake and provided much for speculation but little for answers. How did the body get in the lake? Who was the victim? Was a crime committed?

This all took place during the time of prohibition, a time when the underworld, corruption, and the sale of bootleg alcohol became part of living, even for those residing in McHenry County.

The Crystal Lake Historical Society will present “Dearly Departed: The Mystery of the Body in the Lake” on October 19 and 20 at the Colonel Palmer House. The script was written by Sandy Price and is based on factual newspaper accounts detailing a major mystery in the 1920's that gave the local townspeople plenty on which to speculate. 

Become part of the story as you move through the historic home and meet with early 20th century residents as they reveal the facts of the matter.

Diana Kenny, President of the Crystal Lake Historical Society states, “We are encouraging people to purchase their tickets immediately.  This popular event has sold out the last two years!”

The performances are scheduled to start every 15 minutes from 6PM-8PM both evenings.  Each performance lasts about 45 minutes.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors (65+) and children under 12, and must be purchased in advance by phoning (815) 455-1151 or online at www.cl-hs.org.

Learn ABout The 1940s And The War At That Time

On Sunday, July 15, a presentation at the Colonel Palmer House, Crystal Lake, will provide an insight into the 1940s when young men went off to war and those at home dealt with rationing and going without to help loved ones over there.

The time is 1:00 pm to 4:00 p.m. 

Location: Colonel Palmer House

              660 East Terra Cotta Avenue

              Crystal Lake

Activie Crystal Lake History Lessons Sunday Afternoon

    Historical stories of the Crystal Lake area will be brought to life Sunday afternoon between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at the Colonel Palmer House located on the northeast corner of Route 176 and Pingree Road, Crystal Lake.
    Sal "Redhawk" Camacho, a Native American portraying a member of the Potawatomi will present one of his historical interpretations of the tribe that once lived and traveled in this area.
    He will take listeners back almost two centuries as he speaks of games, battles, the animals hunted and about interaction with newcomers...French and English. This is an opportunity to learn about the land itself, what the prairie looked like and what plants and animals lived here.
    Another part of this history is the Voyageurs--the traders and trappers who traded with the native people and brought trade goods to the Europeans.
    This is an opportunity to learn about the land itself and how it appeared almost two centuries ago along with family fun with heritage craft activities available for the children.
    More of these historical events will be taking place each month through Christmas, all at the historical Palmer House.