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Harper-Freeman Historical Collection

Cary businessman Bob Harper, owner of Cary Station Antiques, Spring Street, has donated over 1,000 historical treasures, collected by Bob Harper, the late Henry Harper and the late Betty Freeman (Harper), to the Village of Cary.  The “Harper-Freeman Collection”, as it is to be known, includes many important Cary historical artifacts from the 1800’s and 1900’s. 

“The Harper and Freeman families have helped to collect and protect Cary’s history for decades,” stated Mayor Tom Kierna.  “It’s impossible to express how grateful the community is to Bob Harper and his family for the legacy they have helped to create and protect for future generations of Cary residents,” he concluded.
The collection includes hundreds of original photos of Cary dating from the late 1800’s and early to mid-1900’s.  In addition, the collection contains over 100 artifacts from John Hertz, one of Cary’s most influential and important early residents.  Mr. Hertz built the oldest part of the building that now houses the Cary Village Hall.  “Village staff has worked with Mr. Harper for several weeks as we have gradually moved pieces of the Harper Freeman Collection to Village Hall where it will be carefully cataloged and displayed,” stated Village Administrator Cameron Davis.  “The collection is a wonderful testament to Bob, his dad Henry Harper and Bob’s aunt Betty Harper-Freeman and the love and respect their family has always had for the Cary area,” Davis continued.  Betty Freeman, before her passing in 2009, was the longtime Village of Cary Historian and caretaker of the Historic Cary Cemetery, located on First Street.  In 2000, Mrs. Freeman was honored by then-Mayor Donald Huffer with a key to the Village for her work in preserving local Cary History.  Later, in 2007, then-Mayor Steve Lamal honored Mrs. Freeman with naming the drive that runs through the Cary Cemetery “Freeman Lane,” in honor of her years of dedicated volunteer service.

Photos and information about items from the Harper-Freeman collection are highlighted both below and in weekly articles that will be included in the Cary News Weekly e-mail blast.  Cary residents who would like to register to receive the Cary News Weekly can do so by clicking here.

Enjoy the following photos, and explanations, of the
Harper-Freeman Historical Collection!

The above baseball poster was donated to the Harper-Freeman Collection by John & Hazel Collin. The poster is from 1894. On Wednesday, August 1, 1894, there was a baseball game in Cary between Algonquin and Cary. The purse was $100.00. Admission was 25 cents ... but ladies were let in free of charge.

The coffee grinder pictured above was first owned by the Grandfather of Mrs. Idell Arps Walkoe (Grandparents names unknown at this time). The coffee grinder dates to the late 1800's. 

In the early days of Cary's history residents would, in the winter, harvest ice from the Fox River. This ice would be used to keep food cold in homes and businesses, as well as in boxcars shipped to Chicago carrying Cary produce. The photo above is of an ice cutter and a wood/leather case. This cutter was utilized in Cary to cut ice on the Fox River more than 100 years ago.

The picture above is an original photo of the railroad bridge between Cary and Fox River Grove. This photo is from Cary looking to Fox River Grove, dated 1854.

The photo above is of the stop sign that Betty Freeman utilized as a Crossing Guard for the Village. The sign was issued 45 years ago in 1965. Mrs. Freeman was in the group of residents who served as Cary's first official School Crossing Guards. Village records indicate that she served for 23 years, from 1965 to 1988. The stop sign was made in the U.S.A. of metal and wood. As you might expect, today's Crossing Guard stop signs are all made of plastic.

The wall clock pictured above is dated from the late 1800's. The clock is the original wall clock from the first Cary Station Train Depot. The clock is in amazingly good shape.

Above is a photo of two decorative 6-1/4" advertising Dresden china plates from the early 1900's. The plates are signed by the artist. The plates were from M.J. Skokan's store at 44 Crystal Street. Martin J. Skokan was the Village shoemaker. The plates read "Compliments of Martin J. Skokan, Cary Station, IL."

My how household appliances have changed since the late 1800's! The photo above is of a wooden hand crank washing machine circa the late 1800's. This machine found its way into the Harper-Freeman Historical Collection by way of the old Stewart Nelson Hardware Store. This wooden washing machine, manufactured by the Horton Company (Fort Wayne, Indiana), was used in Cary. The machine is in absolutely great condition for its age and is one of the many wonderful artifacts in the Village's growing historical collections.

The railroad came to Cary in 1854. Before the existing brick train station was built in Cary there existed a wood depot building.  On or about the time (1952) that the wood depot building was replaced by the current brick structure, the train tracks in Cary were also changed and expanded. The picture above is of the last spike taken out of the old Cary depot train tracks, removed in 1951, before the new tracks were put in place.    

Many of the items in the Harper-Freeman Historical Collection have to do with the railroad.  Originally, the Cary train depot was made of wood.  On that depot hung a six (6) foot, black and silver wooden sign that said "Cary".  That original sign is pictured above.  The Village is happy to have this very old, historic sign as a part of the wonderful Harper-Freeman Historical Collection.

This is one of the many treasures of the Harper-Freeman Historical Collection. Donated to the collection by Ed and Bess Ogenasek, this 1912 fire hydrant dates to 1912...almost 100 years old. The 1912 red hydrant was originally installed at the corner of West Main & Spring Streets, in front of what was the Kerns and Smith General Store. This fire hydrant, along with other items from the Harper-Freeman Historical Collection, is currently on display in the lobby at Village Hall.

This weeks' historical treasure is a metal sign that hung outside the Cary Barber shop in Downtown Cary. The sign dates to 1918. It is a sign that declares "Ladies & Childrens HAIR BOBBING Our Specialty". The sign is red, white and blue and it's in great shape. The sign was donated to the Harper-Freeman Historical Collection by Mr. Victor Boron.

The photo above is a picture of Doctor Frank J. Theobald's original diploma from the University of Illinois, circa 1906. Dr. Theobald began his practice in Cary on or about 1909.

Dr. Theobald and his wife, Irene, purchased and lived in the home at 317 West Main Street. He operated his medical practice out of his home.

Meyer's Drug Store played an important role in the history of the Cary community. In this photo, you actually see what the exterior of the drug store looked like. In the middle of the photo is the long sign that the Village has as part of the collection. This photo, like all of the collection's photos, is a real treasure.