The Huntley Farmside

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Thursday, November 12,1998
The Himtley Fannside
..^ ..^^^ A Press Publications newspaper aJ^ servinq the Huntlev communitv
Volume 38 Issue 31
Photo by Steve Brosinski
Dawn Elision (right) and her mother, Alice Jordi, hold a journal that belonged to Rev. Louis Baumgaertner, who lived in the house the Ellisons bought and served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church from 1910-1947.
Journals offer a look back at Huntley's past
Steve Brosinski
Press Publications While serving as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in the first half of the 20th century. Rev. Louis Baumgaertner was deeply involved in his congre¬ gation's spiritual and daily life.
Church members left some of their most important documents, including wills and deeds, in their pastor's care.
In March, Kevin and Dawn Ellison bought the
Baumgaertner home and uncov¬ ered an assortment of journals that chronicle life in Huntley for nearly a century. The Ellisons also found in the garage court records of Huntley magistrate
William Whittemore, who built the home around 1900 and sold it to the Baumgaertners in 1937.
The Ellisons purchased the home from Baumgaertner's daughter, Marguierette, ^ho lived there for 93 years until she moved to a nursing home this year.
Baumgaertner, born in Huntley on Aug. 17, 1877 and a 1903 graduate of Concordia College, was the sixth pastor of the church from 1910-1947.
As Dawn sorted through boxes of books, she also solved a family mystery surrounding her grandparent's home next door. The two backyards were some¬ how  flip-flopped  and  family
members always wondered why.
"They were trying to switch the two back lots," Dawn said. "They had re-arranged the lots on the deeds. It was one of those things that we knew about but couldn't understand until we found these papers."
Stuffed in Baumgaertner's records are letters that explain how the matter was finally resolved in May 1939.
The reverend kept records that offer a glimpse of life in town more than a half century ago. Their home was valued at $2,200 in 1938 and the property tax bill came to $43.12. Nine years later, the home's assessed
see Journals—^page 2
School referendums pass with a large margin of support
Steve Brosinski
Press Publications
School District 158 Board President James Crabill said the board is pleased to see that voters approved the two $9 million referendums to construct schools on Harmony and Reed roads.
"Personally, I was not sur¬ prised they passed, but I was surprised by the margin," Crabill said.
According to unofficial tallies, the Harmony Road referendum was approved 2,342 to 957 in McHenry County, but fell one vote short in Kane County 187 to 188. The Reed Road referen¬ dum passed 2,155 to 1,147 in McHenry County, but again a vote shy in Kane County, 182 to 183. Crabill said the refer¬ endums may have passed in every precinct.
Work on the new elemen¬ tary schools will begin in the spring, with completion slat¬ ed for the year 2000. One school will be built on Reed Road in Lake in the Hills and another will be constructed on the Harmony Road Campus in Huntley.
Crabill said there should be enough money in the edu¬ cation fund to hire new teachers.
Passage of the referen¬ dums means the School District is now eligible for up to $5.4 million in state grants. School Superintendent J.R.
"I think we
were ecstatic.
After doing the
job of phone
calling for six
weeks, we
thought we
pretty much
had it wrapped up."
Donna Slagle
Organizer, Positive Referendum in District 158 Eclucation
Hartley said the district expects to receive $2.7 mil¬ lion this fiscal year and the remainder the following year.
Hartley said the district will reduce the amount it bor¬ rows by the amount it receives from the state.
Donna Slagle, an organiz¬ er with Positive Referendum in District 158 Education, said the 30 people who cam¬ paigned for the referendums were relieved to see them pass.
"I think we were ecstatic," Slagle said. "After doing the job of phone calling for six weeks, we thought we pretty much had it wrapped up."
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