Huntley was founded in 1851. Its first boom years--the 1850s to 1920s--saw the town prosper thanks to the local dairy industry. Prolific dairy farmers provided milk for the many local condensing plants and cheese factories and sent huge surpluses into Chicago by train each day. It was said that the Huntley area produced more milk per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Businesses, homes, and churches all grew with the population. Village founders, movers and shakers of a century and more ago, as well as everyday workers and village residents are captured here in vintage images, showing what life was like in Huntley in years gone by.
Title: Travels through times
Author: Chris La Pelusa
Publisher: The MidWeek News
Date: 2/18/2009
Sometimes, Huntley historian Nancy Bacheller wants to go back in time.
"I really love the quaintness of the [Huntley] town square," Bacheller said. "And every time I drive into town ... I always, in my mind, try to visualize what it was like 100 years ago. I just try to see it as it was then, as people saw the town square then. As I'm coming into Main Street, I try to kind of visualize that. I just wish I could go back, one day, a hundred years ago and walk around as it was then."
Bacheller may not ever really crack the mystery of time travel and succeed at that dreamy pursuit, but she recently did, however, go "back in time" while researching Huntley for her forthcoming book, "Images of America: Huntley" [Arcadia Publishing / March 2008].
"So many people think of Huntley as a new town, newly founded," Bacheller said. "I hope that [readers] have an appreciation for the town that was here 150 years ago."
Thomas Huntley founded Huntley in 1851. This dairy town was once the largest milk producer in the world, shipping product as far as England, and experienced its initial boom years between the 1850s and 1920s. And Bacheller has captured all of that rich history and tradition beautifully in her upcoming release. Through vintage pictures and well-executed narrative, Bacheller expertly pieces together the annals of Huntley to open readers to its vibrant past.
"[Huntley] hasn't changed that much," Bacheller said, "but yet it's changed so much."
For 18 years, Bacheller wrote a column about Huntley, and its history, that appeared weekly inthe Northwest Herald and former Huntley Journal. She is the local history coordinator for the Huntley Area Public Library, sits on the board of directors for the Huntley Historical Society and is a member of the McHenry County Historical Society. She and her husband have lived in Huntley since 1985 and raised their family here.
Shortly after Bacheller's column ended with the two newspapers, Arcadia Publishing editor and Crystal Lake resident Jeff Ruetsche, who had been a regular reader of Bacheller's column, contacted her and proposed the idea of taking on the project.
"In my last column, I wrote that it was my last column," Bacheller said. "When [Jeff] saw that I wasn't doing my column anymore, he contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in doing this book for Huntley."
"Big part of my job is looking for people that have knowledge of local history," Ruetsche said. "And that pretty much was whole point of [Nancy's] column."
In addition, because the "Images of America" books are so pictorial, Ruetsche looks for people who have access to a diverse bank of photos.
"I saw that [Nancy] was with the library and was starting to form a historical society," Ruetsche said. "She seemed to be in a perfect situation to author the book."
Before Bacheller jumped at the idea, she turned to friend and co-worker Mary Beth Manning, who is also a local history coordinator for the Huntley Library, for support.
"I told Mary Beth, 'I can't do it without you, '" Bacheller said. "I knew that if I didn't have her support and her help, I couldn't do it. And she said she would. If [Mary Beth] had said she didn't want any part of it, then I wouldn't have done it."
In support of her friend's and co-worker's endeavor, Manning aided Bacheller in researching Huntley's history, compiling all the findings, selecting all the photos, and reviewing all Bacheller's work. Bacheller also credits the staff at the Huntley Area Public Library for their support and help in turning all her research into a reality. Bacheller especially credits the library's communications assistant and Webmaster, Doug Cataldo, for helping her with the technological aspects of bringing the book together.
"I had to learn a lot about a computer that I didn't know. I had to scan all the pictures myself, and I didn't know anything about scanning," Bachellor said humbly. "Doug helped me so much. It was just wonderful."
The project took Bacheller months of man-hours. Along the way, Bacheller learned so much more about Huntley's history than ever before. She reached out to families and former residents of Huntley that she'd never talked to and uncovered photos and documents that haven't been seen in the town in more than 100 years.
"I think [Nancy's book] turned out really well," Ruetsche said.
Bacheller and Manning even discovered that the town square was shaped far differently up until around 1920 than what it is today, as buildings formerly were positioned on the east end of the square.
"I met so many wonderful people who had so many interesting pictures. The things that we uncovered," Bacheller said. "[This book] is my contribution at this time [to Huntley's history]. I ... think, 'What are people going to think 100 years from now?' This is just my mark in time in Huntley."
Images of America: Huntley
By: Huntley historian NancyBacheller
Releases: March 9
Price: $21.99
On the Web: arcadiapublishing.com
Available at: Major booksellers, local outlets, Amazon and through Arcadia Publishing at above Web address.
Book signing: 6: 30 A[aĴa 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at the Huntley Area Public Library.
More: "Images of America: Huntley" may also be preordered and purchased through the Huntley Area Public Library at the reference desk. All proceeds from a purchase through the library will benefit the Friends of the Huntley Area Public Library.
Title: Local author shares history
Author: Amber Krosel
Publisher: Northwest Herald
Date: 3/9/09
When Nancy S. Bacheller wrote her last column for the Northwest Herald, she was surprised to get a phone call from a local publishing editor.
Her 128-page book, titled "Images of America - Huntley" through Arcadia Publishing Co., is set for release today.
"They saw I had written my columns with the Northwest Herald for 18 years," Bacheller said. "The local editor for Arcadia lives in Crystal Lake. He knew I was interested in local history and contacted me and asked if I would like to do a book about Huntley.
"Since I wasn't going to be writing my column anymore, I figured I'd have some time," she said.
Based on the widespread series of "Images of America" books, the new edition took Bacheller eight months to research and complete. She also got help from friend and fellow historian Mary Beth Manning; they both work as local history coordinators for Huntley Area Public Library.
The Huntley book features more than 200 historical photographs, many not seen in the village in 100 years. Photographs include some of the earliest pictures of the town, as well as images of village founders and prominent businesspeople.
Bacheller said she selected the published images from hundreds of photos shared by residents, as well as from the library's collection.
"Mary Beth and I knew a lot of people in Huntley who'd been here a long time," she said. "People were just so enthusiastic; it was great."
From March through October 2008, Bacheller gathered photos and wrote captions detailing the farm and milk industry that once dominated the area, as well as schools, churches and other businesses.
"I just worked all day every day like a full-time job," Bacheller said. "Every picture really captured my attention. [Arcadia] needed 200 pictures, but actually I scanned far more than that. I spent a lot of time saying, 'This one, or this one.' "
Bacheller said that in tough choices, she opted for either the oldest photo or the one with the most story to tell. Her favorite chapters of the book include a section on businesses and another on life in Huntley.
"So many people are so excited; I just hope they'll be happy with it," Bacheller said. "Everybody wants to see if they're in the book, but I can pretty much tell you, if you're alive right now, you probably aren't in it."
Bacheller has a journalism degree from Northern Illinois University and has been a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist. She also worked in public relations and was a trade magazine editor.
She served on Huntley's Sesquicentennial Committee in 2001, helping to produce the book "At Home in Huntley - 1851 to 2001."
Title: Huntley history book slated for March release
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: Northwest Herald
Date: 2/16/2009
A new book about Huntley history is set to be released March 9 by Arcadia Publishing Co.
Images of America Huntley, a 128-page book, features more than 200 historical photos, many not seen in Huntley in 100 years. Among the photographs are some of the earliest ones of the town, as well as images of village founders, prominent businesspeople and movers and shakers of more than a century ago.
The book was written and complied by Huntley historian Nancy S. Bacheller, who is a local history coordinator for the Huntley Area Public Library.
She chose the images from hundreds of photographs shared by residents, as well as from the library s collection.
The book features chapters on farms and the milk industry that once dominated the area, as well as schools, church, businesses and life in Huntley. It also provides an overview of the town s earlier days to its recent building boom.
Bacheller holds a journalism degree from Northern Illinois University and has been a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist, has worked in public relations, and was a trade magazine editor. She is a former Northwest Herald columnist.
She served on Huntley s Sesquicentennial Committee in 2001, helping to produce the book At Home in Huntley 1851 to 2001. She also served as the committee s publicity chairwoman.
The Friends of the Huntley Library are selling Images of America Huntley as a fundraiser to benefit Huntley Library. Books are $20 each and can be bought at the reference desk of the library, 11000 Ruth Road.
For information, call 847-669-5386, ext. 33.
Interested people are invited to meet the author from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 10 at Huntley Area Library. Copies of the book will be available for sale at that time.
The book also will be available through local bookstores; at Arcadia s Web site, www.arcadiapublishing.com; and online through Amazon.com."
Title: Local author shares history
Author: Amber Krosel
Publisher: Northwest Herald
Date: 3/9/09
When Nancy S. Bacheller wrote her last column for the Northwest Herald, she was surprised to get a phone call from a local publishing editor.
Her 128-page book, titled Images of America Huntley through Arcadia Publishing Co., is set for release today.
They saw I had written my columns with the Northwest Herald for 18 years, Bacheller said. The local editor for Arcadia lives in Crystal Lake. He knew I was interested in local history and contacted me and asked if I would like to do a book about Huntley.
Since I wasn t going to be writing my column anymore, I figured I d have some time, she said.
Based on the widespread series of Images of America books, the new edition took Bacheller eight months to research and complete. She also got help from friend and fellow historian Mary Beth Manning; they both work as local history coordinators for Huntley Area Public Library.
The Huntley book features more than 200 historical photographs, many not seen in the village in 100 years. Photographs include some of the earliest pictures of the town, as well as images of village founders and prominent businesspeople.
Bacheller said she selected the published images from hundreds of photos shared by residents, as well as from the library s collection.
Mary Beth and I knew a lot of people in Huntley who d been here a long time, she said. People were just so enthusiastic; it was great.
From March through October 2008, Bacheller gathered photos and wrote captions detailing the farm and milk industry that once dominated the area, as well as schools, churches and other businesses.
I just worked all day every day like a full-time job, Bacheller said. Every picture really captured my attention. [Arcadia] needed 200 pictures, but actually I scanned far more than that. I spent a lot of time saying, This one, or this one.
Bacheller said that in tough choices, she opted for either the oldest photo or the one with the most story to tell. Her favorite chapters of the book include a section on businesses and another on life in Huntley.
So many people are so excited; I just hope they ll be happy with it, Bacheller said. Everybody wants to see if they re in the book, but I can pretty much tell you, if you re alive right now, you probably aren t in it.
Bacheller has a journalism degree from Northern Illinois University and has been a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist. She also worked in public relations and was a trade magazine editor.
She served on Huntley s Sesquicentennial Committee in 2001, helping to produce the book At Home in Huntley 1851 to 2001. "
Title: The more things change... the more Huntley stays the same
Author: Diane Ayers
Publisher: Daily Herald
Date: 3/23/09
A lot of things can change in a hundred years, but some never do, I discovered this week when our Huntley American Association of University Women group sat down to dinner and conversation with Nancy Bacheller, author of the new photo-essay book, "Images of America: Huntley."
Browsing the book's 200-plus scenes of early Huntley, I recognized a photo of the Schmalz family outside their white frame home on the corner of Church and Second Streets. I know that house. It's still there today, right across the street from mine, and it's still painted white.
In that photo, Church Street is just a dirt lane leading to a barn, where Third Street now runs.
And my house? There's no sign of it, of course, since it was built half a century later. Just a cow pasture then, it seems. But another picture seemed very familiar - a fuzzy photo of Hattie Schmalz in her garden, with a little cat following her around. That still happens here across the street, when my cat Herbie decides to help me plant begonias.
Some things never change, I thought, as I turned another page to see Huntley baseball fans watching their hometown team play at Oakland Park, circa 1912. That park is gone now, but each summer the Huntley Park District still hosts adult softball leagues. Registration opens May 4 and the season starts June 11, said recreation supervisor Rick Ferraro. For details, call the park district office at (847) 669-3180 or visit www.huntleyparks.org.
Another photo shows the Huntley Town Band, circa 1918, posing proudly outside Trinity Lutheran Church in their matching uniform coats and cadet-style hats.
That church is gone now and so is the Town B...
