The people who live and work in Crystal Lake have favorite places—in some cases sanctuaries—that embody their feelings and perceptions about the community. Many of these locations represent the culture, traditions and ambiance that make Crystal Lake a special place to so many.
We asked a few people who live and work in the community to tell us about their favorite locations in and about town. This is what they said.
Russell Adams, 18-year resident: “One of my favorite dinner spots is Andy’s Restaurant. It’s a family restaurant that my wife, Darlene, and I go to at least twice a week. The people who work there have been there for years, and they know everybody. It’s such a nice feeling to go in there. Like they say on `Cheers’—`where everybody knows your name.'”
Deanne Roy, principal, St. Thomas the Apostle School: “I like Veteran Acres Park. It offers a lot of opportunities for families. It has nature trails, a pond for fishing, and there are frogs there too. There’s a playground area, baseball field, pavilion, grill and an area for picnics. The Park District has a building there where they have classes for children and adults, so there’s always something going on. My family and I utilize everything, but if I had to pick I’d say our favorite thing to do there is take nature walks in the summer and fall and go sledding in the winter.”
Dennis Ahrens, chief, Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department: “I have to say it’s downtown Crystal Lake. It’s got such a hometown feel, with its vintage buildings and quaint atmosphere. At the same time, it’s got the hustle-bustle of a city with a variety of things to do. There are all kinds of stores, a barbershop and restaurants. If you want pizza—we’ve got it. If you want a sandwich, popcorn, ice cream or Italian food—we’ve got it. Or you can just relax and sit in the square and watch the trains go by. On Thursday nights during the summer, we’ve got the classic-car show with about 150 antique and classic cars, disc jockeys and food vendors. The downtown is loaded with people, young and old. We’ve got three parades for our 4th of July celebration—kids with bikes, the pet parade and the patriotic parade with floats and people from clubs and organizations. In November we have the Christmas parade, Santa, and the tree-lighting ceremony. Downtown is where it all happens.”
Helene Koester, co-program manager for Downtown Crystal Lake/Mainstreet: “One of my favorite places is Crystal Lake and the beach. Not too many towns have an accessible, well-maintained, very clean lake in their back yard. It’s a great family place where several very popular events are held, such as the Cardboard Cup Regatta and the Ice Fishing Derby. There also are a lot of pretty homes around the lake. It’s a very picturesque place, especially in the summer.”
George Steffen, superintendent, Prairie Grove School District 46: “My favorite place has to be the Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, which has both religious and historical significance. We’re members of the congregation, and it’s true that it’s the people who make the church. But, it’s also the church itself—the actual structure, which was built in 1870, and is the second oldest building in the area. It has two towers, stained-glasswindows and a small sanctuary that is a very spiritual place. At the same time it’s a lively place because there’s always something going on. Outside, there’s a beautiful courtyard with a garden and a bubbling fountain. We’re in the process of installing a columbarium for those who want to have their ashes placed there. It’s a peaceful, meditative place that I enjoy.”
Sally Lind, past president and current publicity chairwoman of the Countryside Garden Club of Crystal Lake and director, District 1, Garden Clubs of Illinois: “I love Squaw Creek Ridge, the subdivision where we’ve lived for 15 years. The people come from all over the world, all walks of life and are of all ages. They’re all so warm, friendly and thoughtful. My husband and I were out of the country for about two years and as far as our neighbors were concerned, we’d just been on a long vacation. When we came back, it was as though we’d never left.”
William “Buzz” Ewing, lifelong resident: “I like the senior center at the Park District. Everything they do there is pointed toward seniors. We have trips to places like Chicago and Richmond [Ill.]; we take nature walks, and we play bingo. They have other things, too, like card games, exercise classes and table games. Everyone is nice and friendly. I enjoy it.”
Edith Hill, past president and member of the Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois, Crystal Lake Auxiliary: “I like the shops and the Raue Center for the Arts on Williams Street. The center makes me feel like I live in a cosmopolitan area even though I live in a small town. They have well-known and local entertainers, plays, musicals and children’s shows. There’s a nice mix of shops too. There are several nice clothing stores for women and men, a children’s shop, a bakery, antiques mall, gift stores, shoe store, bank and restaurants. It’s got one of the best fabric stores with a fantastic selection; it’s been there forever. The woman who owns it is 84 years old. [The street] has a small-town flavor. It hasn’t lost that yet, even though we’re growing by leaps and bounds.”
Bill Markison, president of the Crystal Lake Senior Citizens Club and member of the Senior Citizen Committee of Crystal Lake: “My home is my favorite place. It’s a new home my wife and I built, and it has a lot of large windows so it’s like living outdoors. We enjoy seeing the birds and other wildlife. We have a deer who is a frequent visitor—not too long ago she brought her fawn for us to see. We used to live right next door. We’ve been on the same street for 38 years. We love it here.”
Kathryn I. Martens, director, Crystal Lake Public Library: “My favorite place is the Raue Center for the Arts. I think it’s a combination of two things. It provides us with such an array of ways to experience performance culture. There are plays, musicals, dance, comedy, children’s activities, art exhibits and one-man shows. I always come out of there feeling so good. There’s something very invigorating about live performance; it adds another dimension to your life. And then there’s the building. It’s a very old building, and they’ve done such a great job of bringing it back to life. It’s got all the history, and yet it’s up-to-date in terms of amenities such as being handicapped accessible. One of my favorite things is part of the original structure. The theater ceiling is studded with stars. They’re illuminated, so when you’re sitting in there and you look up, it gives you the feeling you’re outside in a Spanish courtyard. When the theater was built, people could buy stars in honor or in memory of loved ones. When I look up at the stars, I feel a spiritual connection to the people. It’s like the stars have a sort of life to them.”
Ralph Dawson, city councilman: “I have to say I love the whole town of Crystal Lake. I moved here with my family in 1939, when I was 10 years old, and I’m still here. I love it because of the people. It’s amazing when I think about all the great people I’ve come to know over the years, just ordinary people who go about their business day after day. They’re the ones who make this a great place to live. I was in the Navy for four years, and I sailed the Great Lakes for two. After those six years, I came back here. I said this is where I want to live and raise my family. And that’s just what I did. My wife, Linda, our two sons and our two grandsons—all of us live here. I’m very happy about that.”
Eileen Swank, contact leader for McHenry County, Crystal Clovers 4-H Club: “My favorite place in Crystal Lake is Sterne’s Woods. I’m a runner and a biker, so I like to go there because there are lots of trails. I also love the wildflowers, pine forest, deciduous trees and the variety of wildlife. You can see deer, squirrels, birds and fox—they sometimes come across while you’re on the path. There are coyotes too. We can hear them at night. It’s a peaceful place in the middle of a very congested area. It’s a nice place to go just to get away.”
Jack Sebesta, superintendent of recreation, Crystal Lake Park District: “The Cottage restaurant on the south edge of the old downtown area is one of my favorites. The people who go there are from the neighborhood, so you’re going to see someone you know. It’s a relaxed, friendly, take-it-easy kind of restaurant that’s been there forever. You can take your time and get into these wonderful conversations with your friends. Many of the people who go there have done so for most of their lives. But it’s also a place where you can make new friends because some people are just discovering it. It’s a great place to experience a slice of the history of Crystal Lake.”
Kim Hankins, new resident and member of the Newcomers Club of Greater Crystal Lake: “I like Crystal Lake—the whole town—and it’s because of the people who live here. They’re extraordinarily friendly, welcoming, kind and helpful. There is diversity here, and the people are open-minded. Everyone is welcome. No one is an outsider.”
