Join us for our 8th Annual “Dearly Departed” adventure! This popular (always a sell-out) fundraiser is the Crystal Lake Historical Society’s showcase event. “Dearly Departed” is a re-telling of a real-life story from Crystal Lake’s past. Each year, a new and different story is revealed.
This year’s story is “Dearly Departed: Deadly Spirits”
It is 1926 and a time of Prohibition. Members of the Anti-Saloon League and the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union have strived to combat the evils of alcohol. Unfortunately, Crystal Lake was threatened by an underworld of gangsters and foreigners, using bribery to influence our McHenry County government officials, persuading them to turn a blind eye to bootlegging and gambling. Undesirable elements from Chicago have moved into our rural surroundings and encouraged some of our neighbors to make a profit from producing their vile “hooch”. We thought our streets were safe, our homes secure and our children sheltered from this evil. But you will see for yourself that even our most educated and prominent citizens are not immune to the evil of alcohol. Join us, as we present, “Dearly Departed: Deadly Spirits.”
Please note: This is a timed and ticketed event. Tickets are $10 per person. Proceeds from this event benefit the Crystal Lake Historical Society.