McHenry was established in 1899 on Section 15-147-62, when the Northern Pacific railroad company extended the line from Cooperstown. The town was named in honor of E.H. McHenry, who was the chief civil engineer for the railroad, at the time. This extension was the direct result of the national economic boom, after the depression of the 1890's. Railroads expanded their trackage and equipment, European immigrants poured into the nation, urban populations increased and the national wealth more than doubled. There was land and opportunity available in North Dakota and in 1899 the end of this branch line became what today is our village.
There were needs to be met, for these settlers, and McHenry attempted to meet them. Typical of the times; this village grew rapidly. By 1910 the population had peaked at five hundred and in the few years that followed we had more than our share of businesses and churches. This small area boasted four churches and seven grain elevators and about fifty other businesses. This was too much of everything and by 1933, mid-depression, the population had dropped drastically. There were now only two hundred McHenry citizens and the businesses had also declined. We had only three grain elevators; by 1940 we had only one. One church had disbanded, leaving us three, and we lost several other valuable commercial assets. Both newspapers failed, the Free Press lasted only four years and the McHenry Tribune served for twenty-six years. Others that were eliminated were: a creamery, two hotels, real estate offices, photography shop, three clothing stores, a millinery shop, a book store and two banks. We continued to have a medical doctor and a veterinarian for a few years, but no longer had drug store services. Some of the businesses that were added in these twenty plus years, were: service stations and automobile dealerships, a light plant and the telephone office. Our population continued to decline (except for a temporary increase in the forties) so that, to date, McHenry's census stands at one hundred thirteen, with two churches and ten businesses.
What happened to McHenry might have been predictable, but in this early 1900 era of abundance; to entrepreneurs, caution seemed out of vogue. Shortly after 1910, the Great Northern railroad company had established the town sites of Grace City, Juanita and Glenfield on their main line. Each of these towns had their own grain handling facilities, blacksmith shops and grocery outlets. Our trade area to the south and west was severely curtailed. To the east, in Griggs County, lay Mose and Binford; four and twelve miles away respectively. They were on our branch line and had every grain facility we offered. We still had comfortable and uncompetitive grain hauling distances to the north, but there was another problem. The land radiating around McHenry was
not particularly suited to bonanza wheat farming. Milk and beef cows, pigs, sheep and chickens were necessary to provide a living on these farms. More oats, corn, barley and hay was raised; wheat became the cash crop, but not the life sustaining crop. The need for the service of grain elevators fell away, and with them went one of the economic bases for supporting our village. At present, we have no commercial grain buying service in McHenry.
The settlers around McHenry, were, in the main, of German and Scandinavian descent. They were, because of their backgrounds, ambitious, politically aware, religious people with a concern for the education of their children. There were two township schools but McHenry village had its own one room school, which opened in 1899. It stood on the outskirts of McHenry, had a small enrollment, and was known as the "Country School". In 1902 a new two room school house was built; enrollment had increased to about fifty students. This was located in the west part of town. We still use part of that building as our Village Hall. We soon outgrew that facility and a new school building was completed in 1909, at a cost of $35,000. It sat on the spot of the present school building and had a full basement, seven class rooms on the first and second floors and a library-office combination.
In the early years only two years of high school were offered. Later three years, then in 1920 the fourth year of high school was added. Two students graduated from McHenry High School in 1921. Because McHenry had a four year high school, some students from Glenfield stayed in McHenry during the school year to finish.
The two rural schools mentioned before were consolidated with McHenry school in 1914, and transportation became a problem to be solved. Horse drawn buses were used to bring children to town. Later, the homebuilt canvas bodies of the horse drawn buses were placed on trucks. This up-dated form of transportation made it possible to send the students and teams to other towns for basketball games.
October 5, 1939 the McHenry school building was destroyed by fire. At the time one hundred fifty students were enrolled. The building and contents, valued at $50,000, was declared a complete loss: During the period following the fire and until the rebuilding of the school was completed by a W.P.A. crew, composed mostly of local men, students attended classes in churches and halls in the village. The cement building, that now serves as McHenry's school, received its first students in the fall of 1942. ,
In 1958 Juanita reorganized with the McHenry district and in 1960 Colvin, Cherry Lake and Paradise districts became a part of the district.
In the spring of 1980, possibly, the last senior class graduated from McHenry High School, as in the fall of 1980 the high school students began attending the Glenfield-Sutton School. The trial merger of these three schools continued. McHenry houses and educates Kindergarten and the first six grades while Glenfield provides for the six upper grades.
An inland Post Office, established by Knut Melby in 1890 was the first to serve this area. It was located east of McHenry on what is now the Richard Lowe farm site. When McHenry was established, this post office was moved into town. The first mail was received in April, 1900. At that time, only second and fourth class mail was received. Rural Free Delivery began in 1908 with three routes initiating from the McHenry post office. These routes were twenty-six, thirty-two and thirty-four miles long. We still have a post office but only one rural route which is one hundred thirteen miles long.
The first train came to McHenry October 25, 1899. August 1st, 1891 this branch line, that once brought life to this prairie town, was officially abandoned by its new owner, Burlington Northern railroad company. With this abandonment came an opportunity for our village to create a historic monument for all the people of this nation, who have an interest in the transportation development of our country. At the end of this branch line, Northern Pacific had built a "turn around loop" which enabled the trains to switch directions. This method was wasteful of land loop contains about twenty-two acres) so railroads soon devised other methods to turn trains around; they used turn tables, the "Y", or round houses. Other "turn around loops" were built, but have been destroyed and to our knowledge, this intact facility, is unique to our nation. The city of McHenry, through long negotiations with Burlington Northern, finally obtained the lease of all the right of way, to and through the loop from Highway No. 20. The trackage was an outright gift. An organization has been formed to exploit this facility and make it a National Historic Site.
Building a city is an invigorating and exciting time. It was no different in McHenry. Businesses boomed and flourished, but the majority died. Itinerant laborers brought with them another cultural facet to add to the mixture of the stolid farmers and local impresarios. Some "City Slickers" saw McHenry as a place to make a financial killing. More than one difference of opinion ended in physical fights; we had our share of murders. Law officers and jails were a necessity. Prohibition brought to McHenry the same clandestine scenes that all other communities encountered; the law made "out-laws" of many good citizens who were required to justify their purchases of alcohol "for medicinal purposes" while being in perfect health. The sugar used in home brew and the malt for beer, became a grocery staple in many homes. Home town entertainment was in style; large bands, dance bands, singer, actors, fiery political and religious speakers, made up typical celebration programs.
The McHenry of 1982 has been distilled into a very special community. The businesses and organizations have made our lives comfortable and compact. A well stocked meat market and grocery store, plumbing and heating, television sales and repair, paint and appliance store, a service station, a bar and an aerial spray service are our private enterprises. The cafe, summer movie theater and beauty shop were purchased and are managed by the "Town and Country Club". This club is made up of rural and village community members who all donated cash to promote these businesses; and continue to support them through a yearly fund raiser. Two of our local men invented a gear puller a few years ago. At this time we have the "Posi-Lock" gear puller assembly plant in McHenry. Five local farmers have purchased the defunct grain elevator facilities. It is their plan to accommodate the public's need for grain cleaning services. We have an outstanding, privately owned museum. The Senior Citizens have a newly decorated and modern meeting place. We have an active fire department and ambulance, with dedicated crews to man them both. We are organized into groups of Homemakers, American Legion and its Auxiliary, Band Mothers, 4-H clubs, Square dance instructors and callers, Ball players and Picnickers who enjoy our new village park. There is a closeness here that others may envy. Our churches, Catholic and Lutheran, have congregations that extend the arm of love so that an outsider would have difficulty identifying one sect from another at a fund raiser or in a time of need; for each supports the other financially and spiritually. We like McHenry and enjoy sharing it with others.
In 1974, McHenry celebrated its 75th anniversary. An excellent history and pictorial display was compiled into a book. If anyone is interested in more detailed information, I would suggest reading that book; available at the local post office.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 340