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Have a ball while helping the W.A. McConnell Foundation

Step into the spotlight for an unforgettable evening inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood. Enjoy a festive evening of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, a lively silent auction, and an exclusive exhibit that captures this iconic era.

Getting decked out would be nice – we do love a little red-carpet flair! – but it is not required. Come as you feel fabulous. Reconnect with friends, meet new ones, and dance the night away in celebration of community and tradition.

The nonprofit W.A. McConnell Foundation is delighted to welcome Mrs. Ann Katzenberg as our guest of honor at its 2026 McConnell Ball from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 11. Before moving to Richmond, Ann lived and attended grade school in Solon Mills. She spent her freshman year at the “new” school on Broadway in Richmond – today’s Richmond Arms building.

A beloved educator and true community icon, Ann taught thousands of Richmond-area students over the course of her remarkable, 44-year career at Richmond Grade School. These early experiences helped shape her lifelong dedication to education and community.

You can help us honor this remarkable woman at the downtown Richmond Café, 10321 Main St. in Richmond. And as an extra incentive, through April 8, there is a special price for tickets. General admission tickets are on sale for $50, or two for $90. This includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, two drink tickets and a parting gift. VIP tickets – which include general admission perks plus early admission (6:30 p.m.), a guided tour of the 1891Richmond Cafe building (including the upstairs), and a signature drink costs $80.

For information visit https://www.wamcconnellfoundation.org/events.

The W.A. McConnell Foundation formed in 2021 when a group of community members recognized a need for preserving the unique history and heritage of the greater Richmond area. This grassroots group continues to impact local history in a number of ways, including painting and installing a steel framework to stabilize the 1844 Charles G. Cotting House – known as Olde No. 90. The foundation also is working with the village to preserve the George Street bridge, built in mid-1800s by the Chicago & North Western Railroad, and the 1868 McConnell Farmstead off Broadway Road, owned by the McHenry County Conservation District.

Have a ball while helping the W.A. McConnell Foundation ensure that the past is preserved for future generations.

Thanks to our Silent Auction Donors:

Midwest Breakfast Company, Chicago White Sox, Kane County Cougars baseball, Beloit Sky Carp baseball, Rockford Icehogs hockey, Let’s Roam, Arthur Anderson Christian Woodworking, Coopers Hawk, Big G, Rowenberry Studio, Artist Tom von Geldern, The Glass Smith, Plum Garden Restaurant, Nippersink Public Library, Tanya Nixon, Carl Metz, Chip Eldredge.

McConnell Farmstead among state's Most Endangered sites

Landmarks Illinois has announced the 2025 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. The list calls attention to 10 culturally and architecturally significant sites across the state that face growing threats of disinvestment and demolition.

Find the full info here: https://www.landmarks.org/preservation-programs/most-endangered-historic-places-in-illinois/w-a-mcconnell-farmstead-2025/

The McHenry County Conservation District continues working on its Forward to 2040 Comprehensive Conservation Plan with a Vision to 2071. This plan will guide the district for the next decade ... and beyond.The McHenry County Conservation District and its consultant, Plainfield-based Upland Design Ltd., conducted public information sessions last month and on March 4 seeking comment on its “Forward to 2040” master plan and the future of the many historic structures the district owns.

The contract with Upland, at a cost not to exceed $226,360, includes an analysis of district lands and structures, three public open houses, a needs assessment, strategic planning and funding options and a resource analysis.

Upland will include suggestions on “sustainable building strategies and programs available to document relevant environmental criteria as it pertains to the built environment, existing structures, as well as any future building projects planned by the district.”

Wilbrant Barn (Review concept plans and contemplated renovation)
Camp Algonquin Recreation Hall (Review concept plans and contemplated renovation)
Weidrich Barn (historic / Review concept plans and contemplated renovation)
Powers Walker Barn (historic)
Kennedy House – Brookdale (historic)
McConnell Farmstead -North Branch (historic/Review previous plan + stabilization efforts)

The final report will be delivered by February 2027.

People can provide comments via the website HERE or by emailing Forward2040@UplandDesign.com.

Thank You

Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to save Richmond's oldest standing building, Old No. 90, built by Charles Cotting around 1844. Initial preservation plans include stabilization of the foundation, as water along the sidewalk has caused detioration and movement.

Richmond, Illinois

A wooden bridge. A bonafide historic Main Street. An original farmstead. A life-giving creek. Working farms and silos. An oak tree. Centuries-old resting places marking those who have gone before us.

When pioneer William McConnell set his gaze upon the North branch of the Nippersink Creek after travelling from Pennsyvania, he quickly knew this was the place he wanted to call home and start his family. McConnell slept under an oak tree that first night. A carpenter by trade, he soon built a small log cabin next to the shallow winding creek, laid claim to a plot of land, and shortly thereafter married Elizabeth Bodine. While raising three sons, McConnell acted as postmaster, commissioner, and judge, along with founding the Richmond Bank and several other businesses. William McConnell was a prominent and busy man, but he always found time to give back to his community.

William McConnell passed away in 1887, but his legacy lives on in our community and in the original mid-19th century relics sprinkled in and around the town. Our quaint, unique village is known throughout the region for its historic buildings, unique character, and quaint charm not found in most other suburban Illinois towns. Mention Richmond to a friend, and you’ll likely hear a story about a special purchase at an antique store, a sweet treat from Anderson’s Candy Shoppe, or the old-timey charm of historic buildings that line Main Street.

The W.A. McConnell Foundation strives to honor the legacy that Richmond was built upon long ago. We invite you to join us in preserving and celebrating Richmond’s unique heritage.

Because the path to the future is paved by our past.

We're Growing!

Together we can accomplish great things, but only if we are willing to get educated about the history of the Richmond/Spring Grove area. Those wishing to learn more about the foundation and its activities can sign up for our monthly newsletter HERE.

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