Great article on Volo

This was printed in the Daily Herald back on Christmas Day. It's a great article that captures the past and present of Volo. Unfortunately, it doesn't really talk much about the future, but hopefully things will start to become more active as we move into 2010.

Young town thrives on antiques, history
By Sherry Giewald | Daily Herald Correspondent

People have lived in Volo for at least 160 years, and the town has always been an active community with churches, blacksmiths, stores, taverns, a creamery and homes. Yet it wasn't until 1993 that Volo incorporated and officially became a town.

Local business owners and residents voted to incorporate because they didn't want Volo absorbed into the surrounding villages. Today, it remains a cute little town with affordable housing and not too far out, said Donna Brennecke, Realtor with Century 21 Roberts & Andrews. "And antiquing, oh my gosh, if you're into antiques, there are antique malls, and it's a big thing in that area."

Brennecke said the community is experiencing a period of growth.

"It seems more people are moving out this way because they want more land and like the open space. Give it four or five years, and I think it's going to be the place to live," she said.

"We've been to Volo because we live out that way, so for us it's not far. A few years ago we thought Huntley was far out, and look how far that town has come."

The open space is attracting new construction, and a lot of expansion is going on, said Gary Geer, broker and associate with RE/MAX Grand in Ingleside.

"There are a lot of very nice homes, a good selection and plenty of house for the price range," he said. "There's an opportunity for all kinds of buyers, including first-time buyers and those who want to buy up.

"You can buy a detached single-family home for $175,000 to $375,000 and an attached home for $130,000 to $250,000."

Newer Volo subdivisions include Autumn Grove, Lancaster Falls, Remington Pointe, Symphony Meadows and Terra Springs.

Geer, who specializes in foreclosed properties, says that market is booming. "Unfortunate for some and fortunate for others, that's the bulk of what's selling right now," he said. "And that's the major competition. Banks can move more on price than homeowners."

Heading into Volo on Routes 134 and 12, that area is building up with Home Depot, Menards, fast-food restaurants, bank and grocery store, Geer said.

Volo sits in a central location five miles from Fox Lake, Round Lake, Johnsburg, McHenry and Wauconda. Routes 12 and 120 intersect within the village, providing easy access to surrounding communities and the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas.

The village's major attraction is the Volo Auto Museum, which was listed in Chicago Magazine as one of the region's top "101 Things to Do." The museum is known worldwide for its collection of nearly 300 antique and famous cars that it displays year round. A visit to the Volo Auto Museum isn't just a trip to see old cars; it's a three-dimensional lesson in American history with cars as the connecting point.

The museum's store offers a large selection of automotive gifts like car T-shirts, car hats, books, signs, posters and more.

Also, the museum hosts many events on its 30-acre campus and is becoming the center of activity for the town and its history.

For a unique outdoor adventure, the Volo Bog State Natural Area is a popular spot, Geer said. "You can walk through the bog; they've got walking paths, and it's a nice rural setting."

From the Volo Archives

I subscribed to the Daily Herald newspaper archive, which for only $40 a year, gives you access to many past Daily Herald newspapers (and its predecessors).

Every now and then I'll post something fun from Volo's past. The first is an article from May 16, 1994, around the time that the 120 bypass opened. Pay particular attention to the before and after maps. I had no idea that Gilmer and 12 actually intersected at one time.

New Bypass Helps Breathe Fresh Life Into Small Town

In honor of Oktoberfest...

I was avoiding a traffic jam at 120 and 12 a few weeks ago and decided to travel down the east leg of little Volo Village Road. On my left, I noticed a little building with the name Koenemann's. Since I'm always interested in adding anything Volo to this blog, I did a little research and stumbled upon the Koenemann story. It's always great to still see a family business continue to thrive despite the sprawling metropolis going on around them. I've added a link to their website on the left side of the blog. Be sure to check it out to learn about some of Volo's earliest Volozens!