Hello, this is Iris Bryan with another moment in the history of McHenry County College.
The first referendum for the formation of the college district was rejected by voters in 1963. Election day – December 14th was very cold and windy.
It was also less than a month following the assassination of President Kennedy and less than two weeks before Christmas. All of these facts played a part in the feelings of voters.
In addition, a local group campaigned heavily against the tax rate that would cost the average home owner a little less than $14 a year for a two-year college.
The opposition group, called the government improvement league or GIL, proposed a tax rate costing a little less than $3 a year for the college.
About 16% of registered voters went to the polls and 74% of those voters placed the “x” next to the no box on the paper ballots.
Yet all was not lost. More on that next time.
In the meantime, mark your calendar for Sunday, April 15th, 2007, when we’ll kick off a series of events to celebrate MCC’s 40th birthday.
Also, please share with us your college memories and help us identify people in our archival photos. Visit www.mchenry.edu today to find how you can join the celebration.
This is Iris Bryan, the voice of McHenry County College history.
10/27/06