Monday, February 15, 2021, 7-8:30pm
Gloria Van Hof 
Abraham Lincoln 
Henry Box Brown 
Rachel Harris 
Cupola House, Marengo, IL 
Mansion House, Hebron, IL
Gloria Van Hof will offer a presentation on the history of the Underground Railroad here in McHenry County.
Gloria has researched, lectured, and written extensively on the Underground Railroad in Illinois and in neighboring states. She has developed curriculum and lectured at numerous schools, libraries, historical and genealogical societies. A few of the universities where Gloria has lectured include: Loyola University, Roosevelt University, and the University of Chicago.
Gloria has organized several Underground Railroad tours in McHenry, Lake, and Cook Counties. She published a primer titled Heroes and Heroines of the Underground Railroad, a Study Guide titled Contributors to the Cause and a study guide titled, “The Underground Railroad Had Depots Here. She has been introduced as an “Expert on the Underground Railroad” to audiences throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
Gloria’s fascination with the Underground Railroad began in 1980 with a question from her late daughter, Anginetti Urch, who was eight-years-old at the time. Netta had just returned home after spending the night with a classmate who lived in the stately Mansion Farm in Hebron, Illinois.
“Mom, did you know that the Mansion Farm was a stop on the Underground Railroad?”
Use this Link to Join the Presentation
Meeting ID: 824 1539 9902 Passcode: 283312
We would love to take a tour of the McHenry County Underground Railroad, we live in Woodstock, IL
I will pass your comment on to Gloria.
I would love to take a tour of any of the counties listed. I took one about 15 + years ago in Bull Valley. There was a speaker at the McHenry Junior was College.
Hi Mary,
I will pass your comment along to Gloria.
Mary, can you Please share the information where I can contact in Bull Valley for a tour?
Dear Gloria Van Hof,
I have become your Fan! I live in Woodstock, IL in McHenry County. I have lived here for the last 5 years. I recently found out about the Underground Railroad, my husband, daughter & I are fascinated with the history. I just order your books in Amazon.
Would it be to much to ask if you can help us in getting into a tour here in McHenry Area? It will mean so much for us, and if you have more books or material that we can buy I will appreciate if you share the information with me.
I hope this message gets to you, and I hope with all my heart that you Gloria can make the miracle for us to be able to be in one tour for the tunnels.
Thank you so much in advance.
May God Bless You Always!!
Adriana Rodriguez
adi.rdz2002@yahoo.com
Is Ms. Van Hof available to speak at schools? I teach at Woodstock North HS. I know this event has past, but I stumbled upon it doing my own research. I am from Hebron, IL, and recall as a child tales of Mansion Farm. Ms. Van Hof may remember my sisters, Mary & Maxine – Maxine being very close friends were her sister, Jennifer. Small world. Thanks in advance for any consideration.
Hi Mickey,
Sorry for the very late reply. I have let Ms. Van Hof know you are interested in collaborating with her. It was a great event.
In faith,
Judy
My son Neil and I would be interested in a tour. I was at a birthday party in 7th grade and we all went across the street to a neighbor’s home and they had a basement with carved out slabs of the earth and wood bars in place from the top to the bottom. It was like nothing I had ever seen. I would be happy to share the information with Ms. Van Hof. I will never forget the feeling I had when I saw it.
I almost couldn’t believe it.
I will forward your note to Gloria Van Hof.
Judy