Cabinet shop helps make clients’ dream kitchens come true
Antique lovers are in good Company in Lena The welcome mat is always out at a Shannon bar & grill
Turn the wheel and turn back time on this month’s Day Trip
When it comes to finding a relaxing place where guests at Lake Carroll can stay, there’s no place like home/p.4
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PUBLISHER Jennifer Heintzelman
EDITING & PAGE DESIGN Rusty Schrader
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Contact Jill Reyna at 815-631-8774 or jreyna@saukvalley.com
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Giving customers the works
A custom cabinetry company that’s set up shop in Lake Carroll has found that a good way to get clients through the doors is to follow a simple rule: If we can build it, they will come.
Antiquers are in good Company
People who appreciate the past will find a friend in Lena: A shop where memories and merchandise go hand in hand, along with the owners, who share a life-long love of antiques ... and each other.
Feeling right at home
Every day is different at a Shannon bar and grill, but one thing doesn’t change: The welcome mat is always out for folks who stop by.
Day trip: Turning back time
From an old Country grocer to the best Dive Bar in the U.S., there’s a lot of history in store — and former stores — along the winding roads and rolling hills north of Lake Carroll.
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Candlelight at Lake Carroll 29-11 Ironwood Drive Lake Carroll, IL 61046
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Davis Community Center 631 East Street Mt. Carroll, IL 61053
quiet house situated above Lake Carroll holds decades of friendship.
It’s hosted plenty of shared weekends, too.
It’s The REST Home, a rental retreat built by friends to share with families, both their own and with others at Lake Carroll.
At its core, the home was never meant to be just another place to stay near Lake Carroll for its four owners — two longtime couples whose friendship stretches back decades. The property belongs to the husband-and-wife teams of Anndrea Golightly and Toby Jayne of Buffalo Grove, and Brad Wollangk and Michelle Buchecker of Chicago. The four have been longtime friends, and the home reflects the collaboration and trust that developed over decades.
The home represents a shared retreat, a gathering place and, perhaps most importantly, a way to extend to others the kind of memories they built there themselves. It sits near a slope that leads down toward the lake through a narrow wooded path. From the deck, renters can grill dinner or gather around the outdoor fire pit as evening settles in.
Inside, the home is designed less like a vacation rental and more like a lived-in family home, complete with games, puzzles, children’s books and a kitchen stocked with nearly every utensil and appliance a guest might need.
“It’s close to the lake,” Golightly said. “It’s modern, in good condition, and it’s a very family-oriented space. We have lots of games and puzzles. It’s relatively quiet. It’s not a huge house, but it has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, two good living areas with one in the basement — so if you have a group and it’s too much, there are two areas where you could watch football and watch a movie.”
It isn’t just rented out to anyone: Rentals can only be booked by current Lake Carroll property owners, who do so when their own homes cannot accommodate visiting family members.
The home’s setting and layout tend to change how visitors spend their time once they arrive, Jayne said.
“We’ve had great success renting to people,” Jayne said. “One [guest] wanted to go out and go ice fishing. It was really cold, and I think they were out on the lake the entire time. There’s a change of mindset when you come out here, and there aren’t any worries.”
Those guests get to be close to their family members without dealing with hotel rooms or cramped quarters.
“We’ll say, ‘We’re the annex,’” Golightly said. “If their house isn’t big enough, they’ll have people come here, and it works out fine. We’re glad for people to use this.”
The four owners approach the property like a small cooperative operation, dividing responsibilities between them. Buchecker manages the rental logistics and keeps detailed records. Jayne handles maintenance work around the house. Golightly focuses on landscaping and the kitchen. Wollangk oversees electronics, from entertainment systems to gaming equipment. Each year, the group also meets to discuss improvements and maintenance projects.
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Rental income from guests goes directly back into the property. Recent upgrades included replacing the HVAC system, along with ongoing updates to keep the home comfortable and functional.
“It’s a lot of work, and that’s a reason why we’re thankful having this done as a partnership with Brad and Michelle,” Golightly said. “It doesn’t put much pressure on the two of us. We don’t have to wonder when the last time was when we changed the furnace filter; Michelle keeps records and tells Toby when it’s time. There’s more of us to share the upkeep. We look at it as a division of labor to make sure we can all get it done, and that we each have a job within it.”
The origin of their friendship goes back more than 30 years. Originally from Iowa, Golightly moved to the Chicago area in the 1990s and was in search of a roommate. Michelle Buchecker had just arrived from Colorado and was searching for the same thing. The two ended up sharing a place in Highland Park. Golightly met Jayne after he moved to Chicago, and the two married, and Buchecker later married Wollangk. Life moved forward, yet the connection between the couples remained strong.
Years later, the idea that would eventually become The REST Home began with a family trip for Golightly and Jayne, and a long car ride with a baby daughter that tested their patience.
The REST Home features five bedrooms on three levels.
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“We bought this place because of a teething baby on a car trip,” Golightly said. “When our oldest was a year old, we took a trip to [Toby’s} aunt and uncle’s lake house in Minnesota, about 8 hours from where we lived. When we were up there, she was teething and got an infection, and she cried for almost 8 hours on the way back from that week in Minnesota. We had such a good time there, but that 8 hours with a crying baby ... that was horrible.”
The experience left the couple thinking about how much they had enjoyed the lake, but how far away it had been. Golightly and Jayne found Lake Carroll to be a close place to home, and between the Chicago area and her family back in Iowa.
In 2004, the couple drove out one fall weekend to explore the area. While there, they contacted Fawn Ridge Real Estate agent Cyndy Griffin and began looking at properties.
“We saw this property and just really liked the slope down to the lake and the elevation from the road, and the wooded area by the lake,” Golightly said. “We were like, ‘This is a nice property,’ and it was at a reasonable price range.”
They purchased the lot but decided to wait before building a house. At the time, raising children and covering expenses like after-school care and college savings made a construction project difficult. Still, the pull of Lake Carroll remained. During those years, Golightly and Jayne would occasionally rent homes from other property owners in the area, and sometimes they stayed at cabins at Hickory Hideaway.
Wollangk and Buchecker would sometimes join them for those visits. Eventually, a conversation between the couples shifted from casual speculation to a serious possibility: If the two families worked together, perhaps they could build something that neither family would have attempted alone. The idea slowly came together: Build a house, share the cost and responsibilities, and rent the property out when they weren’t using it. Construction was completed in 2012.
The decision to rent the house wasn’t just about offsetting expenses. For Golightly, it also helped solve a different concern.
“One of our hesitations in building this was that we’re close enough to run out here for a quick weekend, but it didn’t feel right just having this house sit vacant so much,” Golightly said. “I just feel better that someone here is using this house, rather than sit and take up energy. I’d be happy if it was used more often.”
The house’s name itself carries a personal meaning. REST isn’t just a description of what visitors come to do. The letters come from the first names of four pets the families had when the home was built: Roxie, Einstein, Skosh and Tango.
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The house features five bedrooms — two upstairs, two on the main floor and one on the lower level — along with three full bathrooms. One upstairs bedroom serves as a children’s room, complete with a twin-overfull bunk bed, and another has a Disney-themed touch with a Mickey Mouse blanket. The other bedrooms feature queen beds. A small office space sits on the upstairs landing. There is one bathroom on each level, with the lower level one having a walk-in shower. Light switches throughout the home are carefully labeled, helping guests easily navigate the house.
Downstairs, a second living area provides a place to spread out, with an Xbox gaming system, dartboard, bar area and even a ring-on-a-string game mounted on a pillar. Shelves hold movies on both DVDs and VHS tapes for televisions in the great room and downstairs living room.
One of the home’s more unique pieces of furniture sits in the great room near a window — a restored and refinished table once used by one of Golightly’s great-grandaunts for butchering meat . Nearby, a dinner table conceals a surprise: Buchecker had an octagonal poker table custom built, though most visitors never realize its dual purpose because it sits beneath a fitted cover and tablecloth.
Throughout the house, other antiques from the Golightly and Jayne families share space with lake-themed decor and framed photos that line the walls. Around the tables, the chairs intentionally don’t match, another small detail that makes the space feel less like a rental and more like a family home.
Outside, the property continues to evolve. Fruit trees planted near the house include Montmorency cherry, peach, apple and pear trees. The peach tree produced fruit last year, and the cherry tree is expected to bear fruit this season. Nearby, perennial flower gardens bloom with irises, daffodils and lilies, adding color around the property during warmer months.
Inside, the owners have tried to anticipate the needs of families. Drawers contain crayons and paper for the kids. Shelves hold puzzles, including supplies for puzzle enthusiasts like Golightly and Buchecker, including a swing-arm magnifying lamp to help examine tricky pieces.
“People come out here for family time. It suits a variety of people,” Golightly said.
In many cases, the owners rarely meet their guests in person. Most arrangements happen electronically, and a cleaning service prepares the house between stays. Despite that distance, guests still leave a mark on the home. A guestbook inside the house holds messages from families who have stayed there, with memories, thankyous and stories dating back to 2014.
The couples themselves still use the home often, especially during summer holidays and long weekends. Over the years, it has hosted family reunions, college reunions and even occasional girls’ weekends.
For Golightly, the most meaningful moments remain the simplest ones, when the house is full and alive with activity.
“My favorite memories are having the house full, and especially with little kids,” Golightly said. “That just makes it so much more lively. I hope that other families have built traditions out here, too.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
The REST Home is located at 28-44 Southview Drive in Lake Carroll. Find it on Facebook (at facebook.com/ TheRestHome), email mmbuchecker@ gmail.com or call 630-564-3301 to learn more about how to rent it. Rental may only be arranged by current Lake Carroll home owners.
a homeowner can imagine a kitchen pulled from the pages of a magazine or inspired by a Pinterest photo, chances are it can be built — and a business that’s set up shop in Lake Carroll can build it.
Sterling Woodworks has expanded its custom cabinetry and interior design reach into Carroll County with the opening of a second location at Lake Carroll, bringing its services closer to a growing base of clients in the area.
Based in Sterling, the business opened its Lake Carroll location in the summer of 2025 after six months of planning and preparation. The expansion came as the company noticed an increasing number of projects originating from the private lake community.
Sterling Woodworks is owned by Scott Hibbard and Corey Gabler, and employs a staff of 10 — in sales, design and construction — at the two locations. Sterling Woodworks provides cabinetry, closet systems, flooring, custom showers, vanities, countertops and outdoor kitchens, utilizing an approach Hibbard describes as aiming to make the business a one-stop shop, from idea to finished product.
“We were starting to get more clients from the Lake Carroll area,” Hibbard said. “We became good at communicating remotely, and can do it for anyone, but some people didn’t want to drive from their home to Lake Carroll and then to Sterling to check something out, so we wanted to be close to that area and serve them.”
WOODWORKS cont’d to page 16
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Before opening the Lake Carroll location, Hibbard had been looking to expand in northwest Illinois, and found a place to do it when Mike Eberle, owner of Land-Mark Construction, contacted him about a suite in his building on state Route 73 recently vacated by Lake Carroll Realty. Since opening, Hibbard said the response from their new customer base has been encouraging. There’s been “a lot of success,” he said, adding that the interactive work of the company’s staff has helped shape the business beyond his original expectations.
“A lot of people have their second home at Lake Carroll, and there’s been a lot of new builds, and people from the city that want to buy a house and freshen it up to make it theirs,” said flooring assistant Heather Adamec, who recently began working at the Lake Carroll location. “We can handle the idea of what they want, or give them ideas and let them handle it. Some people don’t have time to think about picking stuff out, so we’re able to work with them [online] and give them ideas, and when they’re ready to move in, they’ll be ready.”
WOODWORKS cont’d to page 17
The future is fiber internet.
Sterling Woodworks’ team of professionals helps clients turn their interior design dreams into reality. Pictured are (from left) flooring assistant Heather Adamec, marketing and creative director Megan Wheeler, designer and rendering specialist Beatrice Zambelloni, sales and design consultant Nicole Bartnick and executive assistant Samantha Bushman.
WOODWORKS cont’d from page 16
The Lake Carroll location has also helped introduce the company to residents who may not have previously been familiar with the Sterling-based business. Sterling Woodworks participated in last year’s Fawn Ridge Real Estate Home Show, and plans to return again this year for the show, which is scheduled for May 30 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the grass lot next to the Lake Carroll Clubhouse.
Marketing and creative director Megan Wheeler said events like the home show have helped the company connect with residents and showcase the range of design services it offers.
“Lake Carroll has been super accepting to us,” Wheeler said. “When we went to the Home Show last spring, everyone was excited to have this type of service, and they appreciated having an interior design business. I think our design service is something that the community will really appreciate about us, being able to help with their decision and offering a little bit of everything.”
WOODWORKS cont’d to page 20
CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Left: Megan Wheeler inspects a showroom display at Sterling Woodworks' Lake Carroll location. “Lake Carroll has been super accepting to us,” she said. Right: Heather Adamec of Sterling Woodworks shows a custom drawer. Kitchens have gone beyond “gramma’s junk drawer” and a few basic cabinets. Customization and flexibility are the name of the game these days.
Even with a bigger footprint, the core of its business remains centered on custom design and personalized craftsmanship. It specializes in designing, building and installing custom cabinetry and interior woodwork tailored to individual homes. The company follows a full-service approach, guiding projects from early design concepts through final installation. By combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, the business also helps homeowners visualize their spaces before construction begins, using detailed 3D renderings and virtual reality tools that allow clients to refine layouts, materials and finishes.
Projects are custom-built in Sterling using both timetested woodworking techniques and modern equipment. Rather than relying on standard, pre-manufactured sizes, the company focuses on creating cabinetry and interior elements designed specifically for each customer’s vision and space, keeping the entire build process under one roof while emphasizing collaboration and craftsmanship throughout each project.
That emphasis on customization is something Hibbard says often surprises people who first walk through the doors.
“You can bring in a picture from Pinterest or a magazine, and we can make it,” Hibbard said. “We have a CNC, we can do closet systems, we have almost 30,000 square feet
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of manufacturing and storage. So if you can think of it, we can build it. I wanted to give the customer everything they wanted. That’s the goal. We want to live in their world and understand their space.”
Designers at Sterling Woodworks often begin projects using customers’ inspirations as a starting point, which has been a big help for design and rendering specialist Beatrice Zambelloni, she said, especially when balancing one’s dream with the financing.
“If they send in a picture with an inspiration, it’s easy because you try to achieve what they already want,” Zambelloni said. “When you meet and you realize that the price is maybe higher than what they expect, there are ways to change it. There are things that we can do to achieve that.”
Customers are encouraged to take an active role in the design process, reviewing shop drawings and exploring digital renderings that allow them to adjust colors, materials and layouts before construction begins. Those visual tools help clients better understand how their finished space will look.
Sales and design consultant Nicole Bartnick said part of that process also involves helping customers navigate the financial side of their ideas.
“We’re really good at helping them with their budget and coming up with their options,” Bartnick said. “If their budget maybe isn’t matching what they want, we’ll have alternate options and are knowledgeable enough to know what’s going to bring their price down.”
The collaborative process often begins with an appointment, which allows clients uninterrupted time to discuss ideas and explore options. Walk-ins are welcome, but Hibbard said the appointment model helps create a more focused design experience. The company also strives to serve as a resource for contractors, collaborating with builders and other professionals involved in residential construction and remodeling projects.
“The first thing you have to do is care about the client,” Hibbard said. “That’s going to show through how you treat them. We want them to experience something here. That’s why we’re by appointment. They can use our whole area just to talk about ideas and put them on renderings. At the end of the day, we want them to want that they want.”
2021, he purchased the former Stewart Beverage Pepsi distribution facility in Sterling and began transforming it into the home of Sterling Woodworks, opening in 2022. For Wheeler, the business stands out because of its ability to guide clients through every step of the process.
Sterling Woodworks is located at 15102 state Route 73 in Shannon (just outside Lake Carroll), and 1307 W. Fourth St. in Sterling. Both locations are open by appointment. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and YouTube; go to sterlingwoodworks. com or call 815-426-9328 to schedule a visit or for more information.
“Being a one-stop shop and being able to offer the clients the service from start to finish I think is what sets us apart,” Wheeler said. “Anything we’re selling to the clients is something we’re excited and passionate about as well.”
Part of that process includes helping customers discover new features and innovations in kitchen and interior design. Hibbard noted that automated cabinet doors, illuminated shelving and even lighted tabletops — which can change colors through a smartphone — have become more common features in recent years. Even lazy Susans have become more efficient.
“I think what surprises most people is the kind of accessories that we can build into their kitchen,” Hibbard said.
“The sky’s the limit with pull-outs. You don’t have to have a lazy Susan where you’re waist deep getting that jar of chili or whatever, it pulls out, spins and brings it right to you instead of reaching in.”
Despite changing trends and evolving technology, Hibbard said the underlying principle behind the business remains the same: understanding each client’s personal taste and vision for their home.
Hibbard brings more than three decades of experience to the business. After working as a home builder for more than 30 years, he shifted his focus toward interior design and cabinetry. In
“Tastes are so subjective,” Hibbard said. “People want what they want. They’ll see something somewhere and it will spark something they have to have.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
People who appreciate the past will find a friend in Lena: A shop where memories and merchandise go hand in hand, along with the owners, who share a life-long love of antiques ... and each other
Walking through an antique shop can feel like stepping through decades, where familiar objects quietly stir memories long tucked away.
Down every aisle and around every corner await those moments when you’ll hear someone say: “I remember that,” or ask, “I wonder what that is” — a place where nostalgia and curiosity meet at the crossroads before heading down memory lane.
In a village about 20 minutes north of Lake Carroll, that place is called Lena Mercantile Co., where the husband-andwife shop gathers dozens of vendors under one roof — most of them from within a 50-mile radius, including a few from Lake Carroll — who offer an eclectic mix of antiques, handmade crafts and sweets, from Amish baskets and hickory rockers to candles, chocolates and a plethora of nostalgic treasures. Owners Ruth and Larry Maedge also sell some of their own antiques as well.
With memories built in to the merchandise, pieces have stories to tell — sometimes from seller and sometimes from the buyer. Those connections are part of what Ruth enjoys most about running the shop, she said.
“There’s much more to them as far as display and color, and the graphics are much more finer,” Ruth said. “The history of what people used to do with an item, or when someone had something growing up and they tell me their stories, there’s a lot of fun and joy in that.”
Shoppers notice that atmosphere, too. Beyond the merchandise itself, the inside of the building invites visitors to wander. A painted red brick road winding along the floor guides shoppers through the various vendor spaces while helping define where each booth begins and ends.
The store is open every day, and Ruth is behind the counter during most of that time. She and Larry, who have been married for 56 years, live upstairs. Larry, who used to own a sign shop in town, occasionally helps with making the booths and arrangements look appealing to customers — whether it’s filling spaces or rearranging his own personal, not-for-sale, antique collection on high shelving around the store.
“We have people who come in here and say, ‘This place makes me happy.’” Larry said. “There are people younger than I am, say, in their 60s, and they remember the stuff. They’ll say, ‘I remember the Blue Star potato chip tins,’ or ‘I remember when you bought potato chips that way.’ One person comes in every day and always says the place makes him happy because he’s surrounded by things from his childhood.”
Customers are also surrounded by song — courtesy of music curated by Ruth and piped over the store’s stereo. Ruth, who studied music in college and once taught it at the town’s schools, has a stack of CDs with songs ranging from a Scott Joplin Ragtime hit to crooning from Frank Sinatra or Sam Cooke. Customers “appreciate it because it’s relaxing to them,” Ruth said.
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Ruth and Larry Maedge own Lena Mercantile Co., an antique mall inside a downtown Civil War-era building. The Maedges have been collecting antiques for decades, and each day still brings a new experience, Ruth said: “You learn history from your customers as well. I enjoy history, and it's something that I respect a great deal.”
MERCANTILE cont’d from page 24
Unlike most antique stories, the place also has an eatery with sandwiches, wraps, salads and quiches — the Maedges simply request that customers keep the food in the eatery and not the sales floor. The menu also has beverages such as a creamy mint soda, steamed and caramel apple ciders, and a variety of coffees. Specials and desserts also are offered. Ruth and Larry also have their names attached to a pair of offerings: Ruth’s low-carb plate of tuna, ham or chicken salad with cheese, lettuce, tomato and cucumber; and Larry’s layered Dagwood sandwich of salami, brick cheese, lettuce, tomato and horseradish.
“We offer a menu that can appeal to people,” Ruth said. “Our quiches are our best sellers, and our cold sandwiches do very well. We try to offer a good variety every day. If people just come by to eat, hopefully they’ll also shop, and vice versa.”
The shop also hosts evening watercolor and acrylic art classes each Tuesday, taught by local artist Vicki McArthur.
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The mercantile’s roots stretch back decades through the Maedges’ shared love of antiques. It’s an interest shaped by family, memories and heirlooms passed down through generations. Family ties often surfaced in meaningful objects. One wedding gift, for example, came from Larry’s parents: a grandfather clock made from wood salvaged from an old bar counter where his father’s band once played.
The Maedges grew up valuing family history. Ruth recalls receiving small heirlooms from her mother, such as doilies, dishes and other keepsakes that deepened her appreciation for the stories objects can hold.
“We’ve antiqued all of our married life,” Ruth said. “We both have a love for the old. We didn’t necessarily realize that when we were dating, but afterwards we both realized that was very much what we liked to do. We both have strong family ties, and we were both very sentimental toward things that our families had. We treasured what we had gotten from grandparents, and Larry was even lucky enough to have had a great-grandparent that he even knew.”
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The merry old land of was …
Follow the red “brick” road through Lena Mercantile Co. and find a wonderful world of antiques. More than just decor, the painted road helps define where each booth begins and ends. And if you want to take a break, have a seat and something to eat at the cafe located inside the antique shop.
MERCANTILE cont’d from page 27
Their hobby gradually turned into a business. In 1984, the couple began selling antiques at Rebecca’s Parlor in Lena, where they spent 22 years building relationships with collectors and customers. When the longtime Noller’s Grocery Store building — used as a grocery for about 60 years — sat empty after closing in 1999, the opportunity eventually opened the door for something new. With encouragement from the village to see the space used again, the Maedges opened Lena Mercantile Co. in 2004.
The business name itself nods to an earlier era of commerce.
“That’s why we have the old-fashioned name,” Ruth said. “Mercantile is an old-fashioned name for merchandise. Some people have spelled it ‘Merch-an-tile,’ but it’s really ‘Merc-an-tile.’”
Today, Ruth and Larry live above the shop. Larry often hunts for new antiques while Ruth enjoys connecting with visitors and learning the stories behind the objects they recognize.
“You learn history from your customers as well,” Ruth said. “I enjoy history, and it’s something that I respect a great deal.”
MERCANTILE cont’d to page 29
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Trending interests ebb and flow with collectors’ tastes. Coins and silver see periodic surges, while sports cards experienced renewed enthusiasm during the coronavirus pandemic. Other items, from green uranium glass to vinyl records, draw both longtime collectors and curious younger shoppers who wander in to browse.
“With silver going up and down, there’s been a lot of interest in coins,” Ruth said. “We have several dealers who have sports cards, and Covid brought that back to life. With the other collections, it’s a matter of having the right person coming in at the right time for the right item. We could have something sit for a while, and all of a sudden they all go out. That’s what makes the business so fun, you don’t know what’s going to go out next.”
For the Maedges, their Mercantile is a place where memories, craftsmanship and community all meet under one roof.
“We call it a specialty shop mall, if we defined it,” Ruth said. “Because of the multiple vendors, we have a multiple variety [of items], and that’s what I enjoy very much.” n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Find
Lena Mercantile Co., 101 W. Railroad St. in Lena, is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. The eatery serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Find it on Facebook, go to lenamercantile.com or call 815-369-9955 for more information.
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Business!
By Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media
ome bars are happy enough if they can carve out one niche that keeps customers coming through the doors.
At a bar and grill in downtown Shannon, the owners have carved out quite a few ...
A watering hole where you can belly up to the bar for a beer or pull up a chair for a bite to eat, from appetizers to belly busters. A place with space for a lot of personalities but little room for drama. Somewhere you can go for dart night or date night. A neighborhood hangout where you can chat with the neighbors or sing a long with a band. The kind of spot where all ages can feel welcome and friends start to feel like family.
That welcoming-to-all atmosphere is one that co-owners Jerod Henry — for whom the bar is named — and John Kleindl, and bar manager Melody Jordan, strive to maintain. Maybe it’s the jukebox shuffle bouncing from Metallica to Conway Twitty without apology. Maybe it’s dart players taking aim on league night. Or maybe it’s the way conversations overlap without colliding. Whatever it is, the place settles around customers quickly, Kleindl said.
“It feels like home,” Kleindl said. “We keep drama to a real minimum. You go to some places and if you are of a different background or are wanting to talk politics — we’re a non-politic bar. You don’t feel out of place coming in here.”
It’s a tone that regulars quickly recognize, and one that keeps them coming back.
JE’ROD’S cont’d to page 32
The crew at Je’Rod’s — co-owners Jerod Henry (left) and John Kleindl and bar manager Melody Jordan — likes to think of their customers as one big happy family.
Kleindl said.
“We have a lot of great customers who are very loyal to us,” Jordan said. “It feels good for them to come in here and be treated well and respected, and to be treated the same way and respected by them.”
Familiar faces fill many of the stools, but the story inside the bar changes daily. Even with a loyal crowd, no two days inside Je’Rod’s feel quite the same. The mix of people shifts from hour to hour.
“Every day is its own unique experience,” Kleindl said. “You never know who’s coming in. You never know what story you’re going to hear, or the newest rumor is. It’s part of what makes the job fun. You’re never going to have the same day twice.”
Before it was Je’Rod’s, the building was Penticoff’s Shannon Tap. The current chapter began when Henry’s father, Jim, bought the property, fixed it up and gave his son a place to have a bar of his own. Jerod saw potential, but wanted someone to explore that potential with him. Enter Kleindl, a bar veteran with roughly 40 years of experience. The two first worked together at Logan’s Bar and Grill in Freeport in 2008. Kleindl works four days a week and Henry is behind the bar whenever he is needed, trusting his partner’s expertise to make the place what it is.
JE’ROD’S cont’d to page 33
PHOTOS:
When Je’Rod’s first opened, it was going to be just a bar, but since then it’s expanded into a place to grab a bite, too — appetizers, sandwiches, dinners — and bar manager Melody Jordan’s been a big part of that. “She’s known for her cooking. ... She’s really good at what she does,” says co-owner John Kleindl.
JE’ROD’S cont’d from page 32
“My dad bought it and fixed it up, and I had asked Johnny to be my partner,” Henry said. “We became good friends and hung out together all of the time.”
When they opened in Shannon, the vision was modest. “When we first opened up, it was just going to be a bar, but then we built it up to get the food in,” Henry said. “It’s safe and cozy here.”
Over time, “just a bar” expanded into a kitchen that now drives much of the traffic. When it was Penticoff’s the menu was small, and so was Je’Rod’s at first: John kept the menu simple at first, with items that could easily be prepared by his teen children who helped him out. Once his kids grew up and other cooks, such as Jordan, were hired on, that’s when the menu started to expand.
“Our food’s gotten better and our cook’s gotten better,” Kleindl said, pointing to Jordan. “She’s known for her cooking. People love her meat loaf and country fried steaks that we do once or twice a month. She’s really good at what she does. People come in and see her cook.”
JE’ROD’S cont’d to page 34
If there’s a steady presence tying those nights together, it’s Jordan. The bar manager has been at Je’Rod’s for eight years, working five days a week and moving between bartender, cook and problem-solver with ease.
“It’s a nice neighborhood bar, like a corner bar, that everybody likes to hang out at,” Jordan said. “We don’t have any problems here. We have everything from older groups of people coming in for dinner, and people bringing in kids, to those who come for dart leagues and tournaments. People come both for the food and to just sit back and hang out and have a good time. It brings all kinds of people. Everybody greets a newcomer like they’ve known them forever.”
CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Among the dart tournaments Je’Rod’s hosts is one that honors Casey Daly, who died in 2022. His dart league jersey hangs near the dartboards, next to one from another regular league player, Kyle Tucker, who died in 2019. “They are celebrations of them,” said Je’Rod's co-owner Jerod Henry.
Sometimes customers will even pitch in during a pinch, handing out a menu or helping out in other ways when Jordan’s on
her own and has her hands full. Regulars have even hauled in deliveries and taken out trash.
“A lot of times when we need anything, if you’re struggling with anything, the customers can come help,” Jordan said. “I’ll be so busy at lunch and be the only one here, and someone will start pouring pops or filling people’s drinks for them.”
Burgers arrive at a half-pound, built on an Angus steak patty, or you can double it up for John’s Pounder, a one-pound belly buster of beef and buns.
“We’re the only one in the area that has an Angus steak burger,” Kleindl said. “All of our burgers are a half-pound, so we’re not charging you to have a quarter-sliver. I want you to come here, if you have a burger and fries to leave here full, I’ll guarantee you’ll leave here full.”
As far as other sandwiches on its menu go, the Je’Rod’s Delight layers ham, turkey, bacon, American and Swiss cheese on grilled Texas toast. The Frisco burger pairs bacon and Swiss on grilled sourdough. For appetizers, the Jalapeño cheese curds offer something a little different. Mac and cheese wedges, once a special, have now become permanent after they “sold like hotcakes,” Kleindl said.
The Reuben has become a signature menu item, with corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on marble rye — but it’s the preparation that’s earned its loyalty.
JE’ROD’S cont’d to page 35
JE’ROD’S cont’d from but we don’t get a huge call for them. We’re truly more of a beer and shot bar, with some specialty drinks.”
“I cook the brisket, hand slice it and portion it up to where we can warm it and put it on the sandwich,” Jordan said. “It’s fresh cooked corned beef, and not ordered pre-sliced. We get people come in here and say it’s the best Reuben they’ve ever had.”
Taco Tuesday carved out its own lane early on, arising about a year after the place opened after customers asked about adding what was already a staple at many restaurants.
Je’Rod’s Bar and Grill, 10 W. Market St. in Shannon, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Find it on Facebook or call 815-864-3440 for orders or more information.
“In our opinion, we have the best tacos around,” Kleindl said.
In the summer, two Thursday nights a month mean steak night, with 10- or 14-ounce ribeyes from Carroll County Locker sizzling on a grill that Jordan mans outside.
Behind the bar, expectations stay simple.
“We’re a beer and shot bar,” Kleindl said. “We have the stuff for cosmos and martinis,
In addition to televisions, tabletop and card games also are available for customers to enjoy, such as Jenga, Uno and several puzzles. Local bands, some with nationalstage experience, plug in once a month. Six gaming machines glow against the walls. Three dart machines attract a steady rotation of players, including a Wednesday night league that cycles through area bars.
Je’Rod’s hosts tournaments throughout the year: St. Patrick’s Day; Jerod’s birthday in December, which raises money for the Shannon-Lanark Food Pantry; and one every January that carries particular meaning, honoring Casey Daly, who died in 2022. “He was big in the dart world and very much loved by all of his friends,” Jordan said. “Friends and family all come for those, and it’s usually a huge turnout.”
Daly’s dart league jersey hangs near the boards, along with one in honor of another regular league player, Kyle Tucker, who died in 2019. “They are celebrations of them,” Henry said.
For the people behind the bar, personal touches like those say a lot about Je’Rod’s.
“You got to be a good people person, and keep an eye on your guests,” Kleindl said. “Your guests are your family, and you’d treat them the same way if they came to my house.”n
Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
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From an old Country grocer to the best Dive Bar in the U.S., there’s a lot of history in store — and former stores — along the winding roads and rolling hills north of Lake Carroll
PHOTOS:
NNot every trip needs to be the kind of jet-setting journey that you’d put on a bucket list. Sometimes, the trips that cost just a drop in the bucket can be fun too — and all you have to do is hit the road to take them.
In the folded hills along the Illinois-Wisconsin state line, about an hour northwest of Lake Carroll, roads turn from striped highways to the plain asphalt of country byways, and the exteriors of businesses transform from a more modern look to a quaint callback to horse and buggy days. The scenery does the talking, and it does it quietly, as if to say “Take your time — there’s no hurry.” Ridges rise quickly just over the horizon, valleys open wide, and barns sit along country roads, reminders of the rural heritage that raised them.
Connect those dots on a map, and it makes for a unique road trip that takes people back in time.
Step inside the grocery store in Scales Mound and the floor answers your footsteps. Around a bend sits a former rail stop that refused to fade when the trains did — and these days, music spills from the place instead of steam. A few turns later, across a state line one barely notices, another 19th-century storefront stands with its shoulders square to the road, where the shelves and bar are stocked with history that stretches back more than 175 years. Farther north, at a crossroads, a century-old tavern anchors the intersection like it always has, these days frequented by both locals and tourists who want to take a deep dive into the community’s past.
In this month’s road trip story, we’ve linked four unique and historical places in a 15-mile stretch, starting in a town that is the highest in Illinois, to a burg paying homage to the minerals mined for centuries. So turn the page and check out the quaint stops and serene scenery that we’ve mapped out for you — or better yet, get in your car and turn the wheel.
By
Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media
Bennett Road between New Diggings and Lead Mine, Wisc. as seen crossing the Fever River.
Country House Grocery
501 Main St., Scales Mound 815-845-2316
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon Sunday Online: Facebook, countryhousegrocery.com
Scales Mound (population 400) is unique among towns with fewer than 500 residents — it has its own grocery store.
The town has had a grocery store nearly every year since 1859, all located in a mid-1800s two-story white building now known as Country House Grocery. Customers walk the store’s four aisles on a vintage wood floor that still creaks and squeaks with each step, just like it did a century ago. The store carries grocery products, meat, produce and deli selections, as well as its own Country House Grocery apparel. Its brats are popular sellers, with original, jalapeno pepper jack, bacon cheddar and pineapple brown sugar varieties. Fresh baked buns include hard rolls, brat buns and Kaiser hamburger buns.
Melissa and Matt Dittmar have owned the store since 2021. It’s one of the historical centerpieces of Scales Mound, which was founded in 1853; 90 percent of the town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Even with its history etched into the floorboards, the store’s real foundation, Melissa said, is the steady stream of regulars and returning tourists who keeps the lights on and the fabric of community stitched together.
“This is more about our community. If you don’t have your community to support you, you really don’t have anything,” Melissa said. “We serve a lot of local people, but we also serve a lot of tourists, and they’ve become our community, too, because they’ve come here so much.”
Head west from town on Stagecoach Road, pass the “Jesus Saves” rock, and follow the blue signs to Council Hill Station ...
Council Hill Station
6527 North Hill Road, Galena 815-858-5276
Hours: noon to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m.
Thursday and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Friday, noon to 9 p.m.
Saturday
Online: Facebook
When the Illinois Central railroad laid out a track from Freeport to Galena in the early 1850s, it wound around the hilly terrain of Jo Daviess County known as the Driftless Region, an area untransformed by the glacial deposits of the most recent ice age more than 10,000 years ago. This neces-
Council Hill Station: Today, and circa 1865
sitated the establishment of places in rural areas to serve as stations for passengers, mail and freight, and Council Hill Station was one of them. Along with a depot (now gone), the station also had a general store for many years. Long after its heyday had passed, owner Jamie Jones — who lives next door in one of the town’s two houses — resurrected the vintage-1854 general store and transformed it into a vintage-style bar and music venue.
Council Hill Station features live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening, from the folk tunes Jones has been singing for nearly 60 years to classic rock acts. Jones and his friends are regular musical acts. During the summer, music is played both outside the building and inside a barn at the back of it; performances are held inside the old general store in the winter. Musical performances have been a Council Hill staple since at least 1865, with the earliest known performance of the Council Hill Band.
COUNCIL HILL cont’d to page 40
and
by
COUNCIL HILL cont’d from page 39
“We have some great players,” Jones said about the revolving chorus of musicians who play there. “This is what draws people.”
Since taking over ownership 16 years ago, Jones has preserved the place’s history through stories, pictures and artifacts that adorn walls and shelves. The fire inside the building’s old stove furnace still crackles during the winter. Interested in more Council Hill history? Jones has put together a scrapbook of memories that visitors can read.
Jones’ longtime friend Gladys Ressler has performed at Council Hill throughout his time as owner, and she has helped him with the restoration of a limestone mill and a wooden hoop silo, both behind the store and dating to the early 1900s (photo at right).
“The oldness and the laid back atmosphere makes you want to come back and hang out,” Ressler said.
On the other side of the railroad tracks is the old one-room Council Hill School, which has since been restored and is now a private home. n
Cross the railroad tracks when leaving, and head back north, but continue straight instead of turning back toward Scales Mound. There is a jog at the T-intersection with East Road; turn left and then immediately to the right. At the next fork in the road, go right ...
Council Hill Station owner Jamie Jones has been a musician for nearly 60 years,
hosts performances
himself and other musicians each Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
New Diggings General Store
2944 County Route I, New Diggings, Wisc. (Benton, Wisc. postal address)
608-965-3231
Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
Online: Facebook, newdiggs.com
Lead mining was the primary industry in southwest Wisconsin from Native American days until about 75 years ago. New Diggings, founded in 1824, is a small settlement that pays tribute to those days.
Originally established in 1844, the New Diggings General Store has been a popular destination for a wide range of travelers for nearly 40 years, from motorcyclists to country tourists. The original store, which also housed a bar for its first 120 years, was located down the road from the current one and burned down in 1989. Later that year, Jamie Jones (who also owns the aforementioned Council Hill
Station) restored a former hotel built in 1890 and transformed it into a bar, resurrecting the General Store name. It has been owned by Lou Uran and Kelli Kerrigan for the past 21 years, who have since added food, including burgers, pizzas, and smoked meat sandwich specials on the weekend.
A game room is at the back of the building, with a pinball machine, Foosball table and bristle archery target. An outdoor beer garden hosts occasional live music.
The wood exterior looks much like it used to around the turn of the 20th century, with vintage signs adorning walls both outside and inside.
DIGGINGS cont’d to page 42
CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Lou Uran and his wife Kelli have owned New Diggings General Store for 21 years.
Even the bar room is a throwback to what the old store looked like a century ago, with wood floors and shelves filled with vintage cans and supplies shoppers would have found then. A small antique cash register, no longer in use, sits behind the bar and has a marble surface above the drawer. “Back in the day, they even counterfeited pennies and nickels,”
Uran said. “They’d rub it on the marble and the lead on them would leave a mark.”
Tired and want to stay the night? That can be arranged: four upstairs sleeping rooms are available — two with single beds and two with doubles — each with their own bathroom.
“Meat Paddles” are held on Saturdays from October to April. In the raffle-type drawings, named for an old concept, people buy numbered paddles (photo at right) for a chance at matching a number on a spinning wheel to win cuts of meat. The event has people “rubbing elbows” there on these days, Uran said.
“We’re a destination,” Uran said. “We’re a town of 25 people. If you’re here, you’ve come from a distance. Our ‘locals’ are from a 30-mile radius.” n
From the General Store, turn right on County Route W, and take the next left at Ollie Bell Road north out of town. Follow for 2 miles and turn right on Bennett Road, and proceed north for 1.5 miles into the town of Lead Mine.
Leadmine Tavern
5389 County Route I, Lead Mine, Wisc. (Benton, Wisc. postal address)
608-759-6631
Hours: 3 to 11 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 1 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday (may close earlier any day)
Online: Facebook, countryhousegrocery.com
Since the 1910s, the unincorporated community of Lead Mine (two words) has quenched thirsts at its crossroads tavern now known as the Leadmine (one word) Tavern. The exterior hasn’t changed much since its original days, giving it a classic look that is reminiscent of the days when leadminding was still a major industry in the area. Inside, the original bar counter still serves customers, having moved from the left side of the bar to the right about a decade ago. The tin ceil ing, while painted over in beige, remains in place. The town’s oldest residents can recall the place once being Reilly’s Tavern, with an Old Milwaukee sign outside, where the current Leadmine sign is.
LEADMINE cont’d to page 44
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PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Today, the tavern, owned for 13 years by Dave Lacke, is best known for its “Leadmine Longies,” a selection of Long Island cocktail concoctions. They include, among others, a Marge Simpson of blue raspberry and lemonade (similar to the character’s appear ance on The Simpsons); and a Purple Nurple, pitched on the menu as a drink that
“hurt like hell in high school, [but] this will make you feel good.”
Leadfest is the place’s primary event, with a long lineup of live music on the first Saturday in August.
all over the nation, bartender Renee Geyer said.
“Everyone here is just friendly, kind, and we all get along no matter your age or where you’re from,” Geyer said. “We all just have a good time. From the Dive Bar contest to party buses, people come here from all over.”
In 2024, the tavern was voted as the No. 1 Dive Bar in the nation in the Dive Bar Road Trip online contest (go to divebarroadtrip.com for more information), and it finished as runner-up last year, leading to an increase of visitors from
Geyer remembers the year it won the dive bar contest, it had many visitors come from around the Quad Cities area, where people who frequented the defending champion, The Edge in Rapids City, wanted to see what made Leadmine special.
“Since we were in that, we’ve had so many Quad Cities people up here,” Geyer said. “They’ll come in bus-fulls and they’ve said, ‘We got to see who beat us.’”
The intersection where the tavern is located once had an alignment of the east-west state Route 11, with motorists needing to navigate a short, abrupt jog to get past the cross street. Route 11 has since been realigned south of Lead Mine. Next door to the tavern is the town’s former Odd Fellows Lodge and grocery store, now a private home but with its Odd Fellows identification stone visible near its roof. n
To get back to Lake Carroll, either go back the way you came, or take state Route 11 30 miles east to Browntown, turn right at County Route M and follow to the Wisconsin-Illinois state line, where route M becomes Illinois state Route 73.
Guide To Lake Carroll Real Estate
Are you looking to enjoy the Lake Lifestyle? The following pages will show you the properties available to you right now!
VACANT LOTS
12-50 Birchbark Lane | $1 17-152 Edgewater Dr | $10
