Henney Motor Company Freeport, IL
Transcribed By and Contributed to Genealogy Trails by Alice Horner
The Henney Packard Motor Company was a large factory located in Freeport, Illinois, employing over 300 workers in 1939. In the early days it was a buggy factory, but it became a hearse and ambulance factory associated with Packard. Alice Horner's father, H. Reid Horner, worked at Henney from 1928 until it closed in 1954 and was head of the Personnel Department while there. In 1939, the factory rolled the 1200th Henney Packard off of its production lines, which at the time was "The Largest Number of Funeral Cars and Ambulances Ever Produced By One Company in a Single Year." To celebrate their feat, the Company issued a commemorative booklet detailing its story. Alice Horner has contributed that booklet and the 1940 "Program Of Progress" booklet to Genealogy Trails. Her note: The transcription of these Henney publications is dedicated to my father, H. Reid Horner, and to my friend, Mildred March, and to all the other wonderful people who worked for the Henney Motor Company. These Henney publications provide much of the history of the Henney Motor Company and its employees. Another source for Henney history is the Stephenson County Historical Society and their museum at 1440 S. Carroll Avenue, Freeport, Illinois 61032. or call at 815-232-8419. They have an extensive collection of Henney publications, documents, memorabilia, and at least one Henney buggy. They can provide assistance by telephone or email to people doing Henney research. Read H. Reid Horner's History of the Henney Motor Company Browse the 1939/1940 Commemorative Booklets or Select from the following pages: Early Henney Photos from pages 3-6, including: J.W. Henney photo, first factories, The Band, 1892-93 department photos, award-winning buggy photos from 1893, 1906 department photos Later Henney Photos from pages 7-9, including: Catalog pictures, 1907, 1917 and 1924 Department Pictures, 1st Hearse, Nu-3-Way Side Servicing funeral car and Combination sedan-type, pallbearers coach and ambulance Henney "Old-Timer's Roll Call" Selected Employee Biographies View Employee Group Pictures from the 1939-1940 Booklets (includes extra vital info birth/death dates, links to obits when available) List of Henney Employees (names not included in the 1939/40 booklets. Includes birth/death dates when known and links to obits when available) Henney Softball Team Henney Bowling Team Christmas at Henney Annual Sales Meeting Mrs. Henney Celebrates 95th birthday Shop Shots - Miscellaneous items about employees Names and Addresses of Henney Sales Representatives & Demonstrators View Employee Obituaries 1979 Reunion Pictures 1979 Newspaper Coverage of Reunion Back to Stephenson County