Of Horses and Carriages

Once upon a not-so-long-ago time, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, a horse and carriage could be found gently idling outside Barrington’s White House, except in those days it was home to the Barrington Realty Company, one of the owners being Herb (Herbert) Walbaum of a long-established Barrington family, rooted in farming and construction.

For Herb and his wife Esther, some of their happiest times were spent as members of the Horse and Carriage Society of Barrington. Their daughter Mary Williams remembers this group of Barrington folks who loved their ponies and horses and owned a variety of carriages. Mary was a realtor for 40 years and the co-owner of Barrington Realty. She lives in Barrington.

Their veterinarian, Dr. Dave Fredrick, had found an amazing horse for them. Classy Mac was in poor health, and in Iowa. She came home to Barrington, where the three of them brought her back to good health. Meanwhile the Walbaums searched for the proper carriage. They found one that needed restoration, and with lots of sandpaper and paint it was almost new again.

With the carriage and Classy Mac ready, their first outings were driving brides from the Methodist Church then on Hough Street (where the Memorial Park is now) to their receptions and joining the Sunday Carriage Club drives from Barrington Hills through the back roads to Algonquin’s Port Edward for brunch.

Mary Williams remembers that “Dad and Classy were a team.” They rarely missed a Barrington parade. “One of Dad’s favorite Sunday adventures was driving Classy into Barrington village to his Barrington Realty from where he could give children a ride around town. A good time was had by all.” And when winter and snow came, they didn’t have to slow down. They had Orville Caesar’s shiny red cutter to take them for a spin.

Herb Walbaun passed away in 2004 at the age of 94. Esther went before him, and so did Classy Mac. It was Dr. Dave Fredrick who drove their carriage and carried Herb’s casket to Evergreen Cemetery. There were surely many fond memories that day, and perhaps still are, amongst old Barringtonians, of a Sunday afternoon drive around the village with the beloved team of Herb Walbaum and his Classy Mac.