Clasen's Tavern is celebrating 125 years of service to our community. Here is a brief history of the tavern and information on our anniversary event.   For any questions  Jenni can be reached at 815-404-3375 or at jenni22@live.com.

 

In honor of 125 years of service to the community, we will be hosting an anniversary celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, October 18th from 2-10 pm.  Live music  Southbound Chicago from 5pm till 9pm.  We will hold a 50/50 raffle as well as basket drawings. All proceeds will be split evenly between Elite Veteran Outfitters and Union Lion's Club.

Come enjoy the day with us!

Bring your own Bag Chair.

 

Clasen’s Tavern is more than just a bar—it’s a living time capsule of Union, Illinois history. First opened in 1900 by William Clasen, the tavern has stood through Prohibition, gangsters, robberies, and generations of family ownership. Originally converted from a general store, it quickly became a community gathering place, surviving even the dry years of Prohibition when homemade beer, root beer, and other tricks kept locals satisfied. Stories tell of William Clasen meeting Al Capone at a nearby roadhouse, and of robbers blowing up the town post office safe.

 

Through the decades, the tavern stayed in the family, passed from William to his daughter Lillian Yerke, and later to her children, making it one of the few Union businesses that remained under one family’s ownership for more than a century. Inside, the tavern preserved its original bar, rustic atmosphere, and even pieces of Union’s past that became landmarks for locals. Photos from 1912 and 1913 show William Clasen himself, along with townsfolk like farmers, blacksmiths, and shoemakers—evidence of how deeply rooted it was in daily community life.

 

Perhaps most striking is that Clasen’s Tavern weathered changes that shut down other small-town bars. While many communities had to vote “wet” or “dry,” Union never really had a choice—when National Prohibition forced every town dry, Clasen’s found ways to keep going. With the Elgin and Belvidere Electric Railway running through town and barrels of whiskey still making their way in, Clasen’s became a symbol of Union’s resilience. Over 100 years later, the tavern stands not only as a place for a drink but as a reminder of the grit, stories, and spirit that shaped this small town.

 

Clasen’s Tavern is located at 17628 Depot St in Union IL. Find us on Facebook for updates and information.

Thank you to the McHenry County Historical Society for the historical content.

Clasen's Tavern is celebrating 125 years of service to our community. Here is a brief history of the tavern and information on our anniversary event. For any questions

Jenni can be reached at 815-404-3375 or at jenni22@live.com.

 

In honor of 125 years of service to the community, we will be hosting an anniversary celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, October 18th from 2-10 pm.  Live music with Southbound Chicago from 5pm till 9pm.  We will hold a 50/50 raffle as well as basket drawings. All proceeds will be split evenly between Elite Veteran Outfitters and Union Lion's Club. Come enjoy the day with us! Bring your own Bag Chair. 

 

Clasen’s Tavern is more than just a bar—it’s a living time capsule of Union, Illinois history. First opened in 1900 by William Clasen, the tavern has stood through Prohibition, gangsters, robberies, and generations of family ownership. Originally converted from a general store, it quickly became a community gathering place, surviving even the dry years of Prohibition when homemade beer, root beer, and other tricks kept locals satisfied. Stories tell of William Clasen meeting Al Capone at a nearby roadhouse, and of robbers blowing up the town post office safe.

 

Through the decades, the tavern stayed in the family, passed from William to his daughter Lillian Yerke, and later to her children, making it one of the few Union businesses that remained under one family’s ownership for more than a century. Inside, the tavern preserved its original bar, rustic atmosphere, and even pieces of Union’s past that became landmarks for locals. Photos from 1912 and 1913 show William Clasen himself, along with townsfolk like farmers, blacksmiths, and shoemakers—evidence of how deeply rooted it was in daily community life.

 

Perhaps most striking is that Clasen’s Tavern weathered changes that shut down other small-town bars. While many communities had to vote “wet” or “dry,” Union never really had a choice—when National Prohibition forced every town dry, Clasen’s found ways to keep going. With the Elgin and Belvidere Electric Railway running through town and barrels of whiskey still making their way in, Clasen’s became a symbol of Union’s resilience. Over 100 years later, the tavern stands not only as a place for a drink but as a reminder of the grit, stories, and spirit that shaped this small town.

 

In honor of 125 years of service to the community, we will be hosting an anniversary celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, October 18th from 2-10 pm. Live music with Southbound Chicago from 5pm till 9pm. We will hold a 50/50 raffle as well as basket drawings. All proceeds will be split evenly between Elite Veteran Outfitters and Union Lion's Club. Come enjoy the day with us!

 

Clasen’s Tavern is located at 17628 Depot St in Union IL. Find us on Facebook for updates and information.

Thank you to the McHenry County Historical Society for the historical content.