Naperville Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Naperville Historic District is a set of 613 buildings in Naperville
, Illinois
. Of these 613 buildings, 544 contribute to the historical integrety of the area. The district represents the town as it was originally plat
ted and a few early additions.
Stephen Scott established a farm on the DuPage River
in 1830, marking the first settlement in what would become Naperville. A sawmill, grist mill, trading post, and school were erected soon after several other families migrated to the land. By 1832, 180 residents lived in the Naperville region. The village was briefly abandoned in 1832 as families fled to Fort Dearborn
during the Black Hawk War
, but most returned after fighting had ceased. The first post office was constructed in 1833. The Galena Road between Chicago
and Galena
opened in 1834 and brought commerce to the area. In the 1850s through the early 1870s, Naperville battled politically with Wheaton
over which town should be the county seat
of DuPage County. Though the town built a courthouse, a court decided in favor of Wheaton. The courthouse was demolished and was converted to a park.
Naperville primarily found economic success through the management of local resources. Stone quarries
exported limestone
, breweries produced alcohol
, and three separate plant nurseries flourished. Other important industries were Naperville Agricultural, producing farming equipment, and Martin Mitchell's Naperville Title and Brick Works. By World War I
, the largest employer was Naperville Manufacturing Co., which eventually became of the nation's leading furniture exporters. Plainfield College in Plainfield
moved its campus to Naperville in 1870, and was later renamed to North Central College
. The Evangelical Theological Seminary was organized in 1873 and was closely associated with North Central until merging with Garrett Theological Seminary in 1974. Despite this economic welfare and religious presence, Naperville grew slowly; the population in 1910 was only 3,449. The town's first major population boom was in the 1950s, as increased ease of travelled enhanced Naperville's place a Chicago suburb. Most of the older sections of town, however, are intact.
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Of these 613 buildings, 544 contribute to the historical integrety of the area. The district represents the town as it was originally plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted and a few early additions.
Stephen Scott established a farm on the DuPage River
DuPage River
The DuPage River is a tributary of the Des Plaines River in the U.S. state of Illinois.-Course:The river begins as two individual streams. The West Branch of the DuPage River, long, starts in Schaumburg at Campanelli Park in Cook County and continues southward through the entire county of DuPage,...
in 1830, marking the first settlement in what would become Naperville. A sawmill, grist mill, trading post, and school were erected soon after several other families migrated to the land. By 1832, 180 residents lived in the Naperville region. The village was briefly abandoned in 1832 as families fled to Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of...
during the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
, but most returned after fighting had ceased. The first post office was constructed in 1833. The Galena Road between Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Galena
Galena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
opened in 1834 and brought commerce to the area. In the 1850s through the early 1870s, Naperville battled politically with Wheaton
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
over which town should be the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of DuPage County. Though the town built a courthouse, a court decided in favor of Wheaton. The courthouse was demolished and was converted to a park.
Naperville primarily found economic success through the management of local resources. Stone quarries
Quarries
Quarries - The "Royal Quarries" — not found in Scripture — is the namegiven to the vast caverns stretching far underneath the northern hill, Bezetha, on which Jerusalem is built. Out of these mammoth caverns stones, a hard limestone, have been quarried in ancient times for the buildings in the...
exported limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, breweries produced alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
, and three separate plant nurseries flourished. Other important industries were Naperville Agricultural, producing farming equipment, and Martin Mitchell's Naperville Title and Brick Works. By World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the largest employer was Naperville Manufacturing Co., which eventually became of the nation's leading furniture exporters. Plainfield College in Plainfield
Plainfield, Illinois
Plainfield is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2007 special census, the population is 37,334.The Village includes land in Plainfield and Wheatland townships. Part of Plainfield is located in Kendall County...
moved its campus to Naperville in 1870, and was later renamed to North Central College
North Central College
North Central College is a leading liberal arts college providing students at different stages of life and from different ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds with comprehensive educational programs.-Academics:...
. The Evangelical Theological Seminary was organized in 1873 and was closely associated with North Central until merging with Garrett Theological Seminary in 1974. Despite this economic welfare and religious presence, Naperville grew slowly; the population in 1910 was only 3,449. The town's first major population boom was in the 1950s, as increased ease of travelled enhanced Naperville's place a Chicago suburb. Most of the older sections of town, however, are intact.
Selected sites of structures of significance
Naperville selected twenty sites and structures of particular value to exemplify the historical merit of the district.- Willard Scott, Jr. House (1887) – Son of Stephen Scott. Operated Scott's General Store and the Naperville Hotel.
- Elmholm (built before 1917) – Designed by Harry Robinson. Proprieter Rollo M. Givler owned the Clarion, a local newspaper
- 205 North Wright – Purchased by the seminary in 1908, moved to present site in 1912 for use as a dormitoryDormitoryA dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
- 122 South Brainard (1874) – Owned by Hammerschmidt family, notable for quarrying business
- North Central CollegeNorth Central CollegeNorth Central College is a leading liberal arts college providing students at different stages of life and from different ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds with comprehensive educational programs.-Academics:...
(1870) – Designed by John M. Van OsdelJohn M. Van OsdelJohn Mills Van Osdel was an American architect who is considered the first Chicago architect. He is considered a peer of the most prominent architects in the history of Chicago...
. South wing added in 1890 - Nichols House (1917) – Designed by Harry Robinson
- 227 East Jefferson (1866) – Designed by G. N. Gross. Later the home of ecologist May Theilgaard WattsMay Theilgaard WattsMay Theilgaard Watts was an American writer, illustrator, and teacher.Watts was the daughter of Danish immigrants. She grew up in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, but began a teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse outside of the city...
- Dieter House (1846) – Designed by Dr. David Hess. Moved to present location in 1898.
- Wilson House (c.CircaCirca , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1879) - Kroehler Manufacturing Company (1905) – Alterations in 1909 and 1913
- Paw Paw Station (1833) – First public building in the county (post office). Considerable alterations
- J. L. Nichols House (c. 1890) – Donated funds for public library and North Central College, founder of Kroehler Manufacturing Company.
- General Store (1847–9) – Designed and operated by Joseph NaperJoseph NaperJoseph Naper was a shipbuilder, businessman, politician, and town founder.Born in Bennington, Vermont, Naper traveled with his parents during his youth to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he helped his father, who was a ship builder. The Naper ships plied the Great Lakes with Fort Dearborn on Lake Michigan...
, the town's founder - Central Park (1868) – Former site of county courthouse
- 221 West Jefferson (c. 1870)
- Dr. Truitt House (c. 1917) – Truitt practiced medicine for over 50 years and helped establish the city hospital
- Kreger Family House (c. 1860)
- Nichols Library (1898) – Designed by M. E. Bell
- First Congregational Church (1905)
- P. E. Kroehler House (built before 1917) – Became president of Kroehler Manufacturing Company. Part of North Central College in 1950s