Naperville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Site of the First Frame House in DuPage County

Photographed By Sean Flynn

1. Site of the First Frame House in DuPage County Marker

Inscription. Site of
First Frame House
in DuPage County
Home of
George Martin Family
Built in 1833
Willed to the City
of Naperville
in 1936
Destroyed by Fire
in 1958

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1833.

Location. 41° 46.151′ N, 88° 9.316′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. The marker is near the parking lot next to the Millennium Carillon Sledding Hill, behind the handicapped parking spaces if you turn right off of Aurora Avenue. Naper Settlement and Naperville Central High School are across Aurora Avenue from this location. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 443 Aurora Avenue, Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Revolutionary War Veteran (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Payne (approx. 0.6 miles away); Bailey Hobson’s House (approx. 1.9 miles away); The McDonald Farm (approx. 3.7 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Du Page (approx. 4.2 miles away); Frontier Park Prairie Restoration (approx. 5 miles away); Cantigny First Division Museum (approx. 5.8 miles away); Marcellus E. Jones Gravesite (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.

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sectionhead>More about this marker. George Martin was a Scottish immigrant who built what is considered the first frame house in DuPage County, using wood that was milled at nearby Joseph Naper's Mill. The house, known as the "Century House," was destroyed by fire in 1958.

Martin's son, also named George, took over the farm and also opened a quarry for building stone along the DuPage River; that quarry is now Quarry Lake, a short walk from this historical marker. Business boomed for George II after the Great Chicago Fire increased demand building supplies. In 1883, he built a mansion on the south side of the river, which today is part of the Naper Settlement across the street from this historical marker.

Also see . . . https://napersettlement.org/DocumentCenter/View/305/George-Martin.

Naperville Heritage Society History Stories: "Records found in the Archives at Naper Settlement indicate that George I hauled timber (oak, walnut and possibly locust wood) to Joseph Naper’s sawmill to be made into lumber for the construction of a home, outbuildings and fences. The receipt also indicated that he bought grain, potatoes and other supplies from Naper’s trading post. The home he built was later called 'Century House' and was considered the first frame house built in Naperville until it burned to the ground
Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 21, 2023

2. Site of the First Frame House in DuPage County Marker
The Millennium Carillon is in the background.
in 1958."

(Submitted on October 22, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 85 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 22, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.