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. It is on Aurora Avenue west of Eagle Street, on the right when traveling west. 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the

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territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Naperville Memorial Field (approx. 0.2 miles away); Farmers Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Naperville Heritage Society (approx. 0.2 miles away); Horse Market Days (approx. 0.2 miles away); Antique Show Plow (approx. 0.2 miles away); Commander Dan Shanower September 11 Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Steve Chirico (approx. ¼ mile away); Riverwalk Amphitheater (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.

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

George Martin image. Click for more information.

via Naperville Heritage Society History Stories, unknown

2. George Martin

Naperville Heritage Society History Stories:
Click for more information.

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.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 21, 2023

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

The Millennium Carillon is in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 463 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 22, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on December 16, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on October 22, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.