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

Pillars of the Community Center Mural

2001

— Naperville Century Walk —

Pillars of the Community Center Mural Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

1. Pillars of the Community Center Mural Marker

Inscription. The mural includes the Pre-Emption House, where Gertrude and Frank Wehrli raised a family of 13 children. The dramatic horses are pulling a heavy load of wood for the C.B. Moore Lumber Company, while a man is washing his car in the DuPage River near Eagle Street. Artist Lester Schrader is honored for his oil paintings that beautifully preserve the history of Naperville. The Beach Inn and the original Nichols Library are also represented. To honor our military, a Marine and WAVE are shown bringing a doll to head librarian Mary B. "Matie" Egermann who received dolls from servicemen around the world and shared her collection with the children of Naperville.
Diosdado "Dodie" Mondero

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Patriots & Patriotism.

Location. 41° 46.297′ N, 88° 8.955′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Chicago Avenue east of South Main Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is to the left of the middle of three murals overlooking Chicago Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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 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: Pillars of the Community: West Mural (a few

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steps from this marker); Pillars of the Community East Mural (a few steps from this marker); Pre-Emption House (a few steps from this marker); Naperville Sports Notables (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Naperville Sports Notables (a few steps from this marker); Third and Fourth Main Street Bridges over the West Branch of the DuPage River (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry and Eva White Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); First and Second Main Street Bridges over the West Branch of the DuPage River (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.

More about this marker. Three murals were painted here in 2001 at the site of the Pre-Emption House, an 1834 tavern and inn that was torn down in 1946. This marker is one of three related to those murals; a fourth, earlier marker was dedicated by the DuPage Historical Society to the Pre-Emption House.

Also see . . . Les Schrader Painting Collection. From the Naper Settlement, a biography

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

2. Pillars of the Community Center Mural Marker

of Lester Schrader, who is depicted on this mural, and a description of some of his paintings. (Submitted on September 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Site of the Pre-Emption House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 15, 2024

3. Site of the Pre-Emption House

Four historical markers are affixed to the wall near the three murals related to Naperville's history. The one on the far right is the oldest, erected soon after the Pre-Emption House was torn down in 1946.

Pre-Emption House historical photo image. Click for full size.

Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress), circa 1933

4. Pre-Emption House historical photo

The murals are at the site of the Pre-Emption House, which was built in 1834 and torn down in 1946.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 156 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 20, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.