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

Burlington Square

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

1. Burlington Square Marker

Inscription. Burlington Square was formed in 1894 after the Naperville City Council passed a resolution to open Ellsworth Street north to the railroad tracks. The square was transformed from the old Carl Schwartz Lumber Yard into a neighborhood ball field. In 1915 the City of Naperville purchased the land, and then developed it into a memorial park in the early 1920s.

The Memorial Stones
The large memorial stone, which is now directly in front of The Spirit of the American Doughboy sculpture, was originally dedicated in 1920 along with a large evergreen tree in the middle of the park. The bronze tablet on the stone lists the names of the seven Naperville men who gave their lives in the service of their country in World War I. Additional stones were placed around the tree in 1920 to commemorate the fallen soldiers. In 2003 these stones were relocated around the Doughboy sculpture.

Naperville Doughboys in World War I
In addition to the seven men who lost their lives in the war and who are listed on the memorial stone, The Spirit of the American Doughboy sculpture honors all of our citizens who so proudly served in World War I. This community is grateful for their sacrifices.

Erected 2003.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars • War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 41° 46.739′ N, 88° 8.741′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Ellsworth Street north of North Avenue. The marker is the left of two adjacent plaques at the center of Burlington Square Park, near the flagpole at the center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101-199 North Avenue, Naperville IL 60540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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: Naperville World War I Veterans (here, next to this marker); The Spirit of the American Doughboy (a few steps from this marker); Naperville World War I Dead (a few steps from this marker); World War I Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Veterans Memorial Bench (within shouting distance of this marker); The Spirit of the American Navy (within shouting distance of this marker); 5th Avenue Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Congregational Church of Naperville (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Naperville.

Naperville World War I Veterans Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

2. Naperville World War I Veterans Marker

The marker is on the left side of the left slab; the other half of the slab is a list of Naperville's World War I vetearns. On the right concrete slab is a plaque listing the donors who helped create this memorial and refurbish the Doughboy statue in Burlington Square Park. That statue and its accompanying memorial stones are in the background.

The Doughboy statue and WWI plaque in Burlington Square image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

3. The Doughboy statue and WWI plaque in Burlington Square

Nearby plaque about donors to the Doughboy restoration image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

4. Nearby plaque about donors to the Doughboy restoration

Flag pole dedicated to Edward Reuben Albert, World War I vetearn image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025

5. Flag pole dedicated to Edward Reuben Albert, World War I vetearn

Albert died in 1999 at age 104.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 71 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4, 5. submitted on December 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.