Naperville in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Hand Pump
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025
1. Hand Pump Marker
Pull the handle up and down to bring water up to the surface.
Fresh water is a necessity for town building. Although the DuPage River provided a quantity of water, it was not always fresh. The geology of the bedrock, clay, and sandstone beneath Naperville created many artesian springs which supplied early settlers with cool, pure water at the surface.
Landowners without access to surface water dug fresh water wells. Archaeological evidence suggests at least one hand-dug well and two cisterns were used at this site. A cistern is an underground water tank used to collect rain water. It is likely that a hand pump similar to the one on this site was used to pump water for drinking, bathing, and cooking, as well as to water livestock.
Today, Naperville gets its water from Lake Michigan.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 41° 46.382′ N, 88° 9.265′ W. Marker is in Naperville, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and
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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: Mark Naper Home (a few steps from this marker); Naper Homestead (a few steps from this marker); First Frame House (a few steps from this marker); Trading Post Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Log Cabin Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Napers & Naperville (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Naper Homestead (within shouting distance of this marker); Naper Settlement
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025
2. Hand Pump at Naper Homestead
Also see . . .
1. City of Naperville: Water Supply. Naperville uses water from Lake Michigan, acquired from the DuPage Water Commission.
Excerpt: "Prior to Lake Michigan water, Napervilles water supply came from a network of 25 underground wells. A number of these wells are now retained for emergency standby use."(Submitted on December 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Naper Homestead. From the Naper Settlement website (Submitted on December 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 16, 2025
3. Naper Homestead
A statue of Joseph Naper is at the northwest entry into this small park.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on December 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
