This road followed an Indian trail that began in Chicago and went through DuPage, Kane, De Kalb, Boone, and Winnebago Counties to a Winnebago Village at Beloit, Wisconsin. In August, 1832, during the Black Hawk War, United States Army reinforcements . . . — — Map (db m47438) HM
This memorial was constructed using the cornerstone, bricks, doorframe, and windowsills from the former Kinderheim building.
Originally, the building served as a Lutheran foster home for children, from the time it was built in 1925, until 1960. . . . — — Map (db m47431) HM
This monument, made from window sills and steps from the seminary, was erected in 1974 by grateful alumni.
The seminary was relocated in 1913 to River Forest, Illinois, and is now named Concordia College.
Matt 28:19 – Go ye and teach all . . . — — Map (db m47436) HM
Site of the first building of St. Paul Lutheran School which served as school and teacherage, home, and youth center (1849-1974). Henry Bartling, first teacher (1849-1891) also served as Addison postmaster for over 50 years. — — Map (db m47429) HM
Addison’s Village Green, a popular site for concerts and other events, has seem three different gazebos constructed at this site.
The first, dedicated in 1965, was built in Rome, Italy in 1873 and then brought to Addison by Joseph Incandella. It . . . — — Map (db m47432) HM
This monument is in the shape of a five-pointed star when viewed from above. On each arm of the star is an emblem of the one of the five military services; Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Between each arm is the . . . — — Map (db m47440) HM
Bruno F. Shustek
Sept 10, 1899 - July 6, 1930
Shustek Pond
In honor of Bruno F. Shustek, who gave his life attempting a daring midair rescue of parachutist Mary Fahrney, just northwest of this site, on July 6, 1930.
This pond was . . . — — Map (db m119952) HM
The Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building was built in 1892 for the first bank in Downers Grove. The bank was organized on May 10, 1892. The officers of the bank included Charles Curtiss, President, W.A. Tope, M.D., Vice President, and W.H. Edwards, . . . — — Map (db m60037) HM
In 1856, Samuel Curtiss donated part of his sheep pasture for use as a cemetery. He was later paid $15 for the land, money from individuals who formed a cemetery association in 1864. Nearly 100 members of Downers Grove's early families, including . . . — — Map (db m60038) HM
In the early days this was the entrance to the cemetery since the original Main Street was one block west of present day Main Street. For this reason, as you will note, most of the inscriptions on the gravestones are facing west.
As a result of . . . — — Map (db m60039) HM
Architects Fugard & Knapp designed this temple in 1924 for Grove Lodge No. 824, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The Lodge was chartered October 4, 1893. Charter members included E.E. Downer, G.E. Downer, M.B. Downer, T.S. Rogers, Charles Mochel, . . . — — Map (db m60036) HM
Immediately north of this marker runs the Indian Boundary Line which was established on Aug 24, 1816 by a treaty between three U.S. commissioners and the Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawotami Indians to provide a corridor between Lake Michigan and the . . . — — Map (db m60035) HM
This fountain is given by Elmhurst citizens and organizations so that this and future generations may share his beauty and tranquility and be reminded of our national heritage. — — Map (db m236994) WM
This depot served the Chicago Great Western Railway from its founding, as the Minnesota & Northwestern Railway in 1887, until service was discontinued in 1968. The CGW primarily transported freight, with some commuter service. In 1971 the Elmhurst . . . — — Map (db m237001) HM
Moses Stacy, soldier in the War of 1812, arrived here in 1835. This inn, built in 1846 and his second home, was a halfway stop between Chicago and the Fox River Valley and a probable stage stop for Rockford-Galena coaches. For many years the . . . — — Map (db m97573) HM
On April 6, 1891, attorney Ellen Martin & 14 women voted in Lombard election asserting town charter gave right to all citizens of voting age. — — Map (db m173085) HM
Home of the first settler of DuPage County. A flowing spring attracted Bailey Hobson to come from Indiana to build a cabin in 1830 and a home in 1835. Hobson was a farmer, miller and soldier in the Black Hawk War.
The mill site, now . . . — — Map (db m234774) HM
Near this site in 1832 a 100-foot square stockade enclosed by wooden pickets, with two blockhouses on diagonal corners, was built. Here Captain Morgan L. Payne and his company of forty-five men protected the settlers from roaming Sauk Indians during . . . — — Map (db m97574) HM
Naperville's Horse Market Days drew farmers and dealers from all over to haggle and show off their horses.
Monthly horse sales in front of the Pre-Emption House began in 1885. Dealers hired boys to exercise the animals and take them to the . . . — — Map (db m246563) HM
John Dudley was born February 25, 1758 in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. In 1776 at the age of 18, he enlisted in the New Hampshire militia and served at Fort Ticonderoga in Colonel Reed's Regiment. There Dudley and the rest of the American troops . . . — — Map (db m230990) HM WM
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 — — Map (db m234806) HM
North Central's award-winning radio station was launched in 1946 by World War II student veterans, many of whom had served as service radio technicians. Granted a license in 1968 to operate as WONC-FM 89.1 the station and its student broadcasters . . . — — Map (db m246562) HM
This plow, which helped turn wild prairies into productive farm fields, represents the logo of the Naperville Heritage Society.
As a fledgling grassroots organization in 1969, volunteers began holding an annual Antiques Show and Sale to . . . — — Map (db m246633) HM
The Ben Fuller House is one of, if not the oldest surviving buildings in DuPage County. The farmhouse was built sometime between 1835 and 1842 by Benjamin Fuller, one of DuPage County’s earliest settlers. Mr. Fuller reportedly arrived to the area . . . — — Map (db m48058) HM
Mammoth Spring
Largest in northeastern Illinois, burst forth in 1861
and was used for domestic and irrigation purposes
pumping 150 gallons per minute, furnished through wood
conduit the total water supply for Elmhurst from 1889-1916
The . . . — — Map (db m33626) HM
Is that a giant birdbath? No, the cement bowl in front of you is a horse trough, one of three surviving structures from the 1922 gatehouse that once stood at Mayslake Peabody Estate. (The gateposts and stone wall along 31st Street are the other . . . — — Map (db m246244) HM
Look left. Look right. You are standing on the northern border of the Indian Boundary Line, a 20-by-70-mile strip of land that stretched from Lake Michigan southwest to the Illinois River near present-day Ottawa, Illinois.
The line was part of . . . — — Map (db m246237) HM
This merry-go-round is from Butler School's original playground that was located about 100 yards to the northeast of the school. The merry-go-round saw service from 1921 until 1961 when a new Butler School was built.
School Board member Joseph . . . — — Map (db m246245) HM
[Plaque on the flagpole in the center:]
Dedicated to the Villa Park Veterans of Foreign Wars
[Inscription at the top of plaques dedicated to the five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces:]
Freedom Is Not Free
Dedicated to the following that . . . — — Map (db m244906) WM
This park is dedicated to the memory of Dr. L.R. "Doc" Cortesi (1913 to 1983) who provided medical aid to his country and Villa Park for four decades.
During World War II he was in charge of a hospital ship during D-Day and after that . . . — — Map (db m244881) HM WM
This arched gateway, located in Villa Park, Illinois, marks the beginning of the Great Western Trail that extends for 12 miles through DuPage County. The trail was constructed on an abandoned spur of the Chicago Great Western Railway. The spur, . . . — — Map (db m244829) HM
In 2004, the Villa Historic District was awarded a Historic Landmark plaque by the Villa Park Historic Preservation Commission to recognize its significance to the Village of Villa Park. These buildings represent such an important part of . . . — — Map (db m244870) HM
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of this building which served early residents of Villa Park as a station for the Chicago Aurora and Elgin electric railroad. The Village of Villa Park honors its past and preserves its heritage.
Station . . . — — Map (db m244879) HM
The stone posts located 75 yards to the south of this sign mark the front gate of the house occupied by then-Colonel George C. Marshall, Jr. and his wife, Katherine, in 1936. Marshall lived here while serving with the Illinois National Guard in . . . — — Map (db m230911) HM
Wayne Village was founded as a settlement by Solomon Dunham, after the Galena and Union tracks were completed in 1850. (Later called the Chicago Northwestern R.R.) The founder of the settlement was appointed the first station master, postmaster, and . . . — — Map (db m57842) HM
Dedicated to the valor of all Americans who fought for their country. Established by trustees of the Robert R. McCormick Charitable Trust as a memorial to Colonel Robert R. McCormick who served in France with the 5th Field Artillery, First . . . — — Map (db m70911) WM
In 1937 Grote Reber, a 26-year-old radio engineer, built the world's first radio
telescope in the side yard of his home that stood here at 212 West Seminary Street,
now Karlskoga Avenue. For ten years he conducted experiments at night . . . — — Map (db m230987) HM
Warren Lyon Wheaton, one of the founders of the community that bears his
and his brother Jesse's name, built his home on this site in 1848. Though no
longer evident, the original home has been incorporated within this much
larger structure.
. . . — — Map (db m230989) HM
The Chicken Basket was established in 1946 born out of a gas station next door that sold fried chicken. It was a Blue Bird bus stop as well as a restaurant and used to have ice skaters on the roof to attract Route 66 travelers. It became Dell . . . — — Map (db m157104) HM
Most businesses on Route 66 began as combinations of gas stations, garages, and lunch counters. At the Chicken Basket, tasty food won out over gasoline sales. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, hungry travelers flocked to the popular restaurant. But in . . . — — Map (db m157100) HM