NAPERVILLEHistoric Walking Tour –

East

3rd printing, revised Spring 2006

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Brief Summary ofNaperville’s PastIn 1831, Captain Joseph Naper traveled from Ashtabula,Ohio, to the fertile soil of Illinois, approximately 30 mileswest of Chicago, near the DuPage River. He brought alongseveral families and individuals as well as plans and provisionsfor establishing a community. By early 1832, Naper’sSettlement had 180 people dwelling in it, along with atrading house, mills and a school. The following year saw apost office and frame homes erected.

Naperville’s early development was possible because a roadconnecting Chicago and Ottawa, and the Galena Road (nowAurora Avenue), passed through town. Naperville was hometo the county seat from 1839 until 1867, when Wheatoncontested and gained the rights. Completion of the Chicago,Burlington and Quincy Railroad through Naperville in 1864helped spur growth and was responsible for opening theChicago market to the town’s already flourishing nurseries,breweries and quarries. The railroad also enabled theNaperville Lounge Company (later Kroehler ManufacturingCompany) to grow into one of the world’s largest furnituremanufacturers.

Pioneer settler and real estate developer Morris Sleight onceowned much of the land on the east side of Naperville. By thetime of his death in 1863, he had amassed a total of 473 acres,which were developed into residential plots.

Most homes in this tour are frame, two-story single-familydwellings, though some of masonry can be found. Throughoutthe area, the Italianate Style predominates. Otherarchitectural styles include Queen Anne, National Folk,Stick, Craftsman, Prairie School, Gothic, and ClassicalRevival.

The mansions of Chicago Avenue overshadow the smallerhomes built in an earlier era, and show the affluence of theindustrial age. The concentration of prestigious homes ledthis area to be dubbed “Quality Hill” by local residents.

Walking Tour CreditsThis project is partially supported by a grant from the City ofNaperville’s Special Events & Cultural Amenities Fund.

©2006 Naperville Heritage Society

E A S T S I D E W A L K I N G T O U R

IntroductionBy Pierre Lebeau, Professor of History Emeritus, North Central College

Until the arrival of the railroad, prominent citizens andfamilies of lesser means had intermingled on the west side ofWashington Street. By the mid-1860s the wealthier andmiddle class families started to establish themselves on theeast side of Washington Street. The wealthy tended tocongregate on East Jefferson and Chicago Avenues betweenEllsworth and Sleight Streets.

In 1869 Naperville residents pledged $25,000 to bring NorthWestern College (now North Central College) to the town.

Delcar Sleight, who had purchased most of his father’s realestate from the other heirs, donated eight acres of land. Thecollege contributed considerably to the enrichment of thecultural life of Naperville. In addition, its professors andadministrators settled in the neighborhood.

The presence of the college reinforced the semi-aristocraticcharacter of this section of town that became known as “QualityHill” and constitutes today the larger part of the NapervilleHistoric District with its variety of 19th and 20th centuryarchitectural styles.

Additional brochures highlighting Naperville’s west side anddowntown historic architecture are available. Stop by for free copies,or call for more information.

Naper Settlement523 S. Webster Street • Naperville, IL 60540

630-420-6010www.napersettlement.museum

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“NHS” featured after the building’s address signifies that the structurehas received a plaque for historic or architectural significance from theNaperville Heritage Society.

401 E. Highland Ave. NHS

James L. Nichols Jr. Residence1917Harry Robinson, Architect

Harry Robinson, chief draftsman for Frank Lloyd Wright duringWorld War I, designed this house, along with 144 S. Sleight(Number 19) and 48 E. Jefferson. Characteristics of the PrairieSchool evident in this house include the low-pitched roof withprojecting eaves, and casement windows with geometric patternsgrouped into horizontal bands. Nichols was a three-term mayor ofNaperville and the son of James L. Nichols (who resided at 320 E.Chicago Ave., Number 4). He was associated with his father’spublishing firm and later, Kroehler Manufacturing Company.

329 S. Brainard St.Edward EverettRall House1920

Rall House has been the home of North Central Collegepresidents since 1929, when the

house was given to the College by Charles R. Rall to honor hisbrother, Edward Everett Rall, president from 1916 to 1946. TheColonial Revival house was originally built by Judge JohnGoodwin for his daughter, Mrs. Robert (Suzanne) Johnston.

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became a six-flat apartment building. It was partially reconstructedand completely rehabilitated in the style of the original 1876residence and returned to a single-family home in 1998.

432 E. Chicago Ave. NHSAdolf HammerschmidtResidence1894

The turret, decorative shingles,gabled roof, verandas and leadedglass windows are all elementswhich define this house as Queen Anne Style. Working fromVictorian pattern books, builderand client would create plans forflamboyant structures such as these.

144 S. Sleight St. NHS“Elmholm”Rollo M. Givler Residence1915Harry Robinson,Architect

This Prairie School Style house, along with 401 E. Highland(Number 1) and 48 E. Jefferson, was designed by Harry Robinson,chief draftsman for Frank Lloyd Wright during World War I.Much of Wright’s influence can be seen in Robinson’s designs.Givler owned and operated the Naperville Clarion, an earlyNaperville newspaper.

120 S. Sleight St. NHSBenjamin J. SlickResidencec. 1894

This is an example of the FolkVictorian Style which derived

elements from, but was less ornate than, many Victorian Stylesincluding Queen Anne. These houses were often designed by thecarpenter and owner, who selected decorative elements from themany available pattern books and catalogues. Benjamin Slickand Joseph Kochly, former employees of Scott’s Store, openedtheir own store in 1897 called Slick & Kochly.

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308 E. Chicago Ave.c. 1895

This Classical Revival house takesits inspiration from the FederalStyle of the 18th century.Popularized by the Columbian

Exposition of 1893, the Classical Revival appears in details suchas the half-circular window in the pediment, and the entrancewith fanlight and sidelights.

320 E. Chicago Ave.James L. Nichols Sr.Residence1886

James L. Nichols was one ofNaperville’s most prominentcitizens. Active in civic andeducational affairs, he donatedfunds for the public library and forNorth Central College’s firstgymnasium. A graduate of theCollege, professor, successful

business author and publisher, he was also one of the founders ofthe Naperville Lounge Co. (later Kroehler Manufacturing Co.).The dominating feature of this Queen Anne Style house is itscircular, three-story main tower facing the street. A second,smaller tower forms a third-story dormer window on the east sideof the house. The wrap-around veranda and scalloped shinglesincrease the ornate appearance of the house. A major addition onthe east side greatly increased the size of the house in 1996.

409 E. Chicago Ave.c. 1876Reconstruction 1998

The Italianate Style looked to thecountry villas of northern Italy for

inspiration, and was characterized by rectangular massing, a low-pitched roof, heavy supporting brackets under the eaves, andelongated windows with elaborate hoods. George Reuss owned theReuss State Bank on 135 S. Washington St., and was also aclothing manufacturer. Over the years, this Italianate Style villa

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415 E. Benton Ave.c. 1880

This house was originally locatedon the man-made lake inBurlington Park and used as aticket office for boat rental.

Burlington Park was developed in 1880 by the Chicago,Burlington and Quincy Railroad for pleasure seekers from Chicago and vicinity.Sometime after the park closedin 1899, the structure wasmoved to Benton Ave. and usedas a paint shop by Frank Grimes.Around 1927 it was enlargedand altered to be used as rentalproperty and later the home ofvarious Grimes family members.

5 N. Sleight St. NHS

Theodore GermannResidence1879

This house features simpleItalianate detailing popular in Naperville homes of the 1870s.The porch has been added. Theodore Germann immigrated toAmerica in 1851. He was a tailor.

8 N. Sleight St. NHS

Benjamin BeidelmanResidence1891

A highlight of this Folk Victorianis its unusual asymmetricalcomposition.

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110 S. Sleight St.George Yost Residence1892

This Queen Anne Style house isa grouping of a variety of shapesand textures in a non-symmetrical composition. Queen

Anne elements include the rounded turret with fish-scaleshingles, and turned spindlework and posts on the veranda.

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David N. Moyerc. 1891

The patterned shingles combinedwith clapboards, and the scroll-cutwood brackets, are noteworthydetails of this Folk Victorian house.

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Samuel S. Stayerc. 1892

Whenever a new style appeared, itinfluenced the builders of theperiod, often resulting in an

eclectic assemblage of elements, a hallmark of the Queen AnneStyle. The tower, with its French-inspired mansard roof, wasdesigned to create a romantic room. The veranda wrapped aroundthe side of the house at one time.

15 S. Sleight St.John A. Westc. 1896

Around the attic window, thisFolk Victorian features the woodsunburst relief detailing common

to the style. The raking cornice on the front gable roof is a GreekRevival detail.

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Burlington Park Ticket Booth for boatrentals, c. 1885

429 E. North Ave.Sucher/Dudley Housec. 1871

This beautifully restored exampleof the Italianate Style was built forprosperous French immigrantfarmer, Michael Sucher. In 1882,the home was purchased byDuPage County Judge Myron C.Dudley.

338 N. Sleight St.John Wolfersheinc. 1875

This large, cross-gabled Italianatehas a limestone foundation. Theiron fence and gate is original.

This home was most likely built for a John Wolfershein familymember. The Wolfershein family owned both this lot and the lotto the north from 1863 to 1894.

340 N. Sleight St.John Wolfersheinc. 1863

Although this house has beenaltered – the classic I-house floorplan can still be observed. JohnWolfershein, an immigrant from

France, was a day laborer. This house is typical of a laborer’shousehold. The large lot would have provided adequate space foroutbuildings, gardens, and trees for food and shade.

337 N. Sleight St.Thomas Costelloc. 1875

Thomas Costello was a prosperousfarmer from Ireland. The originalstructure was built around 1875,

most likely an end gable Italianate with a wing to the south. Overtime a second story porch, dormer, and new roof-line were added.The summer kitchen at the back of the lot was relocated to thisproperty around 1920.

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22 N. Sleight St.Thomas BettsResidencec. 1890

This quaint one-story Victoriancottage was built for ThomasBetts, a brush maker, farmer, and

landlord. The pyramidal form is a rare version of the NationalStyle Folk House. The double front door and numerous windowswere intended to provide ample ventilation and uninterruptedviews of the countryside which in 1890 was the easternmost edgeof town. The dormer on the north side was added.

205 N. Wright St. NHSGeorge SindlingerResidence1880

George W. Sindlinger was an1869 graduate and later professor

of North Central College. The Evangelical Theological Seminarypurchased this house in 1908. It housed the seminary until it wasmoved to its present site from School Ave. and Loomis St. in1912, and was then used as a dormitory. Features of the ItalianateStyle include the wide eaves supported by large brackets, tall thinfirst floor windows, and low-pitched hip roof.

503 E. North Ave.William Beidelmanc. 1862

This typical Civil War Erabrick structure was constructedby and for William Beidelmanand his family. Beidelman wasa brick and stone mason. The

east half of the home was added later in a lighter colored brick.Originally this home was parged, that is, a mortar coating wasapplied over the common brick, incised and beaded to imitatebrickwork. This provided a smooth surface and protection forthe underlying masonry.

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406 E. 4th Ave.Koppa/Miller Housec. 1915

The use of natural materials,including fieldstone, river rockand boulders, was popularized by

the Craftsman Movement of the early 20th Century. This househas the basic form of the American Four-square with hipped roof,wide eaves, and dormer. Joseph Koppa immigrated to the U.S. in1882 and settled in Naperville.His family lived in the framehouse pictured below. Hisdaughter, Anna, married ArthurMiller who built the presenthouse with stones gathered byhand from local fields.

300 E. 5th Ave.KroehlerManufacturing Co. 1905; additions andalterations 1909, 1913

Organized as the Naperville Lounge Co. in 1893 by Professor JamesL. Nichols and Peter Edward Kroehler, the firm was incorporatedas the Kroehler Manufacturing Co. in 1915. Throughout itshistory, this firm was a major employer in Naperville, and becamethe largest manufacturer of upholstered furniture in America. Thecompany ceased operation in 1978, and later this building wastransformed into loft apartments, shops, and offices. The interiorfeatures rough-hewntimbers and open-beamceilings as well as a seriesof interpretive plaqueson the history of thebuilding.

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105 E. 4th Ave.CB&Q Railroad Engineering Staff, Architectsc. 1890

In the early 20th century, the CB&Q designed their railroadstations with a symmetrical grandeur to reflect the importanceof the railroad to the community. The depot was one of themajor centers of activity in the town and the structure and styleof the depot, viewed as a symbol of progress, contributed to theprestige of the town. This depot is a more refined developmentof the prototype established by the CB&Q at Hinsdale in 1898,and used at Riverside in 1901. The use of recessed belt coursesin the brickwork and aprominent Palladianwindow in the center ofthe trackside elevationestablish the inspirationof this design as beingclassical.

307 E. North Ave. Nelson A. ThomasResidence1844 NHS

It is nearly impossible todistinguish the I-house floor planof this Folk House. The lines of

the vertical board and batons resemble barn or out-buildingconstruction. Thomas, a farmer from New York, brought his wifeand two children to Naperville in 1844.

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The Koppa/Miller House underconstruction, c. 1915

Photo taken around 1910

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Station, 1909

30 N. Brainard St. NHS

Old Main1870; south wing added 1890John Van Osdel,Architect

Old Main was the original building of the present campus ofNorth Central College. It was built in 1870 after the college,once called North-Western College, was moved from Plainfieldto Naperville. Morris Sleight donated a site of eight acres to theCollege, and the citizens of Naperville contributed $25,000toward the construction of this building, hoping that theinstitution would become a factor in the growth of the town.

The distinguishing features of this Second Empire Style buildingare its mansard roof and the central tower of the main building.The elongated windows are arched and pedimented, and classicalmoldings are emphasized bythe rough texture of thelimestone. The north wing,as shown in the sketch, wasnever built. Renovated in1998, the building housesstudent services, offices, andclassrooms.

15 N. Brainard St. NHS

J. Fehlman Residencec. 1874

This Folk House contains somesimple Italianate details such asthe pediments over the windowsand the columned porch.

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225 N. Loomis St.c. 1890

This Queen Anne Style featuresClassical Revival detailing such asthe prominent cornice on thefront gable, and the Doriccolumns on the porch. The housewas owned by the Evangelical

Theological Seminary until 1967, and now houses North CentralCollege faculty offices.

329 E. School Ave.1912

This building housed theEvangelical Theological Seminaryuntil 1974, when it moved toEvanston. Gothic elementsinclude the pointed arch windows

and limestone detailing. Today, the building houses academicoffices and the chapel of North Central College.

153 N. Brainard St.Jeremiah LefflerResidence1872 NHS

This front-gabled Folk Housefeatures a bit of Folk Victoriandetailing in the scroll-cut porchbrackets.

135 N. Brainard St.c. 1873

This structure is a classic exampleof the Italianate Style popularbetween 1840 and 1885. It iseasily identified by its low-pitchedroof, wide overhanging eaves withdecorative brackets, and tallwindows with elaborate crowns.

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Image from the “Combination Atlas Map ofDuPage County, Illinois,” 1874.

18 S. Loomis St.Jacob Saylorc. 1871

The ornate truss under the gablesof this house is due to widespreaduse of the scroll saw in the mid-

19th century, which encouraged builders to ornament simplehomes with this lacy woodwork. The Stick Style (1860-1890) ofthe house also shows the influence of Andrew Jackson Downingwhose 1850 pattern book, The Architecture of Country Houses, wasinspirational in its time.

28 S. Loomis St. NHSAugustine A. SmithResidence1872

This is an example of the EastlakeStyle, named after Britishfurniture designer Charles

Eastlake, and popular from 1870 to 1890. Similar to QueenAnne, but not as elaborate, Eastlake houses often featuredcombinations of horizontal and vertical decorative elements.Augustine Smith was the first president of North CentralCollege, serving from 1861 to 1883.

30 S. Brainard St.Rev. Frederick WilliamHeidner Residence1870 NHS

Rev. Heidner, a professor ofGerman Language and Literature at North Central (then North-Western) College from 1863 to 1913, selected this site close to thecampus for his home. The Italianate Style house has two rear andside additions with original limestone foundations that were mostlikely built before 1900. There have been no major changes to thehouse since 1941.

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6 N. Brainard St. NHSCarnegie Library1908

Andrew Carnegie, steel industrytycoon, financed the constructionof thousands of public libraries

across the country, but relatively few at colleges. This buildingserved as North Central College’s library until 1954, and nowhouses North Central’s information technology services and thecomputer science department. The Classical Revival structurefeatures a symmetrical facade and Ionic columns.

310 E. Benton Ave.Barbara PfeifferMemorial Hall1925Joseph C. and Ralph C.Llewellyn, Architects

This building was financed by the Pfeiffer family, North CentralCollege, the Evangelical Theological Seminary, and the citizens ofNaperville, with the understanding that a large theater space wasbeing provided not only for the College, but for civic events andcommunity performing arts as well. The Classical Revival Stylecorresponds with that of the Carnegie Library (Number 33) acrossthe street.

15 S. Loomis St. NHSWilliam W. WickelResidence1892

This house contains manyfeatures of the Queen Anne Style,

including a variety of window types, a turreted balcony and asheltered entry covering a veranda. Note the original hitchingpost in front. Wickel operated a drug store at 39 W. Jefferson.Renamed Oswald’s Pharmacy in 1915, this family-owned businesscelebrated its 130th anniversary in 2006.

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31 S. Brainard St. NHSM.A. StephensResidence1873

Simple Italianate details such aspediments over the windows and a

columned entry are found in this front-gable Folk House.

120-122 S. Brainard St.c. 1872 NHS

This Italianate Style housefeatures an elaborate baywindow and separate roofsupported by heavy carved woodbrackets. This house was splitinto a duplex.

227 E. Jefferson Ave.Gross/Watts Residencec. 1866 NHS

This Italianate Style house wasbuilt by or for Daniel N. Gross, a carpenter and Naperville

postmaster. Noted ecologist and author, May Theilgaard Wattsalso called this home from 1940 – 1975. She is the author ofReading the Landscape of America.

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Notes Naperville Heritage SocietyThe Naperville Heritage Society was founded in 1969 by agroup of local citizens concerned with preservingNaperville’s heritage and historic buildings. Its statedobjectives are: to foster an awareness and appreciation ofbuildings, monuments, documents and properties ofhistorical importance to Naperville; and to seek thepreservation, restoration, and protection of these by activelyengaging the interest of the citizenry, corporations,foundations, and governmental units.

The Naperville Heritage Society collects and preserves thelocal history of the Naperville area via a 19th centuryoutdoor history museum called Naper Settlement. Visitorsexperience history through public programs, exhibits andinterpreted tours. An emphasis is placed on theentertaining, educational, interactive experience.

For additional information, contact us at 630-420-6010, orvisit our website at www.napersettlement.museum.

Historic Structures Plaque ProgramUpon its inception, the Naperville Heritage Society starteda plaque program to recognize noteworthy Napervilleproperties and encourage homeowners within Naperville tomaintain their properties in a historically sensitive mannerand to preserve architectural diversity. Since the program’sorigination nearly 100 homes have received a plaque fromthe Society in acknowledgement of their significance toNaperville’s cultural heritage.

The Historic Structures Plaque Program continues to raisecommunity awareness of historical properties and promotes asense of pride in local historic preservation. Properties,buildings, structures and sites eligible for plaquing by theNaperville Heritage Society include those with significance toNaperville’s history through their location, architecture,landscape design, setting, materials and historical association,as well as in good condition while retaining architecturalintegrity. Program participants are guided through theapplication and house research process required for receipt of aplaque. A nominal application fee is charged to cover plaquecosts. Participation in the program will not interfere with anowner’s rights to make changes or improvements to theirproperty, nor will it offer tax credits or abatements forrehabilitation projects. Please contact the Naperville HeritageSociety at (630) 420-6010 to obtain additional information onthe application process for the Historic Structures PlaqueProgram or visit www.napersettlement.museum to downloadan application form.

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