Several months ago I was told that an opera singer (name unknown) used to live on Water Street in a large Greek Revival-style home with large pillars. I recognized the home as that of George Martin. I checked the tax assessment books in the Naper Settlement Archives and the DuPage County Courthouse.
I discovered that George Martin paid taxes from 1858 to 1871. In 1872 his name was crossed out and Mrs. Mary Putnam’s name was added. I then looked up the deeds and found that Mary bought the Martin home in 1871 and sold it in 1878.
I tried to find information about Mary Putnam, but was unsuccessful. Was she the opera singer?
The question went unresolved for several months before the answer was presented to the Naperville Heritage Society through a donation. Among the several never-seen, stereo card views of Naperville in the 1870s was a view of George Martin’s home on Water Street. It was clearly labeled, “Katie Putnam’s Home” by Naperville photographer, Christian Kendig.
A quick search revealed Mary Catherine “Katie” Putnam was a famous Chicago actress, singer, and manager of her own theatre show called the “Katie Putnam Troupe.” She performed in Chicago and her show traveled all over the American west! She married her husband, actor and producer Henry Emery on June 7, 1885.
I wanted to know if Katie visited Naperville before buying her country home, so I checked our Pre-Emption House registers which are full of performers who performed and stayed in Naperville. Although I did not find her name, I did find the name of George Putnam from Waterville, N.Y., who stopped for breakfast at the Pre-Emption House. Was he related?
I couldn’t find a connection to Katie, but I did discover that Waterville was dubbed the “Hops Capital of the World”! In 1870, George Putnam of the firm, Putnam & Peck, dealers in hops, must have been in the area to sell hops to local breweries along the CB&Q railroad, among them, Naperville’s Stenger Brewery. An 1870 inventory indicated that the brewery had 14,401 bushels of hops on hand and paid an expense of $1542.73 for the hops; however, Putnam & Peck were not listed as sources.
Katie Putnam may not have been an opera singer – but her celebrity was noted by Napervillians and she chose this wonderful place to call home between 1871 and 1878!
I never know where a research question will lead. If you have a question or want to try to solve a history-mystery, please drop me a line!
