20 Years of the Naperville Trolley
For decades during downtown merchant meetings, the faithful voice of Dorcas Pearcy, savvy owner of Toenniges Jewelers, resounded a request to bring a trolley to downtown Naperville.
Whether serving the Downtown Retail Council, Downtown Naperville Merchants Association or CANDO (Central Area Naperville Development Organization), Pearcy envisioned a charming people-mover that would attract more shoppers and diners to the heart of downtown where she’d been running a successful business since December 1948.
Back in the mid-1990s, today’s popular destination for shopping and dining with its CANDO plan and a new Riverwalk Park was bustling, welcoming more visitors every week.
Situated in the central business district, downtown Naperville began to emerge as a lifestyle center, gaining recognition for its quaint, hometown atmosphere, enhanced with annual parades and special events such as the Naperville Woman’s Club Fine Art Fair, Last Fling, Riverwalk Fine Art Festival and Ribfest.
Though many merchants thought Pearcy’s trolley idea had merit, they wondered how it could ever happen.
“A lot of folks just assumed it would be publicly funded,” said Rick Hitchcock of Hitchcock Design Group when he reminisced recently. He recalled the early days of CANDO and Pearcy’s passion and participation in every conversation.
“There was no clear pathway to make a trolley happen and no reasonable alternative,” added Hitchcock. “Dorcas was not shy about engagement or making her way … and didn’t mind being teased about what is real and what is folly.”
Over time, Pearcy’s creative concept—just one of many attractive ideas she proposed for downtown— affectionately became known as “Dorcas’ folly is the trolley.”
(Please note update at the end of this post with fond memories of Dorcas Pearcy who died on July 2, 2015, in Minnesota.)
Above: Annette Wehrli conducts historic trolley tours on Friday mornings throughout the summer.
Then at age 68, after a visit to the West Coast where he rode a double-decker bus on Victoria Island, Naperville’s Don Wehrli purchased a 32-seat trolley from Florida and followed through on the best small independent business plan he’d ever imagined.
The self-proclaimed “Trolley Meister” met with Jack Romine, then Executive Director of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, for some marketing advice that led him to the Naperville Visitors Bureau.
Much like “The Little Engine That Could,” Naperville Trolley and Tours hit the streets running with upward momentum. The new bright yellow trolley rolled into town with a distinct personality and an attitude of “I think I can. I think I can.”
Gracious Pearcy immediately embraced the Naperville Trolley and became the first downtown merchant to invest in it by purchasing a prime little spot for a sign to promote Toenniges Jewelers. Jan’s Gift House also climbed on board with a large panel sign as did North Central College. Before long all spaces were filled by local advertisers.
Back then, the trolley was parked overnight inside the garage at the Naperville Creamery where Fredenhagen Park since has been developed. Oh! The “one in a million” memories aboard the Naperville Trolley when the Trolley Meister first started historic tours overflowing with local lore and trivia.
Dressed in bright yellow shirts to match the trolley, several of Wehrli’s grandchildren were hired to keep the interior clean and windows sparking in between tours.
During one of the early tours, the Trolley Meister drove past the Naperville Cemetery. “Nobody who lives in Naperville is buried there,” he mused, referring to the cemetery that once was the southern border of the city.
Above: Since 1995, Naperville residents have enjoyed showing off the community aboard the Naperville Trolley. (Photo circa 2007)
As he looked in the rearview mirror, he recognized inquiring minds on the bench seats. With a big smile, the Trolley Meister chuckled with the punch line, “You have to be dead to be buried there.”
Many passengers groaned.
That first summer the Trolley Meister also offered youngsters an opportunity to ring the trolley bell for a penny. Ding! Ding!
Before long, the trolley was booked to get a wedding party to the church on time and Wehrli donned a tuxedo to provide a ride in style.
And soon Wehrli needed to hire other drivers to give tours and to meet the growing demand for weddings.
That first holiday season, the Naperville Trolley began its “sing-along” Holiday Light Tours, offering a glimmering glimpse of the city’s Grand Illumination with visits to downtown Naperville as well as to neighborhoods where homes featured spectacular Christmas light displays. “Trolley-la-la-la La-la-la-la.”
In almost no time, Naperville Trolley and Tours became an entry in every parade and every special promotion in downtown Naperville. In just 20 years, the Trolley has become a holiday tradition for many families, representing happy fun times as it travels through town acknowledging folks at street corners with its familiar, “Ding! Ding!”
Very Brief History
In 1995, Don Wehrli embarked on an exciting new venture where he could share his fond stories of growing up in downtown Naperville as well as his passion for community with seemingly endless chapters about the city’s libraries and North Central College.
Above: Don Wehrli, right, is pictured with his son Fred and family in July 1995.
In March 2014, Naperville’s original Trolley Meister sold the business to his daughter Annette Wehrli, who first became involved in 2000, and began managing the business in 2006. Known as the “Trolley Chick,” Annette now owns four trolleys, available for private, corporate and public tours; weddings; family and class reunions, birthday parties, neighborhood get-togethers or just for the fun of it.
Don Wehrli died on May 17, 2015. The trolley had a role in the funeral procession to Ss. Peter and Paul Church—and it was followed by a “21-Run Salute” from the North Central College Cross Country team.
And wouldn’t you know?
“My dad’s most fancy trolley pin was designed by Toenniges Jewelers and given to him by my sister, Francie,” said Annette.
Summertime Trolley Tours for Fun
The Naperville Trolley offers Historic Trolley Tours of Naperville at 11AM every Friday in June, July and August.
One-hour tours blend the past with the present, highlight Naperville’s growth and include interesting tidbits that will drive every passenger to become engaged in the spirit of this community.
Find the Trolley Stop just east of the corner of Eagle Street along the south side of Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville. Then find a seat.
For more information or reservations, visit www.napervilletrolley.com.
Editor’s Note: Toenniges Jewelers closed at the end of 1999, after more than 50 years. Shortly afterward, Dorcas Toenniges Pearcy left the city that adored her to be closer to family in Wisconsin and Minnesota. We think about her every time we pass 33 W. Jefferson Ave., grateful to have experienced her contagious enthusiasm and can-do spirit.
One more thing…The Naperville Trolley is a member of IndieBound Naperville, a growing group of local independent business owners driven by energy and community spirit. This month, IndieBound Naperville hosts the return of the Where’s Waldo search. For details on how to play and where to begin the prize-winning search for 12 different Waldos, click here.
PN UPDATE, July 3, 2015
Today we are remembering our dear friend Dorcas Pearcy who died last evening on July 2, 2015, in Minnesota. She was 90. A memorial service will be planned in Naperville.
For previous posts in the Daily Herald where columnist Stephanie Penick wrote about Dorcas Pearcy, click here and click here. Unfortunately a tribute to Dorcas written by Penick in December 1999 when she closed her jewelry store after 51 years is unavailable online. We will always remember Dorcas’ dancing with ribbons at the Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise as well as the nativity scene that graced her store window every December. Every Christmas Eve the faithful woman who loved to sing would add a figurine of Baby Jesus to the manger.
