Naper Nostalgia
Growing up in Naperville – From one band job to the next
As I said last month, my first band job was really tough because as a new teacher, you kind of feel you way as...
Barber, tobacconist
Charles Carl Gustave Gottlieb Robert Schulz was born June 26, 1829, in Anklam, Prussia, the oldest of thirteen children of Carl Joachim Schulz and...
Merchant, banker, coroner, village trustee
Henry Loomis Peaslee was born August 13, 1810, in Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont. He was the second child of Robert Peaslee and Amanda Loomis....
Growing up in Naperville – Drawn toward the art of teaching music
Above / Ron Keller, pictured here in 1969, has been a member of the Naperville Municipal Band since 1954. (PN File Photo)
This column, “Growing...
Growing up in Naperville – Growth in Naperville
In the fall of 1944, I entered kindergarten at Ellsworth School. The first week of school my mom walked with me so I could...
Growing up in Naperville – Celebrating holidays, yesterday and today
This past holiday season I found myself thinking about how it used to be around all of our family get-togethers and how close all...
Century Walk: ‘The Way We Were’
January is the month of New Year’s Resolutions as well as Old Lang Syne. So when looking at things that were, and thinking about...
Businessman, soldier, first fire marshal, village trustee, treasurer, and mayor
Willard Scott Jr. was born October 9, 1835, the son of Willard Scott Sr. and Caroline Hawley, in the Stephen J. Scott Settlement. The...
Sounds of bells in iconic Moser Tower still silent as New Year begins
Above / Moser Tower with a 72-bell carillon is located along the Naperville Riverwalk at 433 Aurora Avenue. (PN Photo, Dec. 31, 2022)
Updated Post,...
Naperville native remembers Christmas in the 1920s
By Frank Osterland
Appeared in Positively Naperville, December 2001
The Christmas season is a great time for memories.
I’m a native Napervillian, born on Dec. 7, 1916,...
Naperville rocks from West Wind to Riverwalk to North Central College
Above / At least one family of Naperville residents puts the big rock in their front yard to good use to celebrate all-American holidays!...
Holiday catalogs and toys from the 20th century to today on display in Naper Settlement’s new exhibit
Naper Settlement presents the history of the holiday season with images from vintage catalogs along with well-loved toys throughout the 20th century to today...
Consolidated Election Campaign kicks off for City Council / What’s the best way to get to know candidates?
Above / During every campaign season numerous local organizations plan public forums in order to inform voters where it matters most, right in the...
Growing up in Naperville – Sausage making
In mid-October my granddaughter, my wife and I continued a family tradition that was brought to Naperville from Germany in 1851!
My great-grandfather, Adam Keller,...
Naperville’s resident amateur photographer, merchant and first taxicab business owner
Eli Franklin Stark was born Aug. 23, 1873, on the family farm at 87th Street and Book Road in Wheatland Township, Will County, Illinois....
Doctor, alderman, library board president and more
Dr. John A. Bell was born March 19, 1838, in McConnelsville, Morgan County, Ohio. He was the son of John Bell and Margaret Scott....
Growing up in Naperville – Farm town to large suburb
Growing up in Naperville, I've watched a small blue collar, farming town become a large city in the suburbs of Chicago.
My great grandfather, Adam...
Growing up in Naperville – Correctly remembering the past
As a young boy growing up in Naperville—or any place else, for that matter—facts of events, things, experiences, if remembered, sometimes become a little...
Postmaster, Village Trustee and President, son of Joseph Naper
Robert Naper was born about 1825 in Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio, the first child of Captain Joseph Naper and Almeda Landon.
He came with his...
The old swinging bridge over DuPage River
By Frank Osterland
Reprinted from Positively Naperville Vol. 1 No. 10, June 2002
“Last one across is a dirty rat!”
My friend was egging me on as...
