Naper Nostalgia
Senior Voices – 50 YEARS AGO: THE SETTLEMENT
I started my first piano and organ store in Naperville in 1967. Dutch Beidelman was building a new store at 7 W. Jackson. My...
The History Detective – Fishing for history
More than 100 years ago, Naperville businessmen formed a committee to improve the DuPage River as it flowed through Naperville. In 1907, the DuPage...
Naper Settlement 50 years young
By Abbey Bobzin
Special to PN for Naper Settlement
What was once a dozen residents fighting to save a local church has blossomed into five...
Naperville Riverwalk ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign continues
Above / During the Riverwalk 2000 fundraiser launched in 1997, the Daily Herald sponsored a "Buy a Brick" ad campaign featuring different residents holding...
The History Detective – Their House, Our History
The large blue and white house on the southeast corner of Aurora Avenue and Main Street is history. It was torn down (along with...
The History Detective – The Underground Press
Does anyone have copies of pamphlets printed by Napervillian James Givler? James Hamilton Givler was the grandson of David Givler, the owner/editor of The...
KC and The Sunshine Band are set for Navistar Main Stage at Ribfest on Independence Day
Above / KC and The Sunshine Band will perform on the Navistar Main Stage at Ribfest on Thurs., July 4.
Naperville’s Ribfest has added "spectacular...
Little Friends focuses on common issues and challenges facing individuals on Autism Spectrum
Above / In early 2007, PN received this vintage photo (circa mid-1970s) for this paper's monthly "Naper Nostalgia" feature. The faded photo shows community...
The History Detective – Green Book Naperville
Dear Mike Pooky Brown,
I am not on Facebook, but your question regarding the Green Book era of Naperville was brought to my attention. The...
IndieBound Naperville will focus on public safety during monthly meeting on April 1
Above / In July 2018, Busey Bank in Naperville Plaza disguised a Riverwalk Jumbo Duck as "Waldo" to connect community events and heighten awareness...
The History Detective – March Madness
Many of the first Irish immigrants to Naperville were farmers and laborers. A quick review of the 1860 census reveals that there were 23...
‘State of the City Address’ again will be hosted by Naperville Chamber
Above / Back in 2001 when Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel was in his second term, the Rotary Club of Naperville recognized member Rotarians...
The History Detective – Looking for love in Naperville
In my research, I often find unique family names and places. With St. Valentine’s Day approaching, I wondered if there were any communities in...
Blast off into history – Blast off into history
One of the most elaborate advertising gimmicks a real estate developer could have ever imaged took place five stories above Naperville in the fall...
The History Detective – Blueprint for prosperity
Does anyone remember the small bronze plaque formerly on the east side of the 1962 addition to Nichols Library?
The plaque read, “Tulip trees...
Photo Gallery: Laughing Lincoln Dedication 12/2/2018
Update, Feb. 12, 2022 / On the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, we're reminded that he was born in 1809, in Hodgenville, Kentucky. In...
Naperville’s Pulse in Springfield – Welcome to Naperville, Laughing Lincoln
Holiday season is about making dreams come true. Yes, that mostly applies to children who find a special wished-for item under the tree on...
Naperville’s Century Walk – To Unveil One-of-a-Kind Lincoln Sculpture
Of all the undoubtedly tens of thousands of images of our 16th President captured by paparazzi, painters, sculptors and sketch artists over the years,...
The History Detective – Columnist prepares to launch his new book
In 1996, after curating an exhibit for the Peoria Historical Society about its distilling and brewing history, I wrote my first book Peoria Spirits. A year...
The History Detective – Ghosts at the end of the rainbow
In 2012, an abandoned tombstone was found under a cooler in the basement of The Lantern restaurant, formerly the Rainbow Café. The stone is...
