Every week we publish a historic photo highlighting a story from Naperville’s past from the history archives of Naper Settlement.
We know we can save big money at Menards and Ace is the place with your friendly hardware folks, but back in the day, when Naperville residents needed nails, agricultural implements and other items, they shopped at the Rassweiler Hardware Co.
This photo from the early 20th century shows the interior of the store with Charles Rassweiler standing behind the counter, talking with a customer.
Before he took over the business, it had been W.H. Hillegas & Company Hardware and Agricultural Implements. Owners William H. Hillegas and Louis A. Reiche purchased the hardware store from Andrew Fridley in February 1866.
According to the 1886 Holland’s Business directory, the store sold “general hardware, agricultural implements, stoves, tinware, carriage and wagon-makers’ stock, crockery, iron, nails, steel, wagons and buggies.”
In 1882, a new two-story brick building for the store was erected on Water Street, which is now Chicago Avenue.
That building is now home to Features Bar and Grill and Frankie’s Blue Room. A decorative feature at the top left of the building reads: “Hillegas & Reiche 1882.”
Water Street was the original name for Chicago Avenue because it bordered the river.
As the town grew to the north, Jefferson Avenue became the area to shop.
The horse market, at the corner of Main and Water at the Pre-Emption House, started to shape the businesses around Water Street as wagon shops, harness shops, blacksmith shops and livery stables became popular.
It appears at some point Water Street became part of Chicago Avenue, so-named because it was the quickest route to Chicago.
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The Naperville Heritage Society has a 1904 map that still lists it as Water Street. The map in the Home Coming booklet from 1917 has Water Street on the southern side of the DuPage River and shows Chicago Avenue north of the river.
After William Hillegas died in 1906, the store soon had a new owner.
According to the late historian Genevieve Towsley, Henry H. Rassweiler, a professor and president of North-Western College (now North Central College) from 1883 to 1888, purchased the business from Hillegas’ estate.
That’s when it became known as the Rassweiler Hardware Co. The store was run by Henry’s brother, Charles Rassweiler, along with Charles’ son and namesake, who went by the name of Arthur.
Census records confirm both Charles and Arthur were in the hardware business in 1910 and 1920. Charles died in 1922.
In March 1948, Clarence and Jessie Buikema purchased the store.
There are advertisements for Buikema’s Ace Hardware on Chicago Avenue until 1971. Ads in 1972 place the address at 1030 N. Washington St., where it remains in business today.
Andrea Field is the curator of history at Naper Settlement. For more information, go to www.NaperSettlement.org.
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.