Historic church selling book to celebrate its landmark status
The First Congregational Church of Naperville is selling a book that celebrates its history.
The book, “Love & Justice: The Landmarking of the 1906 Building of the First Congregational Church of Naperville,” is offered for a $28 donation. Orders are due by Monday, April 13 with delivery expected in late May.
The First Congregational Church of Naperville is the first church in the city to receive landmark status and was the sixth building to earn that designation. Founded in 1833, two years after Naperville was established, it is is the oldest church in DuPage County and the oldest Congregational church in northern Illinois, according to the church’s history.
The church was granted landmark status on Feb. 17.
The 224-page book documents nearly 200 years of history through hundreds of photographs and stories about both the church and the city of Naperville, church officials said in a news release.
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Historic details include information about the church’s architect and its congregants, many of whom were prominent citizens of Naperville, the news release said. One historic story included a time when the church’s bell was rung to warn Naperville residents about a midnight raid by Wheaton residents who were trying to steal DuPage County records.
The book may be preordered at www.loveandjustice.org/donate by selecting Landmarking Book. Books may also be purchased via mail with checks payable to First Congregational Church of Naperville and sent to 25 E. Benton Ave., Naperville, 60540.
In June, copies will be available at the Nichols Library, Naperville Preservation Inc., Naper Settlement, North Central College’s Oesterle Library and online through the Illinois Digital Archive, courtesy of Nichols Library, the news release said.
Will County hosting Recyclepalooza event
Will County Resource Recovery and Energy Division is hosting a large recycling event, Recyclepalooza, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 in Joliet.
Residents living in communities fully or partially in Will County can take part in the drive-up event to recycle or responsibly dispose of unwanted items.
Items that will be accepted include electronics, household chemicals, hazardous materials, batteries, clothing, wood, small home goods and more. Other items that can be donated for reuse include clothing, toys, small home goods and cookware.
Organizers have limited items to three TVs, 15 light bulbs and 15 gallons of paint per vehicle.
The event is by appointment only to regulate traffic and reduce wait times. Information about the donation drop-off site will be emailed to residents once they make an appointment.
Appointments can be made by visiting www.willcountygreen.com.
Future spring recycling and collection events include an electronics drop-off on May 2 in Shorewood, a textiles drop-off from May 4 to 8 in Joliet, an electronics and household hazardous waste drop-off May 9 in Plainfield and a book reuse and recycling event May 29 to 31 in Joliet.
FOREST DISTRICT INVITES JUNIOR BIOLOGISTS TO EXPLORE HIDDEN OAKS
The Forest Preserve District of Will County is hosting “Backpack Biologists” at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook to encourage families to explore the preserves.
No registration is required. Participants can stop by the nature center, 419 Trout Farm Road, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays in May to borrow a backpack.
The backpack includes “official biologist gear” such as safari hats, binoculars, critter containers, magnifying lenses, journals and reference books, the forest district said. The nature center will provide research cards so that participants can find various flora and fauna within the preserve.
District officials say the program is ideal for budding junior biologists to engage their passion and curiosity.
An ID is needed to reserve the free materials.
The program is open to all ages.
For more information, go to www.reconnectwithnature.org.