Naperville Sun – Page 8

It's almost surreal to see what we now know as the Martin Mitchell House sitting all by its lonesome and surrounded by undeveloped land. When this photo was taken in the early 1900s, the home belonged to George Martin, a wealthy farmer and quarry owner who built the 12-room mansion on what was then the rural edge of downtown Naperville. His daughter, Catherine Martin Mitchell, would end up donating the house — which George named called Pine Craig — and 200-plus acres of land to the city of Naperville. Mitchell wanted the house used as a history museum, and in 1969 it became the centerpiece of the 13-acre Naper Settlement campus. It now faces Naperville Central High School and Naperville Riverwalk and Park. The man who took the picture was Charles Koretke, a prolific photographer who documented almost everything in the city during his time. (Naperville Heritage Society)

The Way We Were: Can you imagine Naperville’s Martin Mitchell House with nothing surrounding it?

January 23, 2026 at 3:05 p.m.

1900s photo of the Martin Mitchell House on what was then the rural edge of Naperville. It later become part of Naper Settlement.

Russ Whitaker, a lawyer representing Karis Critical, speaks at a Naperville City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in favor of a data center proposed for the city's northeast side. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Letters to the Editor: Council’s vote on data center misguided, hurts economy

January 22, 2026 at 4:55 p.m.

Letters to the editor submitted to the Naperville Sun.

Yes, that is a grocery store in downtown Naperville. This snowy photo taken in the 1970s is of Jefferson Avenue looking west with CeeBee's Finer Foods occupying the corner at Main Street. (Naperville Heritage Society)

The Way We Were: A snowy day in downtown Naperville includes old grocery store image

January 16, 2026 at 12:06 p.m.

An old 1970s photo shows not just a snowy day in downtown Naperville but an old grocery store at Jefferson Avenue and Main Street.

Naperville resident Hashem Said holds a sign in opposition to the proposed Karis Critical data center at the Nov. 19, 2025, meeting of the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission. (Carolyn Stein/Naperville Sun)

Letters to the Editor: Unanswered questions remain about proposed data center; reject data center in name of being a sustainable city

January 16, 2026 at 11:02 a.m.

Letters to the editor submitted to the Naperville Sun.

Female college students studying on floor in dorm room

Naperville residents receive college/university degrees, named to honor rolls and dean’s lists

January 14, 2026 at 12:08 p.m.

Naperville residents have completed college/university degrees or have been named to their school’s academic achievement lists.

Two teens charged with raping girl at Naperville Walgreens store, recording attack

January 13, 2026 at 5:37 p.m.

Two teens are charged with sexually assaulting a female acquaintance in the restroom of a Walgreens store in Naperville, with one of them allegedly videotaping the incident, officials said.

In the midst of wintry January, is there anything better than a view of a sunny Naperville street back in the day? This postcard of Loomis Street, looking north from Liberty Street (now known as Van Buren Avenue), was taken circa 1912, according to Naperville Heritage Society information. The photographer is not known. It's interesting to note that while the sidewalks appear paved, the street is not. Given that car buying would not be affordable for average people until the 1920s, when mass production of the Ford Model T began, it's fun to see hitching posts for horses located in front of some homes. (Naperville Heritage Society)

The Way We Were: Sunny day on Loomis Street back in 1912

January 9, 2026 at 1:25 p.m.

A Naperville Heritage Society photo captures a sunny day on Loomis Street at Liberty Street/Van Buren Avenue circa 1912.

This historic photo is of teacher Mamie Thompson's class at Naper Academy, 39 S. Eagle St., taken about 1880. The private school opened in December 1853, with the Rev. Nelson Atkins serving as principal and 50 tuition-paying students attending, according to Naper Settlement records. It would become a free school in 1863 under a special charter issued by the state, and in 1911 it joined with Ellsworth School to form a school district. To make way for the larger, more modern Naper School (now Naper Elementary School), the building was demolished in 1928. (Naperville Heritage Society)

The Way We Were: Naperville’s first private school preceded what’s now Naper Elementary

January 2, 2026 at 1:57 p.m.

Photo taken in 1880 of the students attending Naper Academy, a private Naperville school that would later become Naper Elementary.

The picnic shelter at Plum Valley Preserve is one of many that can be rented throughout the county. (Chad Merda/Forest Preserve District of Will County)

2026 forest preserve picnic, camping permits on sale Friday

January 2, 2026 at 2:05 p.m.

Permits to use Forest Preserve District of Will County picnic and camping sites in 2026 can be purchased starting Friday.

William Knoch stands in front of his cigar store at 42 W. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville circa 1920. Knoch and his brother, George, launched their cigar-making factory and store in 1901, according to Naperville Heritage Society records. William would later buy out his brother and kept the business going until 1931. The building's two back rooms were used to dry tobacco and make cigars and, at its peak, the factory employed 22 men. (Naperville Heritage Society)

The Way We Were: Downtown cigar store/factory once employed 22 men

December 26, 2025 at 11:52 a.m.

Photo from about 1920 shows William Knoch standing in front of his cigar store/factory in downtown Naperville.

All Stories