Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Naperville plans to honor one of its most famous philanthropists with a day of games and activities that will celebrate her Scottish heritage.

The inaugural Pine Craig Games, set for May 22 at Naper Settlement, will recognize Caroline Martin Mitchell, whose land donation to Naperville helped shape the city for generations to come.

“Caroline and her family were so influential to Naperville,” Naper Settlement spokeswoman Denise Cartina said. “We wanted to bring the story to everyone’s attention. And it’ll be a fun little way to welcome in spring.”

Caroline Martin Mitchell's Scottish heritage will be celebrated with a new event, the Pine Craig Games, being held May 22 at Naper Settlement. Mitchell's donation of 200 acres of land provided not only the land on which Naper Settlement sits but for many other parks, schools and facilities in and around downtown Naperville.
Caroline Martin Mitchell’s Scottish heritage will be celebrated with a new event, the Pine Craig Games, being held May 22 at Naper Settlement. Mitchell’s donation of 200 acres of land provided not only the land on which Naper Settlement sits but for many other parks, schools and facilities in and around downtown Naperville.

The event will feature Scottish dancing from the Thistle and Heather Highland Dancers, a shortbread baking contest (a cookie that originated in Scotland), mini-golfing, a pinewood derby, crafts for kids, and tours of historical buildings at the settlement.

In the mid-19th century, Martin Mitchell’s father, George Martin, opened a quarry for building stone along the DuPage River. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, his company’s sales took off in supplying bricks to rebuild that city.

The family already owned more than 200 acres of farmland in what is now downtown Naperville, and after that financial windfall Martin built a mansion on the property called Pine Craig.

It was named after the dominant tree on the property, as well as “craig,” which is the Scottish word for “rocky hill.” The home was spectacular for the time; it was one of the first in the area with heat, running water and a telephone.

Of Martin’s four children, only Caroline married — she is said to have met her husband while attending Scottish picnics known as Caledonia or Highland games — but she had no children of her own.

A Scottish shortbread baking contest will be among several activities that will make up the Pine Craig Games at Naper Settlement.
A Scottish shortbread baking contest will be among several activities that will make up the Pine Craig Games at Naper Settlement.

Upon her death in 1936, she bequeathed the more than 200 acres to the city of Naperville. That land now includes the property on which Naperville Central High School, parts of Edward Hospital and Naper Settlement, where the Pine Craig mansion remains to this day.

Tickets for the event are on sale now. More information can be found at napersettlement.org.

To preregister for the pinewood derby or shortbread baking contest, contact Jackie Maronic at 630-420-6015 or [email protected].

Giles Bruce is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.