The sound was deafening as the old Civil War cannons fired with the all fanfare that comes with mixing black powder and a percussion cap.
Grandson Grant was right there on the front lines watching the action.
A collective gasp rose from the crowd of onlookers as a second blast of gunpowder enveloped the handful of Confederate soldiers less than one hundred feet away.
The soldiers didn't hold back when it came to firing the cannon.
The Union soldiers defended the fort,
This is a scaled down version of the original Fort Payne built locally in 1832 for protection from Indians.
as the Confederate soldiers inched closer and closer.
They had to be hot in all that wool.
For twenty-five years, these soldiers have been duking it out in early May in this nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor museum set on 12 acres in the heart of Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of one-hundred-fifty-thousand approximately thirty miles west of Chicago.
Naper Settlements Preemption House becomes headquarters for all the Civil War action.
That same outdoor museum was home to my wedding in 1997. Jimmy and I were married in the quaint Gothic Revival style Century Memorial Chapel on a beautiful fall day almost 16 years ago. Where has the time gone?
Think the colors of fall rather than spring and our wedding day should come into focus.
The chapel is one of thirty historical buildings and structures that were part of the city of Naperville as far back as 1831, when Joseph Naper and John Murray established the city.
Our little church was once at the corner of Jefferson and Ellsworth Streets, when it was called St. John’s Episcopal Church. In 1969, a group of concerned residents (part of the Naperville Heritage Society) rescued the chapel from new development. Its successful relocation to its current site sparked awareness in historic preservation and formed the cornerstone of what is now Naper Settlement.
The Copenhagen Schoolhouse is a reconstruction of the last one-room schoolhouse in the area, originally part of a community called Copenhagen Corners in what is now south Naperville.
Our little church was once at the corner of Jefferson and Ellsworth Streets, when it was called St. John’s Episcopal Church. In 1969, a group of concerned residents (part of the Naperville Heritage Society) rescued the chapel from new development. Its successful relocation to its current site sparked awareness in historic preservation and formed the cornerstone of what is now Naper Settlement.
The Copenhagen Schoolhouse is a reconstruction of the last one-room schoolhouse in the area, originally part of a community called Copenhagen Corners in what is now south Naperville.
This schoolhouse was about the size of my classroom when I was teaching.
Does this bring back memories for anybody out there?
Kudos to those pioneer teachers! They had their hands full teaching every subject and every grade level. No wonder they were usually spinsters. There had to be very little time left at the end of the day for anything but preparing lessons for the next day. Some things never seem to change, but I did manage to snag a prince!
Some of the other buildings and structures that are part of Naper Settlement include a doctor’s home and medical office,
Some of the other buildings and structures that are part of Naper Settlement include a doctor’s home and medical office,
Dr. Hamilton Daniels' home and medical practice were one and the same.
a blacksmith,
This guys a shoe-in when it comes to keeping those horses ready to roll.
an authentic log cabin, the only structure that did not originate in the Naperville area,
This one-room log cabin was undoubtedly the impetus for Lincoln Logs.
Less to clean with only one room for a living space; much more time for cooking and sewing.
one of Naperville's original firehouses and fire engines,
Naperville's first fire pumper was purchased in 1874 and was housed in any barn in which it would fit.
Wow, those grasshoppers grow pretty big on the plains of the Midwest.
as well as a print shop;
Read all about it! This was originally an old garage.
Naper Settlement uses the two presses in the print shop to handle many of their publications.
and of course a mansion belonging to one of the town’s richest residents; the Martin Mitchell Mansion and Carriage House is on the National Register of Historic Places. The mansion was built in 1883 on this original location and deeded to the City of Naperville by George Mitchell's last surviving heir, daughter Caroline Martin Mitchell in 1936.
George Martin III built this home to showcase the bricks and tiles that were the foundation for his fortune.
Grant gets a chance to test out the authenticity of this historic relic. Nothing like hands on experience.
The transformation to Naper Settlement during Civil War Days was incredible; many of the volunteers that show up year after year actually sleep all weekend in the tents they've pitched for the re-enactment.
Civil War Days gives us all an opportunity to pause and reflect on the painful costs of war.
Do these come with central air?
Soldiers learned to travel light given they carried all their possessions on their backs.
Entire families got involved in recreating the history.
I think I was seeing double that day.
It was interactive theater at its finest with 19th and 21st century characters alike mingling in this unique wrinkle in time.
Ever the politician, Lincoln knew how to work a crowd for Jimmy and me. Grant wasn't impressed.
All the world inside Naper Settlement was a stage; presidents, generals, soldiers, doctors, merchants and modern day interlopers got in on the act.
Lincoln and wife Mary Todd mourn the loss of so many lives during the Civil War.
Singers assemble on the steps of Naperville's Paw Paw Post Office, the first in the city.
The local pharmacist, circa 1800s.
Unfortunately the theater was not air conditioned. We battled the heat and humidity (and one little firecracker who wanted center stage most of the time) for several hours,
Pump it up, Grant! Daddy is waiting.
then surrendered without casualties.
No intermission for Jimmy and me; Grant, on the other hand, seemed conflicted about leaving midday.
The Bottom Line on Naper Settlement
Verdict: This is a great destination for families and history buffs alike, regardless the time of year. Grant and Grandpa got quite the bang out of the Civil War re-enactment. We're building family memories alongside all that history.
How to Get There: From the east, take the Eisenhower Expressway west or the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) toward Aurora. Exit at Naperville Road and make a left turn at the end of the exit ramp onto Freedom Drive. Take the 3rd right onto E. Diehl Road. Turn left onto N. Washington St. Turn right at the stoplight on Aurora Avenue and go two blocks to Webster Street. Turn left on Webster Street and
proceed one block for parking.
From the west, take the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) east toward Chicago. Exit at Winfield Road and turn right (south) at the end of the ramp. Proceed to the stoplight at Diehl Road and turn left (east) to Washington Street. Turn right on Washington Street and proceed south into downtown Naperville. At the stoplight at Aurora Avenue, turn right and go west two blocks to Webster Street. Turn left on Webster Street and proceed one block for parking.
From the north, take Route 59 south to Aurora Avenue. Please note: Aurora Avenue turns into East New York Street west of Route 59. Turn left (east) on Aurora Avenue; proceed to Webster Street. Turn right on Webster Street and proceed one block for parking.
From the south, take the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to I-355 North (Veterans Memorial Tollway). Exit at Maple Avenue West. Proceed about seven miles into downtown Naperville. Maple Avenue will turn into Chicago Avenue after Naper Boulevard. Turn left (south) at Washington Street, and go one block to Aurora Avenue. Turn right (west) onto Aurora Avenue. Go two blocks to Webster Street, turn left and continue one block for parking.
Insider Information: Civil War Days is just the tip of the iceberg (or should I say cannon) when it comes to special events and programs at Naper Settlement. From the summer camps for kids to the Celebration of Beer for adults, there’s something for everyone.
Nearby Food: Food vendors on the premises during Civil War Days offer the usual hot dogs, hamburgers and fries. Naper Settlement is a block away from Naperville’s renowned Riverwalk
Area and enough restaurants to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
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