Naperville club seeking landmark status

The Naperville Woman’s Club has owned and maintained the small former church building they call home at 14 S. Washington St. for 86 years.

Now members have decided it’s time for the little piece of Naperville history to be recognized as a local landmark, and they’re preparing to make their case Tuesday to the city council.

Club members say the Old Stone Church was built for the German Evangelical People’s Church in late 1899 with the parson’s house next door and one water pipe supplying both buildings.

When the church folded in 1924, the club purchased the lot and structure for $3,500. After nearly $700 in renovations, the first club function was held in the building Oct. 15, 1925.

“We’ve been protecting the structure for more than 85 years now, and we’ve come to the realization in the last five years that the building is a one-of-a-kind structure from the early days of city, with its limestone quarried just downtown,” said Georgiann Baldino, the club’s building committee chairwoman. “Whatever happens to the downtown or woman’s club, this building needs to be protected for the community.”

City planner Suzanne Thorsen said the honorary designation would make the building eligible for state or federal funding that may be available for rehabilitation or renovation. The status also subjects the club to Historic Preservation Commission review of exterior modifications that would be visible from the street.

“If we ever decide we want to bring that building back to its glory days or make it handicapped accessible, we want to be available for funding if it’s out there,” Baldino said. “And if that means it’s a little more expensive to be historically accurate, I think that’s a fair trade-off.”

In addition to the Naperville Local Historic District, which includes part of the North Central College campus and 253 homes, the city maintains a local register of historic landmarks. Currently only two local landmarks have been designated by the Naperville City Council and are subject to the same regulations as properties within the Historic District.

Those two properties are The Truitt House at 48 E. Jefferson Ave. and the Thomas Clow House at 5212 Book Road.