Naperville woman’s club home gets landmark status

The Naperville Woman’s Club cleared a major hurdle Tuesday night on the way to making its historic home more accessible to residents and business groups.

By being granted local landmark status by the city council Tuesday evening, the organization now hopes to qualify for state and federal dollars to make the 1899 building accessible to those with disabilities.

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.

“We’ve made that building the focus of our agenda in the coming year, so I’m tickled pink. We’re looking really to make it really more accessible to the community,” said Georgiann Baldino, the club’s building committee chairwoman. “It’s important to us to be able to participate more in community and downtown events, and right now not everyone can enjoy the building. If we could do that, then I think the building will sustain itself.”

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 Baldino. “Whatever happens to the downtown or woman’s club, this building needs to be protected for the community.”

According to city staff members, 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.

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.