Naperville Woman’s Club celebrates 100 years in landmark building
The Old Stone Church at 14 S. Washington in downtown Naperville has been the clubhouse for the Naperville Woman’s Club for 100 years. It was originally built by the German Evangelical People’s Church in 1899.
But by 1924, the church had disbanded due to sentiments against Germans after World War I.
In 1925, the Naperville Woman’s Club bought the building for $3,500 to use as their clubhouse and eventually was made available to rent for weddings, meetings, concerts and various groups including fledgling churches.
Over the years, the building required expensive restoration that included the beautiful stained glass window. Many other improvements were made that included the addition of a kitchen in 1940 and handicap access in 2015. But otherwise the building remained the same.
It is an important part of Naperville history as it is one of the last buildings made from the limestone quarry located in downtown.
The Naperville Woman’s Club was presented with as many as eight offers to buy the building but the women turned them all down — mostly due to the fear that the building would be torn down.
Because the building is one of Naperville’s few remaining examples of Gothic Revival architecture with many of its original architectural features intact, including the stained glass windows, squared bell tower and entry point and pyramidal roof line, the community views the structure as a symbol of the area’s history.
To help secure the building’s future, the club applied for landmark status and in 2011, the city council approved the application.
The clubhouse also houses historic items from the German Evangelical People’s Church. During their 87th anniversary meeting, the club was gifted the Communion Service consisting of the chalice, flagon, paten (plate) and ciborium (covered container to hold consecrated wafers), as well as the pulpit Bible.
The Naperville Woman’s Club is the longest running service organization in Naperville. Founded in 1897 as a literary club by 19 women who were the wives and daughters of prominent town leaders. At the time most people believed women were solely suited for nurturing and serving others while men were expected to succeed in the public world.
The club’s focus soon became philanthropic. The women and their families helped found the Nichols Library, contributed some of its first books and helped buy the Bookmobile. In a continued quest for education, the club provided books, supplies and offered scholarships for local schools. Red Cross fund drives, liberty bond campaigns, gifts for soldiers and the USO were just a few of the efforts the women focused on during war years.
And the club began the hospital auxiliary, championed a need for a tuberculosis sanitarium in Illinois and purchased an iron lung during the height of polio plus played a part in the development of Edward Hospital.
Today, the Naperville Woman’s Club continues to serve the community focusing on art, education and community service by providing scholarships to students and raising funds for local charities and food banks. Each year they provide a much needed recognition of artistic talent in local high schools by hosting a Young Adult Art Contest.
This year is the 65th year the Naperville Woman’s Club will put on a Fine Art & Artisan Fair. This free community event on June 28-29 attracts more than 100 juried artists from around the country.
The Naperville Woman’s Club is a nonprofit organization and a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. For more information, visit napervillewomansclub.org.