Wheaton History
Taking Pride in Wheaton’s Rich Heritage
By Kristin Roberts
While Wheaton has developed into a thriving suburban city, it maintains its sense of history by finding that balance between development and preservation. Much like the residents are lucky to live in a city that successfully allows them to balance work with quality of life and home, Wheaton continues to carry on the progressive vision of its early settlers while keeping a sense of place and those that have come before…
Wheaton has a unique history that began with former Connecticut neighbors, Erastus Gary and brothers, Jesse and Warren Wheaton. Gary’s urge to move westward found him settled several miles west of what is currently Wheaton in 1831, establishing a mill and farm. The Wheaton brothers followed later that decade, and during 1838-39, secured nearly a thousand acres of land. Following the westward movement, other settlers from New England joined Gary and the Wheaton brothers in laying the foundation for what would eventually become the city of Wheaton. Incorporated in 1859, the settlement had grown to nearly 1,000 people by 1880, and the community became the county seat in 1867.
The local story is that when the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad made its appearance in 1849, courtesy of land donated by Warren Wheaton, railroad workers hung a sign proclaiming the stop, the ‘Wheaton Depot,’ thus giving the burgeoning community its name. The town’s founders are also said to have given away land surrounding the depot for free, in order to encourage people who were willing to build immediately help further develop the area. A second railroad, the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin electric line, was added in 1902 and connected Wheaton with the Fox River Valley until 1957.
Religion was never far behind where settlers were concerned. In 1843 the Wesleyan Methodist church became the first formal religious establishment in the community, with the Wesleyans opening the Illinois Institute a decade later in 1853. To match the booming population, a variety of different religious outlets were established to serve the growing number of individuals and their beliefs. The Methodists founded their congregation in 1853, and soon after, in 1860, a Congregational church was organized by Jonathan Blanchard. The spiritual community continued to grow to include Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, as well as many others.
Wheaton’s early settlers proved to be a savvy and smart group, as were many of those who followed. When Wheaton resident Charles M. Barnes set up a small shop in his home as a part of his print shop in 1873, he could not have possibly had any inkling of the impact it would someday have on the literary industry. Having grown up around his father’s print shop, Barnes’ son William later ventured into business with G. Clifford Noble in 1917 after having moved to New York City. The pair founded what has grown into today’s bookseller Barnes & Noble, which includes a store in south Wheaton’s Towne Square shopping center.
A few other notable people with their roots steeped in Wheaton’s history include Judge Elbert Gary co-founder of U.S. Steel and namesake of the city of Gary, Indiana; Edwin Hubble, astronomer for whom the Hubble telescope is named; and NFL legend, Red Grange who was also known as the Galloping Ghost.
As the county seat of DuPage County, Wheaton built its original courthouse at a cost of $20,000, and was dedicated on July 4, 1868. By 1896, a growing population translated into an increased demand for space, and a new courthouse was built. The new Georgian-style courthouse being much larger was built at a cost of $69,390, and included a central clock tower that is still a familiar and beloved landmark to those familiar with the city of Wheaton. The beautiful red brick courthouse which still stands today is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is in the process of being transformed into luxury condominiums.
As Wheaton began to grow, its residents realized they needed to be able to meet the educational needs of the growing number of young people in the area. One of the first public schools in the county that housed grades 1-12 was built by local residents in 1874. The Illinois Institute later evolved into Wheaton College in 1860. Additional schools were built in different quadrants of the town as the population grew, and with the railroad traversing the community, there are now two high schools as well —one in the north and one in the south. Wheaton was also a favorite choice for summer homes for a variety of well-to-do Chicagoans and featured horse racing and golf. Today’s prestigious Chicago Golf Club, was the first 18-hole golf course in North America and was one of the five courses which founded the United States Golf Association in 1894.
Visitors can explore the rich history of Wheaton and its residents at the DuPage County Historical Museum. Featuring both continuing and changing exhibits, the museum gives visitors an in-depth look into the history of DuPage County. A family sitting room is staged to provide guests with a look into family life in the 1890s and provides the backdrop where visitors can play one of the ‘I Spy’ games or solve a history mystery. The museum also highlights the history of the railroad in DuPage County and has a complete model train setup to show the path of the railroad in the vicinity. There are also interactive displays such as a laundry setup that invites people to explore washing clothes with a washtub and wringers, as well as a high-wheeled bike that visitors may climb up on and pedal to experience what the first bicycles were like to ride.
With many treasures from its past still intact, Wheaton has skillfully managed to incorporate them into their plans for the future with a vision that is matched perhaps only by that of the town’s founders.
 |
 |
|---|---|
 |
|
