It’s May, which means it’s time to recognize Wheaton’s history and learn more about the city. In conjunction with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Wheaton is joining communities across the nation in honoring our community's history with Historic Preservation Month. The City of Wheaton Historic Commission is offering several events and opportunities to the community this month.
At its May 1 meeting, the Wheaton City Council proclaimed May as Wheaton Historic Preservation Month, inviting everyone to share in our community's events celebrating historic preservation in Wheaton.
Residents will notice blue signs in front of the more than 200 historic homes and buildings this month. Scan the QR code on the sign with your phone’s camera (or use this link) to be directed to the new interactive Wheaton Historic Register Map. The map provides images of the sites plus information such as the date built, prominent citizens of the past who lived in the home, and the architectural style.
For those who want to learn more about the history of their Wheaton home, two sessions of Home History Research one-on-one will be offered at the Wheaton Public Library featuring Gretchen Murphy, Adult Services Librarian, Genealogy & Local History Specialist. The sessions are scheduled for Monday, May 8 from 6-9 p.m. or Saturday, May 13 from 1-4 p.m. Drop-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended at 630-868-7520 or askref@wheatonlibrary.org.
Also scheduled is the lecture “Wheaton’s First Mastadon: The Jayne Discovery” on Tuesday, May 9 from 7-8 p.m. Join local history experts Brian and Joyce Ostberg of BeHistoric to learn about the Mastodon discovered in Wheaton in 1869 and its fascinating tie to the Great Chicago Fire. Discovered almost 100 years before the Perry Mastodon, the Jayne discovery captivated regional attention and newspapers for several weeks, its compelling story illuminating little-known facts regarding early Wheaton. The Historic Commission is partnering with the Wheaton Public Library for the event, which will be held in the lower-level conference room of the library. Reservations highly recommended.