The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 220

Tuesda December 28,1999 OUR SUBURBS Section 5 DF3 Protecting natural treasures a top priority Western suburbs fight to protect and preserve remaining open space BY ALICIA FABBRE Daily Herald Staff Writer At the turn of the last century, our ancestors did not have to worry about preserving open space it was everywhere around them. Times have changed. Now 100 years later, we find ourselves fighting to protect the unspoiled vistas our forefathers so freely enjoyed. Throughout the last century, the landscape of the Western suburbs has changed as developers have gobbled up land to build houses, shopping malls and business parks. As more land falls to development, we are learning to treasure and protect the remaining natural areas.

Now we back referendums to buy up those remaining open areas, volunteer to help clean up rivers and help take care of injured animals to ensure there are natural treasures to enjoy in the next century. Rivers In the Western suburbs, the Fox and DuPage rivers remain central attractions. We walk along their banks, take a ride down them in a canoe or motor boat or fish in them. And in several towns like Naperville, St. Charles, Geneva or Batavia the rivers are the center of downtown districts featuring riverwalks and parks on the riverbanks.

"People go to enjoy themselves." said Brook McDonald, executive director of the Conservation Foundation in Naperville. "They are drawn to water." Keeping the river water clean, however, hasn't always been easy. Finding a smallmouth bass or northern pike, for example, was nearly impossible 10 years ago in the DuPage River. And through the years both rivers have been polluted by run-off from new developments and sewage treatment plants. "It's been changed quite a bit by people," naturalist Mary Ochsen- schlager said of the Fox River.

But both rivers are making a comeback. Park districts and forest preserve districts have bought up land around the rivers to protect their banks, sewage treatment plants have improved their operations to decrease the amount of pollution in the rivers and volunteers in DuPage County are working to clean up the DuPage River. "The comeback of the DuPage River is one of the most impressive," McDonald said, noting volun- teers have hauled away 118 tons of garbage from the river in annual cleanups. "We've seen dramatic improvement." Looking to the future, McDonald said programs are under way to involve property owners along the east and west branches of the DuPage to improve the habitat and decrease erosion. Kane County environmentalists also are working toward similar goals on the Fox, Ochsensehlager said.

"(The rivers) are our jewels," she said. Trees As more homes dot the landscape in the western suburbs, mature trees are becoming a rare species. But we can still take in the beauty of a mature oak or a gingko at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Founded by Joy Morton in 1922, the Morton Arboretum in Lisle offers 1,700 acres of plants, trees and gardens. Visitors can take in the beauty of more than 3.600 different kinds of plants and trees.

Morton inherited his love for plants and trees from his father, who started Arbor Day in 1872. That love led Joy Morton to transform his estate into the arboretum. "I want something to develop during the balance of my life on ground for which I have a personal affection and I hope the work may prolong my life," Morton wrote to his son when he began work on the arboretum in 1921, Today, his work attracts more than 300,000 visitors each year. Wildlife Enamored with the animals in the area, the Chase family donated 50 acres to the DuPage County Forest Preserve District in 1955 to provide a haven for wildlife. Today, volunteers and veterinarians operate a wildlife hospital of sorts and nurse everything from owls and bald eagles to foxes and woodchucks back to health.

During its peak season, the Willowbrook Wildlife Center can have to 500 animals waiting for care. "With all ffte'development occurring and the increase of animals in this area, people are going to see animals or wildlife in their back yards," said Susi Pihera, an administrative specialist at the center. "Our main mission is to educate people about wildlife and how to coexist with it." Daily Herald Staff Writer Robert McCoppin contributed to this report. The DuPage River is one of many natural treasures we've worked to preserve in recent years. Daily Herald Lee Daily Herald Stoecker The Fox River is home to many forms of wildlife, including this egret, above, looking for dinner in St.

Charles. Dr. Katie Brown, left, staff veterinarian at Willowbrook Wildlife Haven, feeds a goose that is being rehabilitated at the center. Daily Herald Lee Several towns named after founders and heroes BY KATHRYN GRONDIN Daily Herald Staff Writer When settlers in Kane and DuPage counties chose township names, they opted for the greats. Great poets: Virgil.

Great philosophers: Plato. Great writers: Homer. Great American politicians: Jefferson. When they chose town names, they often got personal, picking names to which they were more attached. The honored former homelands, friends, local legends and themselves.

And they recognized their towns' natural features. Some names stuck, while others did not often because of duplicate names elsewhere in the state. Here's a look at how some towns in Kane and DuPage counties got their names, according to historical society and library documents and local historians. Addison: One of the first settlers who arrived in 1833, Hezekiah Dunklee staked a claim near a grove of trees. So the town was first known as Dunkley's Grove, different spelling and all.

That lasted until 1842 when Addision Township formed. The village followed about 1884, and local lore says the name Addison comes from a town in England. Batavia: The city was named by Judge Isaac Wilson, one of its first settlers, in honor of his hometown of Batavia, N.Y. Bensenville: The town was part of what now is known as Addison Township, The name Tipga, reflecting the town's Native American history, appeared on some maps. Bensenville later was selected after early settler Henry Schuette said the town reminded him of his former home in Bensen, Germany.

Bloomingdale: It was thought to be named after a town in Vermont, but town officials later discovered there was no such place in the eastern state. Silas Harvey and Lyman Meacham settled in area in 1833 and originally called it Mcacham's Grove. Carol Stream: Developer Jay Stream, who was the first to build houses in the area, named his subdivision after his daughter, Carol, who had survived a serious car accident in August 1957. Unable to link with an adjacent town, he built the houses and then residents petitioned to become a village in 1958. Elburn: Originally, called Blackberry Station likely because of the abundance of blackberries in the area and the train depot being built.

The railroad asked the name be changed because Blackberry Center and Blackberry Township already was confusing enough. So in 1885, settlers chose Melbourne. But the railway said there were too many Melbournes, so they dropped a few letters and got Elburn. Geneva: For a time it was known as LaFox, Big Spring and Herrington's Ford after the first family to settle in the area. Several settlers later chose honor their hometown of Geneva, N.Y.

Glendale Heights: It got its original name of Glendale because it was between Glen Ellyn and Bloomingdale. But because there was another Glendale, postal officials asked for another name, so Harold Ruskin added Heights. Glen Ellyn: The town has had seven names, starting with Babcock's Grove in 1833 after three brothers who settled the area, which also included Lombard. It later was called DuPage Center; Stacy's Corners after the Stacy family; Newton's Station; Danby after the birth place in Vermont of Dr. Lewey Quitterfield Newton, who owned much of the current business district and donated land for the train depot; and Prospect Park, which is rumored to be because the town had a beautiful park and the prospect was pleasing.

In 1885, the town was renamed Glen Ellyn by then village President Thomas E. Hill after the Welsh version of his wife Ellen's name. Glen refers to the area's geography. Itasca: It originally was called Pierce after Charlie Pierce, who ran a trading post in town in the 1850s. In 1864, it was renamed Sagon.

The town then incorporated as Itasca in 1890 after the lake in Minnesota that is the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Kaneville: The town first was called Royalton but when a town representative went to Springfield to apply for the name officially, he found out it was taken. So on the spur of moment, he chose Kaneville after Elias Kane, for whom the is named. Keeneyville: The area, which never incorporated, was named after the pioneer developer Albert Keeney, who was among the early settlers and a town leader. LaFox: The name likely comes from the City of Geneva, which originally was called LaFox.

Settlers picked Geneva when it incorporated, but the post office to the west kept the name LaFox. So when the railroad came through in 1854, the town adopted the post office's name of LaFox. Lily Lake: Originally located north of the current hub, it previously was called Canada Corners after the large number of Canadians who settled near Route 47 and Empire Road. The town relocated when the railway came in and took its name from a nearby lake that featured an abundance of lilies. Lisle: The name was suggested in 1839 by A.B.

Chatfield, who had lived near a town called Lisle in New York, which is said to have been named for an area in France. New Yorkers are believed to have chosen the name to honor Marquis de Lafayette, who served in the colonial army. Lombard: It first was named Babcock's Grove after brothers Ralph and Morgan Babcock, who actually settled farther west near the DuPage River. Townspeople later voted to name it after real estate developer Josia Lewis Lombard, who mapped out plans for the town in 1868. Medinah: The town gets its name from Medinah Country Club, which stems from a group of Shri- ners from Chicago's Medinah Temple who wanted to build the best country club in North America.

They selected several parcels of land then known as Meacham after a family that once owned the land. Naperville: It was known as Naper Settlement in 1832 after siblings John Naper and Joseph Naper who were among the earliest settlers. Between 1834 and 1837, it became Naperville. Oak Brook: In 1851, it was known as Fullersburg after early settler Ben Fuller who arrived in 1834 between Hinsdale and Oak Brook. The area featured two majestic oaks and majestic streams, which historians believe spurred the name.

Oakbrook Terrace: It first was known as Utopia, at the suggestion of an Elmhurst postmaster with a sense of humor. He offered the name when settlers came to him complaining of trouble with mail delivery. Residents voted in June 1958 in favor of the City of Utopia, but later voted in November 1959 to change it to Oakbrook Terrace. Roselle: It was named after Rosell Hough, a colonel in the Civil War, whose family owned much of the land. Originally, it was part of Bloomingdale and was named Meacham's Grove after early settlers.

Roselle incorporated in 1922 and became its own town. St. Charles: It originally was called Charleston but around 1839 the name was changed to St. Charles because there was a Charleston in central Illinois. An educated guess by historians is that early settler Steven Jones took the first name from a town on the East Coast.

Villa Park: Several tales speculate how it was named: It started with a subdivision named for two of its principal roads Villa Avenue and Park Boulevard; it was suggested by an early wealthy resident, Charles C. Hciscn, who owned an estate in Florida by that name; it resulted from developers who had planned to build villa- style homes in a park-like setting; and, the town originally was called Ardmore after its topography. No reason has been given for the change, except that a majority of villagers agreed in 1917. Warrenville: The city gets its name from Daniel Warren, one of the town's original settlers who arrived in 1833 and staked a claim. Col.

Warren was elected to the state legislature in 1844. Wasco: It first was named Compton after an early family in the area, but later was changed. The reason is elusive. Wayne: It first was called Wayne Station in 1850s with the advent of the railroad, named after "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who was an American general in the Revolution and opened the territory for settlement. Wayne as a town incorporated in 1961.

West Chicago: It was first known as Junction because it was the first railroad junction in the state in 1850. Then it was known as the town of Turner in 1873 in honor of John B. Turner, who was president of the Galena Chicago Union until 1896 when it became West Chicago. Businessmen in town chose the name with hopes of boosting industry by allying the town with the vitality of Chicago. Wheaton: It was named after brothers Warren and Jesse Wheaton, who owned much land in town and donated 3 miles of right- of-way to the railroad in 1848.

The grateful railroad named the train depot after them and subsequently the town developed around it. Winfield: It briefly was known as Fredericksburg in 1853. But in 1854 Winfield appeared on maps probably chosen because of the township's name, which was after General Winfield Scott who stopped in the area during Black Hawk War in 1832-33. Wood Dale: The town first was known as Lester's Station after an early settler, John Lester. A portion of town was called Sagone in 1850.

Later that year, it became Wood Dale after a subdivision built in a forest in town. CADES 1927. Challenge Windmill and Feed Co. in Batavia the Challenge 27 model, which quickly becomes the most common of all windmills and was purchased from as far away as Charles Lindbergh buzzes Batavia in his monoplane en route to the Central States Fair in North Aurora. 1923, North Avenue, first 40-foot- wide highway in DuPage County, opens in Glendale a new movie house, the DuPage Theater, opens in Lombard, replacing the silent movie Hotel Baker opens on Main Street in St.

Charles with a gala private banquet held by Col. Edward Baker in the Rainbow Room. 1929. Paul Butler organizes the Oak Brook Polo Plans are made for the first annual Lilac Pageant in Lombard. 1S3Q.

Chicago Consumptive Aid Society builds Fox River Sanitarium a modem hospital with the latest techniques to care for tuberculosis patients north of Batavia. 1931, With the depression in full swing, both Lombard banks are forced to close and several emergency measures are necessary in order to sustain the town. They included a cooperative venture, with churches lending pots and kettles and the village supplying the gas for cooking. 1S32, The swimming pool at Centennial Beach in Naperville, built out of an abandoned stone quarry, Route 59 opens. 1933.

Batavia celebrates its centennial with parades, pageants and industrial displays. 1934. Author Sterling North writes "Rascal' while living in Downers Grove Downers Grove celebrates its Centennial. 1935. A violent labor dispute erupts in Batavia's five garment factories.

1S3S. The Naperville chamber helps bring a new post office to town. 1937. Wheaton resident Grote Reber builds the first radio telescope in his back yard The Campana Company constructs new building at Batavia Avenue and Fabyan Parkway. 1938.

The first meeting of the Bloomingdale village board convenes at Central School. 1939 Ground was broken in St. Charles for Delnor Hospital. 1940. FurnasElec- trie Co.

opened in a brick building at McKee Street and VanNortwick Avenue in Batavia. 1942. Civilian defense and air raid blackout ordinances are passed in DuPage County. 1243, Fred C. Fenton, superintendent of schools in Bensenville, dies Rev.

Billy Graham graduates from Wheaton College. 1944. The Maryknoll fathers build their seminary in Glen Ellyn on an old golf course. 1945, A village hostess program is established in Lombard, and Estelle K. Wasz is selected as the first "hostess." 1946 Commuter train in Naperville rams a stopped train, killing 45 and injuring more than 120.

1947 Northern Illinois Gas estimates its number of customers at 300,000. 1349 O'Hare Airport opens, named for Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II naval aviator who saved his carrier from serious damage, and who lost his life during the battle of The first Swedish Days festival is held in Geneva. 1350. Emhurst's population reaches 21,273. 1952.

Elmhurst YMCA is organized, and the Elmhurst Historical Commission is created Geneva school district consolidated. 1954. Winfield's population reaches 862, and the village sets out its first "No Parking" signs. 1955. DuPage county revises its zoning code to meet the demands of postwar housing District 103, including Roselle, Keeneyville and Bloomingdale, annexes with Itasca's District 108...

The Pure Milk Association and the Geneva Chamber of Commerce sponsor the first Butter Days. 1916. Arthur Swanson builds a new hardware store between the post office building and the pond in downtown Batavia. 1957. Burlington Northern Railroad establishes the Burlington Industrial Park in The lasl car of the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin the third rail electric line, makes its final run into the Batavia terminal..