HR0755 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0755 LRB102 26840 LAW 37874 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, As the month of March is designated Women's History Month, the members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to highlight the contributions of women in our State; and

WHEREAS, Caroline Martin Mitchell was an astute and successful businesswoman in the late 19th and early 20th centuries whose contributions helped make the City of Naperville into the thriving community it is today; and

WHEREAS, Caroline Martin Mitchell ran her family's business, the Naperville Tile and Brick Works, which was one of the most successful construction companies in the region; she led the male-dominated business at a time when it was considered unconventional for a woman to do so; and

WHEREAS, Caroline Martin Mitchell, as the last of her descendants, reflected on what her family had built and their contributions to the progress her community had seen during her lifetime and decided to create a living legacy, which has lived on, thrived, and expanded well into the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, Through a perpetual charitable trust, Caroline Martin Mitchell appointed the City of Naperville as the trustee of her family's 212-acre estate; she outlined the terms and conditions to ensure that her land would be an ever-evolving legacy to the Martin family by securing her home as a museum and her orchards as a place to gather her community and by dedicating the remaining acreage to the public good, stipulating that her lands be used to fund the museum when necessary; and

WHEREAS, Today, Caroline Martin Mitchell's former estate is home to Naperville Central High School, Rotary Hill, Knoch Park, the Naperville Garden Plots, the Von Oven Scout Reservation, Sportsman's Park, portions of Edwards Hospital, Linden Oaks, the Naperville Cemetery, and more; and

WHEREAS, Caroline Martin Mitchell's vision for a living legacy is responsible for the creation of the Naper Settlement, a museum that consists of her former home and its surrounding orchards; and

WHEREAS, The Naper Settlement is a 13-acre, nationally accredited outdoor history museum and community space that connects visitors to the past while inspiring them to see their role in the future; the museum hosts award-winning exhibits, events, and educational programs for learners of all ages; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Caroline Martin Mitchell for her many contributions to the Naperville community and the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the City of Naperville and the Naper Settlement as an expression of our esteem and respect.