Early Naperville fire station on Jefferson Street
Former Naperville fire station on Jefferson Street
Naper Settlement’s Firehouse may contrast with your typical image of a fire station, but it wasn’t unusual back in the 1860s. Before purpose-built fire stations, towns stored their fire equipment in empty sheds or garages. This building was a garage and storehouse across the street from Naper Settlement. One of Naperville’s early purpose-built fire stations still stands on West Jefferson Street! Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria took over the building in 1992 when Naperville’s new fire station opened.