Fort Payne

Since we're seeing a sudden increase in questions about Fort Payne and the historical marker, I figured I'd share with everyone what I know about it. The physical marker erected in 1964 still stands on the Fort Hill area of campus. Specifically it is behind Ward Hall at the top of the hill overlooking the pond.

According to Genevieve Towsley's "A View of Historic Naperville", the area of land south of Chicago Avenue where Ellsworth Street ends was the site of Fort Payne. In 1832, during the Black Hawk War, the early citizens of Naperville evacuated to Fort Dearborn (Chicago) following massacres at other settlements. Upon their return, they urged the building of a fort for protection - it was named Fort Payne to honor the commanding officer at the fort. In 1836, Lewis Ellsworth bought the land, built his home on the site of the old fort, and called it "Fort Hill". He ran a store in town, but did eventually sold it and established the DuPage County Nurseries. After Ellsworth's death in 1885, the estate was sold to the John Batten family who remained there until 1902, when Judge John Goodwin purchased the estate.

The Goodwins built a new home in the southern colonial style on the site of the original Ellsworth home and called their estate Heatherton. North Central students often used Heatherton/Fort Hill as picnic and outdoor recreation areas. The same night that Judge Goodwin passed away in 1920, the house was destroyed by fire. In 1924, North Central College (then called North-Western College) purchased the estate and since then this area has been known as Fort Hill providing the campus with athletic fields and residence halls.