Dedication & Unveiling Ceremony
~ October 4, 2025 ~
On Friday, October 24, 2025 at 1:00 p.m., a dedication and unveiling ceremony was held at the Chapel on the Green in Yorkville, Illinois to celebrate and introduce their new state marker, “Bristol Churches and the Underground Railroad,” to the public.
This marker commemorates the early Bristol Congregational and Baptist church members and pastors who were active participants of the UGRR network that operated throughout Kendall County from the 1830’s until the end of the Civil War. The church building itself was rumored to have served as a place of concealment for early freedom seekers passing through the community of Bristol on their journey northeast to Chicago, Detroit, and onward to Canada.
Speakers and distinguished guests for the event included moderation by Chapel Board member - Nancy Herkes, an introduction and welcome by Chapel President - Susan Kritzberg, and comments by John Purcell (Yorkville City Mayor), Jeff Wehrli (Kendall County Historic Preservation Commission Chairman), Bill Furry (Director of the Illinois State Historical Society), Jed Davis (Illinois State Representative), Holly Wheeler Brady (Great-great granddaughter of early church member, Dr. Calvin Wheeler), and (U.S. Representative) Lauren Underwood.
Sponsors of the marker include the Chapel on the Green Historical Society NFP, National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, Illinois State Historical Society, and Boy Scouts of America Yorkville Troop 40. This marker was made possible by partial grant funding from the National Park Service Network To Freedom/ASALH partnership.
B.S.A. Yorkville Troop 40 opened the program with a presentation of the colors. Following the speakers’ portion of the program, the marker was unveiled with the assistance of two young 6th-generation descendants of Dr. Calvin Wheeler. Scoutmaster Gary Golinski and four other adult leaders then carried the marker outdoors and mounted it at its permanent location at the front of the building - allowing all in attendance to enjoy viewing it in its final location.
A reception with refreshments was held in the Heritage Hall annex, offering guests and speakers an opportunity to mingle, observe historical displays, and tour the building.
This marker commemorates the early Bristol Congregational and Baptist church members and pastors who were active participants of the UGRR network that operated throughout Kendall County from the 1830’s until the end of the Civil War. The church building itself was rumored to have served as a place of concealment for early freedom seekers passing through the community of Bristol on their journey northeast to Chicago, Detroit, and onward to Canada.
Speakers and distinguished guests for the event included moderation by Chapel Board member - Nancy Herkes, an introduction and welcome by Chapel President - Susan Kritzberg, and comments by John Purcell (Yorkville City Mayor), Jeff Wehrli (Kendall County Historic Preservation Commission Chairman), Bill Furry (Director of the Illinois State Historical Society), Jed Davis (Illinois State Representative), Holly Wheeler Brady (Great-great granddaughter of early church member, Dr. Calvin Wheeler), and (U.S. Representative) Lauren Underwood.
Sponsors of the marker include the Chapel on the Green Historical Society NFP, National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, Illinois State Historical Society, and Boy Scouts of America Yorkville Troop 40. This marker was made possible by partial grant funding from the National Park Service Network To Freedom/ASALH partnership.
B.S.A. Yorkville Troop 40 opened the program with a presentation of the colors. Following the speakers’ portion of the program, the marker was unveiled with the assistance of two young 6th-generation descendants of Dr. Calvin Wheeler. Scoutmaster Gary Golinski and four other adult leaders then carried the marker outdoors and mounted it at its permanent location at the front of the building - allowing all in attendance to enjoy viewing it in its final location.
A reception with refreshments was held in the Heritage Hall annex, offering guests and speakers an opportunity to mingle, observe historical displays, and tour the building.
Above: Program speakers L-R): State Representative - Jed Davis; Susan Kritzberg - Chapel Board President; Holly Wheeler Brady - Descendent of early church member Dr. Calvin Wheeler; U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood; Bill Furry - Director Illinois State Historical Society; John Purcell Mayor United City of Yorkville, and Jeff Wehrli - Chairman Kendall County Historic Preservation Commission.
"Bristol Churches & The Underground Railroad"
(Marker Text)
BEFORE THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, A MOVEMENT WAS ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES TO HELP ENSLAVED AFRICAN AMERICANS ESCAPE NORTH INTO FREE STATES AND CANADA. KNOWN AS THE “UNDERGROUND RAILROAD,” THIS NETWORK WAS COMPRISED OF COMMUNITIES, CITIES, AND FARMS - A CHAIN OF SECRET ROUTES AND SAFE HOUSES WHERE FREEDOM SEEKERS COULD REST AND EAT, FIND WARM CLOTHING, AND SECURE GUIDANCE OR TRANSPORTATION TO THE NEXT “STATION” ON THEIR JOURNEY. IN ILLINOIS, MANY ROUTES LED TO CHICAGO, AND HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS - MOST FROM MISSOURI AND KENTUCKY - WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE PASSED THROUGH KENDALL COUNTY ON THEIR JOURNEY TO FREEDOM DURING THE ANTEBELLUM YEARS. IN THE VILLAGE OF BRISTOL, EARLY CONGREGATIONAL AND BAPTIST CHURCH MEMBERS ARRIVED FROM THE EAST WITH STRONG CONVICTIONS AGAINST SLAVERY AND, LONG BEFORE THEIR CHURCH EDIFICES WERE BUILT IN 1855 AND 1857, WORKED TOGETHER AS ONE BODY TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT FREEDOM SEEKERS. EVENTUALLY THE TWO CHURCHES MERGED TO FORM THE YORKVILLE FEDERATED CHURCH IN 1920. THE ORIGINAL CELLAR OF THE BRISTOL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WAS RUMORED TO HAVE BEEN A HIDING PLACE FOR FREEDOM SEEKERS, AND TODAY’S CHAPEL ON THE GREEN STANDS AS A LEGACY TO THE EARLY PASTORS AND CHURCH MEMBERS WHO RISKED THEIR OWN SAFETY TO CHAMPION HUMAN RIGHTS AND PERSONAL FREEDOMS, INCLUDING REV. HEMAN COLTON, REV. JOSEPH HALLOCK, DRS. CALVIN WHEELER AND TOWNSEND SEELY, FRANCIS SEELY, BENJAMIN ALDEN, JAMES MCCLELLAN JR., EDWARD AMENT, AND MANY OTHERS WHO OPERATED THE UGRR IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT KENDALL COUNTY.
FAQ for the Illinois State Historical Marker Unveiling Event at the Chapel on the Green, Yorkville, IL. ~ 10/24/25
Q: Where is the Chapel on the Green located?
A: The historical 1855 Chapel on the Green is located at 107 W. Center Street in Yorkville. Center Street is located 3 blocks north of the Fox River and the Chapel is 1 block west of IL Rt. 47 (NorthSouth) at the corner of Center and Church Streets. (IL Rt. 47 intersects with US Route 34 on the north side of Yorkville, and with IL Rt. 126 and IL Rt. 71 on the south side of town).
Q: What time is the event scheduled to take place?
A: The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. - with a dedication program indoors, followed by the marker unveiling outdoors at the front of the building. Guests will return indoors to enjoy the public reception/open house.
Q: When will the event end?
A: We expect the event to conclude between 2:30 and 3:00. Those guests wishing to avoid school pickup traffic at the nearby schools should plan to depart by 2:30 p.m. or wait until traffic has cleared.
Q: Will the event take place outdoors?
A: The marker dedication will take place indoors in the Chapel on the Green’s sanctuary, with a seating capacity of 200. The unveiling of the marker - along with photo opportunities - will also take place indoors, and the marker will be installed outdoors at a later time. The public reception/open house to follow will take place in the Chapel’s Heritage Hall annex.
Q: Where is parking available?
A: While the Chapel on the Green does not have dedicated parking, neighborhood street parking is available nearby, including 2 small lots on Church Street - one along the west side of the Chapel, and one just to the south along Church Street, west of Town Square. Carpooling and ride-sharing is recommended! Please DO NOT PARK on the west side of Church Street along Parkview Christian School or on the north side of Center Street in front of Parkview Christian School, as these areas are used for their after-school bus and pick up line. We appreciate your cooperation!
Q: Is the Chapel on the Green handicap accessible?
A: Yes, the facility is accessible to those with special needs; however, our restroom facilities are not fully wheelchair accessible at this time.
Q: Will refreshments be served at the Public Reception/Open House?
A: The public reception will offer guests an opportunity to socialize with several event speakers and others in attendance, tour the historical Chapel facility, and enjoy refreshments. A selection of light appetizers and desserts, along with hot and cold beverages, will be served.
A: The historical 1855 Chapel on the Green is located at 107 W. Center Street in Yorkville. Center Street is located 3 blocks north of the Fox River and the Chapel is 1 block west of IL Rt. 47 (NorthSouth) at the corner of Center and Church Streets. (IL Rt. 47 intersects with US Route 34 on the north side of Yorkville, and with IL Rt. 126 and IL Rt. 71 on the south side of town).
Q: What time is the event scheduled to take place?
A: The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. - with a dedication program indoors, followed by the marker unveiling outdoors at the front of the building. Guests will return indoors to enjoy the public reception/open house.
Q: When will the event end?
A: We expect the event to conclude between 2:30 and 3:00. Those guests wishing to avoid school pickup traffic at the nearby schools should plan to depart by 2:30 p.m. or wait until traffic has cleared.
Q: Will the event take place outdoors?
A: The marker dedication will take place indoors in the Chapel on the Green’s sanctuary, with a seating capacity of 200. The unveiling of the marker - along with photo opportunities - will also take place indoors, and the marker will be installed outdoors at a later time. The public reception/open house to follow will take place in the Chapel’s Heritage Hall annex.
Q: Where is parking available?
A: While the Chapel on the Green does not have dedicated parking, neighborhood street parking is available nearby, including 2 small lots on Church Street - one along the west side of the Chapel, and one just to the south along Church Street, west of Town Square. Carpooling and ride-sharing is recommended! Please DO NOT PARK on the west side of Church Street along Parkview Christian School or on the north side of Center Street in front of Parkview Christian School, as these areas are used for their after-school bus and pick up line. We appreciate your cooperation!
Q: Is the Chapel on the Green handicap accessible?
A: Yes, the facility is accessible to those with special needs; however, our restroom facilities are not fully wheelchair accessible at this time.
Q: Will refreshments be served at the Public Reception/Open House?
A: The public reception will offer guests an opportunity to socialize with several event speakers and others in attendance, tour the historical Chapel facility, and enjoy refreshments. A selection of light appetizers and desserts, along with hot and cold beverages, will be served.