This historic photo is of teacher Mamie Thompson’s class at Naper Academy, 39 S. Eagle St., taken about 1880. The private school opened in December 1853, with the Rev. Nelson Atkins serving as principal and 50 tuition-paying students attending, according to Naper Settlement records. It would becom e a free school in 1863 under a special charter issued by the state, and in 1911 it joined with Ellsworth School to form a school district. To make way for the larger, more modern Naper School (now Naper Elementary School), the building was demolished in 1928. ...read more read less