RABBLE ROUSING AT THE PRE-EMPTION HOUSE

On Saturday, after working all day plowing the fields on their 'River Road' farm, Joe and Mary Ory would unhitch the big draft horses and ride them into downtown Naperville.  Mary took the children to Naper Theater on Jefferson Street.  Joe headed a couple blocks south on Main Street to the tavern in the Pre-Emption House where he drank whiskey and played poker.

Joseph Ory was born on April 27, 1884, on the original Francois Sebastien Ory farm on Maple Avenue and Route 53 in Lisle Township.  In 1890, Joe's parents, William and Matilda (Yackley) Ory, bought the 129-acre farm which ran along DuPage River and extended south to what is now Naperville Plaza Shopping Center at the corner of Washington Street and Gartner Road.  After William was killed on May 28, 1896, at the Naperville train station while delivering milk pails, Joe and his brother Gene worked the farm.  On April 30, 1919, Joe took over the farm after getting married to Mary Bermes.  All four of their kids, Helen Haberman, Ruth Keroson, Pete Ory, and Raymond Ory, were born there.  (see "Genealogy of the Ory Family in Naperville, Illinois," by James Ory in May 2001.)

In an interview by The Naperville Sun in December 1946, Joe Ory admitted to being a prankster at the one-room Hobson School by putting a 22 blank shell into the wood stove.  He also mentioned attending local dances with the girls in town.  His first car was a Model T roadster which Joe said "would look like a queer buggy now."  He also talked about the time Coletta Wehrli Drendel fell into the river.  "I pulled her out," Joe said.  "She still remembers how I saved her life!"

Now you, too, can do a little rabble rousing at the Pre-Emption House.  Joe Ory's granddaughter, Kathy Keroson, has written a Book About Naperville called "My Hometown - Naperville" about her family and their connection to Naperville since 1838.  On April 27th, on the anniversary of Joe Ory's birthday, the public is invited to a Book Launch Open House from 1-4 p.m. at the Pre-Emption House.  "What could be more fitting," Kathy said, "than to celebrate Grandpa Ory's birthday at the same time?"

There will be book and tee-shirt sales, book signings, an art gallery of old family photos and other artifacts including quilts by three generations of family quilters, a children's activity center, old-time 50's music, and birthday cake for everyone.  But sorry, there won't be any whiskey drinking or poker playing this time.