A notice was placed in the Naperville Clarion announcing the first meeting of Naperville Post 43 at the 5th Regiment Illinois Reserve Militia Armory on Thursday, July 24, 1919. All sailors, soldiers and marines, whether members or not, were invited to "learn the many advantages this organization offers to those who were in military service during the late war".

So where was the Armory? According to the Blue Book of the State of Illinois: State of Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, Company L, 5th Infantry, Illinois Reserve Militia was located in Naperville. It was comprised of 3 Officers and 67 enlisted. However, Stewart Reeve Director of the Illinois Reserve Militia Museum stated that there was no “official” armory located in Naperville. “Many local companies used storefronts or halls for their meetings”.

Although we do not have definitive proof, we believe the 5th Regiment Illinois Reserve Militia Armory and Post 43’s first meeting place was Scott’s Hall, located on Washington just north of Jefferson. Opened in 1876, Scott’s Hall functioned as a dance hall, theater and community center. Here were held plays, town meetings, lectures, political rallies and more. As an article in the Naperville Sun Sesquicentennial Section stated, “Scott’s Hall was the town’s only community center.” It was also used by 58th regiment Illinois volunteer infantry for their reunion and the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) mustered at there.

References:
Bateman, N & Selby, P. (1913). Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, Vol 2, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company

Higgins, , J. F. (2001). Images of America: Naperville, Illinois, Chicago: Arcadia Publishing.

Napervile Sun (eds.) (1968). Our Town in Illinois. Naperville: Naperville Sun

Naperville Welcome you Home Committee (1917). Souvenir of the Naperville Homecoming May 29-June 1 1917.

State of Illinois (1920). Blue Book of the State of Illinois Springfield: State of Illinois

Towsley, G (1979). A View of Historic Naperville: A Collection of Articles of Historic Significance from the Sky-Lines Naperville: Naperville Sun

View more history for Post 43 in Naperville, Illinois