St. Charles “The Pride of the Fox”

 

 

John ‘Bet a Million’ Gates made a fortune in barbed wire, steel manufacturing, oil (Texaco), and stock market trading. Tap to read more about John Gates.

 

He married Dellora Baker of St. Charles.​       

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Their fortune passed to Dellora’s brother Col. Edward Baker and their niece Dellora Angell who later married Lester Norris.

 

Thus. ‘DelNor’ graces many parks, etc. as well as the money behind the Baker Hotel, Baker Memorial Center, Baker Memorial Methodist Church, Potawatomi Park, DelNor Community Center, Delnor Hospital.and Arcada Theatre.

 

Upon his appointment as National Chairman of The Victory Garden Campaign during WWII,  Lester Norris  asked his friend Walt Disney to help publicize the effort.  Disney drew Mickey with a hoe and a green thumb.

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Former Piano Cable Factory in downtown is now residences.

 

A Jeopardy question in the 1990’s: “What midwestern town is the Pickle Capital of the World?”  Answer: St. Charles, IL.

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St Charles Business Alliance has an app for tours of historic places.