Media Release
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
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Prince Castle Monument to Be Re-dedicated at the Site Where the Business Once Stood
NAPERVILLE, Ill.— Ted Fredenhagen’s 19-piece big band, Class Act II, will once again play at his namesake park on Naperville’s Riverwalk Saturday, September 15 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in conjunction with the Riverwalk Art Fair.
Class Act II plays jazz standards, including tunes from Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Harry James and more. The outdoor concert in Fredenhagen Park is free to the public and produced by the Riverwalk Foundation. Limited seating for this concert will be available, so patrons are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be canceled.
The Prince Castle and Cock Robin restaurants were originally located at the current site of Fredenhagen Park and owned by Ted Fredenhagen’s parents, Grace and Walter. After their passing, Fredenhagen and his sister, Rita Harvard, donated the land to the City of Naperville for use as a park on the east extension of the Riverwalk. This year’s concert will be dedicated to the memory of Harvard, who passed away in June.
The evening will also feature a re-dedication of the Prince Castle monument brick, which was once located in the sidewalk outside of the Cock Robin restaurant. The brick served as a reminder of the original Prince Castle restaurant, which opened in 1931 and was demolished in 1967 to make way for Cock Robin, a larger, more modern version of the ice cream shop that also sold hamburgers and French fries.
When Cock Robin was razed in 2000, it was thought that the brick was lost during the demolition process. However, long-time resident Jeff Williams recently came forward with the stone, which had been kept in its original state. Having grown up in Naperville and gone to Cock Robin as a youth, Williams is the proud owner of many Cock Robin artifacts.
In honor of the re-dedication, square ice cream cones – a Prince Castle and Cock Robin specialty – will be available to attendees. North Central College representatives will also be present to invite concert goers to visit the newly finished gateway located between Fredenhagen Park and the college campus.
For questions about the concert, please contact Riverwalk Administrator Jan Erickson at (630) 305-5984. For more information on the Riverwalk, visit www.napervilleriverwalk.com. For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. Sign up to receive the latest news on the City of Naperville’s projects and initiatives via email at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.
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About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill., is home to approximately 145,000 people. This vibrant, thriving city consistently ranks as a top community in the nation in which to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed public and parochial schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. Naperville has ready access to a variety of public transportation, housing and employment options. The city’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options, the opportunity to serve on several City boards and commissions, a thriving downtown shopping and dining area, a renowned outdoor history museum known as Naper Settlement and an active civic community. For more information, please visit our website at www.naperville.il.us.
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