Wheaton Year-In-Review: Top Stories Of 2017

WHEATON, IL — It's hard to believe 2017 is almost over and whether you are sad to say goodbye or eager to ring in the new year, one thing is clear: a lot happened in 2017. There's no doubt there was a lot of news on the national level, but let's take a look at this year-in-review to reflect on some of the wacky, tragic, and heartwarming moments that shaped Wheaton in 2017.

Want A Free 19th-Century Mansion in Wheaton? It’s Yours if You Can Move It

Wheaton's historic House of Seven Gables narrowly missed being demolished to make room for a new subdivision. At one point, the mansion was listed online as free to whomever could move it. Preservationists fought hard to save the 19th-century mansion. It was eventually rescued by a local couple and moved in one piece!

Last Slice Served At Jack Straw's Pizza In Wheaton

This year, Wheaton lost one of its favorite dining spots when Jack Straw's Pizza closed in July. The pizza shop had been a beloved part of the community for 35 years. When news of the restaurant's closure broke, Wheaton residents responded by sharing some of their favorite memories. Sadly, the owner of Jack Straw's, William Hood, died a few months later at age 63.

Wheaton To Dedicate Street To Fallen Soldier Friday

The city honored one of its own after SPC Samuel T. Watts was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan. The community gathered to celebrate the Wheaton North graduate's memory with an honorary street sign at the intersection of Karlskoga and Hale Avenues.

Wheaton College Student Killed in Accident at Track and Field Competition

In April, a Wheaton College student tragically lost his life in a track and field accident. The community banded together to honor the memory of Ethan Roser with a candlelight vigil at Lawson Park. Roser was one of the Wheaton residents whose lives we celebrate as we look back on 2017.

2017 left a lot of memories behind. If you have a story you'd like to share about someone who made a difference in Wheaton in 2017, email lisa.farver@patch.com.

>>Image credits from top to bottom: Kristin Borden/Patch, Craigslist.com/GoogleMaps Streetview, City of Wheaton, Pixabay