The Little Brass Bell is an aptly named small brass bell trophy that
symbolizes the rivalry between Wheaton College and North Central
College. The tradition dates back to when the county seat was moved
from Naperville to Wheaton 1867. The move of the county seat was
bitterly opposed to by the people of Naperville, and when the new
courthouse was built in Wheaton they refused to let go of the county
records. Not to be deterred, a band of Wheaton and Glen Ellyn residents
raided the Naperville courthouse one night and stole the county
records. Supposedly during this raid the Little Brass Bell was taken
along with the records, and after many years the bell wound up as the
inheritance of two brothers, one who went to Wheaton College, the other
who attended Naperville College (now North Central). The bell became a
symbol of rivalry between the schools, and after many years of stealing
back and forth the bell was hidden away. It resurfaced in the 1940’s at
which point it is was adopted as the trophy to be held by the winner of
the yearly Wheaton and North Central football game. Since its inception
as trophy in 1946 Wheaton has won the Little Brass Bell in 46 of the 61
games.
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