Downers Grove History
Artifact of the month
This stereographic image shows Earl Downer as an infant with his mother, Nellie, and grandmother, Ellen. Viewed through a stereoscope as intended, the two photographs, taken at slightly different angles, fool the brain into perceiving them as a single, three-dimensional image. Although amateur stereography and stereographs of portraits and private homes were an uncommon novelty, stereoscopy was more than a passing fad. Historians estimate that approximately three hundred million stereographs were made and sold in America from the medium’s introduction at London’s 1851 Crystal Palace Exposition until the waning of its popularity during the 1920s (however, it did enjoy a slight revival during the late 20th century in the form of Matel’s ViewMaster). 
Novelty (and the endorsement of Queen Victoria) may have originally attracted users, but the device remained popular because it fulfilled Victorians’ desire for parlor amusements that both entertained and educated. Families, such as the Downers, had stereograph collections that may have included natural scenery, views of American and European cities, images of industrial wonders such as the Chicago Stockyards, travelogues which served both as souvenir and “virtual” tour. During the early 20th century stereographs showing comic or slightly risqué scenes grew in popularity, but more traditional, educational subject matter never fell out of favor.
Stereoscopy’s main attraction—the truthful recreation of the experience of seeing with one’s own eyes—was eventually undercut by the growing popularity of film. Audiences decided that moving pictures were able to more closely approximate reality and produce engaging narratives that the static, simulated three-dimensionality of stereographs.
Picture of the month
Horse and buggy waiting to cross rail road tracks at Main Street Station, circa 1890.
Learn what happened in Downers Grove long ago!
From 1832 to 2007, this timeline illustrates some of the most important historical events in the community.
1832 - Pierce Downer (then 50 years old) moves from New York to Downers Grove. He claims 160 acres of land at $1.25 an acre in the area that would become Downers Grove.
1835 -The Dexter Stanley family moves from New York to the area. This is the first complete family to move to Downers Grove.
1836 - The Blodgett family, originally from Massachusetts, moves from the Naperville area to Downers Grove. Israel Blodgett, a blacksmith and farmer, purchases over 500 acres of land.
1838 - Israel Blodgett and Samuel Curtiss clear land to develop a road on the site of 1816 Indian Boundary. They plant Maple trees along the road.
1839 - Reverend Orange Lyman builds his home at 806 Maple Avenue. This is the oldest home in Downers Grove today.
1845 - Henry Carpenter opens a general store and post office. He also sells land to build houses.
1846 - The first school district is built at Maple Avenue and Dunham Road.
ca.1850 - Israel Blodgett becomes a "conductor" for the Underground Railroad. If caught, he would face a $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail.
1851 - The Plank Road, now known as Ogden Avenue, is constructed and it runs from Chicago to Naperville. It is 16 feet wide and a toll is required to use it.
1860 - The Plow Boys political group campaigns for Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency.
1861- 1865 - Over 100 men from Downers Grove serve as soldiers during the Civil War, including 3 members of the Blodgett family and Judge Walter Blanchard (who died from wounds received at the Battle of Chattanooga in 1863).
1864 - The C.B.& Q Railroad, now known as the Burlington, Northern & Santa Fe Line, is built through Downers Grove.
1867 - Lincoln School, the area's first 2-room brick school house, is built.
1870 - The population of Downers Grove totals 350.
1873 - T.S. Rogers becomes the first President of Downers Grove.
1883 - The Downers Grove Reporter is founded.
1885 - Downers Grove has one police magistrate and one police officer for the Village's 500 people.
Late 1880s - Dicke Tool Works opens.
1890 - A road, now known as Highland Avenue is built. A livestock yard still exists in downtown Downers Grove. The Village's 2,500 residents continue to walk on wood sidewalks and look at unpaved streets.
1891 - Washington School opens and has one teacher for the entire high school class.
1892 - Charles Blodgett moves his family's home to the back of the property, which recently had a modern-day address of 812 Randall Street, and constructs his home on Maple Avenue. Although modern by Victorian-era standards, it lacks indoor plumbing, electric, central heating and telephone service.
Charles Blair McDonald and his Chicago Club colleagues establish the first nine-hole golf course in the United States.
1893 - Downers Grove experiences a devastating fire. It is commonly referred to as the World's Fair Fire. The Village hires its first night police officer for $25 per month. Charles Blair McDonald and his Chicago Club colleagues add nine more holes to the existing golf course; thus, the establishment of the first 18-hole golf course west of the Allegheny Mountains.
1894 - A water tower and pumping station is constructed.
Carpenter's drug store has the only telephone in town and it costs 20 cents to call Chicago.
1895 - Downers Grove's Base Ball Club plays teams located along the C.B.&Q Railroad line.
1898 - Volunteer fire department is organized.
1899 - The Village builds its first electrical plant. However, there was only electricity at night because there are not enough customers during the day.
1900 - Downers Grove's first football team practices at night only at the corner of Warren & Forest Avenues because it has the only streetlight in town.
1906 - Dicke Tool Company's disastrous fire. The Village purchases an 1,100 pound bell to be used to call out the volunteer fire department.
1911 - Grant Dicke joins the Downers Grove Fire Department.
1915 - The "new" library is built on Curtiss Street.
1917 - Downers Grove no longer has a "President", but develops a position for a Mayor and Commissioners.
1918 - Downers Grove's first Boy Scout troop is established.
1921 -Downers Grove purchases its first motorized fire truck.
1922 - Dr. James Breasted participates in the opening of King Tut's tomb in Egypt. Lottie Holman-O'Neill is the first woman to be elected to the Illinois State Legislature.
1928 -The Tivoli Theatre opens. Downers Grove High School is built (now known as Downers Grove North High School).
1932 - Downers Grove is 100 years old.
1934 -The Burlington-Zephyr train makes its first passage through Downers at 85 miles per hour.
1934-1936 - Downers Grove A's, the local hard ball baseball team, holds the DuPage County title.
1940 - Downers Grove native Arthur Chester is the chief designer for the P-51 Mustang fighter plane.
1945 - Downers Grove native Fred Lester is killed in battle and receives the Medal of Honor.
1947 - The Burlington Twin-City Zephyr passenger train crashes at the Main Street train station.
1963 - Sterling North, a past Downers Grove resident, writes the book Rascal.
1964 - Downers Grove South High School is built.
1967 - Grant Dicke retires from the Downers Grove Fire Department after 50 years of service.
1970 - The population of Downers Grove reaches 32,000.
1976 - The 55th Street park is renamed Patriots Park in honor of the men and women who fought for our freedom. The pond is renamed Barth Pond in memory of a Downers Grove police officer killed in the line of duty.
1976 - Good Samaritan Hospital is constructed at a cost of $33 million.
1977 - The Downers Grove Park District Museum opens in the 1892 Blodgett House on Maple Avenue.
1982 - The Village hosts its first Heritage Fest in honor of Downers Grove's Sesquicentennial. Girl Scouts honor Daddy Wells, who was a life-long advocate of girl scouting.
1998 - Cammi Granato wins an Olympic Gold Medal for the Women's hockey team.
2000 - The population of Downers Grove is slightly more than 48,000.
2007 - Downers Grove native Tom Lesatz completes the Iditarod Dogsled Race with a record of 11 days, 20 minutes and 53 seconds.
2008 - The 1846 Blodgett House, which has sat at 812 Randall Street for approximately 116 years, is moved back near its original location, now known as Wandschneider Park.
