Masonic Temple Building
The architects for this building were Fugard and Knapp. The cornerstone for this building was laid on July 24, 1924. Grove Lodge held their first meeting in their new temple […]
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Places
This category is for places that are significant to Downers Grove history.
Downers Grove Civil War Memorial
In honor of the citizens of Downers Grove buried here and elsewhere who served in the Civil War 1861-1865, this Civil War monument is located in Main Street Cemetery. This
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Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank
In 1892, the Farmers and Merchants Bank opened as Downers Grove’s first bank. William James Herring was the contractor for the Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank Building as well as several other
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Whittier School
Whittier School was selected as one of the two Historic Sites of the Year for 2009. The other was it’s sister school Longfellow School, which was demolished in 2022. Whittier
![Longfellow School [demolished]](https://dghistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Longfellow-School-gray-1024x684.jpg)
Longfellow School
Longfellow School was selected as one of the two Historic Sites of the Year for 2009. The other was it’s sister school Whittier School. In 2022, the Downers Grove School
The Bunge House
This landmarked Victorian was built about 1904. It was the second home landmarked in Downers Grove. The three-story Victorian house was the Gustav H. Bunge family home and was originally
The Drew House
This two-story Gothic Revival house was the first landmarked property in Downers Grove. This house with a basement was designed by the petitioner’s grandfather and completed in 1888. The house
Downers Grove North High School
In 1928, the Forest Avenue entrance welcomed 311 students to Downers Grove Community High School, a three-story building with 20 classrooms and an auditorium/gymnasium. In subsequent years, several additions expanded
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Historic Brick Streets
The brick streets were first laid in Downers Grove in the early 1900’s to replace dusty, dirt roads of the time. Main Street was the first street bricked in 1906;
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Avery Coonley School
The Avery Coonley School is the incarnation of Queene Ferry Coonley’s educational philosophy. An advocate of the Progressive Movement in education, Mrs. Coonley hired the nationally known architect, Waldron Faulkner,
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