Dr. Gordon Goodman has lived in Downers Grove since 1965. He is a retired chemical physicist who worked at Argonne National Laboratory. He has an amazing passion for historic preservation and is truly engaged in the community events. He was also a true legend of preserving natural and cultural heritage in Downers Grove.
Dr. Gordon Goodman is a founding member of the Pierce Downer’s Heritage Alliance (PDHA), which formed in 1995 to protect the ecosystem surrounding Lyman Woods. Through diligent efforts over the years, he helped to acquire an additional 50 acres at Lyman Woods, which is cooperatively owned by the Village of Downers Grove, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the Downers Grove Park District.
Also interested in preserving the architectural history of Downers Grove, Gordon worked in 2004 to save the Orange Lyman House at 806 Maple Avenue, one of the oldest homes in the village. The 1846 Blodgett House was another home preserved through efforts of the 1846 Blodgett House Group that combined Gordon’s support with that of many other concerned citizens. As a result, he was one of the “Volunteers of the Year” award winners from the Downers Grove Park District in 2011. The historic 1846 Blodgett House, which was built by pioneer Israel Blodgett, was moved and restored and is now on the way to becoming an important part of the Blodgett Homestead on Maple Avenue. Its early construction style and history of being a stop on the Underground Railroad make it very important to Downers Grove’s history.
