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X-WR-CALNAME:Downers Grove Historical Society
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://dghistory.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Downers Grove Historical Society
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261004T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261004T113000
DTSTAMP:20260701T173344Z
CREATED:20260626T163613Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260701T173344Z
UID:22200-1791111600-1791113400@dghistory.org
SUMMARY:First United Methodist Church Named 2026 Historic Site
DESCRIPTION:Please join us as The Downers Grove Historical Society honors the  First United Methodist Church as its 2026 Historic Site of the Year\, recognizing nearly 190 years of faith\, service\, and community history. \nFounded in 1836\, the church was the first organized congregation in Downers Grove and has played a vital role in the village’s development from its earliest days. Its current sanctuary\, completed in 1928\, continues to serve as both a place of worship and an architectural landmark. \nThe Society will present a commemorative bronze plaque at a special ceremony immediately following the 10:00 am church service. Read the full story here to discover the church’s remarkable history—from worshipping in log cabins and a one-room schoolhouse to becoming one of Downers Grove’s most enduring institutions.
URL:https://dghistory.org/event/first-united-methodist-church-named-2026-historic-site/
LOCATION:First United Methodist Church\, 1032 Maple Avenue\, Downers Grove\, IL\, 60515\, United States
CATEGORIES:DGHS Event,Historic Site
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dghistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Log-Cabin-to-2026-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="The Downers Grove Historical Society":MAILTO:info@downersgrovehistory.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261010T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261010T120000
DTSTAMP:20260615T174801Z
CREATED:20260605T033133Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260615T174801Z
UID:22068-1791626400-1791633600@dghistory.org
SUMMARY:Poisoned! ... Murder in Downers Grove
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a lurid tale with a connection to Downers Grove’s past… \n\nA gripping tale of murder\, sorcery\, and criminal justice in turn-of-the-century Chicago\, “Poisoned” is the fascinating true story (1907) of a mysterious Bohemian fortune teller charged with murdering a half-dozen people by slowly poisoning them with arsenic. In this presentation\, the author Steve Shukis will discuss events that followed Herman Billik’s conviction: last-second reprieves; legal battles carried all the way to the Supreme Court; frenzied mass demonstrations; corpses secretly exhumed in the middle of the night; and the revelation that key witnesses lied under oath. These events started with a family-run dairy in a Bohemian neighborhood in Chicago and eventually continued to a dairy farm in Downers Grove\, Lombard\, and the DuPage coroner’s office in Wheaton. The case affected political campaigns\, involved a Chicago Mayor\, and featured an eventual showdown in the race for Governor of Illinois between two of the story’s central figures. Indeed\, if it were not true\, no one would ever believe it. \n\nSteve Shukis is a sixth-generation Chicagoan and has been an amateur genealogist for more than thirty years. His book Poisoned tells the fascinating story of Herman Billik\, a mysterious Bohemian fortune teller accused of slowly poisoning Martin and Rose Vrzal\, and their four children in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood in the early 1900s. \nTickets are now available to Historical Society Members only.
URL:https://dghistory.org/event/poisoned-murder-in-downers-grove/
LOCATION:Lincoln Center\, 935 Maple Avenue\, Downers Grove\, IL\, 60515
CATEGORIES:DGHS Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dghistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/poisoned-banner.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="The Downers Grove Historical Society":MAILTO:info@downersgrovehistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261012T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261012T203000
DTSTAMP:20260416T155946Z
CREATED:20260416T155136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T155946Z
UID:21375-1791831600-1791837000@dghistory.org
SUMMARY:The Story of Israel Blackburn at the Schaumburg Township District Library
DESCRIPTION:We have been invited to tell the life story of Israel Blackburn at the Schaumburg Township District Library. \nIsrael was born into slavery in 1818 in Kentucky. In 1865\, during the Civil War\, he performed garrison duty with the 124th U.S. Colored Infantry in Kentucky. Blackburn moved his family north to DuPage County\, Illinois\, and settled in Downers Grove shortly after the war. He became a respected member of the community and\, within a few years\, in 1873\, was one of the 38 founding signers of the Incorporation Papers for the new Village of Downers Grove. \nIn this presentation\, genealogist\, local historian\, and Downers Grove Historical Society President Marty Acks\, will tell Israel’s story by following the large trove of archival material that documents many aspects of his unique life. \nRegistration details will follow. There is no charge for this presentation. \n 
URL:https://dghistory.org/event/israel-blackburn-a-journey-from-slavery-schaumburg/
LOCATION:Schaumburg Township District Library\, 130 South Roselle Road\, Schaumburg\, IL\, 60159-0567\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://dghistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/event-hero-blackburn-2.webp
ORGANIZER;CN="Schaumburg Township District Library":MAILTO:contact@stdl.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261024T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261024T120000
DTSTAMP:20260506T225112Z
CREATED:20260506T225112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260506T225112Z
UID:21635-1792836000-1792843200@dghistory.org
SUMMARY:2026 Living Cemetery
DESCRIPTION:No ghosts\, but plenty of ‘guest’ actors will portray early settlers buried in Downers Grove’s historic Main Street Cemetery. Portrayed by both adult and young-adult actors\, our early founders\, who reappear for this one day every year\, will share their stories about the early pioneer days in Downers Grove. \nCome to the Living Cemetery on October 24th and take a walk through time. This event is fun and educational for all ages\, and no registration is required. \nFree to the public!
URL:https://dghistory.org/event/2026-living-cemetery/
LOCATION:Main Street Cemetery\, 5158 Main Street\, Downers Grove\, IL\, 60515\, United States
CATEGORIES:DGHS Event,Educational Event,Living Cemetery
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dghistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cemetery-2025-hero-2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="The Downers Grove Historical Society":MAILTO:info@downersgrovehistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261112T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261112T220000
DTSTAMP:20260623T214842Z
CREATED:20260623T214755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T214842Z
UID:22191-1794502800-1794520800@dghistory.org
SUMMARY:History on Tap 2026
DESCRIPTION:Save the Date!\nYou are cordially invited to the Downers Grove Historical Society’s 7th Annual History on Tap Trivia Pub Crawl Fundraiser. Invite your friends and have fun as you stroll through Downtown\, answer all new Downers Grove historical trivia questions\, and enjoy a 12 oz. beer\, 4 oz. glass of wine\, soft drink\, or an appetizer\, at all five crawl locations. Plus\, you’ll get a bonus ticket you can use at any location. Top off the evening at Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar for our legendary after-party. Turn in your completed trivia card for six chances to win gift cards from one of our participating venues. All this is included in the ticket price.  \nNet proceeds support the mission and programs of the Downers Grove Historical Society.  \nTickets go on sale soon… watch our newsletter! \nEvent Details:\n\nDate: Thursday\, November 12\nTime: 5-10 pm\nPrice: $40 Members; $50 Non-members\nClick here to become a member and receive discounted pricing and early notice on future Historical Society events. \nPub Crawl: 5-9 pm at Ballydoyle\, Cadence Kitchen\, Cellar Door\, Orange & Brew\, and Wasabi. \nAfter-Party & Raffle Drawings: 9-10 pm: Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar. Light food will be served at no additional cost\, plus a cash bar will be available. There will be six gift card prizes awarded at the After-Party. (Winners must be present when your name is called.)\n\n\n* Must be 21 to participate. ID is required to show proof of age.\n* Liquor establishments have the right to refuse service to anyone who appears to be intoxicated
URL:https://dghistory.org/event/history-on-tap-2026/
LOCATION:Downtown Downers Grove\, multiple locations near Main St and Curtiss St\, Downers Grove\, IL\, 60515\, United States
CATEGORIES:DGHS Event,Fundraiser,registration-tickets
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dghistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/hot-banner-2026.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="The Downers Grove Historical Society":MAILTO:info@downersgrovehistory.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261118T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261118T203000
DTSTAMP:20260416T162841Z
CREATED:20260416T161612Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T162841Z
UID:21381-1795028400-1795033800@dghistory.org
SUMMARY:The Story of Israel Blackburn at the DuPage County Genealogical Society
DESCRIPTION:We have been invited to tell the life story of Israel Blackburn for the monthly meeting of the DuPage County Genealogical Society. The presentation will be held at the Wheaton Public Library. \nIsrael was born into slavery in 1818 in Kentucky. In 1865\, during the Civil War\, he performed garrison duty with the 124th U.S. Colored Infantry in Kentucky. Blackburn moved his family north to DuPage County\, Illinois\, and settled in Downers Grove shortly after the war. He became a respected member of the community and\, within a few years\, in 1873\, was one of the 38 founding signers of the Incorporation Papers for the new Village of Downers Grove. \nIn this presentation\, genealogist\, local historian\, and Downers Grove Historical Society President Marty Acks\, will tell Israel’s story by following the large trove of archival material that documents many aspects of his unique life. \nRegistration details will follow. There is no charge for this presentation. \n 
URL:https://dghistory.org/event/the-story-of-israel-blackburn-for-at-the-wheaton-library/
LOCATION:Wheaton Public Library\, 225 N. Cross St.\, Wheaton\, 60187\, United States
CATEGORIES:Community Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://dghistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/event-hero-blackburn-2.webp
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