Arriving by train in Downers Grove in 1976.

Arriving by train in Downers Grove back in 1976.
https://vimeo.com/92475585

 

1925 - Back in the days of Animal Sex and Transvestism on the streets of Downers Grove

I came across the Downers Grove book of General Ordinances recently. When you read the ordinances that were written you soon realize the problems that Downers Grove faced back in 1925.

Apparently large animals having sex on Main Street was more than the citizens back then could handle. This is one problem that seems to have gone away. I wonder if this ordinance is still on the books.

I understand that the 1920's, before the Great Depression were sometimes rowdy but I never in my wildest imaginations knew it was a problem here. It seems transvestism and nudity was a serious problem on the quaint streets of Downers Grove back then.

Now, the worst thing one can find in Downers Grove is the current adult entertainment ordinance. Maybe I'll post that here one day.

A Christmas Thank You Note - December 26, 1911 Downers Grove

                                This card recently arrived from Vallejo, California.

 

Oakland, California must have been a very small town back when this was sent. There's no street address mentioned at all.

 I am proud to have this in my collection.

License Plates of Downers Grove

Long before there was a tax on rain fall in Downers Grove, there was an automobile tax. It came in the form of a license plate for your car. I'm not sure when this tax started and I don't know when it ended. Perhaps somebody out there can give us a clue.
                                                                   Thanks, The Management

Downers Grove - The lost CD, "A place where depression and despair are at home."

We've all heard of the book 'Downers Grove' but did you know there was also a CD titled Downers Grove. It had nothing to do with 60515 or 60516. It was about the downer state of mind.

                                              Maybe he nailed it by accident

                   Yes, haven't we all been there. I can't believe that this musician has never been here.

                                              A sampling of the CD's lyrics.

I have searched the internet many times looking for Downers Grove stuff. I'm fairly sure that there is only one Downers Grove in the world. This fellow seems to have created another.

Bill Stillwell Buick How many Buick dealers has there been in Downers Grove?

                                                   This came in the mail today.

                         Before Stillwell Buick it was Baughman Buick

This was the Buick menu. If you go to this address today you get the Emmett's menu and Buick isn't on it.  If you visit on a Friday evening during the summer you might find an old Buick parked in front of it. This would probably just be a coincidence.

I discover The Kelmscott Press in Downers Grove.

It seems that most of my life I have been familiar with Johnson Printers and The Downers Grove Reporter. Then this post card leapt from the past. How far in the past it came from I don't know. Perhaps a Downers Grove historian can fill me in.