Sunday, April 21, 2013

Even an average writer should be able to make something of this!

             This could almost be a clue in a Maigret mystery. Ah, but this is a mystery from the Downers Grove past.
This is from 1906 so it is not likely we'll get an explanation about "Picture No.4". So in my head maybe I'll have to make up my own story.


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Yellow Milk in Downers Grove

This is one of my favorite eBay finds. It describes a slice of Downers Grove life a century ago. The child didn't want to drink her Downers Grove yellow milk. Yellow milk!? I spoke with an old fellow that once lived on a Kansas farm. He said that when cows ate dandelions their milk would be yellow instead of the white that we are accustomed to.

Friday, April 5, 2013

A Beautiful Downers Grove Driveway but where is it? A Century Ago?

Somebody thought this Downers Grove driveway was nice enough to make a post card of it. Where is this driveway? I can't find a year on this card but I know it is old.
"Having a swell time here in Downers Grove" Somethings just never change. Was this where Etta was staying? What ever became of Etta?  Post cards like this become a mysterious slice of life.




Sunday, March 24, 2013

Givens Company made a road trip convenience.

Back before McDonald's and all the other roadside fast food stops, where could you stop if the kids had to pee. Besides fast food, these restaurants promised clean rest rooms. Can you remember the bathrooms at the gas stations that you stopped at on road trips before McDonald's, can you ever forget!?
Downers Grove based Givens Company made a product that saved parents the anxiety of stopping at filthy gas station rest rooms.
I don't know how many times I've seen this item on eBay being sold as a juice container.
                                            I'm pretty sure that I now have the complete set.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Main Street Card

I tried to get one of these cards for many years. There are many of them out there but there are also many people who collect "Main Street" postcards.  All those collectors must have been looking the other way a couple weeks ago when I was the only bidder on eBay. I got it for a song. I've seen these go for around 20 dollars.
This is the back of the card. I guess before there were Hunger Games, there were Pupil Games. I hope none were lost!


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Another Tuesday, another snow storm.

     Main and Curtiss and snow and slush.
In 1907 a little girl sent this postcard to a friend. She told a dumb joke in her communication. It still makes me chuckle every time I read it.
As long as I'm doing this snow thing I might as well include this card too. It says Downers Grove is pictured here. Can anyone tell me where this photo was taken?




Thursday, February 28, 2013

It snowed on Tuesday

It snowed on Tuesday. It wasn't particularly cold but it was a serious snow. I went out and took some pictures. This is one of them.
There must have been more warmth in Downers Grove at one time. I had to go back to 1962 to find it.
                                                   Somebody came out here to rest!?
More Sex Play Card Dice and Book Game (Google Affiliate Ad)