Memories of Life in Downers Grove

Homes and Neighborhoods

I grew up in Downers Grove. My first ten years we lived on Second Street across from where Pepperidge Farm is now. We sledded down the hill on Second Street and Smoky Hollow hill just east of Pepperidge Farm and played in the prairie there. The Fredenhagens lived at Fairview and Second Street and we'd have rainbow cones at Prince Castle by the tracks on the south side.

We moved to 59th Street and Plymouth Court on three acres when Pepperidge Farm was coming to town. My dad had to resign from the village council because we were moving out of the village limits. When Hillcrest School was built my mom was a lunch room monitor. I attended Whittier School through third grade, Lincoln School through sixth grade, Herrick Junior High and Downers Grove North.

I remember skating at Prince Pond and winning races in the ice carnivals, the fall festival held on Labor Day Weekend, being a princess and selling tickets on Main Street, and painting windows for Halloween.

Our house on Second Street has been torn down and replaced with two million dollar homes. The house on Gierz Street that my grandfather built has also been torn down and replaced. The house on Washington Street that my other grandparents lived in has not changed a bit. My grandmother was a seamstress and made clothes for many local people. We spent a lot of time with the Selig Sisters!

My father-in-law owned the 17 acres where Best Buy and T.J. Maxx is now and we built our first house on that property. I'll never forget the snow of 1967. I had a six-week old baby and my husband couldn't get home that night. We moved away in 1970 but have come back to town and are happy to be back!

Susan Chester Brixie