Memories of Life in Downers Grove

A Lifetime in Downers Grove

In the early 1920s, I was reared in a rural area – about seven miles southwest from Downers Grove (now Woodridge) – but when we went to town, it was Downers Grove.

We were welcomed by a small blacksmith shop at corner Maple & Main and after that Hoehn's (Emil) barber shop where his brother-in-law, Albert (everybody enjoyed him), assisted. Next was Pitcher's general store – grocery, market, etc.

Crossed the street to Louis Klein's meat market – a very fine place – daughter, Esther, was the cashier in a special area!!!! Up street to Charles Mochel's Hardware Store – so fully stocked with all necessities.

Then, the "biggie" Lehman's and Michel's – a large general store. I remember when my father would go to shop, my mother, who did much sewing, always included a list of threads and sample of material to be matched which were to be given to Helen Antkowiak Blakely to prepare. (She was the best clerk.)

On the opposite side of the street was Nash's grocery and market. My aunt always went there because they had had a son in World War I, just as she did.

The Selig Sisters, next stop – a small dry goods store, but their specialty was hats made by them. You could always get your Easter bonnet there!

Nearby, a large building – Ulhorn's Dairy. They picked up the milk from the farms and prepared it for distribution.

Then, there was Fred Mochel's Meat Market – another fine place – so we were all well-fed.

Lastly, Downers Grove always had many churches to appease all creeds.

These stores were in existence many years ago. I graduated from Downers Grove High School in 1930 and have lived here ever since.

Rose Pfaff Beales (age 94)