Memories of Life in Downers Grove

A Downers Grove Youth

What Changes, What Stays the Same

I think very few Downers Grove residents now know that we once watched the Fourth of July fireworks at Doerhoefer Park. It was very crowded, which is why I'm sure the fireworks moved to 75th Street. We lived a few blocks from the park so we always walked, but the streets were full of cars and people. My parents would pull me in my wagon so as not to lose me in the crowd. Now kids play all kinds of sports on the new artificial turf there, including lacrosse!

My first job was at K-Mart on Ogden Avenue. I must apologize to my managers there because I was at best a half-hearted worker who was really more interested in hanging out with my fellow co-workers than in scanning customers' paper towels and shampoo. But we had a great time, if that's of any consolation to those who did not get their correct change back!

These former DG businesses all played a part in my formative years: Mr. Value Foods, Rose Records, E-G Hardware and Lumber, the Branding Iron, Honey Girl, Yellow Submarine, Just Games, Hi-Lo Foods, Someplace Else, Anana's, C.C. Cromwell's, Edwardo's, Sage's West, Grove Premium.

But here's what hasn't changed: sledding at Gilbert Park, painting the windows downtown on Halloween and drinking hot chocolate to keep warm, marching in the July 4th parade (with the band or with your church or political group), Heritage Fest, the Tivoli, catching the train into Chicago, Omega, signing up for programs at the park district (although my mother used to have to wait in line to do so – now parents can just sign up online!)

Belmont Prairie and Lyman Woods offer two windows to the past for me. Lyman Woods was once a subdivision but has been largely returned to its native state. And in the summer I go to Belmont Prairie and stand among the compass plants, the prairie docks, and the rattlesnake masters, and try to imagine what Downers Grove was like before anyone was here.

Carol Kania Morency