2017 Belmont Prairie Wildflower Walk
This year volunteer naturalist Lance Herning will lead a wildflower walk in the Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve on Saturday, August 26.
The group of walkers will be limited to about 8 walkers, who will start out  at  9 AM and should plan to walk for about 1 hour.  Please click here to learn more and register for this popular event.

 Friends Of The Edwards House Wins
Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award
Ken Lerner recently received a letter from Bonnie McDonald, President of Landmarks Illinois, informing us that the Friends Of The Edwards House (FOEH) has been chosen to receive the 2017 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Project of the Year for Advocacy. This is a significant honor for the group, as well as for the Village of Downers Grove.  Please clck here to read President McDonald's letter.

Commenting on behalf of the group Rich Kulovany, FOEH Chair, said, "In addition to our team, there are many people to thank, but I would like to start by thanking Ken for nominating us (two years in a row) and Mayor Martin Tully, State Representative David Olsen and Architect Douglas Gilbert for writing endorsements. Most importantly, the accomplishments we have achieved in this short time could not have been possible without the leadership and wonderful cooperation from the Village of Downers Grove."

 DuPage Monarch Project
DuPage Monarchs Project
The DuPage Monarch Project is a group of local organizations working together to provide education about monarchs and increase the amount of suitable monarch habitat throughout DuPage County. DuPage Monarch Project is asking mayors and village boards to formally resolve to make their communities more monarch friendly.

Betty Cheever & Wally Brown Honored

Many organizations and individuals joined forces to honor Betty M. Cheever and Wallace H. (Wally) Brown with tribute benches in Lyman Woods Preserve. A celebration of Betty Cheever's and Wally Brown's community leadership took place on Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the Lyman Woods Interpretative Center.  Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance was joined by the Grove Foundation for Recreation, The Conservation Foundation, the League of Women Voters of Downers Grove, Woodridge, & Lisle, and the Downers Grove Downtown Management Corporation, together with some dozen individuals, in supporting these tribute benches to honor the public service of Wally Brown and Betty Cheever.

The Lyman Woods Preserve owes much to the leadership of these two outstanding individuals. Mayor Cheever championed the 1982 tripartite purchase of Lyman Woods from George Williams College by the Village of Downers Grove, the Downers Grove Park District and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. In 1996, Commissioner Brown led the campaign for additional Forest Preserve District funds to supplement referendum-voter-approved Park District bond funding for purchase of the heavily wooded site at the south-east corner of Highland Avenue and 31st Street. Wally Brown also played a key role in achieving a million dollar Illinois State grant for the Lyman Woods Interpretive Center. Both Betty and Wally have held many public service positions in our community over the years.

Please click here to see pictures and learn more about the benches that honor Betty Cheever and Wally Brown.


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Historic Preservation Activities

The Village's historic preservation program was revised in 2015, contributing to an increased interest in landmarking homes and other historic structures.


The Village Council unanimously approved landmarkFrank Rodgers House status for The Frank Rodgers House, 5325 Fairmount Avenue on June 13th. Please click here to read the information about  this bungalow home constructed in 1926, now owned by Lawrence and Gloria Gassen.

The Village 4709 Linscott Avenue McDougall HouseCouncil unanimously approved landmark status for The McDougall House, 4709 Linscott Avenue, on May 16th.  Please click here to read the information provided by the current owner, Mary Lou Lockerby, about the historic significance of her home, constructed in 1894.
Chilvers-Winter House

The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for two buildings on March 21st. Recognition of The Chilvers-Winter House, 484Fairview Train Station9 Middaugh Avenue, had been proposed by its owners Patrick & Chris Sexton. 

Fairview Train Station, which is owned by the Village, was also designated as a local historic landmark on March 21st.

The Village Council unanimou4437 Seeley Avenue Pierce Downer Housesly approved landmark status for The Pierce Downer House on February 14th. Please click here to read the information provided by the current owners, Arthur and Judith Frigo, about the historic significance of their home, which dates from the 1840's.


Please click here for a complete listing of the 16 buildings that have been granted local landmark status in Downers Grove.

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Heritage Alliance Mission

Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance is dedicated to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of Downers Grove. In the past, we have maintained sharp focus on the natural heritage within our community. Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance has been instrumental in the preservation and protection of Lyman Woods, and Belmont Prairie, which continue as on-going projects.

We are now also committed to the preservation of  cultural aspects of Downers Grove, including its rich architectural heritage. We work to accomplish our mission through education as well as community outreach.
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Can you find this house in Downers Grove and why is it important?
 (Click the image for the answer)

 

BlodgettHouse_5-1-10

Last updated 7/25/2017 

PDHA Logo
 
 Village Council Meeting
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Meeting Agenda
7:00 pm, Council Chamber
Village Hall
801 Burlington Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515

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PDHA Meeting
Tuesday July 25, 2017
7:00 pm, Room 105,
  Lincoln Center,
935 Maple Avenue,
Downers Grove, IL 60515

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Click here to read our
2017 Spring Newsletter
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 Please consider
a charitable donation
to support
educational activities of
Pierce Downer's
Heritage Alliance.

Click here to request more information about Pierce Downer's Heritage Alliance.
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Click here to see
Ashley Wurth's slides
about Urban Coyotes
from our 2016 Annual Meeting.

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Click here to see Michael Lambert's slides on Historic Preservation in Geneva, IL
from our 2015 Annual Meeting.

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Click here to learn about beekeeping in Lyman Woods.

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The 1846 Blodgett House

An opportunity exists to restore the 1846 Blodgett House,  one of the Village's oldest houses reflecting our rich cultural heritage. PDHA supports such efforts to preserve valuable historic resources for future generations.

Click here to learn about the 1846 Blodgett House project.

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Click here to learn more about other local historic preservation activities in Downers Grove.


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 Downers Grove Township's Monthly Electronic Recycling
Is Continuing in 2017
 
AVA E-Recycling is continuing again this year its electronics recycling program in cooperation with Downers Grove Township Highway Department.

Audio or video cassettes, as well as CD’s, are no longer accepted and all TV’s need to have a prepaid coupon from AVA. Please click here to learn more about the rules for recycling TV's.
 
The next event is scheduled for March 18th, and runs from 8 AM to 12 PM at the Highway Garage, 318 Quincy Street, Westmont IL 60559. Other events will follow on the third Saturday of each month at the same time and location, unless that date falls on a holiday weekend.
 
As always the events close promptly at noon and electronics can only be dropped off on event dates. Drop offs outside of designated hours are not allowed.
 
For further information, please call Downers Grove Township Highway Department at (630) 719-6625.