The Village's historic preservation program was revised in 2015, contributing to an increased interest in landmarking homes and other structures. Since then twenty-four buildings have been granted local landmark status in Downers Grove – nine structures in 2016, another nine in 2017, four more in 2018 and two in 2019.

The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status on April 16, 2019 for the Village owned Main Street Cemetery, 5158 Main Street, following a request by the Downers Grove Historical Society.  Please click here to learn about this source of civic pride and identity that was established in 1856.

The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status on February 5, 2019 for the H. M. Patton House, 5 Jacqueline Drive at the request of Judith M. Erickson.  Please click here to learn about this English Country Revival home that was built circa 1927.

The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status on August 21, 2018 for the Clifford House, 844 Maple Avenue at the request of Selma Moberg.  Please click here to learn about this Gable-Front & Gable-Ell home that was built circa 1876.

The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for the Ernest E. Bunge House at 1514 Thornwood Drive on July 17 at the request of Jaunita and Pamala Shaw.  Please click here to learn about this Craftsman Bungalow that was built circa 1927.

The Village Council approved unanimously landmark status for the Engstrom House at 1323 Maple Avenue on May 15, 2018 at the request of David and Carol Miller.  Please click here to learn about this Custom Bungalow home that was built circa 1924.


Landmark status was approved by unanimous vote of the Village Council for the Gorman-Dum House, 1205 Franklin Street on March 13, 2018 at the request of Kenneth and Kay Hammer. Please click here to learn about this Queen Anne home that was built circa 1895.

The Village Council approved unanimously landmark status for the Cameron House, 4632 Main Street on December 12, 2017 at the request of Brian and Karen Beechler.  Please click here to learn about this Craftman Bungalow home that was built circa 1922.

Also on December 12^th the Village Council approved unanimously landmark status for the Century of Progress House built in 1936 at 1324 Maple Avenue. Please click here to read information provided by David and Joan Kresl about their Georgian style home.

The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for the Daily-Black House, 735 Maple Avenue on November 14^th at the request of Mrs. Nora Black.  Please click here to learn about this Queen Anne style home that was built in 1892.

The Village Council approved unanimously landmark status on October 3^rd for the house Earl H. Prince built in 1893 at 4714 Oakwood Avenue. Please click here to read information provided by John and Ruth Wander about their Queen Anne home that is now known as the Princeholm House.

 
The Village Council  voted unanimously on June 13^th to  grant landmark status to The Frank Rodgers House, 5325 Fairmount Avenue. Please click here to learn about this bungalow home that was constructed in 1926 and is now owned by Lawrence and Gloria Gassen.



The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for The McDougall House, 4709 Linscott Avenue, on May 16^th this year. 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.


The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for two buildings on March 21^st. Recognition of The Chilvers-Winter House, 4849 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 that evening.


The Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for The Pierce Downer House on February 14, 2017. 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.

On November 15, 2016, the Village Council granted landmark status to two other historic homes. 

James and Maren Huber landmarked The J. J. Cole House, 710 Maple Avenue.

John and Patricia Orwin landmarked The Venard House, 4540 Highland Avenue, exemplifying the American Foursquare style.

Local architects Amy and Dave Gassen discussed The History & Significance of the American Foursquare on September 26, 2016. Now you can read Amy and Dave's article about our local American Foursquare homes on  page 2 of PDHA's 2016 Fall Newsletter.

On August 16, 2016 the Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for two historic homes. Fred and Cindy Zaeske have named their landmarked home at 1130 Franklin Street, The Foote House.

Chris & Patricia Patterson named their home at 4502 Prince Street, The Kruger House. 

On June 14, 2016 the Village Council unanimously approved landmark status for three historic buildings.

Bo and Christine Martin have named their landmarked home at 701 Maple Avenue, The Herring House.

Charlotte and Byron Holtzen named their landmarked home at 5226 Carpenter Street, The Alexander & Nancy Foster House.

"The Village takes seriously its commitment to historic preservation,"  Mayor Martin Tully stated before a unanimous vote granting landmark status to the Village owned Main Street Train Station 5001 Main Street.

A resolution granting historic landmark status for The Gjerde House, home of Irene Hogstrom and Mark Bragen, at 1232 Gilbert Avenue was unanimously approved by the Village Council May 17, 2016.
   
On February 17, 2016 the ADRB had recommended landmark status for the 92-year-old Ehr House, home of Amy and David Gassen.  The Village Council considered Gassens' petition for landmark status on March 8^th. You can click here to watch the discussion of this item, which started at 29 minutes into the meeting and continued for 24 minutes.  The resolution granting historic landmark status for the Gassen's home at 5320 Benton Avenue was unanimously approved at the Council's March 22^nd meeting.  The house is a prime example of the American Foursquare design, which style is well represented in Downers Grove.  More photos of the Gassen's home can be found here.