Des Plaines in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Des Plaines Pumping Station Cornerstone

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

1. Des Plaines Pumping Station Cornerstone Marker

Inscription. Des Plaines began supplying water to its residents in 1893 with a water tower directly to the south of the brand new village hall building on the southeast corner of Lee Street and Ellinwood Street. The suburbs were growing all across the United States, and demand for utilities grew along with them. As the population of Des Plaines boomed in the early twentieth century, the local government kept up with demand by drilling more wells and building better means of delivering the water to residents. This cornerstone is from a pumping station along the Des Plaines River just east of the intersection of River Road and Ashland Avenue.

Erected 2021 by Daniel Meckes, Eagle Scout, BSA Troop 160.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 42° 2.343′ N, 87° 53.195′ W. Marker is in Des Plaines, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Pearson Street near East Prairie Avenue. The marker is on the site of the Des Plaines History Center, between the Kinder House and the old bank building. Touch for map. Marker

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is at or near this postal address: 781 Pearson Street, Des Plaines IL 60016, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Des Plaines Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2992 (here, next to this marker); Socrates Rand Grist Mill (a few steps from this marker); Shari L. Caine Memorial Street Lamp (a few steps from this marker); Des Plaines Savings & Loan Association (a few steps from this marker); Elmer Zaleski (a few steps from this marker); Ernest Mensching (a few steps from this marker); Ernst Beth (a few steps from this marker); John Markgraff (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Des Plaines.

More about this marker. The marker is one of three

Des Plaines Pumping Station Cornerstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

2. Des Plaines Pumping Station Cornerstone

erected behind the Kinder House on the property of the Des Plaines History Center as part of an Eagle Scout project by Daniel Meckes of Scouts Troop 160.

Also see . . . Des Plaines History Center official site. (Submitted on March 24, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Three historical markers at the Des Plaines History Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

3. Three historical markers at the Des Plaines History Center

The markers are on the site of the Des Plaines History Center, between the Kinder House and the old bank building.

Eagle Scout project sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

4. Eagle Scout project sign

The three historical markers erected behind the Kinder House on the property of the Des Plaines History Center were part of an Eagle Scout project by Daniel Meckes of Scouts Troop 160.

Des Plaines History Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 21, 2025

5. Des Plaines History Center

Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 213 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 24, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on March 27, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on March 23, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.