Downers Grove in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

1846 Blodgett House

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

1. 1846 Blodgett House Marker

Inscription. In 1846, when James K. Polk was President of the United States, the Blodgett family built a house to replace their log cabin. Common features of this Greek Revival architectural style include a gabled roof, wide trim, large windows and doors, and a front door surrounded by window panels.

The house was built of post and beam construction methods, different from building the log cabin and the 1892 Victorian home located on your left. Wood was cut from the surrounding property and logs were hand-hewn using various types of axes. Hand-hewn is the act of cutting or shaping logs with hard hits using hand-held, non-electric tools, such as axes or chisels. These logs were assembled using mortice and tenon joinery: each piece was fitted together and secured with pins. One of the unique aspects of this type of construction is that it did not need nails.

Originally, this house was located where the 1892 Blodgett house sits today. In the 1890s, it was moved to the rear of the Blodgett property to make room for the construction of a new home. In 2008, through a community-wide effort, the house was returned to the Museum Campus

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and restored to its original appearance.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #11 James K. Polk series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.

Location. 41° 47.562′ N, 88° 0.326′ W. Marker is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Maple Avenue east of Lyman Avenue. The marker is in the front lawn of the Downers Grove Museum campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 831 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove IL 60515, 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 territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1832 Log Cabin Footprint (a few steps from this marker); Underground Railroad

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

2. 1846 Blodgett House Marker

The marker is in front of the 1892 house that is at the center of the Downers Grove Museum's campus. The 1846 home is off camera to the right.

(a few steps from this marker); 1892 Blodgett House (a few steps from this marker); The Indian Boundary Line (a few steps from this marker); Indian Boundary / Carriage Step (within shouting distance of this marker); The Israel Blodgett House (within shouting distance of this marker); Israel and Avis Blodgett (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Blodgett (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downers Grove.

Regarding 1846 Blodgett House. The family's patriarch, Israel Blodgett, was an active abolitionist, and this 1846 home was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The home was added to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in 2023.

Also see . . .
1. 1846 Blodgett House History. A website devoted to the 1846 Blodgett House's re-location includes this history of the house. A 15-year effort to move and restore the house was completed in 2022.

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(Submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Downers Grove Historical Society: Israel Porter Blodgett.

Excerpt: "In 1846, after ten years living in a log cabin,
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

3. 1846 Blodgett House
This 1846 home is to the right (west) of the newer home that houses the Downers Grove Museum. It was moved to its current location in 2008, and then underwent more than a decade of significant renovations, which were completed in 2022. The home was added to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in 2023.
Israel built a one-and-a half story house with rustic hand-hewn black walnut joists and simple clapboard exterior. This home became a stop on the Underground Railroad as the Blodgett’s helped slaves to escape to freedom. Often the lantern in their window signaled their house was a safe place for runaway slaves to find food, clothes and transportation to Chicago on their way to Canada. Today, the house is one of the oldest in Downers Grove and is currently on the west side of the Downers Grove Museum campus."

(Submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Downers Grove Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

4. Downers Grove Museum

The 1846 home is to the right of the main mansion.

Close-up of the family photo on the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

5. Close-up of the family photo on the marker

The caption: "Avis Blodgett sitting with her six surviving sons, five of whom are shown here, in front of the 1846 House in its original location on Maple Avenue, very likely on her 80th birthday in 1876. This family photograph provided courtesy of Peter Burley."

Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 5. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.