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

Prince Pond

A Downers Grove Historic Site

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 2, 2025

1. Prince Pond Marker

Inscription. Formerly called Grove Lake, Prince Pond is one of the oldest recreation areas in Downers Grove. E.H. Prince, who developed the area in the 1890s, improved the pond (calling it "our beautiful lake" in ads) and used it as a sales tool to successfully entice potential buyers to the subdivision. For more than 100 winters, it has been a favorite destination for ice skaters. In every season Prince Pond is a visual delight- a tranquil, beautiful nature area for people to explore and enjoy. Improvements in the 1980s and 1990s are assuring its continuing beauty and longevity.

Erected 2002 by The Downers Grove Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 41° 47.891′ N, 88° 0.92′ W. Marker is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It can be reached from Franklin Street east of Linscott Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is affixed to the rear wall of the open-air pavilion located on the northern end of

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the Prince Pond park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4941 Linscott 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: Downers Grove Historic Brick Streets (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Brick Street Area (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Site of Grant E. Dicke Firehouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Grant E. Dicke Fire Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mochels' Hardware Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Main Street Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Downers Grove Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downers

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 2, 2025

2. Prince Pond Marker

The small plaque below the marker says "Prince Park 1941."

Grove.

More about this marker. A small plaque beneath the marker indicates that the pavilion was built in 1941.

Also see . . .
1. Downers Grove Historical Society: Prince Pond. (Submitted on May 4, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Encyclopedia of Chicago: Downers Grove, IL. From the Chicago Historical Society

Excerpt: "The year before the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad came through town in 1864, Samuel Curtiss established the first subdivision in what would become the southeastern side of the central business district. In 1873 local leaders incorporated as the village of Downers Grove.

"Growth continued near the village's three railroad stations at Main Street, Belmont, and East Grove. In 1890 E. H. Prince platted an attractive subdivision north and west of the Main Street station. In 1892, just north of the Belmont station, Chicago businessmen, including Marshall Field, founded the first nine-hole golf course west of the Appalachian Mountains. North of the East Grove station, Polish families from Gostyn, Poland, purchased lots, creating the largest ethnic neighborhood in town. In 1891,
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 2, 2025

3. Prince Pond Marker
A view of Prince Pond from the pavilion.
they founded St. Mary's of Gostyn, the village's oldest Roman Catholic church."

(Submitted on May 4, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 171 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 3, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.