Penner Building

Penner Building. ca 1894. This two part commercial building with a store below and office space above is one of the 19th century buildings that still represents the look of old Main Street. The building with Victorian pressed brick on the front and face brick on the sides is enhanced by a zinc-plated steel cornice that carries on the Victorian theme. , , Conrad Penner born in Germany in 1862 came to Downers Grove in 1894 and opened a shop on Curtiss and Main Street. He sold horse harnesses, saddles, horse robes, whips, fly nets, brushes, combs, lap dusters and other horse related items in addition to stock food, kow kure and bag balm. About 1920 he moved his shop to this building that he bought from the Diener family for $6,500, adding the Penner name to the top. , , Soon Penner expanded his business to meet the needs of the times by selling Montford and Sterling tires that came with a guarantee to last 5,000 miles. Penner also added a shoe repair service offering prompt service along with selling work shoes and children's shoes by Endicott-Johnson, advertising that these shoes would "wear like iron." When more shoe stores opened in the village, Penner decided to retire and closed the business he operated for 30 years. He died in 1949 having lived in Downers Grove for 55 years and is buried with his family at Oak Hill Cemetery. , , The building has been used for several different shops since Penner retired, reflecting the changing times in the village. One thing that has not changed is the name PENNER that remains on the building reminding us of Downers Grove's early days.