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

Whittier School

1928

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 1, 2026

1. Whittier School Marker

Inscription.
Whittier School opened to 114 children on September 3, 1929. It was the second Downers Grove School built south of the railroad tracks. Named for the well known poet John Greenleaf Whittier, this school has proudly educated children for 80 years.

These words from Whittier's poem "The Little People" express this school's love for children.

A dreary place would be this earth,
Were there no little people in it;
The song of life would lose its mirth,
Were there no children to begin it.

Erected 2009 by Downers Grove Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is September 3, 1929.

Location. 41° 47.52′ N, 87° 59.88′ W. Marker is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Hill Street east of Blodgett Avenue. The marker is next to the entrance to Whittier School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 536 Hill Street, 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: Fairview (East Grove) Station (approx. 0.3 miles away); Monarch Habitat (approx. 0.3 miles away); Barth Pond (approx. 0.4 miles

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away); Welcome to the Downers Grove Park District Museum Campus (approx. 0.4 miles away); Charles Blodgett (approx. 0.4 miles away); Heritage Garden (approx. 0.4 miles away); Israel and Avis Blodgett (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1892 Blodgett House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downers Grove.

Also see . . . "The Little People" by John Greenleaf Whittier. (Submitted on July 2, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 1, 2026

2. Whittier School Marker

Whittier School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 1, 2026

3. Whittier School

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 2, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.