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

Old Lace School — 1925

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 3, 2026

1. Old Lace School — 1925 Marker

Inscription. Historical Center of Darien
Incorporated Dec. 13, 1969
Dedicated as the center of Darien by the Darien Historical Society July 4, 1992

Erected 1992 by Darien Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.

Location. 41° 45.129′ N, 87° 58.449′ W. Marker is in Darien, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is at the intersection of Cass Avenue (County Route 15) and 75th Street (County Route 33) on Cass Avenue. The marker is at the southeast corner of Lace School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7422 South Cass Avenue, Darien IL 60561, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 3 miles of this marker,

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measured as the crow flies: Old Lace School (here, next to this marker); 9/11 Memorial (approx. one mile away); Darien Peace Memorial (approx. one mile away); POW-MIA Memorial (approx. one mile away); Get Your "Chicks" on Rte 66 (approx. 1.8 miles away); Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket (approx. 1.9 miles away); a different marker also named 9/11 Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); TWA Flight 529 Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Darien.

Regarding Old Lace School — 1925. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

Also see . . . Lost Towns of Illinois – The Cass and Lace Communities. This article by the Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal includes a history of Lace, a farming community that was centered around this area near 75th Street, Cass Avenue and Plainfield Road. The area suburbanized after World War II, and in 1969 what was once Lace became part of the newly incorporated City of Darien.

Excerpt: “Fields of wild asparagus were paved over and orchards were felled as farmers sold their land to developers and subdivisions began
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 3, 2026

2. Darien Historical Society
In the foreground is a marker about Lace School being the "Historical Center of Darien." To the right of the door is a 1976 plaque about the building's history.
to emerge where farmers had once raised crops and livestock. As the population increased, the need for increased services such as police and fire protection became apparent. Deciding that these concerns could best be addressed by becoming a city, four subdivisions, Marion Hills, Hinsbrook, Brookhaven, and Clarefield, formed the 'Combined Homeowners Committee for Incorporation.' In order for the issue to be voted on by the residents, the proposed city had to have a name. A member of the committee, Sam Kelley, having recently enjoyed a visit to Darien, Connecticut, suggested the name Darien. The vote on incorporation was held on December 13, 1969. It passed by less than 50 votes.”

(Submitted on October 5, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.