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

Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building

A Downers Grove Historic Site

— circa 1892 —

Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 5, 2026

1. Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building Marker

Inscription. The Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building was built in 1892 for the first bank in Downers Grove. The bank was organized on May 10, 1892. The officers of the bank included Charles Curtiss, President, W.A. Tope, M.D., Vice President, and W.H. Edwards, Cashier. The Directors were Jake Klein, Conrad Buschman, Charles Mochel, L.P. Narramore, Albert Smart and T.T. Thompson. The group of ladies who had formed the Ladies' Library Association in 1891 were delighted when the bank donated a room in the building for the first public library in Downers Grove. For a few years in the early 1890's the Post office was housed in an office at the east end of the Bank building with the entrance on Curtiss Street. In 1895 the building also housed the Reporter Columbian Magazine. William James Herring was the contractor for the Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building as well as several other buildings on Main Street. Though considerably remodeled and without its tower this historic building still stands at the northeast corner of Main and Curtiss Streets.

Erected 2010.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:

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Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1816.

Location. 41° 47.632′ N, 88° 0.605′ W. Marker is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is at the intersection of Curtiss Street and Main Street, on the left when traveling east on Curtiss Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5133 Main 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.

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 walking distance of this marker: Mochels' Hardware Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Street Cemetery (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Where Is Pierce Downer Buried? (about 400 feet away); The Underground Railroad (about 400 feet away); Samuel Curtiss (about

Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building image. Click for full size.

October 5, 2012

2. Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building

400 feet away); John S. Cotes (about 400 feet away); Samuel T. Richards (about 400 feet away); Downers Grove Civil War Memorial (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downers Grove.

Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building, 2026 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 5, 2026

3. Farmer's and Merchant's Bank Building, 2026

The building currently houses Pierce Tavern.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2012. This page has been viewed 706 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 5, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on October 5, 2012. 3. submitted on August 5, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.