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

Main Street Cemetery

circa 1856

— A Downers Grove Historic Site —

Main Street Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

October 5, 2012

1. Main Street Cemetery Marker

Inscription. In 1856, Samuel Curtiss donated part of his sheep pasture for use as a cemetery. He was later paid $15 for the land, money from individuals who formed a cemetery association in 1864. Nearly 100 members of Downers Grove's early families, including Israel Blackburn, a freedman, and members of the Blanchard, Curtiss and Wells families are buried here. The cemetery was used until 1939 when Emma Foster Miller was the last to be interred. It is one of the few American cemeteries located in a main business district.

Erected 2000 by The Downers Grove Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 41° 47.575′ N, 88° 0.621′ W. Marker is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Main Street 0.1 miles south of Curtiss Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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,

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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: Where Is Pierce Downer Buried? (here, next to this marker); John S. Cotes (a few steps from this marker); Samuel Curtiss (a few steps from this marker); The Underground Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Samuel T. Richards (within shouting distance of this marker); Downers Grove Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Main Street Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Penner Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downers Grove.

Main Street Cemetery image. Click for full size.

October 5, 2012

2. Main Street Cemetery

Entrance to Main Street Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 12, 2025

3. Entrance to Main Street Cemetery

The Main Street Cemetery marker is on the right of the stairway into the cemetery; a marker about Downers Grove founder Pierce Downer is on the left.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2012. This page has been viewed 795 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 5, 2012. 3. submitted on April 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.