History of DuPage County Illinois

by Rufus Blanchard

1882

 

Have you ever thought about where (and when) you would go if you had a time machine?  I have.  

 

I would go to my hometown at different times in its history.  I can hear a description of Downers Grove in the 1930’s from my parents who both grew up here but to actually be present during that time would be fascinating.

This book on the history of DuPage County takes me back in time even further.  Much of the book is a listing of past and current (in 1882) land and business owners.  The following section of text, however, goes back almost 180 years to the very beginnings of the town.  

“When the grove after which this village was named looked, from a distance, like an island, and the prairie around it like the ocean surrounding it, on one summer’s day in 1838, six yoke of oxen, hitched to the trunk of a large tree, patiently toiled along what is now Maple Avenue in Downers Grove.  Backward and forward, for two miles or more, they dragged their ponderous burden, till the prairie turf was ground into a well-beaten path, and on this path grew the village to its present dimensions… Soon after doing it, they planted on each side of this marked trail those sugar maple trees that have now attained such large proportions, and outrival in arborial grace any wayside trees, far or near, in Northern Illinois.  They will perpetuate the memory of those who planted them for centuries to come…”

Next time I go for a walk down Maple Avenue, I’ll picture blowing prairie grass all around.  I’ll see the oxen, pulling the trunk of a large tree, flattening the grass into a path.  I’ll look at the trees and remember those who planted them.  I’ll wonder what they were thinking and how they would react if they could have seen 180 years into the future.  I’ll wish they had written down their thoughts so I wouldn’t have to wonder – so I could know for sure. 

 

We don’t often realize, when our lives are in full swing, that we will one day be part of history.   I’ve come to realize that recording our thoughts and our dreams leaves a gift for future generations. 

The Maple Tree

When one of my daughters was in second grade, each member of her class received a tiny baby tree to plant at home.  Hers was just a little stick, the smallest in the class, under a foot tall.  We didn’t even know what type of tree it was.  Still, after planting it in our front yard, we protected and watered that little stick year after year.  All these years later, that child is an adult and the tree (a maple) is as tall as the house.  

There is something unusual about this particular maple, though.  Through some genetic anomaly, it has turned out to be a peculiar tree.  It’s very tall, very skinny, has multitudes of tiny, short twigs along the trunk with just a couple of longer branches, and a silly little tuft of branches at the top.  In some ways, it’s a little like my daughters – tall, thin, unique, with a little bit of silly.

Along the way, we’ve discussed whether we should try to prune this maple or call in an arborist to see what can be done to make the tree “normal”.  In the end, we’ve decided to let it be.  It stands tall, skinny, and proud in the middle of our front yard.   

Lesson learned:  Why shoot for normal?  Being you is so much better.  Don’t hide.  Stand tall and proud, however you are meant to be.

 

It was Earth Day twelve years ago that this tree was planted.  As Earth Day comes around this year and the maple tree is just starting to bud, I’ve been thinking about the beauty in nature’s diversity.  I went looking through my personal library for a book that perfectly portrays the moral I’ve learned from this tree.  I couldn’t find one.  

Maybe it’s time to write a book of my own?

I Like Old Clothes

By Mary Ann Hoberman

Illustrations by Patrice Barton

First published in 1976.  This copy published 2012 with new illustrations.

I think this book was written about me!

I like old clothes,

Hand-me-down clothes,

Worn outgrown clothes,

Not-my-own clothes.

My love of old things extends beyond books.  Part of the reason is that I can be hopelessly frugal.  Why anyone would pay full price for designer clothes baffles me.  But $100 shoes found at Savers for $6.99?  That I’ll take!  Another part of the reason is provenance.  An item is that much more special when there is a story behind it.  Those shoes I had until they wore out last year?  They were the ones I bought for my daughter when she was in grade school.  She grew out of them and then they were mine!

Clothes with a history,

Clothes with a mystery,

Sweaters and shirts

That are brother-and-sistery.

Fortunately, I always felt this way about used clothes.  I can remember going into the laundry room every so often and searching through the cabinet of old “brother-an-sistery” clothes, hoping that I could find something else I’d fit into.  It was a good day when I could bring another pile of “new” clothes up to my room.

And each time I wear them

I try to imagine

The places they’ve been

And the faces they’ve seen

And whose clothes they’ll be

When they’ve finished with me.

These days, a trip to the local thrift store with my daughters ends with a show-and-tell on the living room floor.  We brag to each other about our great deals.

 “Two dollars for that skirt?  Good job!”

“That jacket was four dollars?  Why didn’t I see that?”

“What pile of books?  I don’t see any books.  Why would I get more books?”

Ed Emberley’s Drawing Books

Make a World copyright 1972

Fingerprint Drawing Book copyright 2000

I can’t tell you how many times as a child I would sit down with pencil and paper and try to convey an image in my head onto the paper.  It never worked.  Ed Emberley’s drawing books saved the day!  I could follow step-by-step directions and I could also draw simple lines and shapes.  Before these books, I would try to draw a pig and it would end up looking like a mutant mouse blob.  Now, by following step by step instructions, I could actually draw a pig that looked like a pig!  Not very creative, perhaps, but for someone not naturally talented in art, it was a huge confidence booster.  

Lesson learned, loud and clear:

If something seems impossible and frustration sets in, take a deep breath, break it down into simple steps, and start working.  Just because innate talent is missing doesn’t mean I should give up.  I can still get results I can be proud of!

Disclaimer:  These drawing were created by Laura and Michelle!

Growth and Change

Two years have passed since this blog was born.  I decided it was about time for My Dusty Shelves to have a new baby sister.  So, this past week, How the Story Grows came into being.

For those of you who currently have or care for young children, this new blog will highlight mostly newer picture books along with related enrichment activities.  At my job in a public library, I've come across so many wonderful new books that I feel a need to share.

Here is a link to the home page of How the Story Grows.  Click on the links to the right on that page to see the picture book posts. 

Also, now that My Dusty Shelves has over 100 posts, I've added a search box.  If you remember a post on a particular book, you can use this search box to find it quickly.