Downers Grove Chapter, NSDAR
Downers Grove, Illinois
Downers Grove, Illinois
Chapter Calendar 2023-2024
| September | Chapter Workshop |
| October | Service to America – Clean Headstones |
| November | Veterans Day Observation |
| December | Chapter Holiday Event Cards for Vets |
| January | Making the American Home |
| February | Annual DAR Good Citizens Award Tea |
| March | District Director Visit |
| April | DuPage River Sweep – Over 30 Years of Community Action |
| May | Year-end Meetingy |
Chapter History
Formation of the Downers Grove Chapter, NSDAR, can be credited to Margaret Drake De Groot who had been called upon by the Illinois State Regent to form a chapter in this area. After countless hours contacting possible members, the Downers Grove Chapter, NSDAR, held its first meeting on the bitterly cold evening of January 22, 1910, with the required 12 charter members in attendance:
Margaret Drake De Groot, Regent
Maude E. Cobb Whiffen
Mary Stuart Burns
Addie Summers Downer
Luella Lyon Roe Lamb
Olive Lamb Drew
Bess Lewis Cook
Bessie Louise Pickens
Carrie Barmore
Florence Clifford
Helen Clifford
Julia Mitchell Allison
The name chosen for the chapter perpetuates the name of our village’s founding settler, Pierce Downer of Vermont, who came to this area in 1832, staking a claim to 160 acres of government prairie timberland.
Addie Summers Downer was a daughter-in-law of Pierce Downer. Later his granddaughter, Helen Downer, joined the chapter.
On February 11, 1996, the Downers Grove Chapter , NSDAR, was pleased to sponsor the Pierce Downer Society of the National Society Children of the American Revolution (N.S.C.A.R. or C.A.R.), which was established with eleven charter members.
Pierce Downer