Origin of Chapter Name

“Island of the Hiding Place” is the English translation of the French phrase “Isle a la Cache,” and refers to the island in the Des Plaines River near what is Romeoville.  This was an important camping and hiding place for Native Americans and pioneers. The area became known to the French fur traders on Father Marquette’s second trip to Illinois; his report strongly suggests that “the Surgeon” and Pierre Moreau stashed their goods on the island in 1674.  It was a convenient single day canoeing distance from Chicago on the way to Indian villages along the Illinois River.  It also served as a “middle ground” to meet for the annual rendezvous between fur traders and Indians to trade their goods.  

Today it is home to Isle a la Cache Museum, run by the Will County Park District, which offers exhibits displaying life on the Isle a la Cache as it was 250 years ago.  Every June, the park hosts the Island Rendezvous - a reenactment of the gathering of traders and travelers at the end of the trading season.

Chapter History

In the fall of 2010, several DAR members began meeting for fun and to get to know each other better.  This led to discussions about starting a new chapter that would be active in the community, participate in volunteer work, promote patriotism, and support and help the causes of the national DAR and Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) organizations.  It was not hard to find twelve like-minded members, and so on November 6, 2010, the Isle a la Cache Chapter was organized.