Darien

After the Black Hawk War of 1832, two small villages took root on the prairie southwest of Chicago. Settled in the 1830s and 1840s, Lace and Cass grew into the city of Darien, which was incorporated in 1969. The rich soil and timberland attracted hardy pioneers from the East and immigrants from Germany. They plowed, planted crops, and raised their families. Wood was cut for homes and barns, and cattle grazed in open fields. At The Point stood a general store, a blacksmith shop, a creamery, ...