Danada: The Origin Story

Dan and Ada Rice, photo taken for a 1965 article in The Tampa Tribune
Photo owned by Friends of Danada Archives

Who is Danada?
As one drives around in Wheaton, specifically in the area between Butterfield and Warrenville Road as well as Routes 53 and 59, a person might notice that the name Danada keeps popping up in the area. We see it on the shopping centers located on Butterfield Road, apartment complexes, a forest preserve, equestrian center, professional center, a deli on Roosevelt Road, and much more! With the name Danada seen everywhere, it could lead someone to wonder where that name comes from, as it has a unique sound. Was it the surname of a local politician? A founding family of the area? The answer is a bit more interesting than you think. The name comes from combining the first names of two individuals who have left an impact in the Wheaton-Naperville area and even in the city of Chicago: Dan and Ada Rice. These wealthy businesspeople and philanthropists lived in Wheaton and were well known for their contribution to thoroughbred horses and horseracing.

 

The People Behind the Name
Dan Rice was born in Chicago, IL, in 1896 and Ada Bousman was born in Danville, IL in 1898. Dan Rice attended DePaul University and University of Notre Dame before enlisting in the US Army in June 1918. Shortly after WWI, he returned to Chicago to work at the Chicago Board of Trade for a commodity brokerage firm. He became successful as a speculator for the commodity pits. He then established his own brokerage firm called Daniel F. Rice and Company inside the Board of Trade building on 141 W Jackson Blvd in Chicago. When Dan was beginning his career at the Board of Trade, he met his wife, Ada Bousman. Ada was working as a telephone operator in a building next door. The two of them were married on April 22nd, 1920, at St. Sebastian Church in Chicago. Eight years later, they adopted their son Daniel F. Rice Jr when he was five months old.

In 1929, after Dan’s success as a commodity trader, the couple purchased 152 acres between Wheaton and Naperville IL and decided to name their estate “Danada.” In 1939, in the midst of the Great Depression, Dan and Ada were able to build a nineteen room, two story, brick mansion, which still stands today. On their property, they grew crops such as apples, corn, soybeans, and wheat. They also raised animals such as pigs, turkeys, sheep, cattle, and chickens. However, the animal that their estate was most known for was the thoroughbred racehorse.

 

Off to the Races!       
Dan and Ada were friends with many celebrities of their day, one of whom was actor Don Ameche who owned several racehorses. Ada became curious about horse racing in 1943. About twenty-two years later, in an article for the Tampa Tribune published in 1965, she was reported to have said, “I told my husband I would like to own a racehorse, so he went out and bought eight of them.” Dan bought eight thoroughbreds at the November Tent Sale at Keeneland Racetrack located in Lexington, KY. Out of those first eight horses that were bought, seven won races and the rest is history as they say.

Ada named her stables the Ada L. Rice Racing Stables (ALR) and in the mid 1940’s, she and Dan had a 26-stall Kentucky style barn constructed on their Wheaton estate. The Rices took great care of their horses, having a full-time veterinarian on site as well as a state-of-the-art x-ray machine. The Kentucky style barn still stands on the estate and currently houses the Danada Equestrian Center, managed by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. Across the road, west on Naperville Road, the Rices constructed a half mile oval racetrack where their horses could train. It was complete with a starting gate, buzzer, and bell so that the horses could get accustomed to the noises. The starting gates and oval track can still be seen today. There is an underpass on the property which helped them get across Naperville Road safely without needing the crosswalk. 

Dan and Ada purchased another farm outside of Lexington KY, naming it Danada as well, and it was there that they bred their racehorses. Once the horses were ready, they were brought up to the Wheaton estate for training. It is said that at their peak, the Rices owned as many as sixty-five broodmares, foals, and stallions. The horses that were bred by the ALR Stables became very successful and will be the subject of future blog posts. However, one to make mention of is Lucky Debonair who won the 1965 Kentucky Derby. Lucky Debonair won that race in two minutes, one and 1/5 seconds, the third fastest to have run to date.


After Dan and Ada
After a long marriage, profitable business endeavors, and success in horseracing, Dan Rice passed away in 1975 and Ada retired from thoroughbred racing. Shortly after, Ada passed away in 1977. Surprisingly, both Dan and Ada left no indication in their will as to what was to be done with their Wheaton property. Local developers set their sights on the land for commercial and residential opportunities, but a group of residents formed the “Save the Rice Farm” group. This group convinced the Forest Preserve District to obtain 764 acres of the homestead. The Save the Rice Farm group eventually turned into the Friends of Danada in 1986. The Friends currently manage events at Danada House, preserve and display the history of the property, and share the legacy of the Rice family with the community. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County currently manages the Danada Equestrian Center and the forest preserve property. The property itself is open for the public to come and view the horses which now call Danada their home. Guests are welcome to visit the Model Farm on the west side of Naperville Road and the abundance of natural plants and wildlife that help make the Danada Forest Preserve.

The reason so many locations in the area between Butterfield and Warrenville Road as well as Routes 53 and 59 have the name “Danada” associated with them is that much of the land was once owned by this philanthropic pair who were passionate about their thoroughbred horses and charitable pursuits. The next time you go shopping at the Danada East or Danada West shopping areas, or look around at the apartment complexes, or take a walk among the blooming prairie grass, take a moment to think that these places are named for your two former Wheaton neighbors, Dan and Ada Rice.

Danada House as it stands today.
Photograph taken by Claire Svehla

Want to learn more about Danada History? Check out danadahistory.org to experience more history!

 Sources:
Plowden, G. (1965). Woman Who Wanted One Racehorse 20 Years Ago NowHas 70 of Them. The Tampa Tribune.

Friends of Danada History Committee. (n.d.). Overview of the Danada Property & Rice Family History. Overview of the danada property & rice family history – friends of danada history committee. https://danadahistory.org/overview-of-the-danada-property-rice-family-history/

Dan and Ada Rice with Kentucky Derby Champion Lucky Debonair and Jockey Willie Shoemaker.
Photo owned by Friends of Danada Archives.

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