How about we uncover the story of the Lyons Quarry? This place has seen significant changes over the years. Let’s dive in.
Lyons Quarry is located in Lyons Illinois. It’s a place that has played an interesting role in the region’s history. The town of Lyons is located 11 miles southwest of the Loop in Cook County.
Back in the early 1880s, Lyons was buzzing with activity. A limestone quarry and lime kilns were major commercial enterprises. Imagine the sounds of stone being cut. Also, there were flour mills and taverns. Harvesting ice from the Des Plaines River provided seasonal jobs.
By the early 2000s, Lyons maintained its blue-collar character. It was known as a residential town with a strong work ethic. Many taverns still dotted the landscape.
Fast forward to 2006. Reliable Materials stepped in and purchased the Lyons Quarry. Their mission was to fill it with clean fill. Clean fill includes materials like stone, broken concrete, broken asphalt and tested dirt. This ensured it met the IEPA standards.
Reliable Materials has a large customer base. Every day, businesses pick up or drop off stones, concrete, shingles and asphalt.
One of the exciting initiatives at Reliable Materials Lyons LLC is the Recycle Asphalt Shingles program. They shred old roof shingles that would otherwise end up in landfills. Then, they extract the oil. That extracted oil is reused to make asphalt for local cities and towns. This keeps unnecessary waste out of our environment.
Lyons village officials agreed to purchase land near the old Lyons Quarry in 2022. They paid $2770416 for roughly 8.56 acres south of the former quarry on Ogden Avenue. The land is called Lyons South Property. It is owned by Reliable Materials.
Mayor Christopher Getty said the property had never been mined. The village was to receive a license fee. It would be 2 percent of gross sales of materials or $60000 per year. The agreement was to expire in December 2024.
Clean fill had been dumped into the former quarry for years. Heavy machinery was used to compact the fill. This made the land suitable for future development.
The village started considering options for the property. The property is bordered by Ogden Avenue Plainfield Road and First Avenue.
Trustee Ivica Lazich called the purchase a great move for Lyons. He stated that it was an added asset that will bring a lot of value down the road for years to come.
The Lyons Quarry story reflects the evolving nature of industry and community. From its early days as a limestone source to its modern role in recycling and land reclamation it remains a vital part of Lyons’ identity.