“Don’t Tread on Us” the sign once cried near Saint John’s Cemetery. It stood defiant against the march of progress. This is Saint John’s Cemetery a place of rest and a site of fierce battles.
Saint John’s Cemetery holds stories of faith and resilience. It is located in Hodgkins Illinois. The congregation dedicated it on May 23 1897. It sits south of Joliet Road on La Grange Road now Hodgkins Road.
For many years families fought to protect Saint John’s Cemetery. The city of Chicago wanted to move it for a new runway at O’Hare Airport. The case went to the Illinois Supreme Court.
In early 2025 the court ruled against the families. This cleared the way to move nearly 15000 graves. The first burial occurred in 1849. Some felt steamrolled by the city’s determination. Clifford Sell said his relatives should stay until resurrection day. He had 20 to 30 relatives there. His grandparents Albert and Clara were buried there in the early 1940s.
The city hired archaeologists and genealogical staff. Some families were frustrated that they could not watch the exhumations closely. Sell could not see his grandparents’ removal from close range. Aviation commissioner Rosemarie Andolino insisted she prioritized families’ needs. She said the cemetery was in the path of a runway. The city treated the move as if it was their own family.
Kathy Phelan had no idea she had family in the 160-year-old cemetery. The city genealogist tracked her down to a great uncle. He had been buried in the 1870s. Phelan found relatives she never knew.
She visited Saint John’s and found it not peaceful. It was next to FedEx airplanes. Her great-great-uncle is now buried with his parents in Town of Maine cemetery. The city purchased a headstone with all their names.
Ellen Kaloustian had 12 relatives buried at Saint John’s. She was happy with how her family was treated during the move. Her relatives were reburied together at Eden Memorial Park.
The total cost of the move was about $17 million. Two slabs of the new runway now lead up to the vacant cemetery. Asked if all will be OK Sell said it has to be. He wished for their souls to rest in peace.
The Kolze brothers founded Saint John’s. They left Prussia in the 1840s. They settled northwest of Chicago. They established farms orchards and a church. The adjoining cemetery became their final resting place.
Today Saint John’s Cemetery stands as a testament to faith family and the changing landscape of Chicago. Its story reminds us of the battles fought for progress. It also shows the importance of honoring those who came before us. The cemetery may be gone but the stories remain.