Nestled on a hillside along the Des Plaines River lies Lemont. It overlooks Waterfall Glen’s Midwestern Bluff Savanna. This village boasts a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1836. Lemont is not just another Chicago suburb. It’s a place where the past is palpable.
Lemont’s story began long before European settlers arrived. Native Americans, the Potawatomi, traversed the Des Plaines River in birch bark canoes. They traded with French voyageurs, exchanging furs for metal, beads, and cloth. The area was first known as Keepataw, then Athens, before finally becoming Lemont in 1850. The name means “The Mount” in French.
The construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal transformed Lemont. Work began in 1837. The I&M Canal created a continuous waterway from New York to the Gulf of Mexico. Immigrant workers, mainly Irish, settled in Lemont to work on the canal. They later moved along the canal’s corridor, improving farms.
While digging the canal, workers discovered Lemont yellow dolomite. This harder, finer-grained limestone became the area’s second industry. By the mid-19th century, quarrying became Lemont’s main economic driver. Lemont limestone faced many of the town’s major buildings. Today, 38 of these buildings remain in Lemont’s downtown district. Lemont limestone built the Chicago Water Tower. It gained significance as one of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In those early years, the stone was known as “Athens Marble”.
Cargo and passengers traveled on the I&M Canal until the early 20th century. Then the wider Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal was built. It is still used today as part of the Illinois Waterway system.
Lemont earned the motto “Village of Faith.” Its church spires reflect the many ethnic groups who settled here. They quarried stone and dug the Sanitary and Ship Canal.
During the Civil War, Lemont became a major recruiting station for the Union Army. The Old Stone Church, built in 1861 from limestone, served as a recruiting depot. Lemont was required to sign up 33 soldiers, but the village recruited 293. Only 63 returned. The Lemont Civil War Memorial honors Lemont’s Civil War veterans.
By 1854, railroads transported goods faster than water. The I&M became obsolete. Lemont evolved into a railroad community. The village was incorporated on June 9, 1873.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan established the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. It recognized the historic importance of this region. Today, it is a 100-mile-long cultural park between Chicago and LaSalle/Peru.
Sacred architecture marks Lemont. The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago and SS. Cyril and Methodius Church dominate the skyline. Both sit on hillsides, providing dramatic backdrops.
Lemont has faced challenges. On June 13, 1976, a tornado struck Lemont, taking three lives. Many homes were destroyed. Lemont was hit by another tornado on March 27, 1991.
Lemont has also become a filming location. Productions like “Save the Last Dance” and “The Hunter” were filmed here.
Lemont remains a unique blend of history and progress. It’s a village with a story etched in stone and flowing through its waterways. As you explore Lemont, remember its past. Remember the immigrants, the canal, and the enduring spirit of this Illinois village.