Joliet in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Quarry Workers
⎯⎯⎯
Joliet Stone
Stories in Stone
| | I&M Canal Passage | |
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 2, 2020
1. Quarry Workers / Joliet Stone Marker
(Marker consists of two 2-sided posts:)
(first post, left panel:)
This project was partially funded with a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Bureau of Tourism. Thanks also to the City of Joliet, Marsha Lega Studio, Joliet Area Historical Museum and Carol Naughton + Associates. For more information, www.canalcor.org.
(right panel:)
Peter Baum & John Stender
Hundreds of immigrants toiled in Joliet's many quarries. The Irish were the first to come to Joliet, but by the 1860s many laborers were German, including many young men in their twenties. Among them were John Stender and Peter Baum, both in their 20s.
(second post, left panel:)
The work day lasted ten to twelve hours, six days a week, for $1.50 a day. Most work was done by hand. Wedges were forced into joints, and the stone was split away by repeated blows from hammers. Once the stone was cut from the quarry, it was broken into smaller blocks. Quarries were not open in the winter, so workers had to find other jobs.
(second panel:)
Names of stone products advertised in Joliet papers in 1871:
blue lime stone
this page online
dimension stone
building stone
rubble
rough stone
cut stone
wood burned lime
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 41° 31.535′ N, 88° 5.285′ W. Marker is in Joliet, Illinois, in Will County. It is on North Bluff Street north of West Jefferson Street (U.S. 30), on the right when traveling south. Markers are located at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 30 N Bluff Street, Joliet IL 60435, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: From Prisons to Libraries (here, next to this marker); Joliet Buildings (here, next to this
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 2, 2020
2. Quarry Workers / Joliet Stone Marker
Second post, left panel
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 2, 2020
3. Quarry Workers / Joliet Stone Marker
First post, left panel (no historical context)
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 2, 2020
4. Quarry Workers / Joliet Stone Marker
Second post, right column
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 2, 2020
5. Quarry Workers / Joliet Stone Marker
Markers are where the two arrows point
Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 517 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 6, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
