New Lenox in Will County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Old Brick Tavern
(Ca 1836)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 17, 2025
1. Old Brick Tavern Marker
Bricks from the original structure were used to construct this monument. This site was listed as a Will County Historical Landmark on September 21, 1995.
Erected 1998 by the Beemsterboer Family.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.
Location. 41° 30.458′ N, 87° 54.922′ W. Marker is in New Lenox, Illinois, in Will County. It is at the intersection of Lincoln Highway (U.S. 30) and Joliet Highway, on the right when traveling east on Lincoln Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Lenox IL 60451, 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
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Lincoln Highway (approx. 0.8 miles away); Advertising Across America's Roadways (approx. 0.8 miles away); Village of New Lenox (approx. 0.8 miles away); American Patriotism on the Highway (approx. 0.8 miles away); Original Lincoln Highway Marker (approx. 0.8 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Frankfort, Illinois (approx. 1.6 miles away); Ronald "Papa" Schaper (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Lenox.
Regarding Old Brick Tavern. The tavern, gone for 30 years now, is one of Will County's sadder preservation stories. The home was for more than 150 years a landmark on the Lincoln Highway about 30 miles south of Chicago. One of its earliest owners was the abolitionist Samuel Haven, who is believed to have used it as a stop on the Underground Railroad. While Will County had established a historical preservation commission in 1992, this building was demolished in February 1995 before efforts
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 17, 2025
2. Old Brick Tavern Marker
Also see . . .
1. The New Lenox Area Historical Society: Old Brick Tavern.
Excerpt: The Old Brick Tavern is sometimes referred to as the Lincoln Hotel because of its location on the Lincoln Highway. There is also the legend that Abraham Lincoln stayed at the tavern two nights waiting out a snow storm as he was traveling on a law case.(Submitted on July 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. New Lenox landmarks found, only to be lost. This 1999 article from the Chicago Tribune looks at how rapid development in Will County led to the demolition of historical sites, including the Old Brick Tavern.
Excerpt: "Lambert, a Plainfield architect, said the recent losing streak began with the razing of the Old Brick Tavern in February 1995. The commission was supposed to get a review of the demolition project before the permit was issued, but because of a slip in the process, the demolition was approved."(Submitted on July 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, July 17, 2025
3. Old Brick Tavern Marker
A rear view of the marker shows Lincoln Highway in the background.
Adele Fay Williams, artist; Adele Fay Williams Collection, Lewis University, 1927
4. Old Brick Tavern (1927 drawing)
This drawing was one of many by Adele Fay Williams that were included alongside articles in the Joliet Herald; this one depicts the Old Brick Tavern in New Lenox as a stagecoach stop. The link below, from the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), includes the text of the 1927 article that sat alongside this drawing.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 195 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 18, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
