Lemont in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lemont Station

Circa 1858

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

1. Lemont Station Marker

Inscription. Built circa 1858 of "Athens marble" as the Chicago & Alton Railroad station. The first train passed through Lemont on March 18, 1858. In 1865, the townspeople gathered here in silent tribute to Abraham Lincoln as his funeral train passed slowly through town on its way to Springfield. During the quarry strike of 1885, the station was the center of violent activity. In 1893, during another bloody labor strike, Governor Altgeld spoke to Lemonters from this station. From this station men went to the Civil War, Spanish American War and World War I. William Jennings Bryan also spoke here, as did President Grover Cleveland.

Erected 2003 by Lemont Historical Preservation Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Labor Unions • Railroads & Streetcars • War, Spanish-American • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #22 and #24 Grover Cleveland series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1858.

Location. 41° 40.422′ N, 88° 0.146′ W. Marker is in Lemont, Illinois, in

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Cook County. It is on New Avenue west of Main Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lemont IL 60439, 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 Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lemont Civil War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Legion Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Korean War Memorial (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); World War Two Honor Roll (about 500 feet away); Lemont Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away); Civil War Recruiting Depot (about 700 feet away); Old Stone Church (about 700 feet away); Lemont Tornado of 1976 (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lemont.

Regarding Lemont Station. Lincoln's

Lemont Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

2. Lemont Station

funeral train passed through Lemont late on the evening of May 2, 1865, almost two weeks and 1,500 miles after it had started in Washington, D.C. According to a timetable of the train's final leg from Chicago to Springfield, the train was scheduled to stop in Lemont a little bit before 11 p.m., and reached Lincoln’s home town of Springfield the next day.

"Athens marble" is a name for the limestone quarried in Lemont, which was originally called Athens by its first white settlers. The limestone is famous for its use in the development of Chicago, and most notably in the city's Water Tower, which famously survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Also see . . .
1. The route of Lincoln's funeral train. The funeral train came through Lemont on the final leg of its 1,654-mile journey from Washington to Springfield. (Submitted on March 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Lemont limestone, the ‘Athens marble’ of early Chicago. The Chicago Tribune looks at the history of the limestone from Lemont, known as “Athens marble,” that was used to build Chicago in its early days.

Excerpt: “Lemont limestone’s
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

3. Lemont Station
reputation took a hit during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, despite the survival of the limestone Water Tower. Granite, a competing building material, is almost twice as strong as limestone, which melts at a lower temperature. Newspaper accounts said that though limestone was touted as fireproof, it ’actually burned like wood.’”

(Submitted on March 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Lincoln's funeral procession in Chicago image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-052359), May 1, 1865

4. Lincoln's funeral procession in Chicago

Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession heads to the Cook County Court House in Chicago on May 1, 1865. A public viewing was held in Chicago until late the next day, when his funeral train went on the final leg of its journey to Springfield. The train made a stop in Lemont, about 30 miles southwest of Chicago, late in the evening on May 2.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 27 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on March 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.