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

Old Stone Church

I&M Canal Passage

— Waterways That Built Chicago —

Old Stone Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

1. Old Stone Church Marker

Inscription. In 1861, broken pieces of quarry stone were donated and transported from nearby Brown's Quarry on flat sleds with log runners pulled by horses. These stones became the structure of this New England-style church conceived by the pioneer families of Lemont. Quarry workers donated their time to load the sleds, and stone masons donated their time to build the 22-inch stone walls. The church was later embellished with stained glass windows and a metal ceiling; it served until 1970 with Methodist-Episcopal congregations in the early years and then Methodist later.

The Lemont Historical Society was formed here once the church was vacant. Over its life, it played a role as a recruiting station for the Northern Illinois Army during the Civil War, and its leader, Reverend Clancy, championed the rights of labor in the 1890s. Author, adventurer, and newspaper reporter, Ralph Paine, spent his early years here when his father was a minister.

[Caption:]
Lemont gentlemen having some fun during the building of the Sanitary & Ship Canal, 1895.

Erected by I&M Canal National Heritage Area.

Topics and series. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 41° 40.395′ N, 87° 59.991′ W. Marker is in Lemont, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Lemont Street north of Illinois Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in front of the old church, which today is home to the Lemont Area Historical Society. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 306 Lemont Street, 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

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

2. Old Stone Church Marker

are within walking distance of this marker: Civil War Recruiting Depot (here, next to this marker); Lemont Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); World War Two Honor Roll (about 400 feet away); Korean War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Lemont Tornado of 1976 (about 400 feet away); Lemont Civil War Memorial (about 700 feet away); Lemont Station (about 700 feet away); Lemont Village Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lemont.

Also see . . .
1. History of the Old Stone Church. From the Lemont Area Historical Society (Submitted on March 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. I&M Canal Tour website. The link included on the historical marker was coming up as an error as of March 2026. The man website, however, still works. (Submitted on March 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Lemont Area Historical Society building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

3. Lemont Area Historical Society building

The church closed in 1970 and later became home to the Lemont Area Historical Society.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

4. Old Stone Church Marker

A view of the marker looking downhill to downtown Lemont.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 20, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.