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

Lemont Village Hall

1893

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

1. Lemont Village Hall Marker

Inscription. Built in 1893 of “Athens marble" at a cost of $13,319 during the administration of Mayor John McCarthy, and has since served as the seat of municipal government. Originally, a wood frame bell tower stood between the gables. The building housed Village offices, the Village jail, the volunteer fire department, and the public library until 1980. In 1938 as a WPA project, a basement called the "dug out" was added, and the building was re-dedicated in 1941 during the administration of Mayor George Keough. In 1991, the interior was completely renovated at a cost of $945,000 during the administration of Mayor Joseph Forzley.

Erected 2003 by Lemont Historic Preservation Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.

Location. 41° 40.487′ N, 87° 59.866′ W. Marker is in Lemont, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Main Street west of Fremont Street, on the right when traveling east.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 418 Main 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 are within walking distance of this marker: Lemont Tornado of 1976 (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lemont Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Stone Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Civil War Recruiting Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War Two Honor Roll (approx. 0.2 miles away); Korean War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lemont Station (approx. ¼ mile away); Lemont Civil War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lemont.

More about this marker. The plaque above this one is about the 1991 renovation of Village

Lemont Village Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 18, 2026

2. Lemont Village Hall

Hall

Regarding Lemont Village Hall. “Athens marble” is a nickname for the limestone quarried in the area around Lemont, which was originally named Athens by the area’s first white settlers.

Also see . . . Encyclopedia of Chicago: Lemont, IL. A history of Lemont from the Chicago Historical Society.

Excerpt: "Early development was guided by farseeing commercial magnates such as Nathaniel Brown and Horace Singer, who along with other major landowners controlled both the residential district and the flatlands in the floodplain. When canal digging revealed “Athens marble” at shallow depths below the valley's floor, Lemont became famous for its quarries. Used at first for the canal and local construction, the easily worked rock (a form of Niagaran dolomite) soon became a major export. Chicago's Water Tower is built of this stone."

(Submitted on June 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 21, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.