Photo by Richard Lee Ghosts of the Quarries by Pat Camalliere The Illinois and Michigan Canal was dug through limestone, and after the canal opened in 1848 business owners in Lemont turned to quarrying stone. This stone was so popular at one time that the Sears catalogue sold a paint color called Lemont Stone. In the early 1900s the stone s popularity started to wane and eventually quarries were abandoned, in some cases leaving the pumps that had kept them dry in place. The quarries eventually filled, and during the forties and fifties became popular swimming holes. Due to a number of drownings, swimming is no longer allowed, but the quarries are open today for fishing and scenic hiking. Many ghost hunters describe something called the limestone theory, holding that paranormal activity is more frequent in areas where there are large amounts of limestone. One possible explanation is that the chemical makeup of limestone is similar to that of magnetic recording tape, and therefore is prone to being imprinted, thus capturing and storing activity. Another theory is that the chemical make-up of limestone is prone to drawing, storing and releasing electromagnetic fields (EMF) on which hauntings depend, thus enhancing any activity that happens to be in the area. I m probably using a lot of incorrect language here, as I am neither a geologist nor a paranormal investigator. The point is that regardless of whether one believes in the ability of such stone to capture impressions or be used as an energy source for paranormal activity, regardless of the science, in other words, areas where large amounts of limestone exist do apparently have more reported paranormal incidents. The stone that exists in the Lemont-Joliet region is dolomite limestone with a high percentage of crystalline structure. This adds credence to the electromagnetic field theory, should you choose to believe that. Upcoming Events Sept 26th - 7:00 pm General Membership Meeting & Nominations from the Floor Oct 6th - 6:00 pm "Talking" Dead History Walk meet at the Old Stone Church Museum October 15th Guided Walking Tour October 20th Fright Night Movies at The Old Stone Church The first film adaption of Frankenstein (1910) and German silent film horror The Golem. Nov 28th - 7:00 pm Annual Membership Meeting Slate presented & Voting December 3rd - Christmas Choral Program doors open at 1:30pm and program starts at 2:00 pm with St. Patrick and St. Alphonsus Church Choirs. Here are some of the experiences that have happened near Lemont quarries: Archer Avenue, said to be one of the most haunted roads in America, is the site of many tales of Resurrection Mary, the haunted Willowbrook Ballroom, and ghosts at St. James at Sag Bridge: monks, glowing caskets, the woman in white, the disappearing carriage, etc. I ve described these in a previous post so I won t repeat them here, except to mention that these areas are adjacent to quarries. Continued on page 3 Icebox Quarry, Lemont, Illinois. Photo compliments of the LAHS. 1
President's Message... Dear Members, Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying our nice weather! Hopefully, with fall approaching, the nice weather will hold out for a bit. Our prayers go out to all those in the south who have been affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma! Hopefully, any family members you may have that were affected by these storms evacuated safely. The last month has been fun with the Keepataw Parade, Heritage Fest, our canal boat ride at Lock 16 and our wine and cheese reception. We look forward to our upcoming history walk The Talking Dead on Friday, October 6 at 6:00 pm and our scary movie night at the Old Stone Church on October 20, doors open at 6:30 pm. I would like this time to give a special thanks to the Lemont Garden Club for adopting our gardens and Murphy s Landscaping for donating their time and manpower to help us with our landscaping this summer. It is extremely generous of all of you to give up your time and labor to keep our garden beautiful! On September 26, at 7:00 p.m., we will be holding our General Membership meeting. It is very important that you attend, as we need to vote on getting a line of credit with the bank in order to make the necessary repairs that our lovely Stone Church needs at this time. Since none of us has won the lottery, this is the route we need to take. In this newsletter a Need List/Wish List is published. We have started getting bids on some of the items we need repaired, but if you have a business or know someone that has a business that would be able to perform some of this work, we welcome any bids for these services. Well, I hope all of you enjoy what is probably the last of our warm weather and that you have a lovely autumn my favorite time of year. Hope to see you on the 26 th! Sincerely, Sue Guided Walking Tour of Downtown Lemont for the General Public The Lemont Area Historical Society has scheduled a guided downtown walking tour for the public on Sunday, Oct 15 th from 2-3pm with a rain date on Sunday, Oct 22 th from 2-3pm. The cost is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children under the age of 18. Historical Society members will receive $1.00 off their individual tour cost when showing their membership card. FREE admission to the museum included for tour participants for that day. The museum is open on Sunday from 1 4 pm. You and the guide will walk through Lemont's original downtown area. On your tour you will learn about the colorful history of the buildings and people of Lemont and the unique role the town played in the building of the Chicago area. Tour highlights include one of the best preserved sections of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, remains of an old quarry, one of the oldest train stations still in operation in Illinois, and some of the most scenic topography in Cook County. Historical Photos will be shown to give a visual image of what the town looked like in the 1900 s. Tour Length: Maximum of 3/4 mile Tour Difficulty: Moderately easy walking. Most of the route is on level ground. However, due to the topography of the town, part of the tour involves one flight of steps at two locations and crosses one pair of railroad tracks. DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to learn the history of our town. Just show up at the Museum, 306 Lemont St. For more information call the museum at 630-257-2972. If the weather is rainy on Sun. Oct 15 th, you may call the museum after 1pm to find out if tour is cancelled and the rain date will be used. 2
Ghosts of the Quarries continued Aside from the stone itself, it is known that many Irish-American canal workers died from disease, poor living and working conditions, and violence in the 1840s when the I and M Canal was being built; later quarry workers shared the same conditions and fate. Many were buried at St. James at Sag Bridge, but it is said that, due to poverty, some of the deceased were cremated and their ashes scattered over the quarries. Most people who believe in the supernatural will say that people who died violently or untimely are more likely to remain as spirits. American Indians lived in the area since before Columbus; remnants of their villages have been found in the Des Plaines and Sag valleys. One could surmise that such burials, combined with the underlying beds of local limestone so close to the surface, could account for some of the tales of Indians on horseback being seen in the area long after the tribes had moved to western states. In 1897, the skeletons of nine Indians were dug up near the quarries, followed by a rash of reported hauntings: phantom Indians on horseback riding through the town at night and other visions of roaming spirits. Fearing the hauntings were due to disturbing the skeletons, residents demanded they be reburied. Some were reinterred, but some ended up at the Field Museum in Chicago. Museum Hours Tuesday and Friday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Library Hours Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - Noon By Appointment Bachelors Grove Cemetery in Midlothian, Illinois continues to mystify visitors with an astounding variety of paranormal experiences: ghosts, lights, mystery houses, disorientation, electronic and automotive malfunctions, among others. It is one of the most haunted spots in the Chicago area and located beside a quarry. Not all stone in the area remained here. Chicago s Water Tower on North Michigan Avenue is constructed of stone quarried in Lemont. Stories are told of the ghost of the Hanging Man, seen in one of the tower windows, and thought to be that of the Lone Pumpman, the only worker who stayed behind during the Great Fire of 1871. Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago is another building made from Lemont stone. In 1924, Chicago Gang boss Dion O Banion was shot and killed in the flower shop he owned directly across the street from Holy Name, reportedly on the orders of Johnny Torrio and Al Capone. Bullets from the ambush lodged in the cornerstone of Holy Name and it is reported that despite numerous attempts to patch the holes they continue to reappear. I m not going to ask you to believe that Lemont stone caused all of this that s up to you. After all, the area has also been the home of many Irish, who have been known to tell a tale or two. Photo of Consumers Quarry, Lemont, about 1890. Photo courtesy of the Lemont Area Historical Society. 3
LEMONT AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ~~~ NEED TO DO LIST 1. Designated electric line for fire alarm 2. Fire alarm 3. Painting of soffit and fascia 4. Seal off bell tower for protection from wind and rain 5. New boiler 6. New basement doors WISH LIST 1. Air conditioning 2. Bathroom remodel 3. New carpeting 4. New lighting in foyer and gift shop 5. Permanent covering for mail cart to exhibit in yard 6. Large flat screen monitor 7. Outdoor security light in rear of building 8. Stairwell light 9. Waterproof basement 10. New steel front door 11. Emergency exit on west side of building 12. Paint basement floor 13. Digitize photo archives LAHS ELECTION NOTICE: Sept 26, 2017-7pm - General Membership Meeting - Floor open for Nominations Need 10 members in good standing to attend for an official meeting Nov 28, 2017-7pm - Annual Membership Meeting Voting Officers - 2 year term: President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Secretary Treasurer Board Seats 1 each: 2 year term 2 year term 1 year term 4
Lemont Area Historical Society Presents... The Talking Dead history Walk Friday, October 6 6:00 p.m. Please join us for a walk with the spirits of Lemont the Grave Digger, Pastor, Unknown Soldier, Saloon Keeper, Race King, Smokey Row & more. Meet at the Old Stone Church 306 Lemont Street Adults $15 For tickets and more info call 630-257-2972 Celebrating Halloween Lemont-Style