Lemont Then...And Now historical photo exhibit on display

LEMONT – Lemont residents with an interest in the roots of their hometown, and for those who just have an interest in history, are invited to Lemont Center for the Arts’ new art exhibit, “Lemont Then ... and Now.”

The exhibit, which runs through Oct. 31, captures the changing face of the Lemont community through photographs and paintings, which are compiled by Lemont Area Historical Society archivist Richard H. Lee.

The exhibit covers a span of more than 100 years around the village of Lemont.

“We made some new copies of archival photos to use for [the] exhibit, using frames that were previously used in Lemont’s Village Hall, many which were small original photos,” Lee said in a news release.

Some places such as the Limestone Fen and Waterfall Glen South Waterfall off Old Bluff Road near Lemont Road haven’t changed. The stone quarries are almost unchanged from the “Western Quarry” before 1900 except that most of them have filled with water from underground springs that empty into the valley, as shown in the Consumer’s Quarry photos, according to Lee.

The old steam train revolutionized quarrying and building large canals by speeding removal of diggings and bringing in workers and equipment, Lee said.

“There are no more steam trains today since diesel locomotives that frequently pass through our town have replaced them,” he said. “Visitors can see a Civil War photo of the Brown brothers contrasted with the Color Guard photo in 2006 of an Iraq veteran. At the time the brothers enlisted, their father, Lemuel, had moved from Lemont to Iowa to farm.”

Another photo shows the Bowl or “Castle” made from native limestone in the 1930s by Works Progress Administration workers. It was Lemont’s first community park, which originally included a swimming pool.

The Lemont Center for the Arts is located at 1243 State St., Unit 101. For information about the exhibit, call 630-243-7375.

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IF YOU GO

What: “Lemont Then ... And Now” art exhibit

When: Now through Oct. 31

Where: Lemont Center for the Arts, 1243 State St., Unit 101, Lemont

More info: lemonthistorical.org or lemontcenterforthearts.wordpress.com