St. James Catholic Church and Cemetery (Lemont, Illinois)
October 18, 2023
St. James Catholic Church and Cemetery, also known as St. James at Sag Bridge Church is a historic church and cemetery in the Sag Bridge area of the village of Lemont, Illinois. It is situated on a high bluff at the western tip of the glacier-carved Mount Forest Island, overlooking the Calumet Sag Channel and the community of Sag Bridge.
The site has been important for centuries as a lookout, including a French fort visited by Father Jacques Marquette on his journeys on the Des Plaines River several times in 1673; it is believed he conducted Catholic Mass at the fort.[2]
The church was founded in 1833 by workers building the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and first met in a rough log cabin. The present church building was built from 1853 to 1858 of locally quarried limestone painstakingly dragged up the steep hill. It was built on an ancient Native American trail, which has evolved into today's Archer Avenue (Illinois Route 171).[2]
On March 27, 1991, a tornado caused significant damage to Lemont and Sag Bridge, including the historic St. James church and cemetery.[3] The tornado lifted up the roof of the church and dropped it back down askew, and knocked over numerous trees and tombstones in the cemetery. A group of dedicated parishioners banded together as the St. James Preservation Society to repair the damage and restore their church.[2][4]
^ abcStaff. "Parish History". Historic St. James at Sag Bridge. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
^"March 27, 1991 TORNADO". Lemont Area Historical Society and Museum. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
^Mohr, Michele (1996-05-12). "Back From The Dead". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
External linksEdit
St. James at Sag Bridge Church official site
October 18, 2023
james, catholic, church, cemetery, lemont, illinois, james, catholic, church, cemetery, also, known, james, bridge, church, historic, church, cemetery, bridge, area, village, lemont, illinois, situated, high, bluff, western, glacier, carved, mount, forest, isl. St James Catholic Church and Cemetery also known as St James at Sag Bridge Church is a historic church and cemetery in the Sag Bridge area of the village of Lemont Illinois It is situated on a high bluff at the western tip of the glacier carved Mount Forest Island overlooking the Calumet Sag Channel and the community of Sag Bridge St James Catholic Church and CemeteryU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of IllinoisShow map of the United StatesLocation10600 South Archer Avenue Lemont Cook County Illinois USANearest cityLemont IllinoisCoordinates41 41 55 N 87 55 57 W 41 69861 N 87 93250 W 41 69861 87 93250Area8 acres 3 2 ha Built1853ArchitectCarr MartinNRHP reference No 84001047 1 Added to NRHPAugust 16 1984History EditThe site has been important for centuries as a lookout including a French fort visited by Father Jacques Marquette on his journeys on the Des Plaines River several times in 1673 it is believed he conducted Catholic Mass at the fort 2 The church was founded in 1833 by workers building the Illinois and Michigan Canal and first met in a rough log cabin The present church building was built from 1853 to 1858 of locally quarried limestone painstakingly dragged up the steep hill It was built on an ancient Native American trail which has evolved into today s Archer Avenue Illinois Route 171 2 On March 27 1991 a tornado caused significant damage to Lemont and Sag Bridge including the historic St James church and cemetery 3 The tornado lifted up the roof of the church and dropped it back down askew and knocked over numerous trees and tombstones in the cemetery A group of dedicated parishioners banded together as the St James Preservation Society to repair the damage and restore their church 2 4 St James at Sag Bridge Catholic Church continues today in its historic role as the center of the Sag Bridge community It is the only country parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 16 1984 and is a contributing property of the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor References Edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b c Staff Parish History Historic St James at Sag Bridge Retrieved 2012 09 16 March 27 1991 TORNADO Lemont Area Historical Society and Museum Retrieved 2012 09 16 Mohr Michele 1996 05 12 Back From The Dead Chicago Tribune Retrieved 2012 09 16 External links EditSt James at Sag Bridge Church official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St James Catholic Church and Cemetery Lemont Illinois amp oldid 1149958425, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
