Lemont Central Grade School
Why it's listed
Perched on a hill above downtown Lemont, this limestone school was built in two stages. The rear section, with two stories and a basement, dates from 1869 and has simple lines and rounded Roman arches over its windows and doors. In 1896 a three-story front annex designed by architect John Barnes was added, with finely cut blocks, late Victorian styling and an 80-foot clock tower. Both parts use local Lemont dolomite limestone, the same stone quarried for landmarks such as the Chicago Water Tower. The quarries drew immigrant workers and shaped the town's labor history. The school is described as one of the oldest continuously used grade schools in Illinois, serving students until use was prohibited in 1974 over fire safety code issues. Names on the 1896 cornerstone link it to local leaders, including Mayor John McCarthy, for whom the road is named. Local supporters sought recognition to help save and restore it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the oldest continuously used grade schools in Illinois. It is built of local Lemont dolomite limestone, which ties it to the town's quarry industry and labor history. It is also linked to local political and civic leaders named on the 1896 cornerstone, and it shows two eras of masonry and style side by side.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75000656, listed March 7, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 410 McCarthy Rd., Lemont |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | March 7, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000656 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1869-1896 to present |
| Architect / builder | 1869 section: architect and contractor unknown; 1896 annex: architect John Barnes, contractor C. Molloy |
| Architectural style | 1869 section simple design with Roman arched openings; 1896 annex European or late Victorian lines |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked vacant on the form; use was prohibited by the Cook County Superintendent of Schools in July 1974 until Life Safety Codes were met. Condition listed as good and altered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.67260, -87.99725 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75000656.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q96373149
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.