Did you know Elmhurst’s oldest business started by accident?!
The Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Company has been operating for almost 150 years and it all began with a farmer looking for water!
In 1883, farmer Louis Graue was digging on his property looking for a water table when he found limestone instead.
Along with Adolph Hammerschmidt and Henry Assman (yes, his name 😅), they started a limestone operation.
Stone from this quarry has been used in the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad rail beds, state highways, and public buildings throughout DuPage County.
The coolest part? After all this time, the company’s headquarters is still in its original location!
Pretty amazing how one accidental discovery shaped our town!
👉 Share with anyone who loves our local history!
(And special thanks to the Elmhurst History Museum for the images!)
Transcript
Did you know that the oldest business in Elmhurst was started on accident? Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Company has been in business for almost 150 years.
It all started in 1883 when farmer Louis Graue was digging on his property, which is where we're standing today, and instead of finding a water table, he found limestone. Along with Adolph Hammerschmidt and, yes, this is his real name, Henry Assman, they took out a lease and started a larger limestone operation. In 1893, Hammerschmidt actually became sole owner of the company and named it the Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Company. His son, Max, actually helped manage the quarry, and he was the second mayor of Elmhurst, elected in 1912.
Stone from this quarry has supplied tons of different operations, like Chicago and Northwestern Railroad rail beds—wow, that's a tongue twister—state highways, and public buildings all throughout DuPage County. And the coolest part is after all this time, the company's headquarters is still in its original location.
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