1928 Map of Sag Bridge

About this map

The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and the older Illinois and Michigan Canal cut a deep industrial corridor through the Des Plaines River valley, framing the development of Lemont and the surrounding townships. This 1920s landscape is defined by the dense convergence of transportation infrastructure, where the Chicago and Alton RR and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR parallel the waterways. Beyond the river bluffs, the terrain transitions into a patchwork of rural school districts and small settlements like Byrneville and Hastings. Local history and genealogy are anchored by several landmarks, including the Visitation Boys Camp, the Palos Golf Club, and numerous burial grounds such as Fairmont Cemetery and Lower Cass Cemetery. The map also captures several rural educational sites, including Derby School and Gower School, during an era when the Chicago and Joliet Electric Line still linked these communities.