Stone, storms, and the family legacy that shaped Elmhurst

By Anna Hughes

The 8,300-acre quarry that sits just south of North Ave. on Route 83 stands out against the surrounding suburban landscape. Although rarely open to the public, the historic Elmhurst Quarry has served the area for decades as the largest flood control facility in DuPage County. Today, the massive pit can hold up to 2.7 billion gallons of water — but it began with much humbler origins.

The Foundation

In 1883, limestone was discovered near the surface while drilling a well at the current quarry site. The Hammerschmidt family, who originally settled in the Naperville area to farm, leased the property to start a limestone mine. This marked the beginning of the Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Company, which is the oldest, continually operating business in Elmhurst, as well as one of the oldest in Illinois.

Starting with just 11 acres, Elmhurst-Chicago Stone sold builders hand-cut limestone for use in foundations and walls, while leftover stone chips were sold for road construction. Demand skyrocketed, and the ECS team was forced to incorporate new technology to maintain efficient production for their growing customer base. This cutting-edge innovation paved the way for regional infrastructure: The stone has been used in the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad roadbeds, state highways, and public buildings in and around DuPage County.

By the 1940s, the need for block stone had declined, and the company shifted to producing ready-mix concrete from crushed stone. This product became a key component of major expressways, including the Eisenhower, I-294, and I-355. The company also donated materials to Elmhurst College andfor the creation of the Prairie Path.

Floodgate Framework

On August 13 and 14, 1987, a record-breaking rainfall of 9.5 inches in 12 hours caused devastation across Elmhurst. Salt Creek rose from an average height of 2.4 feet to 12.85 feet  — homes, businesses, and roads were irreparably flooded.

According to the Elmhurst History Museum, “the Department of Public Works filled more than 50,000 sandbags, the fire department fielded 1,745 calls for help, and the police department roughly 2,000. Elmhurst suffered an estimated $33 million in damages (about $78 million today).

Governor Jim Thompson issued a Disaster Declaration, and President Ronald Reagan authorized FEMA assistance. The Governor would activate 200 members of the National Guard, and the Red Cross was dispatched as well.”

In response, DuPage County purchased the Elmhurst Quarry from ECS for use as a stormwater management facility in 1992. Construction to convert the quarry began in March 1993, and the repurposed facility opened in 1996. Floodwaters are now diverted into the quarry via a 400-foot tunnel beneath Route 83. The Elmhurst History Museum said that an estimated 4,000 homes have been saved from flooding thanks to the quarry.

Built to Last

Though the quarry changed ownership, the Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Company has not: For 140 years, Elmhurst-Chicago Stone has been owned and operated by the Hammerschmidt (now spelled Hammersmith) family. Now led by its 5th and 6th generations, the headquarters remain at the original quarry site. CEO Jeff Brown said that the company maintains low turnover rates, and they frequently celebrate 10-, 20-, 30-, and even 40-year anniversaries.

“Elmhurst-Chicago Stone very much is a family organization.  Not just in the sense that it’s family-owned and operated, but also in the sense that everyone who works at Elmhurst-Chicago Stone makes up the ECS family,” Brown said.  “We have many employees who have a father, brother(s), cousin, or mother as co-workers and teammates at ECS too.”

As a long-standing community pillar, ECS actively supports local charities and civic institutions in the area — not only monetarily but also by placing logos of local organizations on its mixer trucks.

“This boosts the visibility of these worthy organizations in the communities where they do such good work — and beyond,” Brown said.

ECS has also contributed to public green space and recreational development across the Chicago suburbs through land donations, forest preserve projects, and construction of bike trails and paths.

Today, the company is known not only as a leading supplier of consistently high-quality construction materials across the Chicago area, but also as the foundation of the Elmhurst community.

Elmhurst Magazine appreciates the Elmhurst History Museum and Elmhurst-Chicago Stone CEO Jeff Brown for their contribution to this story.