Tedens is a ghost town in Lemont, Downers Grove Township, DuPage County, Illinois.
John Henry Tedens (1833-1899) operated a department store at 106 Stephen Street in Lemont beginning in 1862. In the late-1890s, the business changed to Tedens Hardware Store. Tedens Opera House opened on the second floor in 1896.
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| Newspaper advertisement for the John Tedens and Alderman Dystrip's Department Store. Look at the store's offerings. |
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
Thank you for sharing! I just came across your site, and never knew this town existed.
ReplyDeleteThat department store building is still there, and nicely restored, like much of downtown Lemont. If you look at the facade, the stone still says J.H.T. & Co. 1861/1895. I'm assuming that would be Mr. Tedens.
I've hiked through the location where Tedens would have been, it's all part of Waterfall Glen forest preserve now. There's nothing at the site, but very close nearby there's the ruins of an old nursery built in 1921 that grew trees and plants for Lincoln Park in Chicago. Neat stuff!