Hodgkins, Illinois
Small Town, Big Heart
Settlement began around 1836 when Irish and Italian immigrants arrived to work on the I&M Canal.
Initially known as Polk in the 1860’s, Novak in the 1880’s, then Hodgkins in 1896.
The village took its final name after Jefferson Hodgkins, a Civil War veteran and quarryman.
“Small Town, Big Heart!”
Hodgkins grew from the quarrying industry. The village’s first business was the Kimball and Cobb Stone Company in 1883, and the town was named for its president, Jefferson Hodgkins. That quarry legacy later affected Route 66 itself. In 1998, a section of the original road had to close after operations at the 600-acre McCook-Hodgkins quarry undermined its foundation. This overgrown section of the original Route 66 still exists, but remains closed.
“Cruise Nights”
1962 Chevy Pickup
Steven Streit
Steven Streit is a multidisciplinary designer and visual artist whose work explores the intersection of history, place, and public storytelling. As founder and creative director of OH Design Group, Streit has spent more than two decades developing murals, public installations, branding systems, and interpretive environments that reconnect communities to their cultural identity and architectural heritage. His work has included historically inspired mural projects, downtown revitalization efforts, and collaborations tied to preservation and placemaking initiatives influenced by organizations such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Drawing from both industrial Americana and Midwestern roadside culture, Streit’s artistic style combines bold graphic composition with a deep appreciation for forgotten spaces, local narratives, and the layered history of the American landscape.
“Form vs. Function – I’ll take both, please.”
Hodgkins City Hall
8990 Lyons Street
Hodgkins, IL
- Great photo spot
- Parking on the premises
