It's the pump house for the irrigation system that runs throughout the cemetery. It's also been used to store hay for the cemetery horses (who had a separate barn) and as a sawmill to cut up trees for firewood. There are three wells. Water used to go to a water tower and then throughout the park by gravity. But the water tower fell apart and now they use electric pumps which cause them no end of trouble.

I've put the photos together in a set with more explanation here www.flickr.com/photos/yooperann/sets/72157616745149303/

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But if you have a theory, please share.

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This is in the Concordia Cemetery, but also right on the banks of the Des Plaines River. I'm fascinated by the big doors on the second story and the hook hanging near the top. Any theories? If it helps, there's an old photo of the area here which seems to show some retaining pond or some equivalent at pretty much this spot. fphistory.com/images/ForestPark.GIF

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You can see how close it is to the water. Pedestrian/bike path bridge in the background.

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Okay, so what in the world would these yellow and white lights be for? (you can also see them by the top of the third first floor window from the right in the photo below).

Mystery solved. These tell the cemetery manager whether the pumps are working or not.

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