Grayslake Historical Society

The tragic story of the death more than 40 years ago of four Grayslake Public Works Department employees in a sewer lift station shaft will be told at the Wednesday, Nov. 9 meeting of the Grayslake Historical Society. Society board member Dan Graham will present the program at 7 p.m. in the community room of the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, 164 Hawley St. Admission is free. James Pech, 40, of Grayslake, Tommy-Jo Dungan, 26, of Grayslake, John Hertel, 47, of Lindenhurst and Wayne Alesi, 21, of Grayslake, died Jan. 17, 1974, when they were overcome by fumes while working in the sewer shaft on Hillside Avenue. According to news reports, the men were working at the lift station trying to remove sludge that had built up in the 20- to 30-foot steel and concrete shaft. A plaque honoring the men is in Memorial Park at Seymour Avenue and Center Street.