Monee Honors Marie LeFevre-Bailly with Park Statue Dedication

Village of Monee Board Meeting | October 22, 2025

Article Summary:
The Village of Monee celebrated its heritage by unveiling a bronze statue of Marie LeFevre-Bailly, a key historical figure and the village’s namesake. The statue, located at the recently completed Marie LeFevre-Bailly Park, honors her Native American roots and her role as a bridge between cultures.

Marie LeFevre-Bailly Park Dedication Key Points:

• Statue Unveiled: A life-like bronze statue of Marie LeFevre-Bailly, created by sculptor Sydney Ryan, was dedicated at the park.

• Historical Significance: Marie LeFevre-Bailly was of Odawa and French Canadian descent. The name “Monee” is derived from her name, as the Potawatomi language lacks an “R” sound, leading to the pronunciation “Monee.”

• Artist’s Process: Without existing photographs, the sculptor relied on extensive historical research to interpret Marie’s likeness.

• AI Recreation: A video presentation included an AI-generated animation of the statue speaking about Marie’s life, which officials plan to feature on the village website.

The Monee Village Board on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, reflected on a significant cultural milestone with a video presentation of the recent dedication of Marie LeFevre-Bailly Park and its centerpiece statue.

Economic Development Director Bill Barnes presented a video recap of the September 7 dedication ceremony. The park, located at Governors Highway and Court Street, features a bronze sculpture by artist Sydney Ryan.

“We are here to honor and rename this park for Marie ‘Monee’ LeFevre-Bailly, a remarkable woman whose story has shaped the identity of this community,” Barnes said in the video.

The presentation highlighted Marie’s history. Born in 1783 to a fur trapper father and an Odawa mother, she married Joseph Bailly, a French-Canadian fur trader. Following the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, which relocated many Native American tribes, Joseph negotiated an exception for his family, securing land in Will County. This land, originally listed for Marie’s daughters, eventually became known as Monee.

“Because there is no ‘R’ in her native language, the railroad named the nearby train stop Monee Station in the early 1850s,” the video narration explained.

Ryan, the sculptor, spoke about the challenge of creating a likeness without photographs. “Sydney immersed herself in research… capturing her dignity, her grace, and her enduring spirit,” the narration stated.

Following the main video, Barnes shared a second clip featuring an AI-animated version of the statue speaking directly to the audience, describing Marie as a “gifted storyteller” and a “bridge between cultures.”

“Wow, that was really cool. That was scary. Freaky and cool at the same time,” Mayor Dr. Therese Bogs commented after viewing the AI clip.

Barnes indicated that the video and AI presentation would be added to the village’s website and featured on local digital billboards.