What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 11am - 3pm Wednesday 11am - 3pm Thursday 11am - 3pm Friday 11am - 3pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Villa Park Historical Society

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Villa Park Historical Society

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The Villa Park Historical Society operates the historical museum, visitor center and research center for Villa Park. Open early April through mid-December

**Open early April through mid-December**
The historical museum is located at the intersection of South Villa Ave and the Prairie Path. Built in 1929, the building originally served the community as the Villa Ave stop for the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin electric train line and an appliance store. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. In 2009 it also became the Visitor Center for the Village providing Business information, Prairie Path Maps, Chamber of Commerce directory, and guides to restaurants and shopping. For more than 30 years the Historical Museum has been operated by a volunteer board. Its operation is only possible by the generosity of its membership, donors, visitors, and fundraising activities.

11/04/2026

11/02/2026

Do remember the Garrett Dance Studio on Ardmore? They had a newsletter, Dancing School News, they published for their students. In October 1945 they published a short dedicated edition to their former pupils who lost their lives in World War II. We also have some pictures of their classes. Let us know if you would like to see those!

As we approach Veteran's Day, the VPHS is looking for pictures, stories, and newspaper clippings of Villa Park veterans. Share them here on our page or send them to [email protected] to have them included in our files.

11/01/2026

Don't forget! Our hours change this week.

Our Museum hours are changing as of November 2, 2026.

We will be open weekends only.
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

11/01/2026

Our Fall Newsletter is now available online or in print at the Museum. Join our mailing list so the next one goes straight to your inbox!

https://mailchi.mp/villaparkhistoricalsociety/vphs-mailing-list

10/29/2026

Haunted Ovaltine!

👻 York Township Through Time: The Dark Legends of the Ovaltine Factory

For decades, the Ovaltine Factory in Villa Park was known for producing one of America's most beloved chocolate malt drinks.

But after the factory closed, something much darker was rumored to be happening behind its walls.

Strange voices. Unexplained footsteps. And whispers of satanic rituals.

Welcome to the haunting legends of the Ovaltine Factory.

Our story begins in 1917, when the Wander Company established its Ovaltine manufacturing plant in Villa Park. The factory became a cornerstone of the community, providing jobs and helping the young village grow.

For generations, the smell of chocolate malt filled the surrounding neighborhood.

But when production ended in the 1980s, the once-bustling factory fell silent.

And that's when the stories began.

The abandoned building became a destination for curious teenagers, urban explorers, and those brave enough to venture inside.

Rumors circulated that occult gatherings and satanic rituals were taking place within its darkened walls.

Others claimed to hear disembodied voices calling their names, cries echoing through empty corridors, and footsteps following them when no one was there.

Some visitors described sudden, unexplained cold spots or the overwhelming feeling that something was watching them.

And perhaps most unsettling?

Ghost hunters reportedly experienced fully charged batteries suddenly dying, while others claimed objects were violently thrown by unseen forces.

But were these paranormal encounters real?

Or had decades of abandonment, trespassing, and whispered rumors transformed an ordinary factory into one of DuPage County's most notorious haunted locations?

While the supernatural claims remain unverified, the stories became part of Villa Park's local folklore.

As we close our October series of York Township myths and legends, we have one final question...

Do you remember the abandoned Ovaltine Factory? Did you ever venture inside, hear stories about what happened there, or experience something you couldn't explain? 👻

10/29/2026

Doesn't everyone love pizza? But who makes your favorite?

10/26/2026

Did you know? Some of Villa Park's streeets were renamed in 1967. This article is from the Villa Park Review October 25, 1967.

10/26/2026

Our Museum hours are changing as of November 2, 2026: We will be open weekends only.

Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

10/22/2026

Do you remember watching this be built?

On October 10, 1968, Yorktown Shopping Center officially opened its doors, making a major mark on suburban retail history. At the time, it was one of the largest enclosed shopping malls in the United States, spanning approximately 1.5 million square feet across 130 acres, with price tag of around $25 million.

The vision for Yorktown began in 1964, when industrial zoning was first proposed for the area near Highland Ave. and Butterfield Rd. By 1966, developer E.D. Pehrson had acquired 188 acres of farmland and partnered with a Boston-based co-developer to bring the project to life. The name "Yorktown" combined a nod to York Township with the idea of creating a new shopping destination that would complement Lombard's downtown.

With major retailers like Carson Pirie Scott, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney, and Wieboldt's, Yorktown was already generating buzz before construction began in March 1967.

Despite early skepticism and competition from nearby Downers Grove, support from the community and local officials helped turn the vision into a reality.

Yorktown Center would go on to reshape the local retail landscape and become a familiar destination for generations of shoppers!

Pictured is an aerial view of Yorktown Center looking south in 1968.

10/22/2026

How many of us were born here?

Today's Throwback Thursday is a view of Elmhurst Hospital as it was when it opened 100 years ago this month. The state-of-the-art facility opened its doors on the corner of Schiller and Berteau in October 1926 as arguably the first proper hospital in DuPage County. The healthcare, location, and size of the hospital have all dramatically changed in the subsequent century, but Elmhurst Hospital remains a major presence in the Elmhurst community. The Elmhurst History Museum explored the history of healthcare in DuPage County in an exhibition earlier this year and prominently featured the story of Elmhurst Hospital. A gallery talk about the exhibition can be found on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbiuwuqqrzs

Address

220 South Villa Avenue
Villa Park, IL
60181

Opening Hours

Tuesday	11am - 3pm
Wednesday	11am - 3pm
Thursday	11am - 3pm
Friday	11am - 3pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+16309410223

Website

https://www.villaparkhistoricalsociety.org/

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