OPRF Museum

OPRF Museum. From 19th Century Firehouse to 21st Century Museum. Oak Park River Forest Museum opened in this building in 2017 as the new home of The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest after the organization raised more than $1 million in private donations to bring new life to this vacant and deteriorated Oak Park Landmark, designated in 2008. , , Built as a firehouse in 1898 by Cicero Township, which then encompassed today's Oak Park, Berwyn, Cicero, and Chicago's Austin neighborhood, it pre-dates the incorporation of the Village of Oak Park in 1902. Oak Park broke away from old Cicero Township along with Berwyn in 1901 after the Austin area had been annexed to Chicago in 1899 by voters in a referendum. , , Oak Park architect William Van Keuren designed this two-story brick and stone structure in the popular Richardson Romanesque style, often used in public buildings and meant to convey a sense of solidity and permanence with its use of multi-colored stone and brick, arched windows, and decorative cornice. , , The building remained a firehouse until 1916 and then was remodeled for the use of the municipal water department and other public works purposes. Later, the village health department used the building as did the Human Relations Commission, now the Community Relations Commission. The second floor included a social hall for community use from 1898 until a 1950s office conversion. Called GAR Hall in honor of Civil War veterans, the space was the home to meetings of local veterans groups, clubs and churches, and was used as a polling place. , , The Historical Society's 2015-17 renovation and restoration of the building included uncovering and restoring original wood floors, ceilings and walls on the first floor, re-discovering two fire pole holes between floors. A fire sprinkler system was installed for the first time, as was all new electrical, plumbing and alarm systems. A new environmentally friendly geothermal heating and cooling system was installed: it included the drilling of three, 500-foot-deep wells beneath today's brick driveway that recreates the early 20th century appearance of the front of the building. Future plans include the installation of an elevator and exterior work to re-create the original appearance of windows and doors as shown in these photographs. , , Visitors are welcome to tour OPRF Museum's exhibits and partially restored 1898 interior during regular open hours, which are listed on the building or available via a QR code below linking to oprfmuseum.org. Anyone interested in finding out more about the stories of Oak Park and River Forest, wanting to get involved, or seeking an appointment to do research also may call 708-848-6755. , , This building is owned by the Village of Oak Park and operated through a long-term lease agreement with The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest, which does not receive tax dollars to support its operation. The Historical Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organized in 1968; it operated from 1970-2016 in rented space in Pleasant Home in Mills Park. , , This sign was installed in 2023 during the building's 125th anniversary year through the generosity of the Philander Barclay Society, a group of donors to the Historical Society who share the love of local history of Philander Barclay (1878-1940). Son of an Oak Park pharmacist and owner of a local bicycle shop, Barclay documented area history and his photos, historical notes and bicycle are in the Historical Society's collection.