Oak Park Arms

The Oak Park Arms is an independent living and assisted living retirement community located at 408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois. The Oak Park Township Senior Services, The Lifelong Learning Center of Oak Park - River Forest are both located inside the Oak Park Arms. More than ten other providers of senior-centered care maintain offices at the Oak Park Arms.[1] Kindness Creators, an intergenerational daycare located inside of Oak Park Arms, opened on August 29, 2019.[2][3]

Oak Park Arms
General information
Location408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois
Coordinates41°52′52.1″N 87°47′38.2″W
Completed1921
OpenedApril 20, 1922
Design and construction
ArchitectRoy F. France

History

The Oak Park Arms was built in 1921 by George Cook and Arthur Lorenz at a cost of $750,000, and opened on April 20, 1922.[4][5][6] The building was designed by Roy F. France.[4] It was a luxury hotel and residence that hosted gala weddings and was host to notable guests, such as Eleanor Roosevelt.[5][7][8][9] An addition was built on the south side of the building, which was completed in 1949.[9] Joseph Glimco kept an apartment at the Oak Park Arms from 1955 to 1958.[10][11]

In 1978, the Oak Park Arms was purchased and converted into a retirement community for seniors.[12]

Radio stations

The Oak Park Arms has been home to several radio stations throughout its history. On February 15, 1924, WTAY, owned by the Oak Leaves newspaper, began broadcasting from the Oak Park Arms.[13][14][15][16] In 1925, the station was sold to Coyne Electrical School and its call sign was changed to WGES.[14] In 1926, the station was moved out of the Oak Park Arms.[14] Ray Kroc played piano live on the air at WGES's studios in the Oak Park Arms.[17][18]

On October 7, 1950, AM 1490 WOPA began broadcasting, with its studios and transmitter located at the Oak Park Arms.[19][20] The station continues to broadcast from the Oak Park Arms and is owned by the Polish National Alliance, holding the call sign WPNA.[21]

Ten days after WOPA signed on, its sister station WOPA-FM (current-day urban AC iHeartMedia-owned station WVAZ 102.7) began broadcasting, with its studios and transmitter also located at the Oak Park Arms.[19][22] In 1971, 102.7's transmitter was moved to the John Hancock Center.[22]

References
  1. "About Us", Oak Park Arms. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  2. "New daycare's core curriculum is empathy". www.oakpark.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  3. Schering, Steve. "New preschool brings little kids and seniors together at Oak Park Arms". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  4. "The Hotel News", The Hotel World. Vol. 92, No. 21. May 21, 1921. p. 24. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  5. "Great West Side's First Hotel Opens", The Hotel World. Vol. 93, No. 25. December 17, 1921. pp. 20-21. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  6. "Oak Park Arms Holds Formal Grand Opening", Forest Park Review. April 22, 1922. p. 1.
  7. Deuchler, Doug. "Revisiting 1936: Part II", Wednesday Journal. July 11, 2006. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  8. "Weddings Remembered at the Oak Park Arms", Oak Park Arms. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  9. "History", Oak Park Arms. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  10. Final Report of the Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field, United States Senate. United States Government Printing Office. 1960. Part 1. pp. 520-521. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  11. Riesel, Victor. "Treasury Closes in on Teamsters", Defiance Crescent-News. October 14, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  12. Horstead, Megann. "'It’s been a wonderful ride': Oak Park Arms celebrates 40th anniversary", Oak Leaves. September 25, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  13. "AM Histories", Broadcasting — Telecasting. A Continuing Study of Major Radio Markets: Study No. 7: Chicago. October 25, 1948. p. 18. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  14. Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. pp. 351-352.
  15. "Radio Department", Oak Leaves. February 16, 1924. p. 32. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  16. Wagner, Jill (2012). "Oak Park Arms 90th Anniversary Special Section", Wednesday Journal.
  17. Napoli, Lisa. "Exploring Ray Kroc’s Chicago", Curbed. January 18, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  18. Kroc, Ray (2016). Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's. St. Martin's Press. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  19. 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1971. p. B-66. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  20. History Cards for WPNA, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  21. AM Query Results: WPNA, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  22. History Cards for WVAZ, fcc.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
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