Oak Park Arms
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Oak Park Arms
| image = Oak Park Arms viewed from NW 2019.jpg
| location = 408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois
| coordinates = {{coord|41|52|52.1|N|87|47|38.2|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| completion_date = 1921
| opened_date = April 20, 1922
| architect = Roy F. France
}}
The Oak Park Arms is a senior living retirement community focused on independent living for seniors "[https://www.oakparkarms.com/senior-housing/ Senior Housing]" Oak Park Arms. Retrieved April 5, 2024. located at 408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois. More than ten other providers of senior-centered care maintain offices at the Oak Park Arms."[https://www.oakparkarms.com/about-us/ About Us]", Oak Park Arms. Retrieved October 1, 2019. Oak Park Adult Day Care, an adult daycare center, located inside the Oak Park Arms on the 5th floor, opened on January 7, 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oakpark.com/2013/01/08/adult-day-care-center-open-at-oak-park-arms/|title=Adult day care center open at Oak Park Arms|last=Rose|first=Devin|website=oakpark.com|language=en-US|access-date=2024-04-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oakparkadultdaycare.com/news/oak-park-arms-adds-adult-day-care-program/|title=Oak Park Arms adds adult day-care program|last=Beese|first=Kevin|website=oakparkadultdaycare.com|access-date=2024-04-17}} Kindness Creators, an intergenerational daycare located inside of Oak Park Arms, opened on August 29, 2019.{{Cite web|url=http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/10-8-2019/New-daycare%27s-core-curriculum-is-empathy/|title=New daycare's core curriculum is empathy|website=www.oakpark.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-31}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/ct-oak-intergenerational-preschool-tl-0912-20190906-wu4jk7w2vbgppmv7bsiyuowizi-story.html|title=New preschool brings little kids and seniors together at Oak Park Arms|last=Schering|first=Steve|website=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2019-10-31}}
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."[https://books.google.com/books?id=J91LAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA19-PA24 The Hotel News]", The Hotel World. Vol. 92, No. 21. May 21, 1921. p. 24. Retrieved October 2, 2019."[https://books.google.com/books?id=H-FLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA882 Great West Side's First Hotel Opens]", The Hotel World. Vol. 93, No. 25. December 17, 1921. pp. 20-21. Retrieved October 1, 2019."Oak Park Arms Holds Formal Grand Opening", Forest Park Review. April 22, 1922. p. 1. The building was designed by Roy F. France. It was a luxury hotel and residence that hosted gala weddings and was host to notable guests, such as Eleanor Roosevelt.Deuchler, Doug. "[https://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/7-11-2006/Revisiting-1936:-PART-II/ Revisiting 1936: Part II]", Wednesday Journal. July 11, 2006. Retrieved October 2, 2019."[https://www.oakparkarms.com/opa_news/weddings-remembered-at-the-oak-park-arms/ Weddings Remembered at the Oak Park Arms]", Oak Park Arms. Retrieved October 2, 2019."[https://www.oakparkarms.com/oak-park-arms-hotel-history/ History]", Oak Park Arms. Retrieved October 2, 2019. An addition was built on the south side of the building, which was completed in 1949. Joseph Glimco kept an apartment at the Oak Park Arms from 1955 to 1958.[https://books.google.com/books?id=6tEjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA520 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.Riesel, Victor. "[https://newspaperarchive.com/defiance-crescent-news-oct-14-1961-p-2/ Treasury Closes in on Teamsters]", Defiance Crescent-News. October 14, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
In 1978, the Oak Park Arms was purchased and converted into a retirement community for seniors.Horstead, Megann. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/ct-oak-park-arms-celebrates-tl-0927-story.html 'It’s been a wonderful ride': Oak Park Arms celebrates 40th anniversary]", Oak Leaves. September 25, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
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."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-10-25-BC-Chicago.pdf AM Histories]", Broadcasting — Telecasting. A Continuing Study of Major Radio Markets: Study No. 7: Chicago. October 25, 1948. p. 18. Retrieved October 6, 2019.Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. pp. 351-352."[http://oprfmuseum.org/sites/default/files/stories/featured-images/WTAY-OL-1924--1.jpg Radio Department]", Oak Leaves. February 16, 1924. p. 32. Retrieved October 2, 2019.Wagner, Jill (2012). "Oak Park Arms 90th Anniversary Special Section", Wednesday Journal. In 1925, the station was sold to Coyne Electrical School and its call sign was changed to WGES. In 1926, the station was moved out of the Oak Park Arms. Ray Kroc played piano live on the air at WGES's studios in the Oak Park Arms.Napoli, Lisa. "[https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/ray-kroc-chicago-mcdonalds-map Exploring Ray Kroc’s Chicago]", Curbed. January 18, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2019.Kroc, Ray (2016). [https://books.google.com/books?id=IKosDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT21 Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's]. St. Martin's Press. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
On October 7, 1950, AM 1490 WOPA began broadcasting, with its studios and transmitter located at the Oak Park Arms.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1971/B-1-Radio-YB-1971.pdf 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook], Broadcasting, 1971. p. B-66. Retrieved October 2, 2019.[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=66032 History Cards for WEUR], fcc.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2019. The station continues to broadcast from the Oak Park Arms and is owned by Daniela Wojcik's CSWWII, LLC, holding the call sign WEUR.[https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=1093 AM Query Results: WEUR], fcc.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
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.[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=80078 History Cards for WVAZ], fcc.gov. Retrieved October 2, 2019. In 1971, 102.7's transmitter was moved to the John Hancock Center.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Oak Park Arms}}
- [https://www.oakparkarms.com/ Official Website]
{{Oak Park, Illinois|state=expanded}}
Category:Defunct hotels in Illinois
Category:Hotels established in 1922
Category:1922 establishments in Illinois
Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1922