Village of Orland Park, IL
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Village of Orland Park
Recreation and Parks Department
708.403.5000
recreation@orlandpark.org
Orland Park Heritage Sites Office
Recreation Administration
14600 S. Ravinia Ave.
Orland Park, IL 60462
Heritage Sites Supervisor: Libby Paulson
708.403.6268
epaulson@orlandpark.org
Senator John Humphrey House
9830 W. 144th Pl.
Orland Park, IL 60462
Hours
By appointment only.
Contact Heritage Sites Supervisor:
Libby Paulson to make an appointment.
708.403.6268
epaulson@orlandpark.org
Or you may contact the Village of Orland Park Recreation and Parks Department to make an appointment.
708.403.5000
recreation@orlandpark.org
Resources
This Quarter in
Orland Park History
January 2, 1898: In 1897, John and Albert Loebe purchase a general store on Union Avenue. The brothers open "Loebe General Store" a few months later on January 2, 1898. John and Albert run the store together until 1926, when Albert passes away. John continues to run the store alone until 1946, then sells the store to his sons, Stewart and Franklin Loebe. In total, the general store is in business for 71 years, closing in 1969.
January 26-27, 1967: Chicago endures its worst snowstorm in history, with a record-setting 23 inches of snowfall in Chicago and its suburbs.
February 6, 1898: Christ Evangelical Church is dedicated at 143rd Street and West Avenue. The Lutheran congregation in the Orland area had been founded a decade earlier on September 16, 1888, but it isn't until 1898 that they construct their church.
March 6, 1972: An explosion rips through the Melrose Fireworks Factory. The blast levels two square miles. It blows out windows and cracks walls for up to 12 miles around the area. The series of 12 explosions kill three workers and injure 14 people, sending nearby residents into their basements for shelter.
Coloring Pages
Twin Towers Chapel Coloring Sheet- Stellwagen Farm Coloring Sheet
- St. Michael Church Coloring Sheet
- Orland Train Depot Coloring Sheet
- Orland Park Hotel Coloring Sheet
- Old Village Hall Coloring Sheet
- Loebe General Store Coloring Sheet
- Humphrey House Coloring Sheet
- Hostert Log Cabin Coloring Sheet
- English Settlement Church Coloring Sheet
- Center School Coloring Sheet
Heritage Sites
Where Past IS Present
The Orland Park Heritage Sites aim to inspire a sense of community by offering engaging and educational displays and programs. The Heritage Sites division oversees the collection and preservation of artifacts that document the history of the Orland Park area and its relationship to local, state and national history. The area we know today as Orland Park was first settled in 1834. The Village of Orland Park was incorporated in 1892 when Senator John Humphrey served as the first Village President.
Heritage Sites
John Humphrey House Weekly Hours
The Humphrey House is getting a makeover! Over the next few months, the home will be undergoing some renovations to help improve its safety, accessibility and historical integrity. The project has three main phases: stabilization of the foundation; ADA upgrades; and updating the HVAC and electrical systems. As a result, tours of the house will be temporarily unavailable until the work is completed in early 2026. Make sure to check back for periodic updates and to follow along with the project’s progress!
Orland Park: "Then" and "Now"
Creer’s Grocery and Meat Market, located on 9924 W. 143rd Place, opened in 1914. It was originally owned by John Creer, who first emigrated to Chicago, then to Orland, from the Isle of Man in England in the early 1900s. John first bought a general store in Alpine, IL, but sold it to John Cooper in 1908. Then, John Creer opened another general store in the same area as Kruspe's Dance Hall at 9911 143rd Place. John then sold this business to Peter Homerding. However, his son, James Creer, bought it back from Peter in October 1914 and took it over, moving the general store across the street to 9924 W. 143rd Place. James was a notable member of the Orland community, as he served as a School Board Trustee, a Methodist Church Trustee, and was on the Orland Park Memorial Cemetery Board.
Creer’s Meat Market also had an ice house out back. The ice was cut from the McGinnis Slough in the winter and lasted throughout the summer.
Notably, the store had the first automatic door system in Orland. When customers had their arms full of groceries, a worker would then use a pulley system to open the door for them.
Around 1930, a basement was added to the building. According to local legend, the town's original calaboose (prison) is located there!
James added a second story to the building around 1938 so that his wife, Jessie Sayers Creer, could have a quilting room to meet with her M.E. Church guild members. The building also had an apartment with a kitchen and bath. Two additional apartments were added in 1946 and 1948. This area of the building was known as “Creer Hall."
At one time or another, this building has housed the following: the W.W. II Draft Board; the Village of Orland Park Board; the library; Cooper’s Supply and Plumbing outfit; a dog grooming shop; a resale shop; Murphy Insurance; and Sanderson Optometry.
2025 Sponsors
- Exquisite Spa and Salon
- MJ O’Malley Corporation