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Villa Park History:
Following the construction of a subdivision called Villa Park in 1908 and another called Ardmore in 1910 by the real estate firm Ballard & Pottinger, Villa Park became incorporated in 1914 by uniting the two subdivisions of 300 people. The first village president, William H. Calhoun, was elected on September 12, 1914. The town originally opted to name itself Ardmore, but later changed to Villa Park in 1917. Villa Park was one of a number of suburbs directly west of downtown Chicago that flourished as a result of an electric commuter train, the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railway. This train ran from the "loop" in downtown Chicago directly west to Wheaton, Illinois, where it then split into two lines, one traveling southwest to Aurora and the other northwest to Elgin. Two small commercial areas developed, one at the Villa Avenue station and the other at the Ardmore Avenue station. The C. A. & E. commuter line ceased operations in the mid-1950's, a result of competition from the Chicago and Northwestern Railway which ran a parallel route about a mile to the north, and the increase in use of personal automobiles. The right-of-way was eventually cleaned up and developed into a hiking and bicycling trail known as the Illinois Prairie Path. The Ardmore Station is now home to the Chamber of Commerce, and the Villa Avenue Station houses the Villa Park Historical Society.
Villa Park Links:
Village of Villa Park: http://www.invillapark.com/
Villa Park Recreation: http://www.vprd.org/
Villa Park Golf Course: http://www.golfsugarcreek.com/
VIlla Park Worship: http://www.invillapark.com/worship.htm
Villa Park Schools: http://www.invillapark.com/schools.htm
Villa Park Local Parks: http://www.vprd.org/parks/
Village of Villa Park Public Library: http://www.invillapark.com/library.htm
Villa Park Public Works: http://www.invillapark.com/pwfortr.htm
Villa Park Resources: http://www.invillapark.com/resource.htm
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