Meet us where the history is made possible
Before it was called Brookfield, a successful Chicago real-estate developer envisioned a town that would prosper if only there were a train station.
So, Samuel Eberly Gross designed and funded that train station himself. Work started on Grossdale Station in 1889 on the south side of the train tracks near Prairie Avenue. With red brick, limestone window sills, an oak ceiling, and a maple floor, it was soon a state-of-the-art transportation hub.
In an interesting standard of the time, the station had two separate waiting rooms for women and men.
Nearly 100 years later with the station in disrepair, the railroad determined to tear it down and build a new one. That’s when a group of Brookfield residents got together to save the old station.
The railroad said “move it or lose it,” so the newly formed Brookfield Historical Society did just that. Grossdale Station was lifted from its old foundation and moved across the train tracks in 1981.
Today the station is beautifully restored and houses a small museum.
Wander the grounds of Grossdale Station any time to take pictures of the restored historical building that is more than 130 years old. The Brookfield Historical Society hosts open houses during festivals or special events.
Admission is free when the Brookfield Historical Society hosts open houses.
The Historic Homes & Gardens Tour combines three Oak Park architectural gems into one tour: the Oak Park Conservatory, Pleasant Home, and Cheney Mansion. The cost is $35 per person, including lunch.
The Brookfield Historical Society was born from a historical call to arms. When the original train station for the area fell into disrepair, the railroad determined it was time to tear down the building.
That’s when five Brookfield residents got together to save the old station. Their original meeting in a Brookfield living room grew from five people to seven and then 15 members when the Brookfield Historical Society was created to save the station.
The original station for Brookfield is located on the northeast corner of Brookfield and Forest avenues. The station was relocated from its original position across the train tracks and now sits where the old village hall once stood.
