A History of Success
Tinley Park’s rich and storied history is preserved in the elegant buildings that grace the downtown district, providing a 19th-century backdrop to the flourishing modern community.
Christened Bremen when it was established in 1853, the village was renamed Tinley Park in 1892 in honor of Samuel Tinley, the community’s first railroad agent. His contribution to the railroad played a critical role in the village’s growth and economic development, as it quickly became a major trading center and stopover on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
Agriculture was the village’s first industry, with a grain elevator opening in 1869 and a Dutch-style windmill built in 1872. Other businesses followed, including a soft drink bottling plant in the 1890s and its first factory, the Diamond Spiral Washing Machine Company, in 1905.
From its earliest days to the present day, business innovators have made Tinley Park their home, including John Rauhoff, who created Ironite, an additive for waterproofing cement used in the building of the Hoover Dam; and the famous Indy 500 racing members of the Bettenhausen family.
The value the village places on its history is seen in its persistent preservation efforts: property owners in the historic district are encouraged to restore and preserve their vintage buildings and homes; charming older structures have found new uses; and the lovely Old Zion Landmark Church houses the Tinley Park Historical Society’s headquarters and museum.
For more information visit:
http://www.tplibrary.org/tinleynet/TPHistory.htm
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