Ovaltine's Dark Secret: Villa Park's Polluted Ground

Ovaltine, the company that produced a popular vitamin-fortified chocolate drink mix, was a key part of Villa Park's history and community. The Ovaltine factory, located in Villa Park, operated for over 70 years and employed up to 300 workers, providing housing and contributing to the town's growth and economy. However, after the factory's closure in 1985 and subsequent sale in 1988, the site has fallen into disrepair and has been associated with safety concerns, vandalism, and graffiti. Villa Park officials have been pushing for additional safety measures and the redevelopment of the old Ovaltine plant as part of a downtown revitalization project. While there is no direct mention of ground pollution, the environmental impact of the abandoned factory and its potential contamination cannot be overlooked.

Ovaltine's Villa Park factory closed in 1988

The Ovaltine factory in Villa Park, Illinois, was a cornerstone of the community for over 70 years. The factory, which produced a popular vitamin-fortified chocolate drink mix, employed up to 300 workers and provided housing for its employees and their families. The village of Villa Park and the Ovaltine company grew together, with the company supporting the village through financial hardships.

However, in the mid-1980s, Ovaltine's parent company, Sandoz Ltd., a Swiss conglomerate, decided to consolidate its food processing operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This decision dealt a traumatic blow to Villa Park, as the factory was set to close, and the company would leave the village.

In 1985, the Ovaltine plant in Villa Park shut down, and its operations were transferred to the modern facility in Minneapolis. The closure of the factory marked the end of an era, and the village was left to grapple with the loss of its largest industry and benefactor.

After the closure, the factory building fell into disrepair and became a nuisance, attracting trespassers and vandals. In 1987, Richard Haskell, the president of Realcom Development and Investment Group, purchased the 14-acre site with ambitious plans for redevelopment. However, by 1992, the site remained untouched, and the factory continued to deteriorate, causing embarrassment and irritation to the village trustees and sparking safety concerns.

The Ovaltine factory officially closed in 1988, and its chimney stack was imploded in 2008. The site became key to a proposed Villa Park downtown redevelopment project, which included plans for elderly apartments, a nursing home, and retail space.

The factory was key to a proposed redevelopment project

The Ovaltine factory was a key part of Villa Park's history and community. The factory was established in 1917, two years after the village was incorporated, and was in operation for more than 70 years, until it was sold in 1988. During its time in Villa Park, the factory employed up to 300 workers a day and provided housing for its employees and their families, contributing significantly to the growth and vitality of the village.

However, in the late 1980s, Ovaltine decided to consolidate its operations by merging with other food processing companies belonging to its parent company, Sandoz Ltd. This decision dealt a significant blow to Villa Park, as the village was already struggling economically and the loss of its largest industry and benefactor exacerbated these challenges.

The departure of Ovaltine left a physical mark on the village as well. The factory, located just off Villa Avenue, covered a 15-acre site. While the factory was generally a quiet neighbour, its closure and subsequent state of disrepair attracted unwanted attention. The building fell into a state of decay, with broken windows, peeling paint, and graffiti. Safety concerns were also raised, with reports of trespassing, drinking, and small fires started by teenagers exploring the abandoned site.

Recognising the need to revitalise the area, Villa Park officials proposed a redevelopment project centred around the old Ovaltine factory. The project envisioned the creation of 120,000 square feet of retail space, apartments for the elderly, and a nursing home on the Ovaltine site. The site's owner, Richard Haskell, shared these ambitions and planned an ambitious $30 million complex, including a 210-bed nursing home.

However, despite these plans, the redevelopment project faced delays. Five years after the initial proposal, the site remained untouched, with the factory continuing to deteriorate and cause concern among residents and officials alike.

Ovaltine was a unique product with a large fanbase

The Ovaltine plant in Villa Park was the only Ovaltine plant in the United States, and it employed about 300 people. The company provided housing for its employees and their families, which served as the foundation of the great community of Villa Park. The village of Villa Park was so closely linked with the Ovaltine company that their histories barely could be separated. The village even changed the name of the street in front of the plant to Ovaltine Court.

Ovaltine was a unique product that was ingrained in the culture of Villa Park. It was so popular that the village of Villa Park was defined by its presence. The company's departure from Villa Park in the 1980s left a traumatic blow to the community. The plant closure was a source of embarrassment and irritation for the village, as the building fell into disrepair and became a neighbourhood nuisance. Despite the passage of time, Ovaltine continued to hold a special place in the hearts of Villa Park residents, with many fond memories associated with the brand.

The company was a major part of the Villa Park community

The Ovaltine company was a major part of the Villa Park community. The company arrived in Villa Park in 1917, two years after the village was incorporated. Ovaltine provided housing for its employees and their families, which formed the foundation of the Villa Park community. The company also contributed to the village's economy, employing up to 300 workers per day.

Ovaltine was Villa Park's largest industry and benefactor, especially during the Depression years. The company's product was popular in American homes with children, who tuned in to radio programs such as "Little Orphan Annie" and "Captain Midnight," which were sponsored by Ovaltine. The company also offered premiums on radio and TV to boost sales and keep Ovaltine in every American pantry. This included offering Orphan Annie premiums in the early 1980s to take advantage of the character's renewed popularity.

The Ovaltine plant was tucked away in east-central Villa Park, just off Villa Avenue on a 15-acre site. The village vehicle stickers featured the phrase "The Home of Ovaltine," and the street in front of the plant was renamed Ovaltine Court. The company was so integral to Villa Park that the histories of the two are barely separable.

When the Ovaltine plant closed in 1988, it was a traumatic blow to the community. The plant had been a quiet neighbor, and the faint aroma of chocolate could still be detected in the building years later. The departure of Ovaltine left a lasting impact on Villa Park, with residents and business people alike wondering how a large company so closely linked with a small village could say goodbye.

The factory's owner has been asked to improve security

The Ovaltine factory in Villa Park, Illinois, was a cornerstone of the community for over 70 years. The factory was established in 1917, two years after the village was incorporated, and was the largest employer in the area, with around 300 workers. The company provided housing for its employees and their families, which formed the foundation of the Villa Park community.

However, in the late 1980s, Ovaltine decided to leave Villa Park. The factory closed its doors in 1988, and all operations were transferred to a modern facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This move was a significant blow to the small village, as Ovaltine was closely intertwined with the history and development of Villa Park.

In the years following its closure, the old Ovaltine factory fell into disrepair and became a nuisance to the neighbourhood. The building attracted trespassing teenagers who vandalised the property, spray-painted graffiti, broke windows, and even started small fires. The owner of the abandoned plant, Richard Haskell, had purchased the site with plans to develop it into a $30 million complex, including a nursing home. However, by 1992, the project had not yet commenced, and the factory remained in a state of decay.

Concerned about the security issues and the impact on the community, Villa Park officials requested that the owner of the old Ovaltine factory, Richard Haskell, take steps to improve security and address the issues. Bill Wiet, the village director of planning and zoning, and Village Manager Paul Wenbert planned to submit a list of "minor" tasks for Haskell to undertake, including repairing broken windows and securing entries to the building. The factory had become a magnet for trespassing teenagers, and its dilapidated state was an embarrassment to the community, especially as it had played such a significant role in Villa Park's history.

The factory is also key to a proposed downtown redevelopment project for Villa Park, which includes plans for 120,000 square feet of retail space. The security issues and the factory's role in a recent police investigation into the stabbing of three local high school students further emphasised the need for improved security and hastened the redevelopment process.

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