444 S. LaGrange Road

444 South La Grange Road was the farmhouse of Samuel Vial, whose farmland stretched eastward past East Avenue. Samuel Vial died in 1911 at the age of 92, and his son Joseph lived in the house until his death in 1949 at the age of 97.

The Vial family was active in more than farming and had a long history of service to the community as educators and as township school treasurer. Samuel Vial was a charter member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in 1874 and in 1881 helped from the First Congregational Church of La Grange. The Vials were also directors of the La Grange State Bank. Charles Vial once said, “My father donated land to countless organizations!”

The house remained in the Vial family for many years. It was purchased by the La Grange Area Historical Society in 1894 as a museum and research center.

The Samuel Vial House, built in 1874, is in the Italianate style, but has undergone extensive modifications. The house was remodeled in 1926-1927. The house was lowered and dormers were added. The living and dining rooms as you see them today are much the same as they were in 1874. The stained glass window on the north side of the house is the original.

Inside the museum is a photograph of the house taken in 1889 which moved the original ornamentation associated with Italianate houses.