History of William Beye Elementary School
Named for: William Beye, Dist. 97 school board finance chairman in the late 1800s.
Originally built as Ridgeland School and later known as Ontario School, the first building opened in 1879.
Oak Park History
Who was William Beye?
William Beye, born in 1842, was a German who immigrated to the United States to avoid military service. He went on to fight in the Civil War.