Charles Stahlberg and others from Waterbury, Connecticut, formed the "United Clock Company" on December 5, 1885, in Peru, IL. In 1887, the company was reorganized under the new name Western Clock Company and in 1888 F.W Matthiessen reorganized it as the Western Clock Manufacturing Company. Westclox saw its business thrive during World War II as a major supplier for the U.S. Military.  Post-World War II, Westclox continued to grow through its many product innovations, including what is known today as the "snooze" alarm.  However, rapid economic changes and the digitization of clocks and timepieces crippled business in the late 1970s.    This Peru, IL facility remained in business until March 31, 1980, when the factory closed its doors for the final time.

On December 31, 2011, a fire was started in the old factory. It took 6 days to control the blaze.. The center section of the building was destroyed, but the North and South parts were saved. The property was then purchased by brothers, Tim Turczyn and Cody Grandadam, on June 24, 2014.  It has since been renovated into a multi-purpose space including a distillery, brewery, brick oven pizzeria, wedding venue, an art and enrichment center, and more than a dozen other small businesses.