Historical society seeking donations for renovation

Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:

As the walls and ceilings are being stripped away from the historic Cicero Fire House No. 2 building on Lake Street, history is coming back to life for Frank Lipo. This building, which has served the community for over a century in various roles, was constructed in 1898 at 129 Lake St. and is now recognized as the oldest public building in Oak Park. Once the renovation is complete, it will become the new headquarters of the Historical Society.

Frank Lipo, the executive director of the Historical Society, explained that the $600,000 restoration project aims to bring the building back to its original grandeur while adding modern comforts. “We’re looking to install replica doors that match the historical photos,” he said, referring to the old barn-style entrances, which are currently covered with cinder blocks and windows. “We also plan to create a brick plaza in front of the building, similar to where fire engines used to pull out.”

In June, crews will dig three 500-foot-deep wells next to the building and install a geothermal HVAC system, which Lipo hopes will help better protect the historical artifacts housed inside.

When the old ceilings were removed, they revealed fascinating remnants of the past. The underside of the second floor showed two large openings where firefighters would slide down poles to reach the fire engines below. Additionally, horse feed was found preserved beneath the second floor in the rear of the building. Horses were once kept on the first floor and brought to the front to pull early fire wagons.

While the society is excited to celebrate its rich history, it’s also reaching out to the community for support to finish the project. Lipo mentioned that two grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, totaling nearly $200,000, have been "suspended but not canceled." Although hopeful that the funds will eventually be released, the society has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise additional money online and ensure the work is completed on time.

If you're interested in contributing, you can visit http://www.indiegogo.com and search for “The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest.” For more details, check out http://www.oprfhistory.org.

Thanks, Dan

Auxiliary Machinery

Auxiliary Machinery,Super Fine Crusher,Pharmaceutical Grinding Machine,Pneumatic Conveying Machine

Changzhou Bole Tech Co.,Ltd , https://www.boledrying.com