Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
As the walls and ceilings are being removed from the former Cicero Fire House No. 2, located on Lake Street in Oak Park, history is slowly coming back to life for Frank Lipo. This historic building, constructed in 1898 at 129 Lake St., has served the community for over a century in various roles. Now, it will be the new home of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest once the restoration is complete.
Frank Lipo, the executive director of the historical society, shared that the $600,000 renovation project aims to restore the building to its original grandeur while adding modern conveniences. “We want to recreate the look of the original front doors, using replicas that match historical photos,†he said. “We also plan to install a brick plaza in front of the building to reflect where fire engines once rolled out.â€
In June, crews will begin digging three 500-foot deep wells next to the building, and a geothermal HVAC system will be installed. Lipo hopes this system will help better preserve the artifacts housed within the restored space.
During the demolition process, workers uncovered fascinating remnants of the past. The underside of the second floor revealed two large openings where firefighters would slide down poles to reach the fire engines below. In addition, horse feed was found preserved beneath the second floor in the rear of the building. It turns out that horses were kept on the first floor and brought to the front to pull early fire wagons.
While the society celebrates its rich history, it's now turning to the community for support to finish the project. Two grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, totaling nearly $200,000, have been suspended but not canceled. Although hopeful they may still be released, the society has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds online and ensure the work is completed on time.
If you're interested in contributing, visit http://www.indiegogo.com and search for "The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest." More details can also be found at http://www.oprfhistory.org.
Thanks, Dan
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