Historical society seeking donations for renovation

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 building, constructed in 1898 at 129 Lake St., has stood as a symbol of community service for over 100 years. Now, it will be reborn as the new home of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest once the renovation is complete.

Frank Lipo, the executive director of the society, shared that the $600,000 restoration project aims to bring the building back to its original grandeur while adding modern comforts. “We want to restore the replica doors so they match the historical photos,” he explained. “We also plan to install a brick plaza in front, replicating where fire engines once rolled out.”

In June, crews will begin digging three 500-foot deep wells next to the building, with plans to install a geothermal HVAC system. Lipo hopes this will help preserve the valuable artifacts housed within the building.

During the demolition, workers uncovered fascinating remnants of the past. The underside of the second floor revealed two large holes used by firefighters to slide down poles into the firehouse below. In the rear of the building, they found preserved horse feed, indicating that horses were once kept on the first floor and brought to the front to pull early fire wagons.

While the society celebrates the rich history of the building, it’s now turning to the community for support. Two grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, totaling nearly $200,000, have been suspended but not canceled. With uncertainty about the funding, the society has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise additional funds and ensure the project is completed on time.