The Historical Society of Oak Park-River Forest is hosting a community open (fire) house at its new facility under renovation at 129 Lake St. in Oak Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 13. Built in 1898 as Cicero Fire House No. 2, the vacant building, owned by the village of Oak Park is being transformed by private donations into a place to tell the community’s stories. Visitors will see a “work in progress” with green geothermal HVAC and fire sprinklers being installed. New plumbing and electric systems are in the works and the $600,000 project includes the refinishing of original Georgia pine walls, ceilings, and floors on the first floor. Donations are being accepted at indiegogo.com, key word “oak park.”
And you can check out this video about the project’s progress at www.youtube.com/watch?v=VskhRQlSQYw&list=UU1EZovakS7e_kepUJgVdb3A&index=1.
