THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
History In A Bind?
Historical Society Can No Longer Use Randhurst For Storage
By RICHARD MAYER
Journal Reporter
As the day draws closer when Randhurst Shopping Center will be transformed into a "lifestyle center," the Mt. Prospect Historical Society is faced with a new challenge, according to Executive Director Gavin Kleespies.
"We have been renting a 1,200 sq. ft. storage space under Randhurst for the past eight years and it has been really great. But the days of our shopping mall storage space may be drawing to an end," said Kleespies. "With the upcoming renovation of Randhurst, we are going to have to move our material to a new home."
According to Kleespies, the space was "great" for the Historical Society over the years because it was climate controlled, had easy access, and was secure. He also said the basement was originally built as a fallout shelter, so the walls are made out of solid concrete and are 15-ft. high.
"It was a great space to store artifacts and the management companies have been very generous to us with the rental prices," Kleespies continued. However, as the mall evolves, it is time for the Historical Society to move on.
"We've had to think creatively about what to do with all of this material," said Historical Society President Marilyn Genther. "There is a lot of really great material in our storage space, like a turn-of-the-century piano, a radio from the 1910s, a refrigerator from the 1930s, and the sign from the Arlington Beverage Company's Pop Shop. But we can't possibly fit all of it in our current facilities."
So, the Historical Society has decided to divide the material into three categories: one that will go into a short-term temporary storage space, one that will go into a longer-term temporary storage space, and one that will be cleaned and put into the permanent storage space under the Historical Society's Education Center.
The material going into the storage space under the Education Center will be the focus of an upcoming Spring Cleaning Day on the lawn of the Historical Society on Saturday, May 10.
"We thought that rather than seeing this as an extra chore to worry about, we would make this into a fun event," said Genther. "So we've invited members of the Rotary Club and the Youth Commission to join us. They will get a chance to investigate some really neat objects and learn a little bit about how to care for antiques. Gavin (Kleespies) has worked in archival and collection care for the past 14 years and he will be on hand to direct everyone in how to handle the objects and what materials to use," she said.
"I've talked to the members of the Youth Commission and they are all excited about the idea of the project," said Nicole Logisz, chairwoman of the Mt. Prospect Youth Commission. "We've all gone to museums and seen old objects, but you never get a chance to actually handle them or feel like you are a part of preserving them."
"We are also excited about being able to be a part of preserving these objects and learning a little bit about how to care for antiques," said Mike Putz, president of the Sunrise Rotary Club.
"This will be a good chance to take a whole bunch of material out and take a good look at it and make sure it is in the best shape it can be," added Kleespies.