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Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum to get replacement elevator

Work continues to repair items in the Grayslake Historical Society's collection, and the building where they were stored, after damage caused by flooding in July.

The village board voted this month to pay $88,850 to replace the elevator at the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum that was damaged and has been out of commission ever since.

Assistant Village Manager Brett Kryska said the village also has paid about $129,394 in other flood-related repairs to the building, including replacing drywall, lighting and air conditioning equipment.

The Heritage Center and Museum, at 164 Hawley St., is owned by the village.

Charlotte Renehan, the president of the historical society, said even without the elevator, the historical society and the heritage center staff have been able to operate more or less the same, except they've had to use the stairs more.

Renehan said the flooding had a major impact on the images, artifacts and textiles the historical society has collected and preserved for more than 40 years.

Officials will send flood-damaged maps and other documents to a conservator for restoration work. They will also need the help of professional carpenters to restore damaged furniture.

"It might take years before we are fully recovered," she said.

The community has answered the call for aid several times since the flooding. Volunteers helped recover materials from the flooded basement, placed the items on tables and racks in the museum's parking lot and annex to be assessed, cleaned and inventoried.

The Heritage Center and Museum was closed from July 18 through Aug. 19.

When the historical society announced it had lost its collection of Grayslake High School yearbooks, community members donated their own books, Renehan said.

Rebeka Jacobson, an intern at the Heritage Center and Museum, said she was heartened by the response from volunteers.

"It made me feel hopeful about the future for us," Jacobson said.

"It's a great community here."

The historical society is collecting donations through its Flood Recovery Fund, and the money will go toward material restoration.

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