Lombard's Dan Tani to headline historical society fundraiser
Residents in Lombard's present will have the chance to mingle with notables from the village's past on Sunday while hearing how one man's history in town prepared him for a future of space exploration.
Astronaut Dan Tani, a Lombard native, will headline “Voices from the Archive,” a silent auction to benefit the Lombard Historical Society. The event, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, will feature costumed impersonators bringing to life Lombard icons such as Harold Gray, creator of Little Orphan Annie, and Ellen Martin, the first woman to vote in Illinois.
Tani said his speech will connect his job as an astronaut for NASA to his past as a child in Lombard and a student at area public schools such as Glenbard East High School.
“Being an astronaut is pretty fun. I remember before I got selected thinking it's sort of an unreachable thing, like a knighthood,” Tani said.
But Tani achieved his goal thanks, in part, to his childhood in the Western suburbs — a strong beginning to help others reach their dreams too, he said.
While Tani plans to talk about his personal history, the silent auction event aims to help preserve the stories of Lombard's past, present and future.
The auction features vacation packages, tickets to Chicago Cubs or White Sox games and admission to the Lyric Opera's “The Magic Flute,” as well as restaurant gift cards and other prizes. Tickets for the event at Harry Caray's restaurant in the Westin Lombard, 70 Yorktown Center, are available on the historical society's website, lombardhistory.org, for $50.
“All the proceeds go to our carriage house expansion project,” said Jeanne Schultz Angel, the historical society's executive director. “We're trying to expand the exhibits here at the (Victorian Cottage) museum.”
The archives are located in the carriage house, a small structure behind the main cottage on Maple Street, and that's what spawned the “Voices from the Archive” idea, Schultz Angel said.
“Why don't we make some of the people of our archives come to life?” she said. “We can have past, present and future notables of Lombard come to the event.”
If you go
If you go
What: “Voices from the Archive” silent auction fundraiser
Why: Proceeds support Lombard Historical Society's efforts to improve the carriage house, which stores archives at the Victorian Cottage Museum
When: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20
Where: Harry Caray's in the Westin Lombard, 70 Yorktown Center, Lombard
Cost: $50
Info: (630) 629-1885 or lombardhistory.org