Naperville Central auctioning pieces of its past
Greg Siegel already has his eye on a Naperville Central High School memento that will hit the auction block Sunday - a Redskins football staff jacket.
"To get your hands on an actual athletic jacket ... is pretty cool, especially when it says staff on it and it's the old Redskins logo before Naperville Central changed its mascot to a Redhawk," said Siegel, a 1983 graduate who ran cross country and track.
Siegel helped unload a large moving truck full of Central furniture and other paraphernalia Wednesday in preparation for the school's auction - his shot at making the Redskins jacket his own.
The event goes from 3 to 8 p.m. June 13 at the Judd Kendall VFW Post, 908 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville.
"It's just a unique opportunity to have a piece of history and it's not just any history it's Naperville community history, Naperville Central history," said Lynne Nolan, dean of student activities and a 1982 alumna.
Many of the items on the auction block are from the school's three-story wing, much of which is being gutted as part of an $87.7 million renovation to the school that dates to 1950.
Tickets for the auction are $25 for adults and $10 for those 18 and younger. Admission includes food, snacks, pop and two beverage tokens for adults.
Athletic apparel is just one of the many items that will be available. Treasures include the first Redhawk mascot head, classroom doors, an old phone booth, desks, podiums, pedestal sinks, chalkboards, and even an old ironing board that was once built into a wall.
"What's kind of fun is I think the things we have are unique and somewhat practical," Nolan said.
In addition to furniture and other tokens from the school, some auction baskets have a more modern theme like a parking spot for next year or prom tickets. Other items would appeal to community members even if they don't have ties to Central, such as White Sox tickets, a camera and Blues Traveler tickets.
Some auction items will be available for the duration of the event while others will close early as a convenience to those attending at the beginning.
In addition to the auction, there will be children's activities from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and performances by Naperville Unit District 203 students, teachers and alumni.
Proceeds will go to the school's new Honor Garden, an outdoor space that will serve as a memorial to members of the Central community who have died. The Honor Garden also will have a special sensory area for special needs students and performance space.
"We want a place where people come back and sit in this gorgeous garden," Nolan said, "and go 'this was such a special time in my life.'"
For more information about the auction or Honor Garden e-mail Nolan at lnolan@naperville203.org.