The old Lombard Hotel, built in 1858, is being restored by new owners Tom and Margret Smith. It will be open May 9 for self-guided tours.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
The old Lombard Hotel in the village's downtown has new owners who hope to breathe some life into the 157-year-old building, which has sat mostly vacant for the last three decades.
Restorations are already under way, but anyone wishing to get a glimpse inside is welcome to take a self-guided tour on Saturday, May 9.
In cleaning up the building, the owners and Sarah Richardt, executive director of Lombard Town Centre, have found hundreds of interesting historical items such as photographs, postcards, board games and clothing. Many date back to the late 1800s.
The hope is to preserve some of the artifacts and keep them in the building, which will have a restaurant on the first floor, rentable office space on the second floor and the Lilac Ballroom on the third floor, which eventually will be available for private parties and events.
“They're some very motivated property owners that are wanting to do something great with this property,” Richardt said. “A 10,000-square-foot building with a property owner who really gets it — the importance of the building, and understands it's a commercial building and it has to make money — that is really a blessing in a historic downtown.”
Sarah Richardt, executive director of the Lombard Town Centre, holds one of the many old photos discovered in the old hotel building at 101 W. St. Charles Road.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
A photo, circa 1915, of Martin Grupe, who lived in the building at 101 W. St. Charles Road in the early 1900s. He is shown in his pharmacy, which was located a few doors down.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
The old Lombard Hotel, located on the southwest corner of St. Charles Road and Park Avenue, contains a wealth of old artifacts from the building's past.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
New owner Tom Smith describes roof crests that once made up a "widow's walk," which was known as a place women would stand to watch their husbands come home from war. Smith plans to install replica roof crests during his restoration of the building at 101 W. St. Charles Road.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
One of Tom Smith's goals in restoring the hotel is to keep it as true to its original condition as possible. That includes keeping old-fashioned push-button light switches on the walls.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
Tom Smith works the hot water faucet on an original sink in the third-floor kitchen. For the first time, he says, there is now hot water on the third floor.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
Tom Smith plans to keep as many of the original fixtures as possible in the building, including the old-fashioned door knobs.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
Lombard Town Center Executive Director Sarah Richardt and the building's new owner, Tom Smith, describe some of the many artifacts found in the hotel's restoration, including a gas stove from the 1920s.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
Many old and unusual artifacts have been found in the building at 101 W. St. Charles Road during its restoration, including this book from the 1880s.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
One of the oldest and most unusual items found in the building is a spittoon from the earliest days of the hotel. It was used in a tavern that was located on the first floor before the 1880s.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
Clothes - including a couple of dresses, a vest, and a child's corduroy pants - from more than 100 years ago were found in the building's attic.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
An original door from 1858 opened up to a billiard room in the basement of the building at 101 W. St. Charles Road.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
A historic plaque is visible on the exterior of the old Lombard Hotel, built in 1858.
Scott Sanders/ssanders@dailyherald.com
What: Tour of historic Lombard Hotel
Why: Learn about the oldest commercial property in the village and the plans its new owners have for renovating the building
When: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 9
Where: 101 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard
Cost: $10; proceeds go to Lombard Town Centre
Info: lombardtowncentre.org or (630) 620-8063