Libertyville duo aims to raise money to paint Ansel B. Cook House
BY JOHN ROSZKOWSKI jroszkowski@pioneerlocal.com December 23, 2011 2:48PM
Local businessmen Mike Foley (left) and Roch Tranel stand outside of the Cook House in downtown Libertyville. The men are starting a group to raise money for the painting of the structure. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 30, 2012 8:16AM
When Libertyville residents Mike Foley and Roch Tranel learned that the historic Ansel B. Cook House was falling into disrepair and needed a paint job, they decided to do something about it.
Foley and Tranel have started a new non-profit group, Paint The Town Foundation, which is raising money for the painting of the Cook House.
Foley, owner of DiVinci Painters in Highland Park, learned the village of Libertyville was working on making structural repairs to the exterior of the Cook House and was also seeking bids for painting the house.
After inspecting the house, Foley said it was evident the exterior of the house was falling into disrepair with cracks in the stucco, peeling wood, rusting metal and water seepage, and he thought it would be a great community project to raise funds for the painting work.
“I thought this was something I’d like to do in Libertyville, the town where I live,” he said.
Foley said he believes it’s been more than a decade since the Cook House has been painted.
‘Crown jewel’
“This really is the crown jewel of Libertyville and to see it falling into disrepair was really disheartening,” he said.
Foley contacted his friend, Tranel, and asked him if he would help him in the effort to raise funds for the painting. Tranel thought it was a great idea.
“Mike and I have raised our children in Libertyville and we wanted to give back and we recognize the importance of the Cook House to the Village of Libertyville,” said Tranel, owner of Tranel Financial Group in Libertyville. “I felt like it was the right thing to do.”
The Ansel B. Cook House was built in 1878 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The estimated cost for painting the Cook House is approximately $50,000.
Benjamin Moore has agreed to donate paint for the project and other businesses have donated materials and supplies including a lift.
Foley and Tranel are hoping to raise the approximately $22,000 to cover the labor costs of the painting.
If they are able to raise the funds, the goal would be to start the painting in early May 2012.
The village of Libertyville has made some structural repairs to the exterior of the Cook House but does not have sufficient funds in its budget to do the painting right now.
“We have so many road and infrastructure projects in the community it would be difficult to do this,” said Mayor Terry Weppler. “I think this is a great effort by residents of the village to help our community.”
Persons who would like to donate to the cause can do so at www.Paintthetownfoundation.com.
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