Thanks to a new program through Illinois, the Ellwood House is getting a $100,000 face lift.

The grant program, which is a part of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, gives money to museums throughout the state.

Ellwood House Executive Director Gerald Brauer said the Ellwood House needed the grant to fund renovations to improve the historical accuracy of the main rooms in the house, and to return to the turn-of-the-century style that was used during the period in which the house was built.

The library and dining room were chosen because they are the most significant rooms, Brauer said.

“They are not in bad condition; they are large rooms with elaborate decor,” Brauer said.

Specific areas targeted by the restoration project include conserving the woodwork, replacing the wallcoverings and recreating the draperies, Brauer said.

The restoration of the building is set to begin next winter, with a final completion deadline of July 2005. The work, which is taking place in the main areas seen by visitors, will be completed mostly during the winters when the Ellwood House normally is closed for the season.

The application process to receive this grant started back in September 2002 for Brauer. The application itself involved around 30 pages of documents, including a detailed description of the project, as well as a budget of the money, time and work needed. The application also required photographs of the areas in need of restoration, and the museum’s rationale for the project.

The DeKalb Park District, which has owned the Ellwood House since May Ellwood’s death in the 1960s, joined the Ellwood House Association in preparation for this large project.

Both the park district and the Ellwood House Association are excited about the project, said Brad Garrison, project manager of the DeKalb Park District.

Executive Director of the park district Dave Emanuelson echoed Garrison’s sentiment.

“We are very happy about receiving such a substantial award,” Emanuelson said. “It is a real testament of the [Ellwood House’s] importance to the state.”