March Brown Bag/Local Lore “Preserving Our History”

Before the Ellwood family planned their palatial mansion at 509 N. First Street, Oakwood Cemetery— the property just to the north— was already a trove of local history. The cemetery, containing burials dating back to the mid-1800s, is currently undergoing restoration as an initiative by DeKalb Township.

On Thursday, March 7, DeKalb Township Supervisor Jennifer Jeep Johnson will be the featured speaker at the Ellwood House Museum’s monthly lecture series, sharing information on the multi-year project, as well as stories behind some of the cemetery’s notable graves.

Ms. Jeep Johnson’s lecture is part of Brown Bag Lunch/Local Lore, the museum’s free adult lecture series offered in collaboration with the DeKalb County History Center. The one-hour program will take place at noon in the Ellwood House Museum’s Visitor Center at 509 N. First Street in DeKalb. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch, and coffee and cookies will be provided.

For more information, please contact Audrey King by phone at (815) 756-4609 or by email at king@ellwoodhouse.org. For the complete Brown Bag Lunch/Local Lore schedule, see www.ellwoodhouse.org/learn.