Reddick Mansion in Ottawa ‘brought back to life,’ reopens to tours after renovations

It’s really great to see the mansion, with the improvements that have been made, being brought back to life.”

—  Lorraine McCallister, Reddick Mansion president and docent

While it may be on a limited basis, Reddick Mansion in Ottawa reopened for tours Friday after being closed to the public for a year.

Tours of the building will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday through Monday. Reservations are not required, but visitors only will be allowed into the building 15 minutes before each tour.

Six people will be allowed per tour. Face coverings will be required, and temperatures will be taken with social distancing encouraged. Tour prices will remain $10 for adults and $5 for students kindergarten through 12th grade.

“This is a change to our previous tour offerings,” said Darlene Halm, board member and head docent. “However, in keeping with the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and [Illinois Department of Public Health] guidelines, we felt that these adjustments were necessary for the safety of our visitors and volunteer docents. Eventually, we hope to go back to tours per each day that we’re open.”

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A China set from the time period when the Reddicks lived at the mansion in Ottawa was donated and now is displayed in the dining room. (Tom Sistak)

During the pandemic, Heritage Restoration out of Peoria completed work on a $1.4 million exterior restoration and thoroughly cleaned the interior.

Heritage Restoration served as general contractor for the restoration, which included historic window removal, lead abatement, historic frame restoration, historic millwork replication, period-accurate frame woodgraining, custom frame refinishing, antique glass cleaning, glazing, restored window reinstallation, gutter and downspout painting, door removal, restoration, and fabrication, rotting balcony demolition, historic balcony reconstruction, cornice encapsulation, recreation of decorative highlights, interior molding plaster repair and awning restoration.

“It’s everything, but I’m so especially happy to see the balconies redone and finished. They were in really bad shape,” board president and docent Lorraine McCallister said when asked what she was most happy with in the restoration. “It’s also so fantastic to see the new cornice, knowing it now looks exactly like it did when the Reddick’s live here. ... That means a great deal to me. We have a ways to go with other things we are hoping to renovate in the future, but it’s really great to see the mansion, with the improvements that have been made, being brought back to life.”

Reddick history

William Reddick came to the United States from Ireland in 1816, finally settling in the Ottawa area in 1835. The 22-room mansion was commissioned in 1855 and was the home of the Reddick family for nearly 30 years. The various jobs Reddick held during his life included glassmaker, farmer, tax collector, sheriff, land appraiser, merchant and Illinois state senator. However, it is believed Reddick amassed a good deal of his fortune through land speculation.

Construction began in the spring of 1856, and it is reported the house probably cost about $25,000. The monumental structure stands 50 feet high and 55-64 feet wide.

In accordance with Reddick’s wishes as expressed in his will, the Reddick Mansion became the library for the city of Ottawa, opening on Sept. 19, 1888. For more than 85 years, the Reddick Library housed Ottawa’s literary collection, and for some time, a natural history museum, serving the educational needs of the community. Reddick Mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing member to the Washington Square National Historic District.

“The past year has been a year like none other in the history of the mansion,” McCallister said. “It is so exciting to reopen to the public and once again share the history of the Reddick Family, the Reddick Mansion/Library and Ottawa. I hope that local residents will visit us as well. The board [and] volunteers all have worked very hard to bring the luster back to the jewel of Ottawa. I am confident that William and Eliza Reddick would be pleased.”

Visitors can call (815) 433-6100 or visit www.reddickmansion.org for information, while larger groups are encouraged to contact the mansion to make special arrangements.