Ownership of Ellwood-Mayo Mansion could change hands

By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – After escaping demolition in 1994, the future of the Ellwood-Mayo Mansion in downtown DeKalb now lays in the hands of one of two interested parties: building owner James Hovis and tenant David Galica.

Hovis said the time is now to start considering the building’s future preservation efforts.

“It’s time to plan a transition, and David Galica and his cousin are very interested in preserving the building and continuing the process,” Hovis said. “That is part of the agreement I have with them, that they will do so in the future.”

Hovis is under contract as a mortgage holder on a loan that Galica is making payments to Hovis toward the purchase of the Ellwood-Mayo Mansion, 105 W. Lincoln Highway.

Galica acknowledged that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to the Ellwood-Mayo Mansion, but he said they have lofty goals for the building.

“What we’re trying to do is get it into a position to put it on a historical registry,” Galica said.

Galica runs and operates two businesses out of the building: Armor Techs, an internet technology repair shop, and DeKalb County Online, an internet news service.

Galica said both businesses are faring well for him.

The mansion originally was constructed in 1897 and now is undergoing improvements to help with preserving the building.

The Ellwood-Mayo Mansion was formerly home to Dr. Edward L. Mayo, the son of prominent attorney and judge E.L. Mayo, historical records indicate.

Rob Glover, archives director, archivist and collection specialist for the DeKalb County History Center, said the Ellwood-Mayo Mansion has notable historical significance to the city.

“Where the house sits is actually where the cabin where Russell Hunt- ley, who’s considered the founder of DeKalb, where his cabin was,” Glover said. “It’s a double significance. DeKalb is actually kind of founded on that corner.”

Galica said he’s likely put more than $100,000 into building renovations.

“While Jim has at least got the roofs repaired, the building’s been neglected for years,” Galica said. “Now that it’s under Armor here, we’re trying to go through and keep pushing through renovations. We’ve got several of the rooms renovated. The very front room was renovated and fixed from water damage issues and neglect to this building for years.”

Hovis said he’s also invested a lot of funding into the mansion, and he’s done it all without public assistance.

“My primary goal is to protect the building for future generations, and that’s what I’m in the process of doing,” Hovis said. “I replaced the pitched roof, the shingles. I put a Duro-Last membrane roof on the flat roof, which is the best you can get. It reflects 90% of the light that hits it. It has good insulation capabilities.”

Hovis said he’s long been fond of historic preservation.

“I love historic buildings,” Hovis

See MANSION, page 8