DuPage's county museum in Wheaton to get new roof

The 124-year-old building in downtown Wheaton that houses the DuPage County Historical Museum finally is getting a new roof, thanks to a $200,0000 private donation.

On Tuesday, it was announced the charitable arm of the Inland Real Estate Group Inc. donated the money after a promised state grant for the work failed to materialize because of Illinois' budgetary problems.

"I believe in public-private partnerships," said Dan Goodwin, chairman and CEO of the Inland Real Estate Group. "I believe that we in business must do our share to help the county."

Officials with the Wheaton Park District, which operates the museum, say the donation makes it possible for the roof repairs to start within the next week. The work is expected to be completed by late November.

"It eases our mind that our artifacts are going to be even more well protected with a roof that doesn't leak," said Michelle Podkowa, museum manager and educator. "And our building, which we like to call our largest artifact, will be more protected."

In 2014, the countywide historical museum at 102 E. Wesley St. was awarded a $600,800 grant from the state to replace its deteriorating asphalt shingle roof with historically accurate red slate. But the county, which owns the building, never got the grant money.

Goodwin said he learned about the museum's leaking and damaged roof - and the struggle to raise money to fix it - during a tour he did last year of the building.

He said the first thing he did was suggest the museum use a material other than slate to fix the roof. After taking that advice, officials were able to reduce the cost of roof repair to less than $300,000.

Goodwin said he agreed to donate money to the project because the museum is part of the county's heritage. "This is the legacy that we're going to leave behind," he said, "and it's a wonderful place."

Podkowa said new shingles on the roof will be red. "So it actually will look like the building initially was supposed to," she said.

In addition to replacing the roof, other work will include exterior repairs and fixing water damage that extends beyond the roof itself, officials said.

DuPage has agreed to pay for most of the project's total cost, which is estimated at $451,000,

"This is an important building, which deserves to be revitalized as it houses important artifacts and itself serves as an important part of our history," county board member Amy Grant said. "We are fortunate this need will not go unanswered."