The Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society presented a $1,000 check Friday, Nov. 14, to the city of Dixon to fund restorations to the Oakwood Cemetery Mausoleum.

The mausoleum was built in 1925 and is rarely open to the public, typically only on Memorial Day. The building houses a full-sized chapel, 410 crypts, two private rooms, two deluxe “apartments,” and a basement receiving vault with space for several bodies. The city acquired it in 1973 after years of neglect, according to research by Dixon historian Tom Wadsworth.

The full restoration will take the city multiple years, starting with renovations to the roof and exterior to weather proof the building before moving inside, Dixon Street Department Manager Tyler Venier said Friday.

The historical society’s donation stems from the proceeds of its Sept. 28 Oakwood Cemetery walk that celebrated the mausoleums 100th anniversary. Since 2009, the annual event, Tales From Beyond the Grave, has featured guided tours with volunteers portraying notable local figures buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

The 2026 event is planned to take place at the cemetery in Palmyra at the corner of Sugar Grove Road and Timber Road.